Well, my weekend and Monday had a lot to do with guns. And I thought I’d blog about it!
On Saturday the GSRWA brought in someone to speak on guns. I learned a ton and took lots of notes (not sure it was cute or pathetic that I compared loading a magazine to filling a Pez dispenser?) It was a lot of fun and interactive. We had members turn out whom I haven’t seen in awhile, so that made it even better!
Then this morning I woke up bright and early to go meet Dennis (the speaker) as his first guest to be taken out to the shooting range. The drive out there was so pretty, and when we arrived there were police officers doing some kind of practice drills (or something). So it didn’t feel quite as B.F.E. So we picked a little range section to get off some shots. And Dennis was so great, he let ME do all the shooting.
I was a bit nervous to take my first shot. I mean, how do you hold a gun (and seriously I think I got close to getting it ‘right’ around the 1.5 hour mark!). I was afraid of the recoil everyone warned me about. That my hands would hurt. But after I got set up (he helped me adjust my hands) I took my first shot. And I was addicted. It was way better (and yet oddly similar?) to those little firework gun poppers that shoot out streamers. :P
So then I began to focus on things like my stance and trying to keep my arms from flying up after I pull the trigger. I actually HIT within the circles I was aiming at on the paper target, sometimes really close to the bulls eye. I tried out all kinds of guns (and I KNOW my ‘gun speak’ in this blog will not likely be correct). I used two different Glocks, a Lady Smith and Wesson, a bigger Smith and Wesson, and a…ugh, not sure but it shot .22? I kept the gold casings of each one I shot as a souvenir. I’ve got a .45, .40, .38, .22, 9mm. Shooting the .45 was pretty impressive. I’ll say the larger Smith and Wesson had the most painful/aggressive recoil. I didn’t shoot that more than a handful of times.
So overall, I think using the .40 with the Glock was my fave. Not too heavy and feel pretty awesome. The .22 (can’t remember the gun name) was super smooth and easy, but probably not as impactful. I have to confess, before today I was always a bit anti-gun. They scare me. But holding one, firing with them, and hearing more about them in the chapter meeting really took away some of the fear. It made them NOT so unknown.
I had a BLAST! Thanks, Dennis!
I haven’t been to the range in much too long, but yeah, it’s fun. I have a .40 Glock I enjoy shooting.
I did this about two years ago — it was SO much fun. I’d love to go again. I found that I shot best at the start of the session. By the end of the time, I think my arms were so tired I was missing the center a lot more. (Did you get to keep a paper target to hang up by your desk?)
Gail, I think the .40 Glock was my fave!
Leah, I didn’t keep one, cause the papers were BIG with different sized circles on them. I suppose I could’ve cut out the circle though :P
It really was so much fun! I want to go again!
I am so glad you had fun! I think it’s good to go out and fire. It de-mystifies guns and takes away the fear when you know you handle one. ;) I still prefer my 9mm Baretta to the 40 cal Glock, but the Glocks are sweet weapons. ;)
Hey Shelli,
I thought it the Pez anology was right on, thought I had thoughts of exploding candies later that day. :)
So glad you were able to go out this morning, I’m looking forward to the trip in a couple weeks. Keeping the brass was a great idea, handy for reference later on.
Cool! I kind of want to try this sometime!
Totally cool and I am glad you had fun! I still prefer my rifles, but then again, like I told you I have been shooting them since I was 5!
Firearms:
Walther P22 (.22 cal)
Lady Smith 36 (.38 SPL)
S&W 686 (.357 but firing .38 SPL)
Glock 17 (9mm)
Glock 22 (.40 cal)
Springfield Armory “Operator” (.45 cal)
The police officers were doing some form of force-on-force training with Airsoft and padded suits. They later moved to firearm training.
The range is part of the King County Shooting Park. Though it is located in “the boonies,” often there are lots of cops around.
Dennis, thanks again (especially for the list of guns! Whoo whoo!) I loved that it was out in the boonies. It’s so pretty out there and peaceful! Quite fabulous, really!
Go Shelli! You gun toting momma you! So does mean when I move out there (and I am) you’ll totally go with me to the gun range on a regular basis? I’ll introduce you to Pinkie!