A return to childhood joys

[JagFarlane]

So as many of you know...I took a break from Lit. Had to get away, was on here a bit too much, and got way too involved in it. Realized, I really needed to find something to allow me to vent.
There is something from my childhood I've oft found I really do miss. When my brother and I were younger, we used to go out to the range with Dad and spend the day shooting. Always was tons of fun, as he taught us both shooting and more importantly the safety of it. Dad was an Army Ranger, and probably one of the safest people in the world at handling a firearm. We haven't been able to go in years due to scheduling and things of that matter. But I've always missed it...hell its ingrained into me. I've even been known to chew out a first-class Master at Arms for improper handling of their issued 9mm.
So Wednesday I found myself at a local gun shop, one recommended by a good friend of mine. Its a little place, been there since 1945, popular enough that they've even had R.L.Erny, a rather well known ex-Marine visit in recent years.
They have a small range [33' long, 6 stalls deep] upstairs...before ya know it, I found myself purchasing my first gun, a Ruger Mark III .22 caliber. While awaiting the State Police background check, I rented out a Glock 19 in 9mm. -sigh- Brought back all those memories.
Yesterday I found myself at the range, getting to fire the Ruger for the first time [had to take it home and clean out all the packing grease first]. Fun little gun it is, put 200 rounds through it, and followed it up with 50 rounds through a rented Kimber Custom II .45ACP. [funny lil story I may post later bout that visit]
But in all this, I realized that, I couldn't keep doing what I was doing here, and really, now, am going to do things like use the iggy button. A certain someone made themselves all of the 3rd person ever to make my list. Sad, really, when you figure I've been here for years now..but...something I guess had to be done.

 

[Guest]

So as many of you know...I took a break from Lit. Had to get away, was on here a bit too much, and got way too involved in it. Realized, I really needed to find something to allow me to vent.
There is something from my childhood I've oft found I really do miss. When my brother and I were younger, we used to go out to the range with Dad and spend the day shooting. Always was tons of fun, as he taught us both shooting and more importantly the safety of it. Dad was an Army Ranger, and probably one of the safest people in the world at handling a firearm. We haven't been able to go in years due to scheduling and things of that matter. But I've always missed it...hell its ingrained into me. I've even been known to chew out a first-class Master at Arms for improper handling of their issued 9mm.
So Wednesday I found myself at a local gun shop, one recommended by a good friend of mine. Its a little place, been there since 1945, popular enough that they've even had R.L.Erny, a rather well known ex-Marine visit in recent years.
They have a small range [33' long, 6 stalls deep] upstairs...before ya know it, I found myself purchasing my first gun, a Ruger Mark III .22 caliber. While awaiting the State Police background check, I rented out a Glock 19 in 9mm. -sigh- Brought back all those memories.
Yesterday I found myself at the range, getting to fire the Ruger for the first time [had to take it home and clean out all the packing grease first]. Fun little gun it is, put 200 rounds through it, and followed it up with 50 rounds through a rented Kimber Custom II .45ACP. [funny lil story I may post later bout that visit]
But in all this, I realized that, I couldn't keep doing what I was doing here, and really, now, am going to do things like use the iggy button. A certain someone made themselves all of the 3rd person ever to make my list. Sad, really, when you figure I've been here for years now..but...something I guess had to be done.

The iggy button is a good thing. And I'm glad you found a positive way to vent.

What a terrific way to bring back good memories, too.

 

[where]

So as many of you know...I took a break from Lit. Had to get away, was on here a bit too much, and got way too involved in it. Realized, I really needed to find something to allow me to vent.
There is something from my childhood I've oft found I really do miss. When my brother and I were younger, we used to go out to the range with Dad and spend the day shooting. Always was tons of fun, as he taught us both shooting and more importantly the safety of it. Dad was an Army Ranger, and probably one of the safest people in the world at handling a firearm. We haven't been able to go in years due to scheduling and things of that matter. But I've always missed it...hell its ingrained into me. I've even been known to chew out a first-class Master at Arms for improper handling of their issued 9mm.
So Wednesday I found myself at a local gun shop, one recommended by a good friend of mine. Its a little place, been there since 1945, popular enough that they've even had R.L.Erny, a rather well known ex-Marine visit in recent years.
They have a small range [33' long, 6 stalls deep] upstairs...before ya know it, I found myself purchasing my first gun, a Ruger Mark III .22 caliber. While awaiting the State Police background check, I rented out a Glock 19 in 9mm. -sigh- Brought back all those memories.
Yesterday I found myself at the range, getting to fire the Ruger for the first time [had to take it home and clean out all the packing grease first]. Fun little gun it is, put 200 rounds through it, and followed it up with 50 rounds through a rented Kimber Custom II .45ACP. [funny lil story I may post later bout that visit]
But in all this, I realized that, I couldn't keep doing what I was doing here, and really, now, am going to do things like use the iggy button. A certain someone made themselves all of the 3rd person ever to make my list. Sad, really, when you figure I've been here for years now..but...something I guess had to be done.

and a ((((((hug))))))


Life is like that. Sometimes you have to learn to walk away. Must be a huge adreneline rush firing proper guns and a good way to vent too. At non-human targets obviously

 

[JagFarlane]

The iggy button is a good thing. And I'm glad you found a positive way to vent.

What a terrific way to bring back good memories, too.

Yup yup and start new ones. -chuckles- ended up yesterday teaching a group of women how to shoot/how to tend to their pistol when it jammed [it didn't like the ammo they put in]

 

[JagFarlane]

and a ((((((hug))))))


Life is like that. Sometimes you have to learn to walk away. Must be a huge adreneline rush firing proper guns and a good way to vent too. At non-human targets obviously

LOL my fav target right now is one of a skeleton dressed up like Osama Bin Laden -chuckles-

 

[Guest]

Yup yup and start new ones. -chuckles- ended up yesterday teaching a group of women how to shoot/how to tend to their pistol when it jammed [it didn't like the ammo they put in]

Oooh.

And perhaps a good way to make new friends, as well.

 

[JagFarlane]

Oooh.

And perhaps a good way to make new friends, as well.

LOL it can be. Generally the shooting community is pretty friendly

 

[Guest]

LOL it can be. Generally the shooting community is pretty friendly

 

[voluptuary_manque]

That little Ruger is a sweetie. I'm much more a long gun type myself (Africa and all that, don'tcherknow) but I've occasionally wondered why I don't get a little bull barrel Ruger and spend time at one of our local indoor ranges, myself.

 

[JagFarlane]

That little Ruger is a sweetie. I'm much more a long gun type myself (Africa and all that, don'tcherknow) but I've occasionally wondered why I don't get a little bull barrel Ruger and spend time at one of our local indoor ranges, myself.

Well with my right eye the way it is for now, its hard for me to shoot long guns. The right eye is 20/160 but my left eye is 20/15 or something like that. So its a lot easier to shoot the pistol seeing as how I'm right handed. Eventually, when my right eye is fully healed and has a new prescription I'll be able to train myself to be right eye dominant again and get back into rifles/

 

[Maeve_redux]

Yanno, the gun community is a fairly friendly one, you're right. And shooting things is a lot of fun. Especially when you can show those big bad men that you're a better shot than most of them, even though you're a tiny little girlie. (Benefit of being taught by a retired military sniper and all.)

The one problem I've always had is going to a new range, or running into a 'new' group of shooters. Because I -am- a tiny little girlie they tend to not take me seriously. Especially when I had my little 22 rifle. One of the first things that would invariably happen would be for one (or more) of them to ask if they should put a sight on the barrel for me. I had taken the sight off myself, and had been a better shot because of that for years. And, invariably, they took offense when they were told no. Sometimes it took weeks to get them to be friendly again - without the condescending tone.

After that, it was all good.

 

[JagFarlane]

Yanno, the gun community is a fairly friendly one, you're right. And shooting things is a lot of fun. Especially when you can show those big bad men that you're a better shot than most of them, even though you're a tiny little girlie. (Benefit of being taught by a retired military sniper and all.)

The one problem I've always had is going to a new range, or running into a 'new' group of shooters. Because I -am- a tiny little girlie they tend to not take me seriously. Especially when I had my little 22 rifle. One of the first things that would invariably happen would be for one (or more) of them to ask if they should put a sight on the barrel for me. I had taken the sight off myself, and had been a better shot because of that for years. And, invariably, they took offense when they were told no. Sometimes it took weeks to get them to be friendly again - without the condescending tone.

After that, it was all good.

-chuckles- Yea I know the benefit of that sort of teaching. Even showed during bootcamp [nother funny lil story]

I remember a few years back the NRA posted that while the shooting community was shrinking, the segment that was growing the fastest was female shooters. Personally I take no offense to female shooters, hell on one side of me yesterday, was a group of 4 women learning to shoot, on the other, a group of 4 men learning to shoot. I chatted with them both, and taught both sides some things.

-chuckles- As far as the .22 goes, thats what my pistol is chambered for, and I think it is one of the best rounds for someone to learn off of. The ammo is the cheapest made, more ranges can accomodate it, and hell its just fun to shoot. Gives me a bit of a more worthwhile experience.

 

[freshface]

Yanno, the gun community is a fairly friendly one, you're right. And shooting things is a lot of fun. Especially when you can show those big bad men that you're a better shot than most of them, even though you're a tiny little girlie. (Benefit of being taught by a retired military sniper and all.)

The one problem I've always had is going to a new range, or running into a 'new' group of shooters. Because I -am- a tiny little girlie they tend to not take me seriously. Especially when I had my little 22 rifle. One of the first things that would invariably happen would be for one (or more) of them to ask if they should put a sight on the barrel for me. I had taken the sight off myself, and had been a better shot because of that for years. And, invariably, they took offense when they were told no. Sometimes it took weeks to get them to be friendly again - without the condescending tone.

After that, it was all good.

Funny...I've had similar experiences. I went to a high school with a rifle range in the basement. The rifle and pistol teams were both coached by retired Army Master Sergeants and practiced all school year; I was captain of the rifle team my senior year. It's very entertaining to watch the jaws drop when I shoot expert after they patronize me.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Funny...I've had similar experiences. I went to a high school with a rifle range in the basement. The rifle and pistol teams were both coached by retired Army Master Sergeants and practiced all school year; I was captain of the rifle team my senior year. It's very entertaining to watch the jaws drop when I shoot expert after they patronize me.

Snerk! When I was a kid trying to get into competition the girls always outshot me.

 

[JagFarlane]

Snerk! When I was a kid trying to get into competition the girls always outshot me.

LOL what was kinda funny...was the rangemaster the first time I went was a retired fella. Kinda treated me more as a kid, esp after I confessed to the fact the last time I'd seriously been shooting was like 12yrs ago. When I came out, the bullseye and 10-ring destroyed...he asked me how I did, I shrugged and said I did alright and watched his jaw drop at the target. -chuckles- One reason I love shooting...anyone can be good, be them old, young, male, female

 

[SeaCat]

Target shooting is one of those absolutely great ways to relax and clear your mind. My wife and I do it on weekly basis. Most of the time we use handguns and let me tell you, my wife can shoot. (She uses a Ruger Mk II.)

As for my favorites on the range, they are all .22's. Cheap and easy to shoot they are, within their range, accurate as hell.

Cat

 

[JagFarlane]

Target shooting is one of those absolutely great ways to relax and clear your mind. My wife and I do it on weekly basis. Most of the time we use handguns and let me tell you, my wife can shoot. (She uses a Ruger Mk II.)

As for my favorites on the range, they are all .22's. Cheap and easy to shoot they are, within their range, accurate as hell.

Cat

Yea I'll pretty much be going on a weekly basis. I get a free 10 visits to the range where I bought the gun, and its $10 a visit afterwards, so that should hold me for a while.

Bought the Ruger mainly because I hear it holds up well, and like ya said .22 is nice and cheap

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Yea I'll pretty much be going on a weekly basis. I get a free 10 visits to the range where I bought the gun, and its $10 a visit afterwards, so that should hold me for a while.

Bought the Ruger mainly because I hear it holds up well, and like ya said .22 is nice and cheap

I was never any good at either timed or rapid fire, but .22 slow fire, I could usually end up in the middle of the pack . . . on a military range! Like fly-casting, shotgunning is a dance. Competition rifle is . . . something else. Slowfire pistol is noisy Zen, a deadly form of meditation much like Zen and the Art of Archery.

 

[JagFarlane]

I was never any good at either timed or rapid fire, but .22 slow fire, I could usually end up in the middle of the pack . . . on a military range! Like fly-casting, shotgunning is a dance. Competition rifle is . . . something else. Slowfire pistol is noisy Zen, a deadly form of meditation much like Zen and the Art of Archery.

Speak of shotgunning...god Beretta just put out a new shotgun just -drooooools-

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Speak of shotgunning...god Beretta just put out a new shotgun just -drooooools-

If you really want a new scattergun, a real scattergun, the kind with two barrels, PM me for my phone number. We'll talk. I have a connection . . .l

 

[TE999]

I haven't fired a weapon in years--last was range shooting with my BIL. He had a Colt .45 M1911, a Colt .38 Special and a Glock 17.

The .45 was the most fun and the Glock easiest to handle.

Range shooting is an excellent way to relieve your frustrations and not be arrested.

 

[SeaCat]

Yea I'll pretty much be going on a weekly basis. I get a free 10 visits to the range where I bought the gun, and its $10 a visit afterwards, so that should hold me for a while.

Bought the Ruger mainly because I hear it holds up well, and like ya said .22 is nice and cheap

I just tried to figure out how many rounds my wife has put through her Ruger and got a headache. We shoot on a weekly basis and she usualy drops at least 100 rounds down the barrel when we shoot. She has had the Ruger for a bit over fivce years now. Never have had a problem with it.

I have a little .22 cal revolver that I have owned since I was about ten. Lord knows how many rounds I have dropped through it. (I have had to replace the grips but that's because of age and use.)

If I were to shoot all of my handguns and rifles as much as I want to I would be paying a fortune each week. (Then again my range doesn't allow me to shoot my long rifles there. I have to travel out of the county to shoot them right now.)

Cat

 

[JagFarlane]

I just tried to figure out how many rounds my wife has put through her Ruger and got a headache. We shoot on a weekly basis and she usualy drops at least 100 rounds down the barrel when we shoot. She has had the Ruger for a bit over fivce years now. Never have had a problem with it.

I have a little .22 cal revolver that I have owned since I was about ten. Lord knows how many rounds I have dropped through it. (I have had to replace the grips but that's because of age and use.)

If I were to shoot all of my handguns and rifles as much as I want to I would be paying a fortune each week. (Then again my range doesn't allow me to shoot my long rifles there. I have to travel out of the county to shoot them right now.)

Cat

Yea I keep track on how many rounds I put through the Ruger, and through the range guns. When I was searching for a pistol to buy, came down to the Ruger and Beretta Neos...the rangemaster I talked to put it like this "Both have had thousands put through em, the Beretta is in the shop for the 4th time, the Ruger has never seen the shop"

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Yea I keep track on how many rounds I put through the Ruger, and through the range guns. When I was searching for a pistol to buy, came down to the Ruger and Beretta Neos...the rangemaster I talked to put it like this "Both have had thousands put through em, the Beretta is in the shop for the 4th time, the Ruger has never seen the shop"

I really need to retire so I can shoot, fish, paint, garden and build furniture. Screw work . . . except that it involves children . . . So I can't quit until I'm finished and that could take a long time. I'll know after the 10th. Sigh!

 

[JagFarlane]

I really need to retire so I can shoot, fish, paint, garden and build furniture. Screw work . . . except that it involves children . . . So I can't quit until I'm finished and that could take a long time. I'll know after the 10th. Sigh!

-chuckles- get good enough and you could build furniture as a part time job