Help needed near Austin, TX

[Scott CWO]

My brother-in-law and his wife want to get started shooting and hunting. He is originally from Northern California and she is from the UK. He’s a manager for Apple and they recently moved back to the States from Singapore. The live in The Hills community that is a little west of Austin. He’s never owned a firearm of any kind and is a novice.

They are interested in home defense, waterfowl hunting and deer hunting. Are there any AH members in the Austin area that can help them get firearms training classes and Hunter Ed classes? A good gun store? Where to go and start? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[RR 314]

For beginners, have them check out The Range-Austin. It is on I-35 South of town. It may take them 30 minutes to an hour and a half to get there. They do training and education courses. I have been to Collector's Firearms in the building, but that is it. However, I have a lot of friends that when their overseas team members come in to town they take them there to shoot and seem to enjoy it.

Sportsman's Finest is about 10 minutes or so from The Hills. Pretty knowledgeable on handguns and AR platforms. Some there are knowledgeable about all guns. Fairly friendly to the uninitiated. They offer some courses there as well.

 

[Trophyhunter01]

Joshua Creek in Boerne, Tx has sporting clays, instruction and bird shoots as well. Nice place and maybe a place to inquire. I have only shot SC matches out there but nice complex. They have rental shotguns as well and are used to novice shooters from corporate events hosted at the facility.

 

[dchum]

@JINKLE

 

[JINKLE]

Feel free to message me and I can pass along my number. Happy to help with any questions. I grew up in the Hills and live in West Austin now.

The home defense gave me a bit of a chuckle for The Hills, it is a retirement community in a gated neighborhood. I would save the defense for when they are in their vehicle anywhere East of I-35.

 

[BTP-KennethWRoyce]

A manager for Apple from California.
Talk about being "late to the party".
Charge him a hefty premium for his likely prior voting against 2A/RKBA. Some penance is due....

 

[West_Texas_Bull_Shooter]

Be easy on him, at least he is looking to change and in the best possible way. If he needs an opinion give me a shout.

 

[dchum]

A manager for Apple from California.
Talk about being "late to the party".
Charge him a hefty premium for his likely prior voting against 2A/RKBA. Some penance is due....

Blah blah blah,

The folks want to arm themselves, shoot, and learn how to hunt and enjoy the outdoors in a new way. I think that’s great.

Anything helpful? Maybe they could buy one of your books…

 

[West_Texas_Bull_Shooter]

Your Brother-in-law has several questions he needs to answer from himself.

1. How much money is in the budget? Going cheap is not always the least expensive way to go. example - I went into a gun store and told the owner I wanted a shotgun that would do everything. Joke. He turned around and grabbed a Benelli SBE 3 and put it on the counter. Surprised, I asked why that shotgun did everything. "Because it will handle 2 3/4", 3", and/or 3 1/2" shells without changing anything". Sold.
2. Self protection. Is he and his wife going to carry or is it just home protection. Revolvers work great for the house, but a lot of people like small semi-automatics to carry. For the house, to me there is nothing more scarry than a small female with a double barrel coach gun.
3. How much recoil can they handle. A lot of the shooting ranges now rent guns. It might be worth wild to try out several.
4. First time at the range have the range master stand behind you correcting your mistakes. Let him holler all he wants. Just as long as you learn to go home in one peace who cares.

 

[C.W. Richter]

While I'm not from TX, I've certainly hunted down there many times (many friends, customers, even retired PHs down there-and You are in the RIGHT state for shopping same!!!) I was in the Cabela's in Buda (close to you) and they were teaching classes there (also a bulletin board and website with schedules for same.) I love SWFA, but there are also some super cool places in the Hill Country to the W from Kerrville down to Uvalde (I LOVE The Oasis in Uvalde!) Shop around once you've gotten your required training. 2 (of the 10 commandments..of firearm safety) that'll keep All Good people vertical: 1) NO finger on the trigger until you're pointing the gun where it should be pointed (in a safe and/or intended target direction!) and 2) Always keep the muzzle (end of barrel) pointed in a safe direction-even if it went off for ANY reason, it's not going to hurt anyone. GL. This might make a cool Youtube video...When CA/UK decide in favor of guns... *We love to mock "Bono" in hunting camps! "...Shotgun!....Everybody's got one!" (in the USA). We used 'em to send the UK packing 250 yrs ago, but had to put up with their BS for 150 yrs prior! And then, at some point, we let them back in??? Now we have Unions, Dems (those 2 are interchangeably corrupt), touchy-feely deity, et. al.

 

[C.W. Richter]

Are Meghan and Harry buying guns in TX?? Nice! Glad you made it out of CA.

 

[deewayne2003]

I was in Austin today actually and went by McBride’s to see if it was open under new management…… Nope, closed for what looks to be a complete remodel; which to be honest the building was incredibly dated and needed a new layout.

Can’t wait to see the new store.

 

[dchum]

I was in Austin today actually and went by McBride’s to see if it was open under new management…… Nope, closed for what looks to be a complete remodel; which to be honest the building was incredibly dated and needed a new layout.

Can’t wait to see the new store.

It’s gonna be awesome!

 

[318AE]

I’m a native Austinite. I lived in Taiwan for a few years and traveled to Singapore often. My SIL is from the UK. I may be able to help but it looks like you may have me on ignore.

 

[dchum]

I’m a native Austinite. I lived in Taiwan for a few years and traveled to Singapore often. My SIL is from the UK. I may be able to help but it looks like you may have me on ignore.

Nah, Scott keeps his PM’s closed. You’re good

 

[Scott CWO]

I’m a native Austinite. I lived in Taiwan for a few years and traveled to Singapore often. My SIL is from the UK. I may be able to help but it looks like you may have me on ignore.

No AH took away my PMs for recommending nonmember outfits I’ve hunted with. Oh well.

 

[Scott CWO]

Feel free to message me and I can pass along my number. Happy to help with any questions. I grew up in the Hills and live in West Austin now.

The home defense gave me a bit of a chuckle for The Hills, it is a retirement community in a gated neighborhood. I would save the defense for when they are in their vehicle anywhere East of I-35.

Haha! Well they are mid 40s and big golfers so The Hills is somewhat of a golfing community as well I’ve heard? My father-in-law is a teaching pro in California so my brother-in-law is pretty handy with a golf club.

My DMs are disabled here but you can find my contact info at our Comanche Wilderness Outfitters website. I appreciate your help!

 

[Scott CWO]

For beginners, have them check out The Range-Austin. It is on I-35 South of town. It may take them 30 minutes to an hour and a half to get there. They do training and education courses. I have been to Collector's Firearms in the building, but that is it. However, I have a lot of friends that when their overseas team members come in to town they take them there to shoot and seem to enjoy it.

Sportsman's Finest is about 10 minutes or so from The Hills. Pretty knowledgeable on handguns and AR platforms. Some there are knowledgeable about all guns. Fairly friendly to the uninitiated. They offer some courses there as well.

Thanks!

 

[Scott CWO]

A manager for Apple from California.
Talk about being "late to the party".
Charge him a hefty premium for his likely prior voting against 2A/RKBA. Some penance is due....

The only penance that is due is from you, buddy! Notice I said Northern California? Voting against 2A? He and his wife are quite conservative. I can’t even let my wife (his sister) watch CNN or she gets so angry she starts yelling at the TV! Not everyone from CA or working in tech is liberal. He asked me what truck to buy and he now drives a new Ford F-350 Platinum crewcab and wants guns and to start hunting.

 

[Scott CWO]

Your Brother-in-law has several questions he needs to answer from himself.

1. How much money is in the budget? Going cheap is not always the least expensive way to go. example - I went into a gun store and told the owner I wanted a shotgun that would do everything. Joke. He turned around and grabbed a Benelli SBE 3 and put it on the counter. Surprised, I asked why that shotgun did everything. "Because it will handle 2 3/4", 3", and/or 3 1/2" shells without changing anything". Sold.
2. Self protection. Is he and his wife going to carry or is it just home protection. Revolvers work great for the house, but a lot of people like small semi-automatics to carry. For the house, to me there is nothing more scarry than a small female with a double barrel coach gun.
3. How much recoil can they handle. A lot of the shooting ranges now rent guns. It might be worth wild to try out several.
4. First time at the range have the range master stand behind you correcting your mistakes. Let him holler all he wants. Just as long as you learn to go home in one peace who cares.

Money not an issue.
I’m guessing semi-automatics.
Yes, they need beginner instruction and training.