The Thai Pirate - Thai Blog and Travel Stories: Places to not Visit

The Pattaya shooting range was a bit of a disappointment. Having thumbed through the various guidebooks and leaflets of stuff to do in Pattaya, I came across an advert for the shooting range. The prices seemed pretty good, something like 300 baht for the lane, and 400 baht for 12 rounds. I've never fired a handgun before, although I have shot clay pigeon two or three times. Seeing as the weather at the time was pretty awful, we decided to take a look.

The shooting range is located next to the Tiffany's show theatre (blog about that here), and is easy to find. Once we arrived, the car park was completely empty, never a good sign. We walked through into the shooting range and surprise surprise that was deserted as well, aside from a cashier and two guys who looked like they should have been jumping out a SWAT team vehicle. Enquiring after the cost to shoot, we were told that it was 1400 baht for 12 rounds, double the price of all the advertising I had seen, and so I was a bit narked off and felt like walking away. Should have really.

But we were there, so, after forking out, myself and the old man went for the 9mm bullets (another mistake / excuse that I will explain later).

There is nothing at all wrong with the guns, instructors or the range itself. I plugged away my 12 rounds, and my 1400 baht, within a couple of seconds (another reason I was left a bit disappointed, even though it was entirely my own fault). The old man got more for his money, taking an era over each shot, but missing anyway. His excuse later on was that 'he couldn't see anything,' dubious; but nevertheless explaining his tragic performance. Mine wasn't any better, I think I had one head shot and one in the shoulder. At first I thought it was pretty good, but as the target came whirring towards me, the instructor tutted and whispered to himself 'mai dee', in this instance translating as 'crap'.

And that was it, twenty five quid up the spout, in less than thirty seconds, almost like a bunk up with your local Pattaya good time girl (that's a joke, I have no idea what the rates are, or average speed of delivery).

So unless you are loaded up with cash or have a burning need to fire a handgun, I wouldn't bother with the Pattaya shooting range, there is nothing wrong with the equipment, environment or the shooting, but the rates advertised are misleading.

I have since found out that firing a 9mm at close quarters is near enough impossible to get accurate, hence explaining why we couldn't hit a barn door. That's good enough for me, deep down I know I am a crack shot!