From the National Shooting Sports Foundation writes:

One way to get your partner’s blood pumping this Valentine’s Day or any day is by pulling a trigger at a local shooting range. Sometimes it is appropriate to step outside the traditional atmosphere of Valentine’s Day, put away the chocolates, cards or flowers, and put on your sexy tactical shooting pants.

Whether your significant other and you are new to the shooting sports or experienced, there are plenty of creative ways to make this year’s Valentine’s Day date at the range romantically unforgettable. Don’t forget to take pictures of your fun to share them with your friends! Make sure to use the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s wheretoshoot.org to find a range near you.

First-Time Shooters

  • Valentines-Target-lw
    View and print free targets

    Going to the shooting range is a lot of fun and a thrill for someone taking his or her first shots. New shooters typically shoot rental guns before investing in a firearm of their own. It is important to start with a low-caliber firearm, such as a .22 caliber handgun or long gun, to get comfortable with the operation. Any beginner will be thrilled to simply pull the trigger, so it is best to keep it simple. Most importantly, always begin with a safety briefing and know the range’s safety rules. To get started, watch the NSSF’s Range and Etiquette video (above)

  • Once everyone is comfortable with the basics of handling the firearm and target shooting, you might try adding a fun element like falling plates or a dueling tree, if the range allows this. There are several ways you can get creative and challenge your partner. Try a carnival-style challenge where your partner can shoot for a prize. Offer a selection of larger prizes like a movie, dinner, tickets to an event or a new firearm to give him or her something to really shoot for. No matter how accurate the shooting ends up being, bring a teddy bear, flowers or another gift as a participation sentiment. The point of going to the range is to have fun together! Make the day positively unforgettable.

Experienced Shooters

  • Moving targets are always an intriguing challenge for experienced target shooters. That’s where shotguns come into the equation. There’s no better way to go after moving targets than taking a shotgun out to a sporting clays course or a trap and skeet field. Some ranges have rental shotguns, but most require you to bring your own. For many newcomers or those with a small body frame, using a smaller gauge shotgun like a 20 ga. that imparts less recoil is a good idea.
  • Many shooting ranges offer – even specialize – in providing unique opportunities to shoot some impressive firearms or try long-range target shooting, for example. Many ranges offer different packages to give shooters a taste of a variety of firearms that interest them.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation’s wheretoshoot.org and WheretoShoot app can help you find a nearby range. One can search the NSSF’s extensive database for thousands of indoor and outdoor shooting facilities in the U.S. and Canada. Best of all, each search can be customized in several ways. Whether you want to shoot handguns, archery or trap, the possible shooting range date ideas and locations are endless.

Remember, firearms safety depends on you! And Happy Valentine’s Day!

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16 COMMENTS

  2. “Going to the shooting range is a lot of fun and a thrill for someone taking his or her first shots.”

    What a condescending and unthinking thing to say. What if they don’t identify as “him” or “her”? What if it’s “Ze”? Or what if they identify as an aromantic, polyamorous, pansexual, genderfluid, multi-spirited, fox/dragon-kin furbaby? (Look it up. No, seriously, look it up.)

    Mr. Farago, you really need to check your white, male, cisgendered privilege and watch the microaggressions. This country doesn’t need any more LGBTQQIAPP+ bigotry!!!!

  4. Thanks for the invite, I think I’ll take my Ruger #1 chambered in 204 Ruger. You Want One’, no really you want one of these rifles/ solid projectile Lasers. She is my real sweet heart anyway. The snow on the ground make the golf balls harder to see but their a great target at 300 meters yards your choice. I make it funner shoot at unknow distance, got to feel it right.

  6. Love to take my beloved. Too busy tomorrow so there’ll be a raincheck. Happy Valentines Day!

  8. I always take my “beloved” to the range. Sometimes my beloved is a handgun and sometimes my beloved is a rifle. Occasionally I bring my girlfriend.

  10. I’m sure my range will appreciate the use of their video. If I have to wait the next time for a lane I’ll blame the NSSF and TTAG due to the awesome exposure. I’ll have to let Barry know as I don’t know if he reads TTAG. It is a great range. They also have a 100 yard indoor rifle range.

  11. We beat the rush and went to the Desert on Sunday to shoot my new Glock 26. I was pleasantly surprised by its plinking accuracy, but the Pearce grip extension bit my wife in the pinky so she wasn’t pleased and I’ll be making it up to her for a while. I hate Valentine’s day.

  12. If you’re single, your gun is your date and your ammo is your dinner. Just don’t be a Broward Coward when a young lady (or dozens) needs you.

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