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I was in AZ during Xmas at my inlaws. My wife's sister and family,also from CA, came out for the week as well. Think Griswold Family Christmas but not so insane.
Had a few excursions during the visit, so I thought I'd share:
1. Roadrunner Gun Show at Tucson Expo Center
Went with the wife and father-in-law. The show was about the size of the Vallejo shows with a higher concentration of shooting things and a lower concentration of beef jerky, although dried beef was available if desired.
I had my C&R and a pocket full of money ready to get crazy.
One guy had about 6-8 post-war P-38/P-1s, but there were none >50 years old so no go. Get this price was $275 a piece!!
Lots of other good deals including folks selling private collection items (AZ ID required) so it was a look-looky event for me. LOTS of CA no-no goodies there, but it was still nice to be there.
It was the first time my wife had been to a show. She goes to the range on occasion, is a good shot but not a 'shooter' per se. She was a little bored, but on the upside she found the S&W snubbies fun looking, cute and sexy looking (new item for shopping list).
2. Range visits
Father-in-law is member of Pima Pistol Club just up the road from the house so I brought along my Beretta 87BB and Sig 226 with 22 conversion kit in hopes of getting out to the range. I focused on rimfire since I knew we'd have the opportunity to have new shooters and I feel that's a better start, and RIMFIRE IS FUN ALL DAY LONG.
We got out twice. Once early in the week, once on Christmas Eve.
The first visit had me, Father-in-law, brother-in-law, nephew (15 yo) and niece (13 yo).
We had a 10/22, my Beretta and the Sig (in 22 configuration) and a good amount of ammo.
Everyone had shot before, except my niece, so I was designated the Range Safety Officer and Shooting Instructor and general overseer to ensure she stayed safe and had a good time.
After the operation/safety demonstration she probably put about a total of 100 rounds downrange with increasing accuracy, confidence and enjoyment.
She seemed to enjoy shooting and as she got more comfortable/proficient her enjoyment grew.
I got a few magazines worth in with all of the weapons, but had fun ensuring everyone else had a good and safe time so I can't complain in the least. Plus I can go shooting any old time so it's no big whoop.
Second visit on Xmas Eve had the same crew plus my wife and sister-in-law. As indicated my wife is no stranger to shooting, but my sister-in-law was another new shooter.
Again I was the instructor, safety officer and general overseer. Everyone had a good time, my sister-in-law started all over the map but got her bearings on sight picture/ trigger pull, etc. Interesting that the kids seemed to pay more attention to the sight picture discussion at the outset and got on the paper immediately while it took my sister-in-law a few rounds to get it going.
This trip did not include the 10/22 (father-in-law forgot it as he had a new shotgun he wanted to test out on another range), so it was pistolas only.
There was only minor one safety issue where my niece placed the loaded pistol on the bench with safety off (Beretta since the Sig has no 'safety'). There was no yelling, etc., but I pointed out that she should ensure the pistol is entirely safe before letting it out of her control. She may not have even noticed the correction but funny how I still remember that. I guess I take the RSO duty seriously, and I certainly did NOT want to have an ND on my watch, especially with my niece.
All told, another good, fun, safe day.
We ended the session at another section of the range to put a few shells through the Rem 870 for function firing.
As we left 2 red tailed hawks were riding the thermals above the range. Beautiful majestic creatures.
3. Titan II Missile Museum
Just south of Tucson there is the only remaining Titan II ICBM missile installation. All others of the original 54 have been destroyed (top 20+ ft of silo dynamited during the 80's in accordance with treaties).
The silo door (76 tons worth) is locked in the half-open position, and there is an inert missile (no warhead, no fuel) in the silo.
They bring you down into the launch control room and over to the silo where you are just a few feet from the bird. They simulate the concurrent key turn for launch (with bells and klaxons, etc). My wife was the key-turner with the docent at the other console.
Very interesting museum and installation. Too many details and goodies to list but if anyone is in Tucson area they should make this and Pima Air Museum must-see visits.
The rest of the week had lots of other fun, but nothing that would turn heads on this forum, so suffice it to say it was a good trip, but it's good to be back home.
Edit: Finally got a few pix loaded.
No pix available yet, but I'll try to edit with a couple when I can get them posted to photobucket.
View from inlaws of Santa Catalina Mtns
Pima Range testing the 870
Titan II in hits hidey-hole
Titan II's view of the AZ sky
Happy holidays!
Had a few excursions during the visit, so I thought I'd share:
1. Roadrunner Gun Show at Tucson Expo Center
Went with the wife and father-in-law. The show was about the size of the Vallejo shows with a higher concentration of shooting things and a lower concentration of beef jerky, although dried beef was available if desired.
I had my C&R and a pocket full of money ready to get crazy.
One guy had about 6-8 post-war P-38/P-1s, but there were none >50 years old so no go. Get this price was $275 a piece!!
Lots of other good deals including folks selling private collection items (AZ ID required) so it was a look-looky event for me. LOTS of CA no-no goodies there, but it was still nice to be there.
It was the first time my wife had been to a show. She goes to the range on occasion, is a good shot but not a 'shooter' per se. She was a little bored, but on the upside she found the S&W snubbies fun looking, cute and sexy looking (new item for shopping list).
2. Range visits
Father-in-law is member of Pima Pistol Club just up the road from the house so I brought along my Beretta 87BB and Sig 226 with 22 conversion kit in hopes of getting out to the range. I focused on rimfire since I knew we'd have the opportunity to have new shooters and I feel that's a better start, and RIMFIRE IS FUN ALL DAY LONG.
We got out twice. Once early in the week, once on Christmas Eve.
The first visit had me, Father-in-law, brother-in-law, nephew (15 yo) and niece (13 yo).
We had a 10/22, my Beretta and the Sig (in 22 configuration) and a good amount of ammo.
Everyone had shot before, except my niece, so I was designated the Range Safety Officer and Shooting Instructor and general overseer to ensure she stayed safe and had a good time.
After the operation/safety demonstration she probably put about a total of 100 rounds downrange with increasing accuracy, confidence and enjoyment.
She seemed to enjoy shooting and as she got more comfortable/proficient her enjoyment grew.
I got a few magazines worth in with all of the weapons, but had fun ensuring everyone else had a good and safe time so I can't complain in the least. Plus I can go shooting any old time so it's no big whoop.
Second visit on Xmas Eve had the same crew plus my wife and sister-in-law. As indicated my wife is no stranger to shooting, but my sister-in-law was another new shooter.
Again I was the instructor, safety officer and general overseer. Everyone had a good time, my sister-in-law started all over the map but got her bearings on sight picture/ trigger pull, etc. Interesting that the kids seemed to pay more attention to the sight picture discussion at the outset and got on the paper immediately while it took my sister-in-law a few rounds to get it going.
This trip did not include the 10/22 (father-in-law forgot it as he had a new shotgun he wanted to test out on another range), so it was pistolas only.
There was only minor one safety issue where my niece placed the loaded pistol on the bench with safety off (Beretta since the Sig has no 'safety'). There was no yelling, etc., but I pointed out that she should ensure the pistol is entirely safe before letting it out of her control. She may not have even noticed the correction but funny how I still remember that. I guess I take the RSO duty seriously, and I certainly did NOT want to have an ND on my watch, especially with my niece.
All told, another good, fun, safe day.
We ended the session at another section of the range to put a few shells through the Rem 870 for function firing.
As we left 2 red tailed hawks were riding the thermals above the range. Beautiful majestic creatures.
3. Titan II Missile Museum
Just south of Tucson there is the only remaining Titan II ICBM missile installation. All others of the original 54 have been destroyed (top 20+ ft of silo dynamited during the 80's in accordance with treaties).
The silo door (76 tons worth) is locked in the half-open position, and there is an inert missile (no warhead, no fuel) in the silo.
They bring you down into the launch control room and over to the silo where you are just a few feet from the bird. They simulate the concurrent key turn for launch (with bells and klaxons, etc). My wife was the key-turner with the docent at the other console.
Very interesting museum and installation. Too many details and goodies to list but if anyone is in Tucson area they should make this and Pima Air Museum must-see visits.
The rest of the week had lots of other fun, but nothing that would turn heads on this forum, so suffice it to say it was a good trip, but it's good to be back home.
Edit: Finally got a few pix loaded.
View from inlaws of Santa Catalina Mtns
Pima Range testing the 870
Titan II in hits hidey-hole
Titan II's view of the AZ sky
Happy holidays!
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