Oh boy. First time shooting!
Time for a little fishing breather, as I have another experience to share - my first trip to the shooting range!
Up until these past few weeks, I think I have been around a gun once. And this included my dad deciding to clean his shotgun (which had never even been used in my lifetime) when my date picked me up for my very first high school dance. So you can imagine the hesitation, excitement, etc, that came with my new job and being thrown into this new world of firearms, ammunition, etc.
But this last Friday, I attended a F.A.S.T. Start class, in which the morning was spent in the classroom learning the basics, and the afternoon was spent at the range for some much-needed, hands-on training. This started with skeet and a couple different Remington and Marlin shotguns. I personally tried a youth (Model 700?), Model 1100 and double-barrel (to me, this was a beast!).
And surprisingly, I was good at it! I hit 7 out of 10 clays and got the first after only my third try!
We then moved on to target practice with .22 rifles, again from Remington and Marlin. I tried two different semi-automatics, as well as a bolt-action. I have to admit I thought this was going to be a cinch, as we got to sit down, use a scope and stabilizer, but I was very, very wrong. My protective glasses got in the way, I couldn't steady the gun, the shells were flying out at me! It was insanely frustrating!
But I kept at it (even after the others quit) and came within millimeters of the bulls-eye TWICE! Not bad.
But my confidence was soon shattered with mission impossible, as we moved back to shotguns and skeet. But this time, the clays were not predictable and went flying in all directions. The instructor told me to keep the gun low, locate the skeet, raise the gun, aim and shoot. Well let me tell you, it still takes me 30+ seconds to get the gun into a correct, comfortable position and the clays had no intention of waiting for me. I think I hit 1 out of 7. I still have some work to do!
But all-in-all, it was a great experience, and I have every intention of going back. If I am going to be surrounded by firearms, etc, on a daily basis, I better do my best to be both knowledgeable and comfortable. But it's bound to get interesting, and so I will be sure to share any and all stories!
Wish me luck!
Shannon
Up until these past few weeks, I think I have been around a gun once. And this included my dad deciding to clean his shotgun (which had never even been used in my lifetime) when my date picked me up for my very first high school dance. So you can imagine the hesitation, excitement, etc, that came with my new job and being thrown into this new world of firearms, ammunition, etc.
But this last Friday, I attended a F.A.S.T. Start class, in which the morning was spent in the classroom learning the basics, and the afternoon was spent at the range for some much-needed, hands-on training. This started with skeet and a couple different Remington and Marlin shotguns. I personally tried a youth (Model 700?), Model 1100 and double-barrel (to me, this was a beast!).
And surprisingly, I was good at it! I hit 7 out of 10 clays and got the first after only my third try!
We then moved on to target practice with .22 rifles, again from Remington and Marlin. I tried two different semi-automatics, as well as a bolt-action. I have to admit I thought this was going to be a cinch, as we got to sit down, use a scope and stabilizer, but I was very, very wrong. My protective glasses got in the way, I couldn't steady the gun, the shells were flying out at me! It was insanely frustrating!
But I kept at it (even after the others quit) and came within millimeters of the bulls-eye TWICE! Not bad.
But my confidence was soon shattered with mission impossible, as we moved back to shotguns and skeet. But this time, the clays were not predictable and went flying in all directions. The instructor told me to keep the gun low, locate the skeet, raise the gun, aim and shoot. Well let me tell you, it still takes me 30+ seconds to get the gun into a correct, comfortable position and the clays had no intention of waiting for me. I think I hit 1 out of 7. I still have some work to do!
But all-in-all, it was a great experience, and I have every intention of going back. If I am going to be surrounded by firearms, etc, on a daily basis, I better do my best to be both knowledgeable and comfortable. But it's bound to get interesting, and so I will be sure to share any and all stories!
Wish me luck!
Shannon
Comments