This post may not appeal to you. That's okay.
It's about guns.
I love to shoot, in fact firearms have always been a fascination to me and I've shot everything from 17th century 6-pounder cannons to fully automatic Uzi's.
I am not a gun nut.
Now, if you're on the opposite side of the gun issue, you're thinking, "Cannons? Uzis? Oh, yes you are."
That's okay, we can agree to disagree.
I have a shooting range in the center of my 10 acres. It's excavated down into the sandy soil and a high berm flows down the sides and up a steep backstop. It's all legal, I called the sheriff before I moved the first shovel of dirt.
Safety is our mantra. On the range, I am a harsh taskmaster and it's no fun to be the shooter who even looks like he or she might break a safety rule.
We even retrieve the spent bullets from the backstop dirt so no lead build up occurs.
I shoot for pleasure and to keep skills learned at FLETC honed. The pistol in the collage is a Glock 17 and both Emma and I have competed at Glock competitions with it. Emma is the cheerleader with the excellent grouping of shots in the upper left photo. She had not shot for over a year, but didn't forget much. Glock sponsors competitions around the country that are very user friendly and designed for everyone, novice to pro. We haven't been to a competition for over a year, but I would like to start again.
Yesterday, Emma, Katie, and Mrs. FC wanted to shoot, so we dug out the safety gear ... eye and ear protection, and went into the range. Emma went first because she has the most experience of the three and proved quickly that even though it had been a while, her skill level was still high. She's a great student on the range who listens carefully to guidance from her Jedi master.
Katie and Mrs. FC are very new to target shooting and we spent more time on the basics, ... safety, sight picture, not flinching, etc. Katie has some work to do on her stance and not anticipating the shot, but she too is a good student. Mrs. FC is a quick study too. I think if we made it a competition , she would really get into it. We rotated turns and by the time they shot their last course of fire, they were markedly better than their initial round.
It was fun and they even let me shoot a few rounds.
Emma had been considering the FBI as a possible career choice, but that may have changed. It's hard to keep up.
We raise renaissance women here too.
18 comments:
That's great!!! I've always wanted to learn to shoot. There's a shooting range here that is run by an ex cop, I should check it out sometime. You've got the perfect setup and location for a shooting range, FC.
Bet everyone had a good time that afternoon.
I'm going to hang out here all day and see if Robin has anything to say. It's okay- yesterday I rendered half the blogosphere speechless by posting a picture of a large naked middle aged lady.
I can easily see how the skill aspect of this could be really fun. Well, actually, I can't see that, because with only one eye, my depth perception is out of whack. So golf, flying planes and target practice are all off the table.
The photos are great and I do love the renaissance atmosphere over here, cake and all. Considering how out in the boonies you all are, you do quite well. ;-)
Now that I've taken a pot shot at Robin, I'm off to tell her how much I love her.
I like to shoot, too. I fondly remember the Saturdays my father took my brother and me down the railroad track near home, the same where he played as a kid, and we went through several boxes of .22s. It's different these days. My uncle, who owns a gunshop, doesn't even know of a place to shoot near town.
I guess you don't take them to the Pits for live target practice. I can't ride by the Pits without thinking of all the shooting we did out there.
I understand there are now steel bullets that do away with the problem of lead in the ground. You just let them rust away. Sounds like a good idea to me.
mmmmmmmm guns. i do understand the fascination of shooting. i have my own teensy shooting range in my shop. my weapon is an ancient pump action air pistol, likely a target pistol, i've deduced from its shape. i pop off a few rounds at paper plate targets about 40 feet across the shop. got a light for the target even. i have to squint thru the lower part of my bifocals to find the sights, then switch to the long range upper part of the bifocals to see the target. my groupings aren't quite so compact as emma's.
Here's a surprise, I think guns are okay especially in the smart way you are using them. Over thirty years ago, I lived way out in the pot-growing capital of California. I spent time with someone who had a few guns. He showed me how to use them, and I actually had a pretty good aim. I think photographing birds in air requires the same attention, sighting, steadiness, and aim.
The way you and your family use guns is exemplary. You probably even have them licensed, if that is required in your state.
Glock... that brings back some pleasant memories... 8-]
Though I prefer bows/arrows, I do enjoy a nice afternoon of target practice with the BB gun. I know, I know, but BBs are way cheaper than cartridges or shells. Our 'real' guns don't get a whole lot of use these days.
Tell Emma "Nice Shooting!" for me.
I had a longer reply written, but thought better of it. Call it "turning over a new leaf", or call it "tf23's tired of rubbing people the wrong way".
Suffice it to say, "Count me in on the shooting."
We target shoot now and then, usually with my Mohawk 10C .22 rifle, as it is light and accurate.
Fun
And nice shooting, Emma!
My husband and all 5 of our sons are fine marksmen. I like to partner-shoot clay pigeons. But, only one daughter, out of 6, shoots; that came about after a year-long Chautauqua study and performance on Annie Oakley.
THE MATCHLOCK GUN by Walter D. Edmonds is our family bedtime book just now. Set in the year 1756, during the French and Indian War in New York, a lad saves his family with the help of an old, heavy Spanish gun and the maturity to have obeyed his father's instructions.
Vicki and Robin Andrea sent me. Good work, FC!
I backed out of a handgun class last year, mainly because I didn't want to spend a beautiful summer afternoon anywhere but my garden. But I do intend to make it up some time because the sheriff's deputies have a long response time out here, and if there's a gun in the house I want to make sure I know how to use it.
Okay, here's my question. After it rains, do you have to dig out your range again?
(Also, why is Thingfish turning over a new leaf. I liked the old Thingfish.)
the family that shoots together stays together
Laura,
I can't lie. I love the smell of gunsmoke. An indoor professionally run range is a great place to learn.
Vicki,
I saw that Rubenesque beauty and was rendered speechless ... notice no comment?
Mark,
It's very different. I remember shooting like that too, but now I only do it in completely controlled conditions like this home range.
Kevin,
I had some of those from Federal and they were great for this type shooting. Hard to find tho.
Roger,
In the 4 years since I bought this Glock, I have hit the presbyopia point too. Takes some getting used to.
Robin,
These comments are quite the eye-opener for me. I think that is one of the great strengths of the blogosphere.
We do not have to license individual guns, but I do have a license to carry mine in a concealed manner. I rarely do that, mainly when I no I'm going remote.
Sophie,
Well, your first line peaks my interest. As for BB guns, they are an excellent way to keep or learn skills.
Thingfish,
Don't you go all tame on us. I thought you might be one to sling some lead occasionally.
ThreeCollie,
Alan must have learned well, we've seen the deer he added to the larder.
Woodie,
She really is a natural.
Bernadette,
Wonderful! Shooting clays looks like such fun. The book sounds fascinating. I've held a massively heavy Spanish matchlock replica before, but did not get a chance to fire it.
Deb,
I got my training free from Uncle Sam, but those courses are a great idea. You have to be so careful with them in a house of children.
My guys were taught early in plain English that if they even thought about getting near my firearms without me they were toast.
I also locked them in a gunsafe to be sure.
The guns ... not the kids.
Pablo,
That's a great question, but the range is on the crest of our property and water never stands in the range. It's a pure beach quality sand and very porous.
Rick,
You should know cuz :)
That is indeed a nice grouping. But, kindly, what was the distance? And, where's your target? I wanna know if you were good as Emma.
Hoss,
Two distances, 5 and 10 yards.
My target just has one hole in it.
I can hear you now..."Is the line ready? The line is ready. FIRE!"
Does the Jedi master have any advice for improving off-hand shooting?
My service weapon is a Glock 21. I like target shooting but I do hope I never have to discharge my weapon in the line of duty.
Swampy,
10-4 on that first line.
10-4 on that last line too.
Ugh, no, I hate offhand.
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