About 5 years ago, on 21 March 2006, I had the opportunity to shoot a handgun for the first time as a civilian. I'd shot one a little in the military (and hated it) but after Katrina and then a week of power-out darkness after a storm in Fridley that same autumn, I felt like a senior gent should perhaps have something more substantial than a baseball bat for home defense during unusual times. Turned out some friends and former colleagues were shooters. I learned this accidentally while they were visiting Mary's late brother's garage to see if they might like to buy some of the tools and machinery at very good prices. Mary likes these guys and she wanted to liquidate the lot so she was willing to give them a very good deal. That turned out well for all. One of them commented to the other about shooting the following Tuesday. I asked them what that was about. Turns out Todd had a pistol of the very model I'd kinda decided on while casually and occasionally shopping over the winter. I asked if I could join them and they graciously invited me to do so. I met them at a local indoor range the following Tuesday. Upon entry to the range, thru double doors that comprise an airlock to contain the noise of gunfire, my first sensation was the aroma of gunsmoke. Nitro fumes. OMG, did that bring back memories! They say that olifactory memories are among the most enduring. I have always enjoyed the smell of gunsmoke! I went plinking with my .22 rifle almost daily during summers as a kid. The Army didn't train me as a rifleman, I trained myself before the Army ever saw me. At the range, Todd asked me if I knew what I was doing. Fair question. Todd is very safety conscious as are we all. I said I would welcome some guidance. He gave me his patent Todd look of "are you pulling my chain or what?" I wasn't. I told him I was a vet but it had been 40 years since I'd handled a loaded pistol. He gave me a quick
15-second familiarization and then said "so shoot!" So I did. It went far better than I expected. I was sniper-grade expert with rifle in the Army but was convinced I couldn't hit the inside of a closet with a pistol. When I was payroll officer with a grocery sack full of cash in a Jeep, I was issued a driver, a .45 and two magazines of ammo. I put the pistol in my holster, the ammo in another pocket so I wouldn't shoot my foot off, got SP/4 Pressfield (best rifleman in the company present company excepted) issued an M-14 rifle with ammo and he rode shotgun while I drove the Jeep. Pressfield was the only enlisted man on that post that had an officer as a driver, how's that for a grin! Hell, the only officers on that post that had military driver licenses were myself and my renegade company commander. Officers usually have drivers. Paul and I were hands-on guys. Part of that was because we went fishing in the lakes in the artillery impact zone after a quick check with our buds over at arty to determine where they'd be shooting that day. Nobody fished those ponds because they were in the impact zone and off limits. Well, duh! We had some goooood fishin while on "classified recon". Back to 2006, I managed to keep most of my shots on a large paper at quite short range that day, and I was delighted. In the ensuing 5 years I practiced and progressed, with the lurches, jerks, plateaus and setbacks that go with accquisition of any skill. We've accquired a few more pistols than we need but not more than we enjoy. I shot a few thousand rounds of ammo along the way. We now have the "gunsmoke luncheon and social" group, good friends that meet monthly: Brian, Todd, Todd's wife Laura, Mary when she can make it, and myself. Mary isn't shooting currently, but Laura has visited her a couple of times. One such time was today. Turns out Laura was trained as a beautician once upon a time so she did Mary's hair today. That was huge for Mary. Laura is a special friend. I need to renew my carry permit in May, so I'm signed up for the required training on the 19th. They do their range qualification at Bill's Gunshop and Range in Robbinsdale, which is where I first shot with Todd and Brian. I hadn't been there for a couple of years because there's another better range (also Bill's) that's no more distant. I decided to go have a shoot there today to reaccquaint myself with the facility and see which of two pistols I might prefer for shooting the qual test. The first time I did that back in 2006 I barely passed it. Barely pass was way better than fail. I'm not used to barely passing tests, but I was a newby at the time so I was quite happy to pass at all. This time I'd like to max it. They want to check each shooter's ammo at Robbinsdale, because there are some kinds of ammo they don't want used on their range. The range in Circle Pines has the same rules but they're not nearly as starchy about checking. Perhaps they recognize most of their frequent flyers out there up north, away from Robbinsdale HQ. The guy looked at my .45 ammo, then at me with the elastic rib bandage I was wearing because of my cracked rib. He's a year younger than I am, not a kid, looks to be in good shape. He said, "you roll those yourself?" "yup" "Looks good to me." He did a high-speed recitation of range rules like they do, like a cop reading a frequent arrestee his rights. I don't mind that because they do change slightly from time to time. I shot 50 rounds each of 9mm and .45. I'd decided a priori that if the heavier .45 hurt my owie then I'd put it away, but it wasn't a problem and I shot it better than the 9mm today. Fifty rounds from 21 feet, .45 ACP (the proverbial ".45 automatic") from a model 1911 which was the U.S. military standard sidearm from 1911 thru about 1985 including both world wars, Korea and 'Nam. In the mid-80's they switched over to a 9mm Beretta which is less powerful but holds more ammo. I think they decided that it was cheaper to issue more ammo than to train soldiers to shoot. I hated that accursed 1911 when it was my assigned sidearm back in the day, because I received about zero training with it and was dismayed with my abysmal capability with it. I'm pleased to report progress and change during the past five years after several thousand rounds. This target was shot from the FBI standard distance of 21 feet with a 1911 ".45 automatic", 50 rounds- posted
13 years ago
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I think I have a good chance of maxxing the qual test. There's a bit of pride involved here, since Mary maxed her qual test a coupla years ago. First person that instructor had ever seen max that test. She has never carried and never will, but she wanted a carry permit just because or maybe just in case. It is definitely a convenience. I later learned that it could be a violation of law if any non-permitted person in a motor vehicle can reach a firearm. We don't typically drive around with loaded pistols on the dashboard, but it's impossible to lock unloaded and cased firearms in the trunk of a vehicle that has no trunk -- e.g., the Chevy pickup that we drive to the lake when towing a boat. Rooster feathers: she maxxed her qual with a .22, ah'll be shootin' a forty-fahve ungh hungh ol' Son! There were some newbies, a young man and woman, shooting on a lane a couple down from mine today. They were shooting at an identical target but at closer range. I think they were shooting a Glock 9mm. The bullet holes were uniformly distributed over the entire target so I suspect that some missed the paper completely. Almost been there and done that. I don't think I ever missed the paper but I certainly did distribute over most of the paper five years ago. Wonder how they'll be doing in 2016. Are we having fun yet?