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Week 8 [28.11-04.12] Target Shooting in Poland

Shooting a handgun at a target is thrilling - no one can say otherwise. All you have to do is go to a shooting range, pay for an ammo for a gun you wish to practice on and take a few minutes of training. After that all you have to do is load bullets into a clip, push it up into a gun, move the safety catch, carefully and steady grab a gun with two hands, hold your breath, aim and shoot.


Private Photo


Seems to be easy - but you have to be focused, relaxed and very disciplined to hit all bullets in black target range (especially when you are shooting expert level of 25m). The first shooting starts at 5m, if you're doing good - you can start with 10m. Shooting with one hand only is an expert level – it’s very hard to hit all targets perfectly.


If you have never visited a shooting range before and have no idea what to expect - there's nothing to fear. If you watched a lot of movies you can have an image in your head of a place, that is literally a temple of violence. But real view is quite different. You will see both women and men there, all ages - and don't be shocked when you will see a father with a 10-year-old son. For me, the shooting always was and always will be safe for people that know what to do and are focused on what they are doing.




You have many kind of guns to choose from to start your journey:
- handguns (they need a lot of good aim and concentration to do it right, they give a little kick) - usually available Glock 19, Berreta 92, XDM,
- shotguns (you have to use a lot a power to hold them steady while shooting or otherwise an arm will hurt a lot next day) – usually available Remington 870 or Mauser,
- rifles (most deadly at a long range, biathlon training, sport shooting – very low kick, quite good for shooting) – usually available AR15 – M4, Remington 700.
So the choice is yours – choose your gun carefully to fit your character and power.


You don't need any gun permission if you want to shoot at a shooting range - just an instructor has to be near you. If you would like to own a gun in Poland - the procedure is very complicated. A target shooting license is a permit and it will normally take 6–12 months to obtain it. Regular firearms screening like your criminal record check, medical and psychological exam and prove ability to safely store firearms are also required. This type of license allows also to carry a loaded concealed firearm in public. All of this means that the number of guns per capita in Poland is among the lowest in Europe, at around one per 100 people.


There is one more option to own a gun in Poland completely legally and just in one day - you just have to be 18 years old to do so. Our law says - there is no requirement for a firearms license for - "Separate loading weapons constructed before 1885 or replicas of those weapons". And that means black powder guns and rifles.You are probably familiar with two most popular of them seen in many western movies - Colt Peacemaker and Remington 1858.


http://gunsoftheoldwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/colt-remington-army-revolvers.jpg


They make a lot of noise while shooting, bullets are very big and a gun has quite a kick.
The starting price range for this kind of gun is usually from 1 300 zł for Remington 1858 or Colt Peacemaker, up to 5 000 zł if you choose Smith Carabine .50. To see exactly what you can expect as an owner of a black powder gun - just watch links below (smell of black powder - that's the main quote in a movieJ




1) Would you like to go to a shooting range in a near future ?
2) Did you know anything about black powder guns before ?


Comments

Unknown said…

I have never been to shooting range. My friends told me a lot of good things about it. Maybe I will go there soon. There is one shooting range near my house. I would like to shoot very much. I heard about black powder guns. It's very strange that this type of gun is legal in Poland. It's as dangerous as real gun. It's good that it is not popular.
Sylwia Pechcin said…
Frankly speaking I have never been to a shooting range, but I have been wondering about it many times. As an only child of my father who (I think) always wanted to have a son - I have been practicing shooting to an aim but using an air-gun. Of course that I would like to visit a shooting range someday. I have never touched any firearm in my life.
If we are talking about black powder guns, I have only seen them in some western movies, so I haven't knew much about them before.
Unknown said…
It's really awesome and quite a coincidence for me that you write about skydiving and shooting this week. I tried both those things one week apart while I was looking for thrills during a little depresive period of my life (about 5 years ago). I've been to a shooting range many times since then, taking my father and most of my friends with me. Including ofcourse first date with my girlfriend of 3 years by now. I am moderately good at shooting in terms of aiming but I simply love the pure feeling of destructive power it brings.

I shot with pistols, revolvers (Ruger Redhawk .44 Magnum :)))), machine-guns (including continuous, automatic fire), assault rifles, shotguns, and even with a real, military sniper rifle.

It's a shame that it's so expensive to shoot all the most fun weapons. My great dream is to operate Dellion Minigun one day (heard it's possible in US for few thousand dollars).

PS I used to make a lot of my own black powder many years ago ;P
Unknown said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said…
I tried shooting at a shooting range when I was at high school. I enjoyed the experience, however I have no idea what kind of gun I was useing, probably some airgun because I'm totally not familiar with the topic. I guess I was quite good at it, at least I aimed at the near center of the target and won an award for being at top 5 of the class. I suppose I can't be perfect at this task, because I have ocular defect. Regardless of that I'd like to try it again, but going to the shooting range on a regular basis is too expensive.
Which one you have nearby ? ZKS, Cover ? If you would like to start shooting just for a start try with some popular 9x19 / Safe Action guns - Glock or XDM is good for first time shooters. Glasses and Ear Defenders are available on every good shooting range. Use them - shot is very loud and 9mm central guns sometimes throw empty shell little to the back so it may hit you in a forehead or eye.

I have different opinion when it comes to Black Powder as well as any other guns. For me they should be available to every healthily, law-abiding citizen. Criminals don't have problems with obtaining guns from illegal sources. We should have ability to protect ourselves legal and simple way.
Unknown said…
To be honest I am not interested in guns. I do not know anything about them. For many gun owners, it's a simple calculus: having a gun gives them at least a fighting chance in the event that a burglar or home invader manages to get in - I am in this group.
It is good to know that guns have a great deal of disadvantages despite their good aspects. To begin with, the risk of violence and accidents is very high when people have access to dangerous weapons like a gun. Kids can get hold of a gun that is inside the house and in the process shoot others out of curiosity. There are many instances where people that own guns have ended up shooting other people accidentally thinking that they are intruders. Guns are in most cases used to commit suicide and that is why they should always be in the right hands.
I have a female friend who's father was always the same way. She's quite good I must say. And to cheer all the girls up - few weeks later I saw one of the female instructors in a commercial made for one of the main clothing companies - If you will go shooting to Cover (it's in Mokotów) there is a big possibility you will meet her there.

Here's the part of the commercial:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6vl8WAMiu0

And I you wish to see black powder and real guns in action my proposition for you is ZKS. I will be taking few of my friends (they're first time shooters too) in February, so If you wish to join, just contact me.
The best way to fight depressing moments is something that will give you a good thrill - shooting and skydiving are definitely the way to do it.
Date with a girl at a shooting range Hmmm - sounds familiar :)


Also tried Ruger, Desert Eagle (these are old school must have classics) many times, but last time visiting our favorite and specific shooting range - "Strzelnica myśliwska Z.O. PZŁ Suchodół" - we got a challenge. After all day of shooting - there was a lot to choose from - about 10 very rare Sniper rifles on 100m shooting lane with moving objects, trap rifle shooting, shotguns, historical guns like PPSh we really had enough action for that day but tried old Ruger .45. Instructor said he has a present for us - normally the ammo has 210 grains and as you know it gives really hard kick. For this we were using 300 grains ammo - I cannot attach a movie here how it looked like but if you will reach me at school I will show you the original movie.
I can say just one thing - pure insanity :)
Don't worry about ocular defect - many shooters has it and doing good. If you are familiar with air guns and want to limit the costs, maybe try Biathlon target shooting (just shooting - no running :) The guns would be something like AR15 or KBKS with very small caliber .22 LR ammo. It's one of the cheapest ammo on the market. You can have lot of fun for very small price range. My advice is to try it when it gets warmer, it's too cold now to lie on a ground for longer than few minutes.
Unknown said…
I was shooting at shooting range once :) It was... weird. Those little guns were heavy, those big were REALLY heavy, so I had got problem to hold it still. The very next day my arms were so heavy - I didn't know it is so tiresome for muscles. I liked the experience - I was quite good at it, because all of my bullets got the contour :) I've got those papers with contours and holes somewhere.
Unknown said…
I think that hiding guns is not good way to prevent people from suicides. Since hanging and running in front of train is most popular way to commit suicide in Poland, should we forbid trains and ropes? I don't think it is valid argument.
Unknown said…
I was quite a few times on shooting range. It was always fun. I like shooting to targets, and I hope that one day I could have my own licence and shoot for sport.
Unknown said…
Such an interesting topic, thanks for that! :D Yes, of course I would love to go to shooting range soon. I think about it like real fun. I also feel very confident holding a gun, despite I know nothing about shooting, but it gives me some inner strength. It feels powerful. I was at the shooting range couple of times, but it is kind of expensive and now I don't have a lot of opportunities to go, but I will definitely go back to it. :)
Unknown said…
I have toughts to go on shooting range but so far i have't got an occasion, because comparing to other countries it is rather less popular. I always think while watching some action movies how it is to shot with guns. I hope I'll try one day.
After few weeks of training muscles are getting used to the weight of the gun as well as compensating the recoil (that uses a lot of stamina). It's good that you didn't try any of the black Powder Guns - my Remington 1858 weights about 1,3 kg and you have to hold it precisely and steady in one hand only - that was a big challenge at start. That's twice as much than any standard modern Beretta or Glock. P.S. You must be about 165 cm /50 kg - usually those kind of girls has gun weight problem at the start.
I you don't know anything about them - then it is always a good time to start shooting. Who know, maybe this will become your hobby ? When it comes to gun security it's really great right now - bio metric locks when you can hide a gun easily so no one except you will use it, safety locks for guns are very easy to buy right now so I think it's not a problem. I think we lack a proper education when it comes to guns, that's why they're unsafe. My young godson knows what gun can do, that he cannot aim to anyone even with an unloaded gun, and when the pistol is live you can only aim and shoot at target at shooting range. I had a big laugh few weeks ago because when he was playing, he told other kids not to aim at each other because that's dangerous (and that were just toys).

And I agree with Paweł - guns are not the most common way of committing suicides and looking at statistics it is 1/3 in the USA where guns are most common, and 1/20 in Europe (when guns are hard to get). I would say that guns are used because people committing suicides are choosing the fastest and less painful ways to do it - but that's not problem with guns, just with unstable people using them.
Do you know how to apply for a licence ? The easiest way is to join shooting club (like ZKS in Warsaw) and do week by week training shooting. When you finally will get your licence (it takes about 6-12 months) depending what you need exactly - you still have to periodically take a part in different shooting competition to keep it up (I think it was 12 different competitions per year to do so - you could mix guns in one start).
I know you like it :) I promised you to take you to biathlon and bow shooting and I will keep up my word. And yes the inner strength that it gives is great, especially when you have much control over it and hitting all bullets in the center (9,10 points).
In my childhood I used to be really often on the shooting range with my father, who possesses a firearm since I remember.
Last year I was on ZKS shooting range with my friends and it was still a great fun for me. Unfortunately, I don't have much time now to go there on a regular basis. I was also thinking about getting weapons licence, but, as far as I know, it's not so easy. Anyway, I'm going to try to do that after graduation.
Dajana Kubica said…
My high school organized trips to shooting ranges. I always took part in them, and I loved it, but the thought of having weapons is frightening. A perfect example is America, almost every day we hear news of the shooting, where small children play with guns and kill their loved ones by their carelessness. I think it's a bad idea, that the gun possession was completely legal in Poland. Please note that the guns was created not only to kill animals, but also people. As for the black powder guns it seems to me that I used them in a computer game, at least it looks like.
Unknown said…
My friends told me that it was good fun but I never had the chance to try. Unfortunately this isn't cheap entertainment. I don't know much about guns but going to the shooting range could be an interesting experience. I shot only in video games. I think that such entertainment is also interesting paintball, you shot too but your target is moving and you could play with the other people. I think shooting it's not easy, you must focused and calm. I shot only once with an air gun to some cans but going to the shooting range I think is a little different.
kondrat said…
I've read a lot about gun powder guns. That's great, that you can have one in Poland without permission. On the other hand it is a bit scary, that an average Sebix also can get such type of gun. I'd love to buy one, but the whole thing with loading it up- even after cartridges are prepared makes it a bit frustrating to use for me.
Michał Pycek said…
When I was at high school it was a mandatory event arranged by one of our teachers, to go to a shooting range and try different types of guns. I actualyl enjoyed it a lot and I think it is not only fun to try such activity in a safe and prepared area, but moreover I believe it is vey educational to let teenagers at a certain age try how powerful weapon a gun is. Thanks to such experience it becomes very clear how delicate one's life is.
Wow! I'm totaly into shooting! I had opprotunity to shot with AK-47 and Glock 18 and tried black-powder guns not even once. I'm a proud owner of few air guns also. I've spent so many hours on practicing target shooting. I wish I could have a real gun for my personal use. In my opinion every citizen should know how to use the most common types of weapons in case of war.
Piotr Basiński said…
I have not opportunity try shooting. Mabey I will try to go in future to be knowing something about it. I was on a paintball many times, but it's not like shooting range I thing.
Unknown said…
I tried to shoot from a gun a couple times in my life. It always seems fun and you feel some kind of relax after the shooting. Personally, I'm not a big fan of the shooting, but I would like to go to the shooting range to have some kind of entertainment for myself. Don't think it will be in the very near future, but maybe in the summer it would be an interesting attraction for me.
I've seen black powder guns before in some movies, but never thought of them. Thank you for sharing, it's interesting to read about new things.
I was at the shooting range when I was a teenager. I remember that it was a pretty thrilling experience. I shot a Glock, SIG-SAUER, Browning and a some kind of machine gun but I don't remember what was it. I would definitely go again but it's pretty pricey as far as I know.

I didn't know that you can have a block powder gun, but I don't think we should be scared or anything. There's probably too much work to make it shoot for an average person that doesn't know their stuff.
It's very easy - just choose a shooting range, choose a gun, pay for ammo and shoot :) For a first time is good to take some friends with you - it will be more fun together and comparing your scores afterwards.
I also don't have much free time right now, but after the first session I'm back training in weekly period. Licence is not that easy to get and keep up and sometimes it's better to buy Black Powder Gun for the start - the saying goes - if you can shoot 10/10 our of it correctly than you will be expert with any other gun.
The gun possession is already legalized in Poland but in a very strict and confusing way when the police decides whenever you get it or not (even when you're completly healthy, don't have a crime record and you are shooting perfectly and know how to handle a gun). It should be easier, faster and more popularized. Look 30 years back - almost each and every one of our fathers went to the military after school. And that was good - everyone knew how to shoot, what to do and what not to do with a gun. Man now days are twenty few years old and they completely don't know how to use a gun, handle with it or mostly afraid of it. That's not a good way we are going these days. It has to change.
It's very fun, thrilling and unforgettable experience.
I won't agree with you when it comes to cost. One visit at a shooting range cost mostly the same as paintball (usually about 100 zł). If you choose something like Biathlon with KBKS or AR-15, the price would be 50 zł for 10 series of shooting, and that's a lot of fun. Painball is completely not the same because ball is heavy and it's trajectory is loop.
And yes it's quite hard to get perfect shot especially when there is time pressure (we mostly do this to give more adrenaline and competition to it).
Don't worry - ordinary Sebix would spend that money for a protein bar and a ticket to a gym :)
Yes the loading process takes some time and preparation but it's really worth it at the end.
And that was a very good and rare teacher. I think it should be more people like this around. Getting use to gun is a process, after which you know that gun has a lot of power but also you know how to control it. That is valuable lesson which everyone should receive.
I’ve been to the shooting range only once, it was during class when I was in high school, and I was really surprised how cool that was. I always thought that it must be kind of boring to just stand and shoot to the target, but the shooting process, holding breath, aiming and finally shooting was truly breathtaking. It was really cool experience but to be honest I was too lazy to go to the range myself after that.
All I could say is cheers to that :)
Also spent many time at the shooting range, air guns are good to learn you how to not move the gun while moving finger and releasing a shoot. And they're really a great fun - the cleanup part afterwards it's not that good but someone made biodegrading balls for a reason :)
Peace and relaxation comes from every physical workout that gives adrenaline rush. That's why we are constantly looking for it. Summer is good - you can shoot late till 21:30 which is not possible during Autumn and I personally don't like
artificial lighting. It's good that you liked the subject. Maybe we will gather bigger group to go to a shooting range together in the summer.
Yes you really need some knowledge and preparation to make it work. Also you need to buy a shooting powder and prepare everything needed for the shoot yourself. But as you saw in the movie - it's quite effective.
Another good school - very rare but very good.
As I see you have good memories from it. So maybe finally throw the laziness away and do a solid replay ? :)
I'm not really interested in guns and shooting so it isn't something I would like to do.
Unknown said…
Ohhh, I love this topic! I used to live in Katowice and it was of the most favorite ways to spend the weekend with my friends. We've visited both indoor(in winter) and outdoor(in summer) shooting ranges. I have tried everything they had, except the Mosin's carbine. My favorites are AK-47 and Magnum revolvers. I also like Glock, Beretta and shot-guns for fun. Shooting is the thing I love since I was a school-girl and used to spend the summer holidays in the village with a pneumatic rifle and a couple of empty cans. That good old days:)

When I moved to Warsaw, I googled the shooting ranges here, but still had no time to visit it. But I will for sure.

I don't understand when somebody says: "Weapon is bad and dangerous" - guns don't kill people, people do, you know.
Wojtek Kania said…
I completely understand firearms maniacs. I used to shoot a few times and it was awesome. I think for our homeland security everyone should know how to shoot. And like in Switzerland everyone should have a gun in home.
Unknown said…
I would like to go some day to a shooting range. It seems like a lot of fun. I am not really familiar with kinds of guns or anything else in that matter. However I think it would be interesting to find out more about this topic.
I think it's important for everybody to know how to use guns, and I'm still supporting more flexible gun law in Poland, as everybody should have a gun for self-defense. I'm not sure if people are actually smart enough to not kill each other with them, as sometimes I seriously doubt in Poles when I see them during conflicts...

Anyway, until it happens it's a good idea to at least try once in your life to shoot from one weapon or another, maybe several times if you liked the first one. It doesn't cost that much, it's lots of fun and enjoyable.
Adam Nowak said…
I would love to go to a shooting range one day. In my opinion, Poles are afraid of guns, i've heard that it is because of socialist goverment in the last century. I beleive that attending shooting ranges is a good way to get used to weapons, and everyone should at least one time do that in their life.

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