Shooting sports have been around for hundreds of years, with the first recorded pigeon shooting competitions taking place in the 1800s. Since then, the sport has changed a great deal. People are no longer limited to shooting pigeons; instead, several different options are available to them, including target shooting and clay pigeon shooting. As well as this, the number of different types of guns available has also increased.

Unfortunately, despite these changes, shooting sports have decreased in popularity over the years. While there are many reasons for this, one of the main reasons is that people think they cannot afford to take part in this activity.

However, while shooting used to be limited to the wealthy upper classes, this is no longer the case. Nowadays, shooting is an affordable sport to get into. If you fancy giving it a go, keep reading below. We’ll tell you everything you need to know about shooting sports:

The Benefits of Shooting as a Hobby

There are many benefits of participating in a shooting sport. Here are some of the main ones:

•         It is good for your health – any exercise is good for your mental and physical health.
•         It’s great fun – shooting sports are not only fun, but they can also be exciting too.
•         You can make new friends – if you’re looking for a hobby where you can make new friends, then this is it. You can choose to shoot alongside people you don’t know or ask friends and family to go with you.
•         It’s easy to learn – while perfecting this sport can take many years, learning to shoot a gun takes very little time.
•         Anyone can do it – shooting is an activity that almost anyone can participate in. As long as you are over 16 and have no criminal convictions, you can get a gun license.

Different Categories of Shooting Sports

Shooting sports can be categorized by:

•         The equipment
•         The time limits
•         The shooting distance
•         The targets
•         The degree of athleticism involved

It is up to you which category you choose to take part in. As well as this, you can decide whether to participate in these sports on your own or become part of a team.

What Equipment Do You Need for This Hobby?

Here’s a list of some of the main pieces of equipment you will need for this hobby:

•         A weapon – The type of weapon you need for this hobby will depend on which category you choose to take part in. There are many different types of weapons to choose from, including small firearms, rifles, shotguns, and bows/crossbows.
•         Ammunition – most people who participate in shooting sports buy their ammunition in bulk, which is often much cheaper. However, before buying ammunition, it’s essential to shop around. You not only need to find a reasonably priced ammo seller, but you also need to ensure that they sell quality goods. Fortunately, there are many sites that make shopping online easy.
•         Clothing – while there are no rules around what you must wear to participate in a shooting sport, purchasing some good-quality, comfortable clothing and shoes for this hobby is a good idea. As well as this, many people choose to purchase gloves to protect their hands.

The Rules and Regulations

Before participating in a shooting sport, you must obtain a license. This is easy to do and costs very little money. Once you have your license, you are legally allowed to start shooting. However, before you do, you must understand the rules and regulations surrounding this sport. The rules and regulations you have to follow will vary depending on the type of shooting sport you decide to participate in and your location.

No matter what type of shooting you choose to participate in, shooting is a great activity to get into. As well as being a great deal of fun, this type of sport allows you to meet other like-minded individuals. And these aren’t the only benefits of shooting as a hobby. If you like the sound of this sport, why not give it a try? 

January 4, 2021/Riley Draper Table of Contents

Guns are some of the best methods of self-defense in the world. From in the home to the U.S. Military, if you’re looking to protect yourself, you’re going to want to look at more than the most popular guns. You want reliable firearms and sturdy polymer. Maybe you’re just looking to see what you can learn about the firearms industry. This can be a confusing hobby to learn about when you’re brand new. Maybe something the National Rifle Association said got you thinking about picking up a Remington of your own, or maybe you just think machine guns look cool in movies.

We’re going to help walk you through some of the best gun brands out there right now. You’ll learn more about why folks go wild for Austrian guns, you’ll see why American firearms are some of the most reliable tools to bring to the range. You’ll leave knowing your long guns from your grenade launchers, and if you’re not new to this, maybe you’ll leave with some appreciation of Italy and it’s ironworking history or new love for the classic Glock 17.

Hunting and target practice in general is way more fun when you come equipped with the best gear.

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1. Glock Ges.m.b.H.

Glock is easily the most recognizable gun manufacturer on the planet. They’re the Kleenex of the gun world. The name is thrown around so often that you’d think Glock meant “pistol” if you didn’t know any better.

The pistols that Glock produces are straightforward, sturdy, and dependable. They’re the kind of gun you’d reach for when the chips are down, or if you just don’t like fussing with extra features. That durability and sturdy build quality makes Glock the brand that the militaries and law enforcement all around the world.

They’re known for simplifying their guns. The Glock is the gun stripped down to its most effective parts. They keep their parts interchangeable and sturdy. The steel components are treated with “Tenifer” making them harder and resistant to corrosion and normal wear and tear. If you take care of these guns they’ll last you basically forever. They’re excellent for learning the basics of gunsmithy, and they’re the kind of guns you’ll love learning inside and out.

Though their name is synonymous with firearms, they don’t just crank out firearms. They make field and survival knives as well as entrenchment tools making them a one-stop-shop for armed forces that find themselves out in the wild often.  

PROS

• Easy to use
• Great for learning the ins and outs of firearms

CONS

• If you’re looking for something flashy, this may no be the brand for you

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2. Smith & Wesson

Smith & Wesson made themselves known right out of the gate with their Smith & Wesson Model 1. The Model 1 was the first revolver to make use of rimfire cartridges instead of loose powder propelling musket balls and percussion caps. It’s no exaggeration to say they changed the world forever. It was one of the firearms of choice during the American Civil War. Soldiers from both sides of the war saw this innovative piece of machinery and purchased them in droves to defend themselves. From there Smith &  Wesson has constantly been growing and changing throughout history.

Today they’re known for producing rifles and pistols along with their famous revolvers. That history and decades upon decades of experience mean that Smith &  Wesson is one of the most reliable and innovative brands manufacturing guns today. As a bonus, well-cared-for Smith & Wesson firearms are known to hold their value very well when you decide to sell your guns.

Their reliability is rivaled probably only by Glock’s. In fact, they once exchanged legal blows over the Smith & Wesson Sigma series. This is a line of recoil-operated semi-auto pistols that threatened Glock so much that a lawsuit and undisclosed settlement ensued.

PROS

• Well known brand means you’ll have a community of similar experiences

CONS

• Trigger reset can feel too subtle if you’re used to other firearms

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3. Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.

Founded a little while after World War II, Ruger made a name for themselves all around the world. Their .22 pistol is wielded by militaries and security operations. Ruger has been an American company for the entirety of it’s relatively short (in the history of gun manufacturers anyway) lifespan. 

They got their start shortly after Bill Ruger got his hands on the Japanese Nambu pistol from a Marine returning from war. Their first semi-auto handgun combined the looks of the German 9mm Luger and the American Colt Woodsman, and people loved it so much that it gave them the capital to get an entire company rolling. 

That momentum has translated into their well-known high-quality revolvers like the GP100 and the Redhawk line. They also have a vice grip on the world of semi-automatic pistols with their Ruger MKII and Ruger MKIII which both trace their lineage right back to that melting pot of a gun that started it all.

PROS

• A long history of providing firearms to militaries

CONS

• Build quality in a few of their models is below par

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4. Sig Sauer

If you take a trip back to 1853 you’ll find a modest industrial plant hammering together wagons and railcars for trains. In the future, they’ll see a Swiss army in need. They repositioned their manufacturing plant and started producing top of the line rifles to sell to the Swiss army. This move began the life of one of the top gun manufacturers in the world.

Now that they’ve moved away from their humble train car beginnings Sig Sauer has become a worldwide powerhouse in the realm of firearms. They make beautiful reliable handguns like the Sig Sauer P226 Elite Platinum and the Sig Sauer 1911 Super Target. That’s the kind of multifaceted craftsmanship you can expect from the ex wagon builders.

They’ve also expanded beyond just producing some of the best guns on the market. Sig Sauer scopes, ammo, and air guns are also some of the best accessories out there. Their air guns are designed to mimic their pistols as much as possible, from the weight and aesthetics down to the trigger pull. They’re great for training young aspiring gun owners, and adults alike, reducing the differences between air gun and the real deal as much as possible.

PROS

• Their air powered guns are an excellent purchase for anyone looking to ease their way into gun ownership

CONS

• Sometimes a little pricey

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5. Beretta

In the 1980s the United States Army carried what they called the M9 as their primary sidearm. That military issue pistol was developed and manufactured by Beretta. This Italian company is one of the oldest gun manufacturers on the entire planet. Beretta started by working iron, and to this day, you could argue that they kept the spirit of ironwork alive.

Providing the M9 to the military during the 80s isn’t their first foray into the world of war. Beretta is responsible for one of the first submachine guns in the world, they provided pistols to their home military, and for a short time under duress after  they manufactured weapons for Germany during World War II

Beretta is known best for producing a wide array of firearms. Their side-by-side, over-and-under and semi-automatic shotguns, alone would be enough to put them on the map, but they keep pushing. They also manufacture express, assault, and hunting rifles, single and double-action revolvers, and semi-automatic pistols. They’re truly the masters of their industry.

PROS

• Constantly creating some of the best looking guns 

CONS

• Beretta 92FS is constantly dinged for having an overly bulky handle

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6. Savage Arms

This American gun manufacturer is the child of the explorer and inventor, Arthur Savage. He’s most famous for the Savage Model 99 lever-action rifle, and if you’re up on your gun history, then you’re probably not learning anything new with that little tidbit. If you really want to impress your friends at a dinner party, try throwing in the fact that he also patented radial tires.

The history of Savage Arms is extensive. He and his son were experimenting with guns and pushing the technology for years. They moved the magazine in the lever-action rifle from underneath the barrel and into the stock and other tinker attempts. Eventually, the Model 99 came along and wowed big game hunters for years. The hammerless design and rotary magazine were like nothing seen before, and it only grew better with age with little improvements like a removable magazine.

Savage Arms was a subsidiary of Vista Outdoor until it spun off into its own thing in 2019. This manufacturer has a long and proud history of innovation, quality, and backing the British military in World War II.

PROS

• A long history of innovation
• Excellent bolt action rifles

CONS

• Some struggles with quality control spot their record

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7. Mossberg

Mossberg is an innovative American-made manufacturer operating out of Eagle Pass, Texas. They’re known not just for the Mossberg Plinkster, the Mossberg 500 pump-action shotgun, or the Mossberg 464. They also manufacture incredible scopes and other accessories. This immigrant-founded American brand encompasses the American dream. 

Oscar Frederick Mossberg was born in Sweden, but moved to America and began making his life in Iver Johnson Arms & Cycle Works in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. He spent his time there learning everything he could while supervising the production of revolvers and shotguns. He even contributed his own design patents like the strap latching on the Iver Johnson safety revolver. Suffice it to say that when Oscar Mossberg eventually took to making guns with his sons in a barn behind his house, he knew what he was doing. 

They would move north late in Mossberg’s life and start their own gun manufactury. They would work out of a small loft in New Haven. During that time, they developed the now well-known Brownie. That simple four-shot pocket pistol would save many a hunter from losing out on a good shot, and set the Mossberg family on their way. Without the Brownie, you don’t get the pump-action of the Mossberg we love so much or the thrill of shooting that little Mossberg Plinkster. 

PROS

• Produces everything from scopes to firearms

CONS

• Aluminum receivers on some of their models can get a little hot

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8. Springfield Armory, Inc.

Springfield Amory is a four-time American Rifleman’s Golden Bullseye Award winner. If you want something that’s going to last you a long time, fire straight and true, and is thrilling to use at the range, then you’ll love what Springfield Armory has to offer. 

Bob Reese essentially brought Springfield Armory back from the dead, and we should all be grateful for his efforts. Springfield Armory was originally the name of the center of manufacture in the United States from 1777 to 1968. After being closed for a few years, Elmer C. Ballance his own company, LH Manufacturing, and took on the name of Springfield after becoming the first civilian manufacturer of the M14 rifle. Eventually, the company changed hands to Bob Reese and the craftsmanship and dependability of the founders made their way to the modern-day. 

This manufacturer is the centerpiece of many a defense and movie budget. If you’ve ever seen a gun in a movie that made you think “dang, I’d love to add that to my collection” you were probably looking at a Springfield. The M1911 is a beautiful piece that any gun owner would be proud to hold, and that’s just the kind of work Springfield does year after year. 

PROS

• Wide range of rifles and handguns
• Won several awards over the years

CONS

• Pretty young company

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9. Heckler and Koch

For a short time after World War II, this German company shuffled hands until it settled itself and started making machine tools, parts for bikes and sewing machines along with a miscellany of precision parts. Eventually, the call for a new infantry rifle went out across Germany. Heckler and Koch rose to the occasion by pitching the G3 battle rifle. Through this proposal, they became the standard battle rifle of the German Federal Army. As you can imagine, this meant great things for them. 

Today Heckler and Koch have branched out a little from manufacturing simply military gear. Now they’re making sports and hunting firearms as well. They’ve been handed contract after contract for military firearms, keeping them flush with patents and allowing them the room to diversify and improve for decades. 

Their guns have only gotten better and better as time has gone on. Talking firearms will never be complete if you don’t throw Heckler and Koch in the ring. 

PROS

• A wide range of focus has brought several manufacturing techniques together into one ultra-reliable brand
• Interesting for a gun owner looking to expand their horizons

CONS

• Has a checkered history from legal troubles involving illegal arms dealings

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10. Winchester Repeating Arms Company

Operating out of New Haven, Connecticut we have Winchester Repeating Arms Company, better known as Winchester. Winchester is where you go when you want a good solid rifle. It’s no surprise that Winchester comes to mind whenever rifles come up. 

Their rifles and shotguns are some of the best in the game. If you’re ever at a loss for where to grab your next rifle, try getting one from the pros. They share a lot of blood with the excellent Smith and Wesson. In fact, Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson were responsible for obtaining Lewis Jenning’s improved version of the “Volition Repeating Rifle” and it’s wild sounding “Rocket Ball” ammunition.

After Smith and Wesson departed from what would eventually become Winchester Repeating Arms Company, and after a lot of tinkering, we get the more modern and more powerful rimfire .44 Henry round. He kept his nose to the grindstone and showed Smith and Wesson that he too could play this firearms game. 

About fifty years ago they pioneered the popular choke tubes for shotguns, and today they produce some of the best ammo and riles on the market. 

PROS

• Manufactures some of the best longarms on the market today
• Produces a wide range of accessories and ammo to fit your firearm of choice

CONS

• If you’re not looking for a rifle or a shotgun, you may be better off looking elsewhere

Our Winner

No single brand can really cover every single possible base, but Glock comes pretty dang close. For beginners, Glocks are something simple that will get the job done without too much fuss. They’re reliable and simple, allowing room to grow into the hobby and creating pros out of novices. For folks more familiar with a firearm, Glock manufactures guns that are simple to disassemble, reassemble, customize, and clean.

Their parts are generally interchangeable and affordable removing one of the higher hurdles of gun ownership and amateur gunsmithy. For folks that know their way around a gun, Glocks are something for them to appreciate the beauty and simplicity of their firearms. A lot of manufacturers want you to believe you need all of the newest tech and several interlocking moving parts, but Glock sets out to prove that wrong time and again. 

Whatever you’re looking for, you might find a new appreciation for it by coming back to the basics provided by Glock’s handguns. Taking apart something as simple as this will make appreciating your automatic rifles that much more satisfying. 

Bonus tip: While you’re at it, check out this informational video on the 10 reasons why you should be a gun owner!

Must Check out: Primary Weapons Systems rifles and pistols at Omaha Outdoors.

Also, check the Online Gun Store.

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Riley Draper

Riley Draper is a writer and entrepreneur from Chattanooga, Tennessee. As a world traveler, he has been to more than fifty countries and hiked some of the most elusive trails in the world. He is the co-founder of WeCounsel Solutions and has published work in both national and global outlets, including the Times Free Press, Patch, and Healthcare Global. When he’s not writing, he’s probably on a hiking trip or climbing in the mountains.

Safety glasses run the gamut from providing basic impact protection to high-mass and high-velocity impact protection all the way up to ballistic protection. The testing standards for ballistic eyewear are at least four times as rigorous as the standards for basic impact protection maintained by the American National Standards Institute. If you shoot recreationally at the range, go hunting or are a member of the Armed Forces, you need a pair of shooting glasses that are rated for ballistic impact.

Glasses for Shooting Are Ballistic Rated

Standards for ballistic eyewear significantly exceed requirements for high-mass and high-velocity impact. Ballistic testing for U.S. military standards such as MIL-PRF-31013 subjects eyewear to projectiles moving more than four times as fast as those used for basic ANSI testing.

While it is not necessary to limit your choices of ballistic eyewear to the spectacles and goggles on the U.S. Army Authorized Protective Eyewear List if you are not enlisted, eyewear of this caliber is guaranteed to be a reliable choice for hunters and recreational shooters. Make sure that any eyewear you consider for shooting has earned a trustworthy ballistic rating.

Prescription Safety Glasses Can Improve Your Aim

It should go without saying that the ability to see clearly can increase your odds of hitting your target. Even the best sighting systems cannot perform the function of corrective lenses, particularly if you are nearsighted. Wearing ballistic-rated glasses with prescription lenses or goggles with a prescription insert can help you see clearly and protect your eyes.

You can make the most of an investment in protective eyewear for shooting by getting a vision test and providing measurements off of an updated prescription card when you order ballistic-rated prescription safety glasses or goggles. Prescriptions only last one to two years, and the most current prescription is most likely to increase your visual acuity and improve the precision of your aim.

Shooting Glasses Protect Against Fragmentation

Projectile fragmentation is one of the main eye safety risks when shooting. Ballistic glasses provide much less coverage than body armor, and so the primary function of this protective equipment is actually shielding your eyes from frag. Bullet frag is a common cause of preventable eye injuries in the field.

Spectacles can provide a lot of protection from front impact. The width of frames and the extent to which eyewear wraps around your face can increase the shielded portion of your face, as can eyewear with integrated side shields. A pair of goggles or convertible eyewear that comes with a facial cavity seal can provide more protection against a wider range of eye safety hazards. Browse a full selection of ballistic-rated spectacles and goggles at Safety Gear Pro.

A pair of ballistic-rated shooting glasses can protect your eyes from fragmentation and flying projectiles. Testing for ballistic standards is more rigorous than high-mass and high-velocity tests for the ANSI Z87 standard. Goggles can provide more complete eye protection and have more cushioning than spectacles. Compare the comfort and safety features of your favorite ballistic-rated frames to decide on the right shooting eyewear and safety gear.