I took a vacation day today and made my semi-annual (it seems) trip to the range. A coworker who had never fired a gun before went with me. It turned out that he was pretty nervous about it because he'd been taught to think that "guns are bad." I started him out on a scoped Marlin 880S and he soon was hitting a 6" square plate at 50 yards with every shot. Then we switched to the SIG 522 w/ red dot. He really liked that one! There was a knock-down type target at about 25 yards and he was pinging the heck out of it (I had it set forward so it wouldn't fall). The 50 yard plate wasn't safe either. I was shooting a couple of .22 pistols while he played with the rifles. I had an AR and a .260 with me for him to try but he decided to wait until another day. He watched me shoot a .44 Mag revolver and didn't care to try that yet either! He was a little pressed for time so he left and I stayed to play some more.

I had noticed a guy sitting by a truck, just kinda watching us, so I asked if he wanted to shoot. He said he needed the pistol bay I was in so he could set up an AR for a tactical match this weekend. By range rules it was the only pistol bay where center-fire rifles are allowed. I told him I'd switch bays and let him have it. While I was moving my stuff we started talking about shooting etc. Turns out he was a pro with some national and a world title in the past! Now he is mostly a trainer for law enforcement, military, etc. That was a bit humbling, knowing that he was watching me try to teach someone else... Anyway, he was very friendly and we discussed my shooting some. He offers training to "civilians" and I think I might just have to take a class with him.

You'll note that I haven't mentioned my shooting yet because frankly it was kind of pitiful. I was testing ammo in a SIG Mosquito and FINALLY found something that wasn't too expensive that would cycle the action; Centurion High Velocity .22LR. I also shot the Ruger Mark II I got a couple weeks ago, with three different brands of ammo. I was getting 3-4" groups at 25 yards, from a rest. I tried the Ruger SR9 and a Browning HP in .40 S&W with similar results. I just can't see the sights like I used to! Also, after talking to the pro, I realized that I wasn't doing too good a job controlling the recoil. However I did manage a five shot, 1" group offhand at 7 yards with the Ruger LCP!

Most importantly I had FUN! And I still have two more days off!

Mike, sound like you had a great day
This is good as most of us get so involved in our commitment (job and/or family) that sometimes we forgot to get out and have fun.

It is great to hear that someone can legally go out and try to shoot without having to go through red tapes.
I wish we could do that here.

Talk about ranges and rules, even with the strictest rule club in this side of the planet,
my pistol club got a psyco member that use the CLUB owned gun to MURDER someone a few weeks ago..
Damn, that throws a stink! 60 years of clean record wiped out in a spectacular way!
They ought to bring back death sentences me thinks!!

Mike, glad to see you finally made it out......ya need more time off !!!

gelandangan wrote:

Mike, sound like you had a great day This is good as most of us get so involved in our commitment (job and/or family) that sometimes we forgot to get out and have fun. It is great to hear that someone can legally go out and try to shoot without having to go through red tapes. I wish we could do that here.* Talk about ranges and rules, even with the strictest rule club in this side of the planet, my pistol club got a psyco member that use the CLUB owned gun to MURDER someone a few weeks ago..** Damn, that throws a stink! 60 years of clean record wiped out in a spectacular way! They ought to bring back death sentences me thinks!!

*You can't?? That is a ridiculous law!!

**HOLY CRAP!!

Im off to the beach 10kms from town soon to check the new highpower loads in the deer rifle. that sure does suck Gelandangen. the death penalty would be nice.

I instruct a lot of shooters. They are usually very self concious about accuracy, speed, etc.

I tell them there's nothing more important than SAFETY. And, to disregard anyone watching them and focus on the task at hand and, if you reall want to impress a pro or anyone else, just be safe and demonstrate safe gun handling.

Was at a public range today and got swept. I walked over and asked the person if they know what they just did and the consequesnces of what just happned had the gun gone off.

HUH? Me! No way. The range officer came over. He told him to either be safe, follow the rules or GTF out. He left.

There's many whom are better shots than me, and that's fine, I'm not a competetive shooter. I am safe. And nothing else matters more than that. Not group size, speed, stance etc. Nothing.

If you were handling your firearms safely then the pro was probably impressed. Might have been bored (as they are watching me at least ) but impressed.

Nothing is more important than safety. The best shooter is a safe shooter and I NEVER have a problem ratting out goffballs or unsafe idiotts. Pro or otherwise.

Sounds like you had a great shoot to mee too! Good mix of firearms. (have fun cleaning them all now! )

Pumpkinslinger wrote:

I was getting 3-4" groups at 25 yards, from a rest.

That doesn't sound like the shooter.

My range is about 200 meters from the house acros the paddock, if you look at the photos I posted in the album you can see that all I got is open space and noone to bother

radar, your a lucky man!!! Beautiful woman, beautiful home, located on beautiful land!

Sounds like you had a pretty good day Punkin...the sort of day we would all like to enjoy on a regular basis.

Gelan...how did the psycho get hold of the Club gun mate? Damn...that is just what we don't need here in Australia. That will only make life more difficult for all firearms owners. Its the sort of excuse that the antis and the Police look for to tighten the Firearms Rules and Regulations. I know the Pistol Clubs I have been in would sign the club gun out at the start of the "match", then sign it back in straight after the match. The Club gun was always stored with the Club Armourer when not in use.

Cheers, Vince