I've never shot an AR before, but I just bought one and will be going koko head this sunday to try her out.

Is anyone who is familiar with ARs going to be there? I'd appreciate any tips or advice I can get

pm me

Fairly new to the AR game myself. I would recommend watching as many You Tube videos as you can. Learn how the gun functions,safety,loading, and magazine release.
Find out what goes wrong ie. misfires, jams, and other malfunctions.
Go to the range and see how the gun shoots. Listen the the range officers, take your time and have fun. Use common sense and practice firearm safety. 

thanks for the advice. I've watched pretty much every single youtube vid featuring the rifle I have. I've also been watching vids on how to deal with issues.

btw here's a few more Qs:

anybody got tips for building a rifle frame? thinking about using all PVC pipes and joints

If I don't get to the range hella early, will I have a chance of not getting a bench or shooting at all? I was thinking of going at around 10. How long is the average wait?

There should be plenty of folks who can help you out at the range, from the RO's to many shooters who will be shooting their ARs or own them.  Have you cleaned your new gun yet?  Sometimes, new guns will be covered with grease and other lube that should be cleaned off and lube reapplied before firing.

For the frames, I would stick with wood frames.  I typically just buy the premade frames from on of the local shops since I live in a condo and don't have the tools or space to put one together.  Well, that and I'm lazy. 

I've never shot on the rifle range on Sunday, but I would think that something would open up by noon or so.  The problem with getting there at 10 am is that the waiting list will probably be quite long.  There will probably be at least a handful of shooters that will be done by the first change, but I would guess that the waiting list would be at least 20 or so deep by then. 

Good luck with your new AR.  Let us know how it runs. 

Sounds like you are on the right track.

I thought about using pvc for a rifle frame...one or two shots and your frame is nonfunctional. My first time out with the .22, the wife and I put 5 or 6 holes through the frame. Yeah my scope was way off, didn't know till the range went cold during the cease fire. PVC would have ended my day early. The wood frame is still holding strong. I built my own in less than an hour and that icluded a trip to the hardware store. Young Guns $ell$ collapsible frames if you don't have the resources to build your own.

I usually get to the range on Sundays around 10:30 ,the first wave of shooters are leaving. Never waited more than 30 minutes for a bench. Never been during the week so  can't tell you either way on weekdays.

Good advice to clean it well to include the bolt/carrier/firing pin channel.  One of the first things we were taught in the military was how to function check the rifle.  I'm sure there's a youtube vid on that if you aren't sure how to do it.
Congrats on your first black rifle.   

Like drck said, always clean a new gun. From what I understand, a thick grease is put on at the factory to prevent rust and it will inhibit the proper functioning of your firearm if not cleaned off prior to use. Also clean your magazines, I found that all my feeding problems so far have been due to dirty mags.

I don't think I've ever seen anything but wood frames at KHSC.
For my frames, I just use the side posts. Stick the posts in the brackets and staple the cardboard on. It holds and makes transportation and storage easier.

If I don't get to the range hella early, will I have a chance of not getting a bench or shooting at all? I was thinking of going at around 10. How long is the average wait?

From my weekend-only experience at the rifle range. The first people usually start leaving at around 10:00-10:30 so the people on the waiting list start getting benches then. Around 11:30-12:00 the waiting list is cleared. Lately, I've been getting there around 12:00-1:00 with lots of open benches. I go on Saturday or Sunday, whichever fits my schedule better so I'm not sure if either day is busier but it hasn't seemed that way to me. If you don't care about shooting from a bench then there's always space open between the benches and on the far left side for shooting prone, crouched, or standing.

I'd be wary of using YouTube videos as a source for learning. I've seen some piss poor habits being spouted off like it was the gospel.

Pit808's advice is probably the best...learn/understand how the rifle functions and how to maintain it before hitting the range. It's a fairly simple platform, just use common sense and the rest is easy. If unsure, I strongly recommend getting/reading TM9-1005-319-10 for the basics.

Other than that, you should be able to find LOT's of folks at the range who can help.

to the OP, i built my rifle frame but ended up buying my pistol frame from young guns because i was too lazy. 

i think a wooden frame is better than a pvc one.  got a bunch of holes in my wooden frame from letting friends shoot and it is still holding up relatively well.



did you see this site?  i don't know how others feel about this site, but i found a few helpful tips.  especially helping me review how to clear malfunctions:  http://www.atactv.com/firearms?keywords=ar-15&p=1

One thing for sure.  Know how to unload, clear, and lock the bolt open on cease fires. I heard of guys shooting that didn't even know how to do that.  RO wasn't happy.

One thing for sure.  Know how to unload, clear, and lock the bolt open on cease fires. I heard of guys shooting that didn't even know how to do that.  RO wasn't happy.

WTF, makes you wonder how they even got it loaded and firing in the first place 

My frames are dirt cheap, but maybe small kine flimsy. I buy an 8' length of 2x2" and have them (home depot/lowes) cut it in half. I then staple an edge of cardboard to one leg and take it to the range. My heavy duty stapler acts as a hammer to pound both legs into the holes and a pocketknife is used if trimming is needed. Once both legs are in, I staple the other edge of cardboard to the other leg.

Pistol frame is the same, except using the 1x4 wood cut to two lengths of 60" and heavy duty clips or C clamps hold it to the stand. Damn, I'm lazy hahaha. But hey, it works...

Also, I'll be at Koko Head showing someone how to use an AR on Sunday. I'm going to show up at 9am and take position at the far left at the spots where there's no benches. A hundred or even fifty yards is far for a new shooter to be shooting in the standing with the size of the target frames, so I might just have him function fire it into the berm. I'll probably bring a target frame though. If you want to come along, PM me and I'll bring more ammo. Afterwards, I might head over to the skeet side. If you want to pay for your skeet games ($5.25) and bring ammo (20 gauge #8 birdshot), you can use my shotgun too.

My frames are dirt cheap, but maybe small kine flimsy. I buy an 8' length of 2x2" and have them (home depot/lowes) cut it in half. I then staple an edge of cardboard to one leg and take it to the range. My heavy duty stapler acts as a hammer to pound both legs into the holes and a pocketknife is used if trimming is needed. Once both legs are in, I staple the other edge of cardboard to the other leg.

Pistol frame is the same, except using the 1x4 wood cut to two lengths of 60" and heavy duty clips or C clamps hold it to the stand. Damn, I'm lazy hahaha. But hey, it works...

This is exactly what I do. Except I haven't been using clips on the pistol frame, it does move a little with the wind so I've been thinking about getting some.

Also, I'll be at Koko Head showing someone how to use an AR on Sunday. I'm going to show up at 9am and take position at the far left at the spots where there's no benches. A hundred or even fifty yards is far for a new shooter to be shooting in the standing with the size of the target frames, so I might just have him function fire it into the berm. I'll probably bring a target frame though.

There's holes at 25 yards on the far right in a little area cut out of the tall grass. But you'll be standing between benches.

This is exactly what I do. Except I haven't been using clips on the pistol frame, it does move a little with the wind so I've been thinking about getting some.
There's holes at 25 yards on the far right in a little area cut out of the tall grass. But you'll be standing between benches.

I heard about those, but since he wanted to meet at 9, I wasn't feeling a 4am alarm, arrive at 5, and wait four hours to shoot benched for 30 minutes. I don't really want to shoot between other people with a guy with an unknown experience level. Also, with the new gate installed, I don't know what time it's unlocked.

HOWEVER, if anyone's down for an early morning barbecue, I WILL get up early and bring a hibachi, charcoal, and some meat and hot dogs.

HOWEVER, if anyone's down for an early morning barbecue, I WILL get up early and bring a hibachi, charcoal, and some meat and hot dogs.

Hit up Inspector, he's always there early on Sundays with the black powder guys.

I believe you may not be able to use the far left on Sunday.  Last Sunday they were mentioning they have a match scheduled.  They have a permit to use a certain amount of lanes.  If I recall it also includes a couple of benches at the end as well.  Not 100% but something you may want to consider if you're planning on arriving at 9 expecting to use the small bore area.  No idea where you would look or who to call to confirm. 

I believe you may not be able to use the far left on Sunday.  Last Sunday they were mentioning they have a match scheduled.  They have a permit to use a certain amount of lanes.  If I recall it also includes a couple of benches at the end as well.  Not 100% but something you may want to consider if you're planning on arriving at 9 expecting to use the small bore area.  No idea where you would look or who to call to confirm.

I guess I'm doing an early morning barbecue...

Hang around X-Ring....

Ask Mongoose what happens...

I believe you may not be able to use the far left on Sunday.  Last Sunday they were mentioning they have a match scheduled.  They have a permit to use a certain amount of lanes.  If I recall it also includes a couple of benches at the end as well.  Not 100% but something you may want to consider if you're planning on arriving at 9 expecting to use the small bore area.  No idea where you would look or who to call to confirm.

I think that's the silhouette match. It's supposedly held on the Sunday of the first full weekend every month. So that would make it this coming Sunday 7/8/12.

Hang around X-Ring....

Ask Mongoose what happens...

Free guns? 
I can't hang out in Waipahu, I live in town...... Actually I've only been to Waipahu once, to go to X-Ring.

I think that's the silhouette match. It's supposedly held on the Sunday of the first full weekend every month. So that would make it this coming Sunday 7/8/12.

I heard from the smallbore prone guys they have a match this Sunday.  If they do they will kick you out of the left side and the two benches on the end.  They have the permit.  Usually they have a caustion strip or the like strung up, but if you are there very early you might not see it.  Its a bum but what can you do? 
 
The silouette match is also this Sunday.  The range will be packed, plan accordingly.