Phnom Penh: Outdoor Shooting Range with RPG & Pickup

4.98

(145 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The first thing that hit me wasn’t the noise or the guns — it was the smell. Sort of metallic and sharp, mixed with dust and a bit of sweat from the heat. Our driver picked us up right on time in Phnom Penh (air-con, thank god), and by the time we reached the mountain military base, my nerves were already doing somersaults. I tried to play it cool but honestly, holding an AK47 for the first time is a weird mix of excitement and “wait, am I really doing this?”

Our guide, Dara, had this calm way about him — he explained everything without making us feel dumb. Safety first: earmuffs on, goggles tight. He showed me how to brace for recoil (I still flinched). The sound when you pull that trigger is nothing like in movies; it’s heavier and echoes through your chest. Dara laughed when my shot barely hit paper — “You’ll get used to it!” he said. Maybe. My hands were shaking so much I almost dropped my next magazine.

I didn’t expect to try an RPG — but there it was, just sitting on the table like something out of a video game. The instructor checked everything twice before letting me near it (honestly reassuring). When it fired, there was this split second where everything went silent except for my own heartbeat. Not sure I’ll ever forget that feeling or how everyone cheered after. We took photos (somehow I look terrified in all of them) and just sat for a while drinking cold beer and soft drinks under a little awning while Dara told stories about his army days. It felt strangely peaceful after all that noise.