Get on target
By Jeremy Schaar
De winter is lang en vaak moeten we ons vanwege de kou binnen vermaken. Hier misschien een origineel idee voor degenen die van schieten houden:
Target shooting demands strength, coordination and patience. But that’s not the draw. It’s the noise, the recoil, the bullet holes. It’s hard to do well, but not so hard that you can’t just go out and enjoy some success straight off.
Your first step is to choose your gun and how many shots you want to take. Prices usually range from 10 to 40 rubles per bullet, depending on the caliber of the gun — the bigger the bullet, the more you pay. You’ll be choosing between revolvers, pistols and rifles.
With pistols and revolvers, you can have a two-handed grip or try the way the pros do it — with your side to the target and one arm straight out. Rifles are heavier and difficult to hold steady. If you sit down and balance your rifle on a table, though, it’ll give you the easiest of shots.
Trainers will help you out with any other details, but do make sure to immediately request earmuffs to dampen the 160-decibel blasts.
Most centers around the city cater to large professional groups such as the police force, but there are a couple of spots suitable for recreational shooters.
The Central Shooting Club ROSTO only demands a passport to let you shoot. Guns can be chosen from a large catalogue at the cashier, and you can see the full list at www.cssk.ru. Prices range from 15 to 40 rubles per shot. The coolest is their 5.6-millimeter Margolin pistol — a creation of the blind Mikhail Vladimirovich Margolin, it used to be the gun of choice for Soviet Olympic shooters. The club has a 25-meter-long hall for shooting pistols, revolvers and rifles, and a 50-meter-long hall for rifles and crossbows. Targets are retrieved with the push of a button. For 20 rubles extra per shot, you can take shots at a screen while hostage situations are projected on to it. The training isn’t formal, but the staff will help you as needed.
Zelyoniye Gory shooting gallery is at the back of a building and a little tough to locate. To find it, follow the red carpet (honest). You must phone in advance to set up an appointment with an instructor on a Saturday or Sunday. The minimum price is 500 rubles. At 10 rubles per shot, however, it’s the best value in town. Before shooting, you’ll practice with a laser gun in front of a white screen for about 10 minutes, with an instructor. This is excellent as it allows you to practice aiming without having to waste bullets. No one speaks English, but the staff is friendly. You may choose between two pistols (a Margo or a Margolin) or one rifle (CM2). All are 5.6-millimeter caliber. There is a large hall for shooting, and you can stand 10 to 50 meters from the targets. To shoot here, you need to present proof that you are mentally sound — either a certificate from a psychiatric dispensary or a driver’s license (overseas licenses are accepted).
ROSTO
86 Volokolamskoye Shosse (M. Tushinskaya)
491-0290/1010, daily 9am-8pm
Zelyoniye Gory
14 Varshavskoye Shosse, Building 3 (M. Tulskaya)
954-3708, 952-5277, weekdays 9am-9pm, weekends by appointment
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