Shooting Ranges

[doppa]

i know getting the licence will be another long drawn out affair, but anyone on here been through the process, and actually own a firearm, must be a gun shop in town.

[threedot]

From what I understand, gun control laws are very strict and prices also very high due to import duties. I think the odds of you getting a license are slim to none unless you can demonstrate good cause for issuance and/or have high powered friends. There are some previous threads on the subject you may find insightful. Of course, locating one illegally is a different matter.

[sibeymai]

There's a shooting range (pistols and rifles) at the Chulalomklao Military Academy in Nakhon Nayok. Have shot there without any license (they provide the firearms). They also have a rather nice golf course.

[Ulysses G.]

I think the odds of you getting a license are slim to none

[uptheos]

With such strict gun laws in place, it makes me wonder how Thailand is only behind South Africa and Columbia in firearm related homicides, per capita?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_count...ated_death_rate

[threedot]

With such strict gun laws in place, it makes me wonder how Thailand is only behind South Africa and Columbia in firearm related homicides, per capita?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_count...ated_death_rate

The law is one thing, reality is another. I have witnessed one shooting here and indirectly been offered firearms before. Maybe I'm socialising with the wrong people but it seems like a lot of the younger males, particularly from the northern regions have access to firearms.

[mcgriffith]

I know one farang resident here who has a legally owned handgun.

I am not at liberty to mention his name.

He was able to purchase and own only because of his long time status here, his previous military service attached to the Thai Army, and a few other high connections.

The weapon has to be held under lock and key at a military firing range. In other words, no you can't carry here legally even though you have a firearm.

Perhaps there are exceptions to these laws. But basically, my understanding is that no farang can legally carry here, unless perhaps an Embassy security personnel or some kind of foreign police, i.e. DEA, or MI5, etc.

Personally I have a rather hefty brush-cutter machete; weighs about 2 kilos....that would lop off an arm (or a head, for that matter) with one swipe, next to my bed.

This town is not the wild west. There is no need to own firearms of any kind here, IMHO.

Oh, and I used to to be a combat pistol marksman, and high power rifle shooter in a previous life.

[uptheos]

With such strict gun laws in place, it makes me wonder how Thailand is only behind South Africa and Columbia in firearm related homicides, per capita?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_count...ated_death_rate

The law is one thing, reality is another. I have witnessed one shooting here and indirectly been offered firearms before. Maybe I'm socialising with the wrong people but it seems like a lot of the younger males, particularly from the northern regions have access to firearms.

Absolutely agree. However, to reach such a high level on the international statistical chart would suggest that more than a lot of younger people own firearms - I would imagine a large percentage of the population own guns and people who feel they like to give 'the finger' to other drivers, would do well to remember that.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Personally I have a rather hefty brush-cutter machete; weighs about 2 kilos....that would lop off an arm (or a head, for that matter) with one swipe, next to my bed.

[Blinky Bill]

Personally I have a rather hefty brush-cutter machete; weighs about 2 kilos....that would lop off an arm (or a head, for that matter) with one swipe, next to my bed.

And he's a moderator.......beware!!

[Ajarn]

Personally I have a rather hefty brush-cutter machete; weighs about 2 kilos....that would lop off an arm (or a head, for that matter) with one swipe, next to my bed.

And he's a moderator.......beware!!

Another moderator brags about 'owning' a 45 calibre pistol...

[Jungian]

From what I understand unless you are a Thai you can not buy a gun. The obvious way around that is to get your wife to buy one providing you have a Thai wife but she will need a good reason for buying the gun. Although I have an arsenal in the USA I have never felt the need to own a firearm in Thailand.

[Blinky Bill]

From what I understand unless you are a Thai you can not buy a gun. The obvious way around that is to get your wife to buy one providing you have a Thai wife but she will need a good reason for buying the gun. Although I have an arsenal in the USA I have never felt the need to own a firearm in Thailand.

So why did you need an arsenal in America?

Criminals don't need a license to buy a gun, only the honest(??) people do.

There's been the odd situation in Chiang Mai over the years where an expat with a licensed handgun has been on the piss and shot someone who has angered him. Got lots of hassle but was able to buy his way out of it in the end.

Simple conclusion in my opinion is if the <deleted> didn't have a gun in the first place there would be no dead guy and no consequence.

[TexasRanger]

Personally I have a rather hefty brush-cutter machete; weighs about 2 kilos....that would lop off an arm (or a head, for that matter) with one swipe, next to my bed.

And he's a moderator.......beware!!

Another moderator brags about 'owning' a 45 calibre pistol...

I don't know why being a moderator of an internet forum should stop someone from being an idiot. The fact that some of the people sleep with machetes and guns by their beds probably means they either

A Live in the wrong neighbourhood

B Have major fear issues

C Have lousy external security

D They are the people we should be worrying about

E All of the above

[Ulysses G.]

If only more Americans had their own arsenals. Then you could spend more time fighting at home instead of in other people's countries. Would be a great help for the US economy.

You mean fighting in other countries like East Timor?

Edited June 21, 2009 by Ulysses G.

[Donnyboy]

There's been the odd situation in Chiang Mai over the years where an expat with a licensed handgun has been on the piss and shot someone who has angered him. Got lots of hassle but was able to buy his way out of it in the end.

personally, im more worried about the BIB being on the piss, and shooting someone whos angred them in this town. Wasnt there a BIB vs BIB shooting in a nightclub a few years ago in CM?

[chiangmaibruce]

With such strict gun laws in place, it makes me wonder how Thailand is only behind South Africa and Columbia in firearm related homicides, per capita?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_count...ated_death_rate

The law is one thing, reality is another. I have witnessed one shooting here and indirectly been offered firearms before. Maybe I'm socialising with the wrong people but it seems like a lot of the younger males, particularly from the northern regions have access to firearms.

Absolutely agree. However, to reach such a high level on the international statistical chart would suggest that more than a lot of younger people own firearms - I would imagine a large percentage of the population own guns and people who feel they like to give 'the finger' to other drivers, would do well to remember that.

1. To the OP. Your post was about using shooting ranges. You can do so here in Chiang Mai without buying a gun or getting a license.

2. Re: the above discussion, the answer lies in a small percentage of people who hold guns illegally but use them a lot - for all the wrong reasons. The statistical link between rates of gun related crime, gun related suicide, strictness of gun laws, and number of guns in circulation, is a lot weaker than most people imagine. Other variables are more significant like wealth disparity, unemployment, level of poverty, etc.

[Donnyboy]

If only more Americans had their own arsenals. Then you could spend more time fighting at home instead of in other people's countries. Would be a great help for the US economy.

This could become a reality if the dollar crashes, and hyperinflation takes hold. Civil unrest & food shortages

[ubonjoe]

Two off topic posts deleted. Please stay on topic.

[Maejo Man]

There's been the odd situation in Chiang Mai over the years where an expat with a licensed handgun has been on the piss and shot someone who has angered him. Got lots of hassle but was able to buy his way out of it in the end.

The handgun in this situation you mention BB was not licenced to him, it was Thai a national who licenced it. Yes he did make a habit of it too.

It's a sad fact that so many of the Thai police force are completely inept in gun handling, and yes they do have a go at each other more than is publicised. A night club shooting over a petty incident, two Tourist police officers not so long back. One shot and killed in the office. Again a petty arguement.

I have shot competitively for some 30 odd years, and confine my shooting to the range.

If you need to shoot in Chiangmai, I suggest you try the army owned range on the Mae Rim road or the range at the 700 year stadium.

[Ulysses G.]

I learned to fire a rifle in the military, but hardly ever practice with them. I do find that I pick it up again pretty quickly whenever I visit a rifle range. I have fired pistols for familiarization purposes, but never enough to become proficient.

Maejo Man, do you have any idea how long it might take to become reasonably proficient with a few handguns and how often one would need to practice to remain comfortable with them?

Are there Thai trainers in the places that you mentioned and are they good at their job?

[ajarnpim]

If only more Americans had their own arsenals. Then you could spend more time fighting at home instead of in other people's countries. Would be a great help for the US economy.

You mean fighting in other countries like East Timor?

Guatemala, twice

Cuba

Dominican Republic

Grenada

Korea

Lebanon

Vietnam

Laos

Cambodia

Iran, twice

Libya, thrice

Panama

Iraq, twice

Somali

Yugoslavia

Bosnia

Kosovo

Afghanistan

Philippines

Honduras

Nicaragua

• 1 year ago
  

[meadish_sweetball]

Personally I have a rather hefty brush-cutter machete; weighs about 2 kilos....that would lop off an arm (or a head, for that matter) with one swipe, next to my bed.

And he's a moderator.......beware!!

Another moderator brags about 'owning' a 45 calibre pistol...

I only pack my 'love gun'.

[Maejo Man]

Maejo Man, do you have any idea how long it might take to become reasonably proficient with a few handguns and how often one would need to practice to remain comfortable with them?

Are there Thai trainers in the places that you mentioned and are they good at their job?

With no prior training, probably three or four two hour sessions at the range would give you a reasonable "feel" for a particular handgun, but to become proficient with a "few" handguns would take a lot longer.

You first need to be comfortable in the handling of a "dry" firearm (no ammunition) and then progress to the basics of stance, target acqusition, weapon control, loading and unloading etc.

Some people will never become marksmen, however, they can still be a proficient shooter, that excerises competent gun handling.

Apart from the gun club that I belong to, the only reasonable instructors are at the 700 year stadium.

Shooting in Thailand is expensive! The cost of a new handgun is prohibitive, as is the cost of factory ammunnition. Having said that, it's still a great sport.

Edit:-....Sorry forgot to mention....I would suggest that a monthly visit to the range would enable you to "keep your eye in"

Edited June 21, 2009 by Maejo Man

[Ulysses G.]

Edit:-....Sorry forgot to mention....I would suggest that a monthly visit to the range would enable you to "keep your eye in"

I'm not quite sure what that means. Is it anything like meditation?

Thanks for all the good information. I am not really looking to be a marksman, I just want to know how to handle and shoot a pistol competently and it sounds like it would not be too expensive if you keep the hours down.

[Jungian]

From what I understand unless you are a Thai you can not buy a gun. The obvious way around that is to get your wife to buy one providing you have a Thai wife but she will need a good reason for buying the gun. Although I have an arsenal in the USA I have never felt the need to own a firearm in Thailand.

So why did you need an arsenal in America?

Criminals don't need a license to buy a gun, only the honest(??) people do.

There's been the odd situation in Chiang Mai over the years where an expat with a licensed handgun has been on the piss and shot someone who has angered him. Got lots of hassle but was able to buy his way out of it in the end.

Simple conclusion in my opinion is if the <deleted> didn't have a gun in the first place there would be no dead guy and no consequence.

I enjoy target shooting with large guns and it is my right to have as many as I want, I have never pulled a gun on anyone or threatened to. In the USA (where I am from anyway) one must under go a mental health examination, drug test and nation wide background check before being able to carry a firearm. I do not target shoot in Thailand, quite frankly I would not feel comfortable renting a gun as I do not know its care and handling history or the manufacture of the ammunition least it blow up in my face nor would I be comfortable on a shooting range with untrained 'marksmen'.