West Side Rifle & Pistol Range

Just had a really fun afternoon here. Staff were super friendly and helpful and my instructor was great: knowledgeable, thorough and patient. I would highly recommend a visit here especially if you have never handled a firearm as you will leave with a good basic understanding of how a gun works, how to load it and how to shoot.

I signed up for a group class and it was a very fun experience. This place is below average compared to firing ranges you find outside the city. All they have here are rifles and handguns for you to test out. If it’s your first time, the instructor will show you to load and unload the gun and give you a safety lesson. Then you get to fire away at the targets. This is definitely a very fun experience for a first timer. But once you’ve gotten a taste, then it’s time to move to the outside places where they will heavier firepower like shotguns.

I’m giving this place 5 stars because of the staff’s welcoming attitude. They could easily be obnoxiously arrogant as other places in the city, but they treated me better than I was treated at a nearby Starbucks afterwards.
Yes, the facility is a bit dated and the pulley system for the targets was a bit «vintage» but where else can I shoot my .45 pistol in Manhattan?! I grew up in the UES AND NEVER KNEW this place existed!
For all the out of state LEOs, this place is a good bet. The only downside I can come up with is the price, but having a range in Chelsea probably comes with its huge price tag. I think the pice shock was partially on my part, as I probably should have asked what it was going to cost.
But .45 is not a cheap round.
2 boxes, 5 Q targets and day fee for being LEO came up to about $ 123.00
Regardless, when I come back to the city, I’ll be making my way here again.

went to get gift certificate for friend. clerk was SUPER nice and friendly — very informative and even though there was a line — acknowledged my arrival and said he would be with me shortly. great customer service.

My very first time ever handling a firearm. It was scary and empowering at the same time. Huge kudos to the team at West Side Rifle & Pistol Range for making the experience a safe and comfortable one. I am so grateful to my instructor Jonathan for adding humor and compassion and for instilling confidence in me! He was awesome!
The place is very traditional and has an old authentic feel, something you want from a gun range. It’s obvious the staff who work there are very well trained and take the sport very seriously. They want you to be a responsible gun handler and to never cause harm. There is a 30 minute lesson before you get to hit the firing range. It’s cool because you are taught how to load the bullets into your own magazines, where you get 10 of them with 5 bullets each. Each person must wear safety glasses and protective ear sets. We were given .22 semi-​automatic rifles to shoot with. What power! And this little chicken-​shit Asian girl nailed it! Bullseye on her first try! So if I can do it, so can you!
A small word of advice… there will be lead residue from the bullets… be very careful about contamination so wash your hands and avoid touching your mouth, eyes, etc! Try not to transfer it to your cell phone and other possessions. Make sure to wash your clothing and to shower afterwards! This is the health conscious doctor in me preventing heavy metal poisoning!

This was a very cool experience! My friend and I were nervous but after we got the hang out it, it was so easy (learning the logistics of the rifle and then shooting it). Its 75 dollars for the session which includes a training and 50 bullets. I would like to go back before three months (its 45 dollars) and they have a yearly membership for 300 for any avid users. Not sure if I would get the memberahip since I just see myself going back one more time. But I am happy that I got to try it.

Grabbed Unilocal coupon for couple of buddies and I for $ 30 each.
Place is basement level, fairly easy to find. Gathered and waited a bit before our instructor, John proceeded to show us the basics of the rifle. He was very knowledgeable and helpful, and our group of 14 had to go in 7 at a time since they had only 7 booths with the Ruger rifles locked down (would be hard to aim dangerously, but safety first – especially with guns!).
My rifle had a bit of the problem with the hammer, and a couple of rounds were rendered unusable.
Recoil of the rifle isn’t too much – all the girls in the group had no problems with it.
Not really worth $ 65 for 50 rounds, but I suppose it makes sense since enthusiasts who never shot anything will likely do that once. The experience was neat, but nothing amazing.

I love this place.
Sure, it’s very much bare-​bones and no frills, and you are quite limited in what you can shoot. You will not be able to shoot a handgun at all if you do not have a city handgun license, for example. If you’ve been to other ranges, you will probably be disappointed — but don’t blame the folks here! The laws in NYC are very restrictive and you should be glad there’s a range left at all in Manhattan.
I don’t have a ton of experience with firearms, nor am I that good of a shot (yet), but I bought a membership and I come back weekly to shoot in an attempt to get better. I’ve moved on from the .22 to the more expensive but satisfying .38 rounds. Eventually I would like to purchase some guns so this is great for now — it’s close to my work and very convenient.
And yes, the folks here are really nice, and don’t mind answering any questions you may have.

LOVE Westside… been coming for over 15 years. Extremely safe, staff’s stickler for safety! Fun for groups, couples & singles (good place to meet others.) Can shoot rifle for leisure or have scores count. If you’re bringing your own firearm, better be licensed, they don’t play! Very helpful staff.

When you pick up a rifle and stare down the barrel, the sense of empowerment you have is amazing. Here at the Westside Rifle & Pistol Range, guests can rent a .22 caliber rifle and go to town on some paper bad guys. If you’re currently licensed for a handgun, you can rent one of those bad boys as well. Bring a picture of someone you hate and maybe the staff will rig it up for you to blast some holes through them.

Experience was great! Took my girlfriend and we had a very thorough and fun lesson with this one guy. I dont remember his name, but he was black, about 6’2, and tells corny jokes. Nonetheless he was very patient and helped us learn very quickly how to shoot. We got 50 rounds to play with and 3 – 4 targets. Definitely coming back again!

Went for a stag party with 6 other guys and had a great time. Our instructor was informative, informal, and funny. I’d never fired a gun before and was amazed to find out that it was possible to do it in Manhattan. All told, we spent about 2 hours in the class and on the range. The guys at the party all had fun and I’ll definitely be back to try out some of the other rilfes they let you try out after your first visit. Great for parties and/​or dates.

Come here once in a while to practice and for fun.
I really like this place. Very friendly staff, great selection of guns, and good prices.
I’m a regular.

Went here on a first date. The instructor was hilarious and very knowledgeable. We learned a lot from him.
Didn’t like the guns we were given. They were basically rifles that are just above a bb gun. Lethal yes, but they hardly gave any recoil. I didn’t feel like I was shooting an actual gun sometimes.
I would go here again simply because there’s not many shooting ranges in NYC. But if you want a real experience you have to go out of the city.

Awesome, awesome, awesome. For $ 65, we got an instructional course and 50 bullets to shoot with. The instructor was so cool and helpful. He takes his job seriously, but at the same time, he made us feel comfortable as first timers. By the end of the course, I learned about all parts of the gun, how to load my own bullets and of course, how to shoot. With his guidance, I did amazing! I hit the bullseye on my first shot and, when the targets were switched, I saved my hostage. I love this place and will DEFINITELY be coming back. After your first time, you can go for half price over the next three months.

This place is great! I previously had a terrible experience with another rifle company on Groupon but never again!
Westside is conveniently located, wasn’t crowded at all (when I went) and had the friendliest and most informative instructors. We were shooting targets in a matter of minutes. I think the best part was we got to be very independent by loading our own clips, shooting without too much «back seat shooting» and a very laid back environment.
The one thing that’s kind of a bummer is that you get into the zone so easily, bullets just disappear in a snap. Besides that I would definitely return for another session. Also I bumped into that dude that looks like a grown up version of Justin Bieber from The Vampire Diaries outside. Kinda unrelated but I thought someone should know.

This place really is great as everyone says it is. I made an appointment for my friend and myself to casually learn how to shoot, and my god, I had such an amazing time. John, our shooting instructor, was awesome. He really knew what he was talking about, clearly experienced, but most of all, an excellent teacher.
For $ 65, you get a 30 – 40 minute lesson on the safety of guns and shooting, all the components of a gun, shooting techniques, 50 rounds of ammo and two hours to shoot your heart away.
After your first time there, you have three months of a «trial» membership, where you can go for $ 35 instead of $ 65. But you do have to rent, as well as pay for your own ammo so I think it comes out to about the same price. They also give a percentage off the year membership if you sign up that day. Totally would do it if I could afford it AND if I had a gun license.
Can’t wait to go back!

I love the smell of gunpowder in the morning! Nothing like smoking shell casings, packing your own ammo, and a hot cup of coffee to get your blood pumping!
This had to be one of the most fun things I have done with my merry group of Unilocal friends. What better way to celebrate a birthday (Julia B) than by shooting round after round of 22 caliber bullets at multiple targets?
Feel the firepower!
The West Side Rifle & Pistol Range is just an amazing place hidden away in the basement level of a building that is very normal looking on West 20^th street. As you enter the actual facility it is like being exposed to another world. Everyone who works there is packing heat, including the tattoo’ed up older gentleman manning the main counter who would probably blow your head off with a wink of the eye. You constantly hear the pop pop pop of guns being fired. Pictures and posters of celebrities and important people who have been here line the walls. This is a world seemingly unknown to most.
Before coming here you need to have a background check ahead of time and if you are lucky enough to pass that then you are in! First time entrance fee is $ 65 and that covers a three month trial membership, 50 rounds of ammo, and a safety/​training session with a certified shooting instructor. Our instructor, Raymond, was terrific. Not only was he very personable, but highly informative, patient, and funny too. He taught us all the basics of using a Ruger 22 caliber rifle — loading, unloading, stance, arming the magazines, how to hold the gun safely, etc. He is a pro and did not take this lightly, which is best for all. It had been a while since I had been out shooting and having this course as part of the package is a great idea.
They are dead serious about safety here. I was surprised they let our marginally demented group actually hold weapons!
Raymond then led us to one of the firing ranges. The range had seven stations, which was just right for our party, and some random dude that barged in on our birthday group. He told us there is always a spot open to shoot if we ever come back as I think there is more than one range. We had a blast! Each one of us was firing away at targets 25 and 50 feet away. You can get cocky and push the target far out to the back wall and see how good you are. We all did pretty well as shell casings bounced all around. I was surprisingly accurate considering I had not shot a rifle in years. Just remember to sweep up your area as casings are everywhere.
I absolutely loved this place! I feel everyone should know how to handle a weapon safely, learn how to shoot, and it’s also a great way to develop hand-​eye coordination. Plus, it’s a good stress reliever. The $ 65 three month membership means that you can return at any time without making an appointment, re-​doing the background check, or having to sit through the safety class again. You pay just $ 35 a visit plus ammo rounds. You are issued a card with your name, date you first came, and a membership number. A year membership is very affordable at only $ 275. Plus, if you sign up within a week of your first visit they apply that $ 65 towards it, so the cost ends up being $ 210 for the year which includes unlimited shooting time and no range fees. This is a terrific deal!
Of course, we all went out drinking after this!
With my birthday coming up this might make for a great gift that I will surely use. Need to start dropping the hints! Looks like now I will be ready to kill many zombies, as watching all those episodes of The Walking Dead will not go to waste!

What better way to spend a friends 26^th birthday than to go to the range and shoot some guns?
After we all (surprisingly) passed the background check, we headed over to the West Side Rifle & Pistol Range for our safety/​instruction course followed by some good olé’ fashioned shooting. The staff here is super-​friendly. They offer you cookies and coffee right when you walk in and take your payment and ID. Once you get your ID back, you are taken to a classroom in the far back, where an instructor (ours was Raymond) teaches you how to properly handle a .22.
The class was only about 20 minutes long (other reviews said an hour, but ours was definitely not that long). Then we were seated at a couple of tables and instructed on how to load the magazines. I sucked at this part since I’m not good at pushing things in (ermmmm…). After that we received ear muffs and glasses so we were protected from any shells and the loud sounds of the gun going off.
We each received our own «station» to use. Raymond stayed with us the entire time in case we ran into any troubles. I sucked at first since I lack hand/​eye coordination, however, I started to get better. By the time I was getting the hang of it, I ran out of bullets. This is an excuse to visit again! The cool part is it’s $ 65 one time for the course, then you receive a 3 month membership so it’s only $ 35 each time after that plus $ 6.50 for ammo. Not a bad deal AT ALL.
So what did I gain from this experience? My friends are insane. Instructors are nice and friendly and funny… While teaching you how to shoot. And shooting blows off a lot of steam. I could miss the target every single time and still enjoy myself due to the fact that so much aggression is let out in the short time that you are there.
Oh, and please sweep up after yourself. They tell you to do this, as well. But you shouldn’t need to be told. Clean up after yourself. You made the mess. Also as someone else mentioned, wear long sleeves. One of my sleeves rolled up a bit and a shell hit me and it was HOT.

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Before I continue, I also have to say I shot a hand gun before in Vegas. I paid $ 50 for 50 bullets and there wasn’t any training involved. So when I signed up to shoot a rifle in NYC, I was pretty stoked and trigger finger happy. However, when I was finally presented with bullet to load into my magazine, I thought I was being punked. I swear, those bullets looked like it was meant for a bb gun and when I started shooting, I felt like I was shooting a toy.
Like the one in Vegas, the one in NYC also offer 50 bullets but the price tag was $ 65. Additionally, they will do a background check and a 30 min training course is required.
If you’re a first-​timer and always wanted to see how it’s like to shot a «gun», then I would say go for it. But if you shoot a gun before, then honestly, this place isn’t for you.