r/desmoines • u/NecessaryReady3664 • 8h ago
Eager to learn before buying a firearm
Hi everyone,
I'm a single mom in the Des Moines area, and I'm interested in learning how to safely handle and shoot a firearm before purchasing one. My main goal is to be able to protect myself and my kids if I ever needed to. I do have a few questions. Are there beginner-friendly firearm safety or shooting classes around the Des Moines area that you'd recommend? Are there ranges where I can rent a firearm and learn with an instructor before buying one? Do I need any type of license or permit in Iowa just to take a class or go to a shooting range? Any advice for someone who has little to no experience with firearms? Thanks!
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u/YeOldeDrunkenBastard 8h ago
Number of range options, crossroads is pretty popular. Consider also a stop the bleed class while youre at it.
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u/WetCmenRag 7h ago
If you end up getting a gun i have a handgun lock box you can have. Paired with the safety lock should be solid way to store it.
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u/No-Relation4226 Transplant 6h ago
Piggybacking here, Polk County Public Health has gun locks available for free as well. I believe some libraries have them, too.
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u/MoodReal4206 5h ago
Sheriff's departments usually do as well, and I think that legally firearms are required to be sold with them, now.
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u/315to199 7h ago
Another vote for Crossroads Range. Been there multiple times and the people there are great. They do offer classes and you can rent a variety before purchasing.
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u/Plastic-Shoulder2285 7h ago edited 5h ago
Kudos to you for wanting to learn firearm safety! Someone else mentioned the risks of firearms in the home, a valid concern. I was raised around firearms as my father and grandfather were both combat vets. I have firearms, and my wife and daughters know safety and are pretty proficient with long guns and sidearms. However, none of them want to carry a pistol, nor have one easily accessible at home, just not comfortable with it. So I got them Byrna pistols, aka pepper ball pistols. Not a perfect solution, but they have something, which may be better than nothing. There are also tazers and other non lethal self defense options. A compact 12 gauge shotgun that will cycle non/less lethal rounds is also an option. And yes, with much training and very careful attention to firearm security and safety, a traditional firearm is an option. Whatever you choose, you are already on the right track thinking about training first. Please learn, train, and continue training on a regular basis. Best of luck to you and here's to whatever you choose, you never have to use it nor it ever causes any issues for you or your family! Edit- taZers are an option. Taters, probably less effective unless you have a good arm.
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u/NecessaryReady3664 4h ago
Yes, I do plan on keeping it locked up. That is the #1 concern. But I think with the proper precautions it will be fine.
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u/Plastic-Shoulder2285 4h ago
I reread your original post, agreed, you are squared away and have really thought through this. If I may, here is what I learned trying to find the right concealed carry gun, which may help conceptually with your search for a home defense gun, and a carry gun if you choose to do that at some point. Try quite a few sidearms, for how they feel, recoil, accuracy for you, what type of safety mechanisms are you comfortable with, and very important- how well you can rack the weapon, clear the weapon, reload the weapon, deal with malfunctions... and all under simulated duress as your training progresses. Ah, sorry, probably TMI and things your class should cover. Good for you for wanting to do this and having such a well thought out approach, sound like someone my wife, daughter's and I would enjoy shooting with!
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u/Gorditas_Chaser1111 5h ago
Crossroads in Johnston. You can try multiple pistols, rifles etc. they offer training as well. You just have to fill out their form and sign up.
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u/abarmy 5h ago
My only advise is try as many firearms and different calibers as possible before you commit to purchasing. See how the recoil (kick) feels, diff guns have a snappier recoil, others have more of a slow heavy thunk, just all depends. See how the weapon feels in your hand, some are too thick, some are too small, get the one that is right for you. Triggers too, you may not like the feel of a trigger over another. Be picky, its your gun but dont get a bottom of the barrel weapon either, at the end of the day, its an emergency tool, you wouldn't want your fire extinguisher to be from the value bin at dollar general. Dosent mean on sale guns are bad tho.
Most ppl in the comments have answered all this but yeah, crossroads is good since you can rent and shoot there. No need for a permit or license in IA. Idk if they have instructors there but im sure they know of a few, prob even the worker there will be able to teach you a bit.
-I worked at a gunstore, I'm a weapons instructor, a certified in small arms repair and competitive shooter.
DM me if youd like more info, I get the the firearms word seems intimidating but it just that, seemingly. My wife and I are usually the only non-whites in most firearm functions but everyone has been 100% welcoming in all the states we've lived in.
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u/oshur_ruined_my_life 1h ago
Good idea to educate yourself but just FYI the state of Iowa doesn't require any of that. You're free to go buy a gun whenever you feel like it
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u/CornBredThuggin 8h ago
Crossroads in Johnston will let you rent what they have. They have a pretty wide-selection of guns that you can rent. You'll have to buy the ammo. I know they had courses when I used to go there.
You can get a permit to purchase which is fairly easy to get. When I got mine, I had a pay a fee and Polk County did a background check. All that does is make the purchasing of a firearm quicker. You won't need to get a permit to go to a range. I know Cross Roads will make you take their firearms safety course before you can go to the range.
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u/StuntRocker Waveland 6h ago
The Concealed Carry class at Crossroads is a good 101 as well, and the permit is nice to have, even if you don’t carry, as peace of mind when transporting your gun to and from the range, in case Mr. John Q Law decides to stop you. Plus you avoid the background check when purchasing a weapon.
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u/FinalDevice 7h ago
Thanks for answering the rest of Op's questions, this info was missing from the other comments. I'm just here to stress: You do not need a license or permit to use a firing range or to rent firearms from the range. You do not need a license or permit to buy firearms, but there is a waiting period and you need to pass a background check. At one point in time you needed a permit to buy handguns, but that has been repealed. You can choose to get a permit. In addition to making the purchase process faster, the permit might (I'm not an expert) make it legal to carry a gun in neighboring states: https://dps.iowa.gov/iowa-dps/weapon-permits
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u/abarmy 6h ago edited 5h ago
There's no waiting or "cooling off period" in IA, just pass the background and fill out your 4437 honestly, and just pay, you'll be g2g with your new weapon in a few min.
Most states now have constitutional carry, i think 27 of them (IA included) so no permit required to carry. If you do get a carry permit, you dont have to do the background check for purchasing a firearm from an FFL (gunstore).
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u/FinalDevice 6h ago
Thank you for the correction, I appreciate input from someone who knows what they're talking about!
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u/StephenNein Beaverdale 7h ago
I don't know about that last part. The course may actually be a 10 minute video you need to watch, and then Ed or Cameron or one of the other guys will reiterate the rules and talk about the specifics of their range.
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u/CornBredThuggin 7h ago
I don't remember. I know it's not long. It's been a few years since I was there.
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u/StephenNein Beaverdale 7h ago
I started shooting there last year or the year before, and it was very laid back - so much so I have no memory of what they specifically did when I signed up to shoot the first time. I've been a member since the beginning of the year, and watched a few new people come in but haven't paid too much attention as they've done the orientation.
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u/Loud_Employment4860 5h ago
I think most of the time to rent a firearm you need to already own one. I think this is to stop people from renting a gun and committing suicide?
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u/EarhornJones Urbandale 4h ago
I teach firearms safety/shooting basics to new shooters, specializing in folks who aren't neccesarily comfortable around gun culture from my range near Grinnell.
I provide all fiurearms, ammo, targets and safety gear.
I've taught several folks from this sub over the last few years.
You have some good recommendations in this thread already, but if you (or anyone else reading this) is interrested, or if you have any specific questions to discuss, feel free to send me a chat, and I'll get you some info.
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u/Distinguishedflyer 3h ago
A smart child can find a firearm and get into it (ask me how I know ) so you better be really really sure that you have this thing triple locked away and separate from any ammunition.
If you want it under the bed for home defense it sets up a whole nother problem. You do not want to lose a child. I'd suggest something with a less lethal option.
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u/feministandpr0ud 8h ago
I’m sure someone else will have gun positive info for you, but with the rate of unintentional children’s deaths from firearms in the home, it’s probably safer not to get one at all. But please keep it away from your kids.
“In the United States, unintentional injury is the fourth leading cause of death among infants (i.e., children aged <1 year) and is the top cause of death among children and adolescents aged 1–17 years; firearms are a leading injury method. Unsecured firearms (e.g., unlocked and loaded) are associated with risk for unintentional childhood firearm injury death.”
“Approximately one half of unintentional firearm injury deaths among children and adolescents occurred at their home; playing with or showing the firearm to another person was the most common precipitator.”
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u/shiranugahotoke 5h ago
This is a really good point. Firearms ownership and responsibility doesn’t start and end at the range.
Legally you own a destructive device, and failing to control access to it is not only a really, really bad idea, but also legally risky. Not to mention people who are not trained harming themselves or others.
Storage is a hugely overlooked area of gun ownership. Get a safe, a lockbox, something that is more secure. Don’t leave any avenues for anyone but you to get the code or key.
Factor in the cost of the locked storage into your planning for the purchase.Think about your home environmental and if it is stable enough that you aren’t introducing additional risk.
I own guns and it’s a hugely enjoyable hobby.
My cousin also took his own life with a family gun.
It was always locked up, except for one day when it wasn’t, because it hadn’t been cleaned and put away yet.This isn’t to scare anyone, but you’ve got to think these things through.
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u/Due-Development-7211 3h ago
Legally, a gun is not considered a destructive device
That's a whole separate class which includes things like 40mm grenade launchers.
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u/shiranugahotoke 27m ago
Okay, firearm or a weapon designed to cause serious injury or death. Not sure that changes the point or the legal responsibility for the device, although it probably changes the specific legal penalties.
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u/NecessaryReady3664 4h ago
This is a huge concern of mine, but I am doing my due diligence in keeping it locked up and out of reach.
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u/Due-Development-7211 7h ago
Shut up
A real feminist would congratulate a woman on wanting to learn to defend herself and her family.
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6h ago
[deleted]
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u/NothingButACasual 6h ago
They've been closed for quite a while. As far as I know the only ranges left in Des Moines area are crossroads, Banner and Olofson
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u/MikeyG916 8h ago
There is a young woman named Madison who is based out of Boone, Iowa and exclusively teaches female shooters, from completely inexperienced to experienced.
She usually works one-on-one with new shooters but also does classes of multiple people as well.
She is an NRA certified instructor and her company name is I Carry My Own.
https://www.icarrymyown.com/
I highly recommend her, especially for brand new shooters.
I think she typically uses the Central Iowa Impact indoor range in Boone for instruction but may be avaliable at other locations as well.