Girls’ night at the gun range

January 9, 1:11 PMAustin Twenty-Something ExaminerKelly E. Lindner

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Shooting a 22 caliber semi-automatic pistol

Looking for a less typical girls' night out? Instead of taking shots, why not take some shots?

A couple of girlfriends occasionally hit a local gun range for a ladies' night out. My favorite so far is Red's Indoor Range North in Pflugerville because of their Ladies' Day every Monday from 9am-9pm. The hourly fee to use the range is half off ($7/hour) and all rental guns are free for use though ammo still costs extra. We first tried out this non-traditional girls' night to vent our frustration, try out my friend’s new 38 caliber semi-automatic pistol (she’s a gun range regular) and just have a good time. Red's is open daily from 9am-9pm. Range personnel are available to assist beginners. You must be 21 to rent a handgun.

Sexy clear Charlie’s Angels glasses and Nascar-like ear-muff-looking ear protection are provided and are completely non-dorky. (Okay, the ear muffs are a little dorky, but hey, you’re shooting things that make loud bangs. Everyone understands.)

Be warned that if you’ve never shot a gun before that this can seem a little scary at first with all the loud pops and bangs (and bringing additional ear plugs to put under your ear muffs isn‘t a bad idea). Just remain calm and ask one of the employees to coach you on how to properly use your firearm. Do not be shy about asking for help. Some of the tips are not obvious. In fact, one of the employees was nice enough to let me know that the way I was holding my friend’s 22 had the potential to break my finger, since I had one thumb right behind the slide which can occasionally pop back with amazing speed after you fire a shot. Instead I needed to wrap my hands in the same direction and cradle one thumb with the other on the side of the handle or “grip” of the gun.

Also, taking pictures with a flash is not popular at a gun range. In fact, I would go as far to say that it’s frowned upon and possibly prohibited. I can’t be sure though since it wasn’t one of the employees who let me know that it wasn’t allowed, but one of the members with a very long pistol that looked like it belonged in a spy movie. So-just a random tip-don’t do that.