Shots Fired! Shots Fired!

[jaustin612]

Good story, he shoot try a 50ae....

[CGT80]

Many people do quite well with the 45 ACP. You will learn to handle, and work with the recoil, instead of against it. My only 45 caliber gun is a Smith X frame 460 Mag. Same size bullets (45 cal) but a case that is 3 times longer and will push a bullet to almost 3 times the speed. The recoil makes the 45 acp feel like a 22. It is a very accurate gun, in the right hands. 50 BMG is an insane rifle round, which I have only fired twice. It is used by precision shooters and snipers at well over 1,000 yards. It is hard to imagine doing that. I have never shot past 300 yards, and it was with 223. I was doing pretty well with rifles at up to 230 yards, yesterday. It is really rewarding to see my skills improve. A little over a year ago, I wouldn't have imagined myself making fairly consistent shots at 165 yards with iron sights while standing and having a target that is only 14" across. Others can do far better, but it takes a lot of practice.

I really like 40 S&W and 9mm. I shoot both in a polymer framed XD pistol for competition. I managed to hit a 12" plate at 100 yards while resting this pistol on a sandbag. I didn't expect to hit it, but the first try landed on the plate. Those target 22's will do the same. I have the ruger MkIII Hunter 6 7/8". The more I practice, the more I have come to appreciate different guns.

Another person at the range let me try their new 223 bolt action rifle. It was a Remington. It was very nice, and I had never shot 223 from a bolt gun before. It has a very different feel from an AR 15 or Mini 14 semi auto.

Shooters can be quite generous and willing to help the new guy get into the sport. I let a few people try my guns as well, yesterday. My primary purpose for owning firearms is for a hobby and for competition. I will use them to defend myself if needed, but I hope I never have to use them in that way. I reload everything but shotgun and of course 22lr, and I cast my own boolits for a number of my firearms.

The anti's say that guns are only to kill people, but at least 4 of mine were not even designed for that purpose. The manufacturer of my shotgun states that is was designed for shooting skeet, trap, and sporting clays. The 460 revolver is geared towards hunters. The 22 pistol is called a hunter but is also very similar to the "target" pistols sold by the same company. The 22 rifle is most well known as a plinking or small animal gun. None of these are ideal for killing people, although they can be used in that way. There are many reasons to own a firearm. Self defense and a means to fight a tyrannical government are the most important, but not the limit of uses that firearms have.

Welcome to the dark side, OP. Time will tell if you will be able to stop at just one.

[Bull Elk]

About as long as a Stephen King novel. You could have condensed this story by 80%!

[David13]

Thanks!

OP....can you add some pictures, diagrams, and some cartoon like characters for the easily entertained?




(good read OP )

Lot of words. I couldn't read it all. I got the idea.
The synopsis helps.
It did seem like something was left out. And that's it. A cartoon rendering of the whole thing.
dc

[CrippledPidgeon]

And you didn't have to pay for ammo? Win all around. OP, at first I wondered why someone would spend that much time researching as you did.
I can see now, you won't be like some of the guys here that buy a gun on the spur of the moment and sell it two weeks later. Good read. I enjoy someone that can write.

I'd never charge a first-timer for ammo. It gets them hooked without hitting them with the reality of the cost of the sport.

[mag360]

I'd never charge a first-timer for ammo. It gets them hooked without hitting them with the reality of the cost of the sport.

I agree. to a new shooter a range fee of $15 and a box of ammo for $25 is like "omg bro I could buy a whole call of duty game for that".

i often pay range fees and provide a box of ammo for them.

[hambam105]

I'm gonna buy a gun, I really am. Soon, someday, I really am

I'm gonna buy a gun, I really am. Soon, someday, I really am
I'm gonna buy a gun, I really am. Soon, someday, I really am
I'm gonna buy a gun, I really am. Soon, someday, I really am
I'm gonna buy a gun, I really am. Soon, someday, I really am
I'm gonna buy a gun, I really am. Soon, someday, I really am
I'm gonna buy a gun, I really am. Soon, someday, I really am
I'm gonna buy a gun, I really am. Soon, someday, I really am

[Condorguns]

I'd never charge a first-timer for ammo. It gets them hooked without hitting them with the reality of the cost of the sport.

Lmao..omg we are like drug dealers. I'm going to laugh every time I pay for a new shooter now.

[Tri750]

He lost me when he misspelled jeepers.
geepers would be pronounced geep ers
Geep geep geep

[Condorguns]

Come on guy's, writing a side we have a new shooter. Give him some support. This is a happy day!

[1bulletBarney]

Op's journalism skills are noteworthy, nice blog about noobs journey to the first shot.

Still cant compare to the attorneys, law school students and informed lay people that debate current 2A legal and judicial issues here on Calguns...

[Doheny]

The Calguns condensed version for the reading shy members.

New shooter went to the range to observe.
Nice gun owners took him under their wings and let him shoot their guns.
Was able to hit the target without shooting himself, others or range equipment.
Was surprised by the power of the .45.
Liked shooting will continue.

Better?

Thank you. As stated, the OP was TLDR.

[Capt1776]

I think it's awesome that your first shot ever was out of a nice 1911! That was very cool of those guys to let you shoot their guns. I'm glad it was a great experience for you. Thanks for sharing and like others have said, you write very well!

[Bolillo]

OP, if you can get over the hyperbolic "Having gun powder exploding that close to your face is freakish, a bit unreal"-style descriptions, I'll front you the cost of another South Bay range session. I'm a card-carrying Range Safety Officer (RSO) and we can shoot .22, 9mm, .45, 5.56, .30-06, .308, rifle, pistol -- whatever. Just promise to write honestly, and maybe leave out your "phase" overthinking.

[GW]

Cool deal for you OP, glad you had a great time. Now remember this when you are the old pro and a new shooter comes along.
And to the generous shooters at Metcalf who shared their time, expertise and ammo.
Well done, gentlemen, well done.