Shooting guns in Hong Kong? It’s not as crazy as it seems – indoor air gun shooting has become somewhat of a local trend these days. That’s thanks largely to Hong Kong Airsoft Shooting Association, which has turned a large vacant factory space in San Po Kong into an air-conditioned shooting range for its members to practice their firing skills.
Merely pay a $300 monthly fee, and you’re ready to start shooting. No gun? No problem – for around $2,000, you can buy your own airgun, which includes a cartridge, holster, gun case, googles, and two gun belts. But if you just want to try it out, they have gear for beginners to start practicing with.
You’re not alone if you’ve never fired a gun in your life. The association offers courses covering the very basics ($500 for eight classes) up to more advanced lessons, kind of like what you would find in the police academy. In fact, you can rise up high enough through their lessons to officially join the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC). How macho.
Their beginner’s course draws about 100 students per enrollment. Why is it so popular? According to avid player Johnny Chau, airgun shooting is great for lazy city people: “Unlike playing war games, you don’t have to fork out so much and do lots for preparation,” says Chau. “All you need do is to roll your sleeves up and learn the safety instructions before pulling the trigger. They even provide everything – guns, goggles and gear.” There are other benefits as well. Gunslinger Fanny Chan says the training has helped improved her concentration a great deal. Indeed, to win a target match, you’re going to have to use a lot of concentration to stick to your shooting plan and pull it off with speed, accuracy and power.