Do you usually shoot alone or is it a social thing?

[Hokkmike]

My brother made a comment the other day that he hasn't done much shooting because I (and other shooting friends) have not been around.

I never thought of shooting from that point of view. Many times I have enjoyed taking my AK to an empty range (my shooting club 80% of the time) and slowly firing off magazine after magazine.

I do occasionally shoot with friends and it is fun to share techniques, each others' guns, etc., and have a bite and drink afterward.

Do you generally shoot alone or is it pretty much tied to being a social time for you?

[EZ1]

A little of both, if I'm sighting in a scope or handguns I llike to be alone. On the indoor range I'd prefer to be alone unless everyone is shooting 22s otherwise it's too loud for me. However, it's always good to shoot with a couple of buddies, then head to the club house afterwards for BS sessions.

[Poonie]

I prefer to shoot alone, or with my two sons that's it. I'm not into socializing while I'm at the club. Our club is also empty more often than not, and that's how I like it. I get annoyed with strangers who try to bullshit with me while I'm trying to shoot, so its good that my club is empty most of the time. I literally told one wingnut to get out of my face one time because he was so obnoxiously rude and insisted on trying to talk to me while I was trying to concentrate. That was at French Creek and not my club.

[jokusfocus]

It depends on what I'm shooting.

It's hard to beat shooting a 22 at an empty range.

But every Friday and most Thursday's I go shoot clays with the clay target team, then go out for dinner and a drink afterward. It's about the only way to keep sane after a week of classes/projects/tests/no sleep. Nationals in April cannot come soon enough (get to take an entire week off of classes to shoot). This all is a highly social shooting experience.

[imashooter2]

I'll shoot alone, but prefer to have a buddy or two with me.

Shoot some, tell a few lies, shoot more, complain about work, try his, share mine... Makes for a pleasant day.

[Steve in PA]

Usually my wife comes with me and we shoot toegether, but if she's not up to going I shoot by myself. Not that I'm anti-social, but I try and work on different things since I'm an instructor and my concentration is usually tied up with that.

[Pagoda240]

Socially is nice, you get to try different weapons but as soon as the weather breaks. I will shoot alone a lot during the week day .

[rwilson452]

mostly I shoot alone. Definitely when doing load development. I do some mild mannered combat action stuff as a group thing.

[ReconLdr]

I prefer to practice alone.

I am not opposed to group shoots, but for me they are more social than practice. I enjoy meeting other members for some guns, food, and beer. Especially the chicken fried bacon...

[Orive 8]

Currently I shoot with my wife (training partner for the past 25 years) and a group of 4-8 friends that have all taken our defensive pistol classes.

We meet once a month for a structured practice session, my wife and I run two different relays for the group. We also shoot a monthly IDPA match for additional practice.

We used to run a defensive pistol league weekly for 8 weeks four times a year, then that changed to a 2x a month league. We averaged about 20 shooters at each session.

I very rarely if ever shoot by myself.