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I always enjoy shooting my pistols at a safe clean range. I especially enjoy shooting the rented Glock # 22 40 Cal Pistol.
Went to the range on a Saturday with a few friends and we had a great time! We signed up for the rifle class which started with a class led by Jeff. He was very patient, informative, and answered all our questions. It was $75 per person, shot 50 bullets total. We had so much fun and can't wait to go back.
I think everyone should have this experience at least once in their lifetime. You can justify it any way you want, relieve stress, mentally shoot that ex of yours, or just to have the experience. Me, my friend was itching to fire some rounds and wanted a buddy. The location is a bit difficult to find. It's right next to a strip club so be careful! You walk past security and down the stairs, then boom you're there. They check you in and then you get a brief crash course on how to fire in a safe and effective way. My dumbass, was lost and the instructor picked up on it immediately. However he was very patient with me and helped me along the way. Onto the shooting range. Omfg. THIS WAS MY FIRST TIME AND BOY IS IT AN EXPERIENCE. The woman next to us was using a handgun and practicing. THAT SHIT IS SO FUCKING LOUD THAT I FLINCHED. It's not easy. At all. There's a process to it. Load the bullets, make sure that the safety is on (I cannot emphasize this enough) and then make sure your position is right. For me personally, that was the hardest part to grasp. You have to position your eyes at eye level, guide the gun to aim at your target, lean your body forward, left hand underneath holding the gun properly, shut your left eye (if you're right handed). Idk about you, but as a first time shooter, that's a lot of information to grasp and retain. As you will see, I fucking sucked. First instructor had it with my incompetence and nearly gave up on me. BUT THEN SOMETHING AMAZING HAPPENED. Then comes in a second instructor and he says "can I yell at you?" Sure. I'm sucking and could use all the help I can get. He provided effective criticism on how to shoot. Still I sucked. THEN THE MAGIC HAPPENED. He said switch it to your left hand. It MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD. I won't say I was perfect but there was significant improvements than when using my right hand. Mind you, I'm right handed yet shot better using my left. We went through the 50 bullets pretty quickly. But I can certainly see the appeal for it. You want to see yourself improve. There's easily a rush to it. Mild mannered people can certainly get a kick out of firing bullets. As we leave both instructors were very nice. First guy didn't think I was the worse student ever and second guy said even though I'm right handed, my left eye is more dominant therefore I shoot better using my left hand. Fun fact: You may not always shoot with your dominant hand. Switch it up and see what works best for you. The staff here was very helpful and seemed to enjoy teaching their students. It's a great experience to have, be it for beginners or experienced experts.
Came here with hubby and friend yesterday. Signed up for 1pm class, lesson, bullets and to shoot .22mm rifle. It was more fun than I thought. I thought I would be be terrible at it and wouldn't have fun. I hit the center (bulleyes) a few times, but once the target is further back, my aim isn't as great. Will definitely come back.
I took husband here as a surprise Christmas present. It started off a little weird as we told someone when we walked in that we were there for the shooting class, and he told us the instructor would come to us. Then we waited and waited and nobody came, so I went to ask again and someone was eating his breakfast behind the counter, who turned out to be our instructor and he was confused because nobody told him there's a class. Clearly there was some miscommunication. Usually when that happens I automatically drop a star, but Jonathan, the instructor, was amazing. Maybe we lucked out during the holidays because it was just us in the class. I was a little nervous about holding a real gun and the whole loading/offloading bullets and turning on and off safety started all sounding very confusing to me. Jonathan was very patient with us. We also asked about gun laws in the city, which we were curious and he seemed to be a walking encyclopedia on gun laws. After that, we went off to the range and each got 50 rounds at targets. Jonathan was standing by the whole time, checking our aims and poses. It's a lot less scary once you started shooting, and it was really really fun. The rifles they use for first timers had minimum recoil as well. Ladies, give it a try if you are looking for a fun date!
I love the smell of gunpowder in the morning! Nothing like smoking shell casings, packing your own ammo, and a hot cup of coffee to get your blood pumping! This had to be one of the most fun things I have done with my merry group of Yelp friends. What better way to celebrate a birthday (Julia B) than by shooting round after round of 22 caliber bullets at multiple targets? Feel the firepower! The West Side Rifle & Pistol Range is just an amazing place hidden away in the basement level of a building that is very normal looking on West 20th street. As you enter the actual facility it is like being exposed to another world. Everyone who works there is packing heat, including the tattoo'ed up older gentleman manning the main counter who would probably blow your head off with a wink of the eye. You constantly hear the pop pop pop of guns being fired. Pictures and posters of celebrities and important people who have been here line the walls. This is a world seemingly unknown to most. Before coming here you need to have a background check ahead of time and if you are lucky enough to pass that then you are in! First time entrance fee is $65 and that covers a three month trial membership, 50 rounds of ammo, and a safety/training session with a certified shooting instructor. Our instructor, Raymond, was terrific. Not only was he very personable, but highly informative, patient, and funny too. He taught us all the basics of using a Ruger 22 caliber rifle - loading, unloading, stance, arming the magazines, how to hold the gun safely, etc. He is a pro and did not take this lightly, which is best for all. It had been a while since I had been out shooting and having this course as part of the package is a great idea. They are dead serious about safety here. I was surprised they let our marginally demented group actually hold weapons! Raymond then led us to one of the firing ranges. The range had seven stations, which was just right for our party, and some random dude that barged in on our birthday group. He told us there is always a spot open to shoot if we ever come back as I think there is more than one range. We had a blast! Each one of us was firing away at targets 25 and 50 feet away. You can get cocky and push the target far out to the back wall and see how good you are. We all did pretty well as shell casings bounced all around. I was surprisingly accurate considering I had not shot a rifle in years. Just remember to sweep up your area as casings are everywhere. I absolutely loved this place! I feel everyone should know how to handle a weapon safely, learn how to shoot, and it's also a great way to develop hand-eye coordination. Plus, it's a good stress reliever. The $65 three month membership means that you can return at any time without making an appointment, re-doing the background check, or having to sit through the safety class again. You pay just $35 a visit plus ammo rounds. You are issued a card with your name, date you first came, and a membership number. A year membership is very affordable at only $275. Plus, if you sign up within a week of your first visit they apply that $65 towards it, so the cost ends up being $210 for the year which includes unlimited shooting time and no range fees. This is a terrific deal! Of course, we all went out drinking after this! With my birthday coming up this might make for a great gift that I will surely use. Need to start dropping the hints! Looks like now I will be ready to kill many zombies, as watching all those episodes of The Walking Dead will not go to waste!
._|\_________________,,,_ ../ `--||||||||____YELP IT____ | - - - - - - D Lol...since there really ./_+==o ______________JJ isn't any other ...),-..../((__II_)J Rifle/Pistol Range in ..//xx(\) ) ==] NYC for this place to .//xx;// compete with then by //xx;'// default, this place really L__// is the best??? Before I continue, I also have to say I shot a hand gun before in Vegas. I paid $50 for 50 bullets and there wasn't any training involved. So when I signed up to shoot a rifle in NYC, I was pretty stoked and trigger finger happy. However, when I was finally presented with bullet to load into my magazine, I thought I was being punked. I swear, those bullets looked like it was meant for a bb gun and when I started shooting, I felt like I was shooting a toy. Like the one in Vegas, the one in NYC also offer 50 bullets but the price tag was $65. Additionally, they will do a background check and a 30 min training course is required. If you're a first-timer and always wanted to see how it's like to shot a "gun", then I would say go for it. But if you shoot a gun before, then honestly, this place isn't for you.
3 months ago
11 months ago
7 months ago
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2 years ago
I always enjoy shooting my pistols at a safe clean range. I especially enjoy shooting the rented Glock # 22 40 Cal Pistol. read more
9 months ago
1 year ago
3 years ago
Went to the range on a Saturday with a few friends and we had a great time! We signed up for the rifle class which started with a class led by Jeff. He was very patient, informative, and answered all our questions. It was $75 per person, shot 50 bullets total. We had so much fun and can't wait to go back. read more
2 years ago
1 year ago
3 years ago
4 years ago
3 years ago
I think everyone should have this experience at least once in their lifetime. You can justify it any way you want, relieve stress, mentally shoot that ex of yours, or just to have the experience. Me, my friend was itching to fire some rounds and wanted a buddy. The location is a bit difficult to find. It's right next to a strip club so be careful! You walk past security and down the stairs, then boom you're there. They check you in and then you get a brief crash course on how to fire in a safe and effective way. My dumbass, was lost and the instructor picked up on it immediately. However he was very patient with me and helped me along the way. Onto the shooting range. Omfg. THIS WAS MY FIRST TIME AND BOY IS IT AN EXPERIENCE. The woman next to us was using a handgun and practicing. THAT SHIT IS SO FUCKING LOUD THAT I FLINCHED. It's not easy. At all. There's a process to it. Load the bullets, make sure that the safety is on (I cannot emphasize this enough) and then make sure your position is right. For me personally, that was the hardest part to grasp. You have to position your eyes at eye level, guide the gun to aim at your target, lean your body forward, left hand underneath holding the gun properly, shut your left eye (if you're right handed). Idk about you, but as a first time shooter, that's a lot of information to grasp and retain. As you will see, I fucking sucked. First instructor had it with my incompetence and nearly gave up on me. BUT THEN SOMETHING AMAZING HAPPENED. Then comes in a second instructor and he says "can I yell at you?" Sure. I'm sucking and could use all the help I can get. He provided effective criticism on how to shoot. Still I sucked. THEN THE MAGIC HAPPENED. He said switch it to your left hand. It MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD. I won't say I was perfect but there was significant improvements than when using my right hand. Mind you, I'm right handed yet shot better using my left. We went through the 50 bullets pretty quickly. But I can certainly see the appeal for it. You want to see yourself improve. There's easily a rush to it. Mild mannered people can certainly get a kick out of firing bullets. As we leave both instructors were very nice. First guy didn't think I was the worse student ever and second guy said even though I'm right handed, my left eye is more dominant therefore I shoot better using my left hand. Fun fact: You may not always shoot with your dominant hand. Switch it up and see what works best for you. The staff here was very helpful and seemed to enjoy teaching their students. It's a great experience to have, be it for beginners or experienced experts. read more
Came here with hubby and friend yesterday. Signed up for 1pm class, lesson, bullets and to shoot .22mm rifle. It was more fun than I thought. I thought I would be be terrible at it and wouldn't have fun. I hit the center (bulleyes) a few times, but once the target is further back, my aim isn't as great. Will definitely come back. read more
I took husband here as a surprise Christmas present. It started off a little weird as we told someone when we walked in that we were there for the shooting class, and he told us the instructor would come to us. Then we waited and waited and nobody came, so I went to ask again and someone was eating his breakfast behind the counter, who turned out to be our instructor and he was confused because nobody told him there's a class. Clearly there was some miscommunication. Usually when that happens I automatically drop a star, but Jonathan, the instructor, was amazing. Maybe we lucked out during the holidays because it was just us in the class. I was a little nervous about holding a real gun and the whole loading/offloading bullets and turning on and off safety started all sounding very confusing to me. Jonathan was very patient with us. We also asked about gun laws in the city, which we were curious and he seemed to be a walking encyclopedia on gun laws. After that, we went off to the range and each got 50 rounds at targets. Jonathan was standing by the whole time, checking our aims and poses. It's a lot less scary once you started shooting, and it was really really fun. The rifles they use for first timers had minimum recoil as well. Ladies, give it a try if you are looking for a fun date! read more
I love the smell of gunpowder in the morning! Nothing like smoking shell casings, packing your own ammo, and a hot cup of coffee to get your blood pumping! This had to be one of the most fun things I have done with my merry group of Yelp friends. What better way to celebrate a birthday (Julia B) than by shooting round after round of 22 caliber bullets at multiple targets? Feel the firepower! The West Side Rifle & Pistol Range is just an amazing place hidden away in the basement level of a building that is very normal looking on West 20th street. As you enter the actual facility it is like being exposed to another world. Everyone who works there is packing heat, including the tattoo'ed up older gentleman manning the main counter who would probably blow your head off with a wink of the eye. You constantly hear the pop pop pop of guns being fired. Pictures and posters of celebrities and important people who have been here line the walls. This is a world seemingly unknown to most. Before coming here you need to have a background check ahead of time and if you are lucky enough to pass that then you are in! First time entrance fee is $65 and that covers a three month trial membership, 50 rounds of ammo, and a safety/training session with a certified shooting instructor. Our instructor, Raymond, was terrific. Not only was he very personable, but highly informative, patient, and funny too. He taught us all the basics of using a Ruger 22 caliber rifle - loading, unloading, stance, arming the magazines, how to hold the gun safely, etc. He is a pro and did not take this lightly, which is best for all. It had been a while since I had been out shooting and having this course as part of the package is a great idea. They are dead serious about safety here. I was surprised they let our marginally demented group actually hold weapons! Raymond then led us to one of the firing ranges. The range had seven stations, which was just right for our party, and some random dude that barged in on our birthday group. He told us there is always a spot open to shoot if we ever come back as I think there is more than one range. We had a blast! Each one of us was firing away at targets 25 and 50 feet away. You can get cocky and push the target far out to the back wall and see how good you are. We all did pretty well as shell casings bounced all around. I was surprisingly accurate considering I had not shot a rifle in years. Just remember to sweep up your area as casings are everywhere. I absolutely loved this place! I feel everyone should know how to handle a weapon safely, learn how to shoot, and it's also a great way to develop hand-eye coordination. Plus, it's a good stress reliever. The $65 three month membership means that you can return at any time without making an appointment, re-doing the background check, or having to sit through the safety class again. You pay just $35 a visit plus ammo rounds. You are issued a card with your name, date you first came, and a membership number. A year membership is very affordable at only $275. Plus, if you sign up within a week of your first visit they apply that $65 towards it, so the cost ends up being $210 for the year which includes unlimited shooting time and no range fees. This is a terrific deal! Of course, we all went out drinking after this! With my birthday coming up this might make for a great gift that I will surely use. Need to start dropping the hints! Looks like now I will be ready to kill many zombies, as watching all those episodes of The Walking Dead will not go to waste! read more
._|\_________________,,,_ ../ `--||||||||____YELP IT____ | - - - - - - D Lol...since there really ./_+==o ______________JJ isn't any other ...),-..../((__II_)J Rifle/Pistol Range in ..//xx(\) ) ==] NYC for this place to .//xx;// compete with then by //xx;'// default, this place really L__// is the best??? Before I continue, I also have to say I shot a hand gun before in Vegas. I paid $50 for 50 bullets and there wasn't any training involved. So when I signed up to shoot a rifle in NYC, I was pretty stoked and trigger finger happy. However, when I was finally presented with bullet to load into my magazine, I thought I was being punked. I swear, those bullets looked like it was meant for a bb gun and when I started shooting, I felt like I was shooting a toy. Like the one in Vegas, the one in NYC also offer 50 bullets but the price tag was $65. Additionally, they will do a background check and a 30 min training course is required. If you're a first-timer and always wanted to see how it's like to shot a "gun", then I would say go for it. But if you shoot a gun before, then honestly, this place isn't for you. read more
3 years ago
What better way to spend a friends 26th birthday than to go to the range and shoot some guns? After we all (surprisingly) passed the background check, we headed over to the West Side Rifle & Pistol Range for our safety/instruction course followed by some good ole' fashioned shooting. The staff here is super-friendly. They offer you cookies and coffee right when you walk in and take your payment and ID. Once you get your ID back, you are taken to a classroom in the far back, where an instructor (ours was Raymond) teaches you how to properly handle a .22. The class was only about 20 minutes long (other reviews said an hour, but ours was definitely not that long). Then we were seated at a couple of tables and instructed on how to load the magazines. I sucked at this part since I'm not good at pushing things in (ermmmm.....). After that we received ear muffs and glasses so we were protected from any shells and the loud sounds of the gun going off. We each received our own "station" to use. Raymond stayed with us the entire time in case we ran into any troubles. I sucked at first since I lack hand/eye coordination, however, I started to get better. By the time I was getting the hang of it, I ran out of bullets. This is an excuse to visit again! The cool part is it's $65 one time for the course, then you receive a 3 month membership so it's only $35 each time after that plus $6.50 for ammo. Not a bad deal AT ALL. So what did I gain from this experience? My friends are insane. Instructors are nice and friendly and funny....While teaching you how to shoot. And shooting blows off a lot of steam. I could miss the target every single time and still enjoy myself due to the fact that so much aggression is let out in the short time that you are there. Oh, and please sweep up after yourself. They tell you to do this, as well. But you shouldn't need to be told. Clean up after yourself. You made the mess. Also as someone else mentioned, wear long sleeves. One of my sleeves rolled up a bit and a shell hit me and it was HOT. read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
14 years ago
I am part of the family. The moment I finished the background check/ intro class; I immediately bought the membership. I have experience in firearms; just a pleasant reprieve to have a firing range in NYC. This my new hangout spot. John, is a great instructor and Raymond as well. Don't worry about safety in this place because everyone in here is packing heat. If your like me that has a pistol license, this is a great spot to fire off rounds. Took a picture of me firing off the .44; I used the .22 as an intro. This place is my personal heaven. I highly recommend it. Whether a novice or a professional, you will feel right at home here. read more
5 years ago
First time shooting a gun. Took rifle class taught by Jeff. I learned and had fun! Jeff, Mr. Johnson (and others I didn't catch their names) are welcoming and answered questions and is hands on and helpful. Look forward to returning. read more
8 years ago
I love that this place exists in Manhattan! The staff is super nice and helpful! In between meetings or finishing work early, I can come in and shoot a variety of rifles... It's relaxing and fun! Looking forward to spending some more time here! read more
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3 years ago
So I bought this Yelp deal many moons ago to the only Rifle range left in Manhattan. A bunch of us on Yelp decided to go at it together and have fun as a group. They said that all I needed to do was send in the info for everyone so that they could do a background check for everyone to get approval. Pfftt... like any of us are psycho enough to go around taking their guns and going on a shooting rampage. Wait... Jimmy might.... you never know what he is thinking..... hmmm... I think they might have a point. Ok... I guess they do need to do background checks on everyone. Ha ha.. I'm only kidding Jimmy... maybe.... Luckily we all passed and after we got our approval number for each of us, we tried to set up a date. Now here is where the rifle range lost a point despite the fact that they are not in control of it. It takes two months or longer if you want to go with a group of 4-5 people on a weekend. Two freakin months. If you want to set up a weekday outside of normal work hours, it'll take a month or a little more. Setting up the group time was so aggravating because you have to work around so many people's schedule and you have to do it with the knowledge that you all need to be free so far in advance. It'll make you want to shoot something, which ironically is exactly what I'm trying to set up the date to do.... argh.... One of my friends couldn't wait that long and decided to go ahead and try to get into a class by himself. He was able to do it just by walking in. So if you don't mind going at it alone, there is a chance they would be able to find one or two spots open for you at any given time. You might even be able to do it with two people as a walk in if you are lucky. Get past that though and once you arrive at the rifle range, you should have a good time. If it's the first time you are here, there is a mandatory half hour class that you must take in order for them to allow you into the shooting range. The class is informative, moves fast, and you definitely need it to be able to use your semi automatic rifle properly if you never handled one before. Loading the .22mm bullets is a tricky lesson onto itself. Then again, I'm a slow learner since everyone around me seems to have less trouble with it than I did. Sigh. Sadly, unless you have a hand gun permit, you are pretty much stuck with using only the rifles here. The bad ass looking instructor who seems like he just came from the marines but actually works with computers, Howard, was a pleasure to interact with. The way the group works is, half the class goes to shoot off 25 of the 50 rounds that your admission to the range provides while the other half load their cartridges. When they are done, switch and when you are done, it's their turn again. They also provide the paper targets that you could keep and you set the distance of the target to your own liking. Expect a lot of mistakes with your first few shots. Some people are more natural at shooting guns than others. The bad ones from prior classes could be seen by the holes on the ceiling, the broken light hanging from the ceiling, and the holes directly in front and below your shooting booth. How do you aim so badly that you mistakenly shoot something about two feet away from you and is not in your way anyway? How did I do? Surprisingly OK. After correcting the aiming from the first few shots, I was able to shoot pretty much near the bulls eye even when I moved it almost twice the distance after the first round. I guess all that time shooting water guns as a child and then moving up to paint ball guns as a young adult helped a lot. Youth not wasted. Jimmy? He tried shooting a happy face pattern with his target. read more
8 years ago
The greatest shooting range in the area. Darren and mr. Johnson are absolutely awesome. These guys take the time to make you feel at home. Yes I saw some recipes about you only being able to shoot .22 rifle, but if you don't. Have a license in nyc what do you expect. If you want to get a license. These guys will help you with the paperwork and everything to get you up and running. These guys are really absolutely an honor to work with. If you have a license and want a firearm these guys will sell you a firearm and will not rip you off. They are fair about everything and treat people like human beings. 5 stars read more
Experience was great! Took my girlfriend and we had a very thorough and fun lesson with this one guy. I dont remember his name, but he was black, about 6'2, and tells corny jokes. Nonetheless he was very patient and helped us learn very quickly how to shoot. We got 50 rounds to play with and 3-4 targets. Definitely coming back again! read more
Fun place to go and good for large groups! I went here with about 17 other coworkers and didn't feel like we were waiting around with nothing to do. There were 7 lanes for shooting, which is more than I have seen in the city ranges. The instructor was very good at talking about how to use the gun and the safety precautions that were necessary. Would definitely cone back again for a quick round of shooting. read more
The range time here gets expensive quickly if you don't have a full membership, so buy a membership. After being away for almost three months, our instructor Ray (whom we met once) remembered us and came over to say hello. The folks who worked there were friendly and efficient. We spent two hours shooting zombies in the face, and left happy, yet again. read more
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Ask the Community - West Side Rifle & Pistol Range
Hello, I heard that as a tourist you can't shoot on a range by law? Is that true? I'm from the Netherlands and next month i'm visiting New York with my family and I really like to shoot at a range.
Yes this is true here in NYC unless you have a permit you will not be able to shoot any kind of weapon, but there is a shooting range that I go to to let my girlfriend shoot. It is in New Jersey not far from the city, it is called guns for hire. You…
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