Today...for the first time EVER, I shot a firearm at a shooting range, to see what it’s like. The weapon I tried out was a Sig Sauer P226, chambered for 9mm. The good folks at Caswells Shooting Range in Mesa were very helpful. Of course I had to rent everything: the weapon, 50 rounds of ammo, and eye/ear protection. All told, just under $40.
The first target, I shot 15 rounds at 10 feet, the rest at 15. The second target, 15 rounds at 15 feet, the rest at 20. The recoil I was expecting wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Of course, I was dealing with 9mm, and when both the sales rep (who swears by Sigs) and the range instructor showed me how to properly hold the weapon when I fired it, I gained confidence that I, indeed, was capable of doing this. So I took the plunge. In the near future, I want to take my local friends with me to show them I can do it...and to test out other calibers: specifically, .40 S&W and .45 ACP, before I make my final decision.
And your final question: was it worth it? You bet it was! And I felt GOOD afterwards.