Things I Learn From Newbie Shooters

[Skiprr]

I mostly shoot at an indoor range that either only allows CHL'ers, Mil or LEO to shoot at it, - or - in the Desert.

Out of curiosity, this open desert range is in Texas?

[C-dub]

Something I learned today: After dropping the mag, it's totally acceptable to work the slide to get the round out of the chamber while pointing the muzzle at your own chest.

I also learned, that after showing a 60+ year old lady how to shoot steel plates at 10 yards with her .38 S&W snub-nose - hitting 4/5 plates in DA mode - that some ladies learn so quickly that they will then shoot 5/5 plates also in DA, totally destroying their instructor

Oh, yeah, almost forgot - it's possible to miss a B27 man-sized target with a scoped Ruger Redhawk .44 Mag - with all 6 shots at 7 yards.

I do not have a scope on my Redhawk.

[CEOofEVIL]

I mostly shoot at an indoor range that either only allows CHL'ers, Mil or LEO to shoot at it, - or - in the Desert.

Out of curiosity, this open desert range is in Texas?

Actually, now that you mention it, its Just over the border in NM. There are a few places like this around El Paso that are still within Texas, though I've never been too them. Guess we're spoiled by all the wide open desert around here, plenty of places to shoot at if you will. Thankful for being able to shoot for free! I dread moving away from here because i know many other parts of the state dont have this luxury.

[tauruspt145]

i noticed the other day, it is perfectly fine to keep your finger on the slide to hold you walther ppk's safety in the fire position while shooting.

[boba]

Something I learned today: After dropping the mag, it's totally acceptable to work the slide to get the round out of the chamber while pointing the muzzle at your own chest.

Better his own chest than mine. Or yours.

I also learned, that after showing a 60+ year old lady how to shoot steel plates at 10 yards with her .38 S&W snub-nose - hitting 4/5 plates in DA mode - that some ladies learn so quickly that they will then shoot 5/5 plates also in DA, totally destroying their instructor

Oh, yeah, almost forgot - it's possible to miss a B27 man-sized target with a scoped Ruger Redhawk .44 Mag - with all 6 shots at 7 yards.

Not if the shooter is a 60+ year old lady.

[Jumping Frog]

It's okay to just start bagging all of the brass on the ground while I'm shooting, I guess I didn't want my brass back anyway.

Bring 4-5 friends with you to the range, and take lots of pictures holding the guns with finger on trigger. Heck, point it at the cameraman, too, it looks way more impressive on Facebook that way.

Cease fires are for wimps, just put your gun down and start out to the target. The other shooters will get the point!

Next two from a friend of mine in Ohio:

TRUE STORY!!!!! At the Delaware ODNR range, it was a windy day, there was a guy sighting in his pistol, he had his buddy standing at the rope HOLDING HIS TARGET to keep the wind from flapping it. Two annual passes, seized and destroyed.

Another true story!!!! Sitting at the far right hand bench was this old guy with a scoped slug-barrel shotgun on a shooting rest hunched up into the scope. He'd been there all day. The other shooters decide to call a cease fire. Everyone calls safe, except this guy, who gets yelled at. "Sir? Sir? Cease fire? Sir?" He's still snuggled up into the buttstock, looking down the scope. Finally somebody walks over to him and loudly asks if they can get a cease fire. BOOM! he lets a shot off, falls off the bench...he'd fallen asleep! He packed up and left then and there.

[Medic624]

Here's a good one...

I'm at the range in WA state on a beautiful sunny spring day practicing with my XD .40 and testing my wife's Pink Mosquito and her Taurus PT-22 after getting them BOTH back from their manufacturers for various FTF, FTE issues...

Well, the RO (a very nice older gentleman) comes over and sparks up a conversation about my wife's Pink Mosquito and pulls out a Kel Tec P-3AT with a crimson trace and then takes a few shots downrange as he is telling me about his new Kel Tec and how he is getting on in years and the laser is to help him get his shots on target better.

After a few rounds gets a perplexed look on his face, looks at the target, looks at his shooting hand and gun and again takes careful aim at "my" target and slowly squeezes off another round...

Now, I can see clearly where his rounds are hitting pretty close to center mass but I soon realize he ain't seein' it but before I can say anything without removing the booger hook from the bang switch he waves his hand in front of the muzzle and then points it directly at his face to see if the "laser" is on...

I quickly stepped back and a few feet to the right to avoid getting sprayed with his grey matter I very nicely but sternly tell him to get that gun from his face and place it on the bench and we can clear it and see if the laser is on but will not show too bright at 10yds in direct sunlight!!

[Thomas]

Another true story!!!! Sitting at the far right hand bench was this old guy with a scoped slug-barrel shotgun on a shooting rest hunched up into the scope. He'd been there all day. The other shooters decide to call a cease fire. Everyone calls safe, except this guy, who gets yelled at. "Sir? Sir? Cease fire? Sir?" He's still snuggled up into the buttstock, looking down the scope. Finally somebody walks over to him and loudly asks if they can get a cease fire. BOOM! he lets a shot off, falls off the bench...he'd fallen asleep! He packed up and left then and there.

For a second I thought you were going to say he died in that position. Your story had a better ending though.

[Medic624]

Another true story!!!! Sitting at the far right hand bench was this old guy with a scoped slug-barrel shotgun on a shooting rest hunched up into the scope. He'd been there all day. The other shooters decide to call a cease fire. Everyone calls safe, except this guy, who gets yelled at. "Sir? Sir? Cease fire? Sir?" He's still snuggled up into the buttstock, looking down the scope. Finally somebody walks over to him and loudly asks if they can get a cease fire. BOOM! he lets a shot off, falls off the bench...he'd fallen asleep! He packed up and left then and there.

For a second I thought you were going to say he died in that position. Your story had a better ending though.

ME TOO!!!

[Wysiwyg101]

A friend and I went to the range the other day to shoot my newish Ruger SR9c, a rental Ruger LC9, and his XD9SC. We fired off a couple hundred rounds through each when this other guy and his friend enter the range and go into the bay next to us. I don't pay too much attention at first when they start firing until he brings the target back in and I notice the holes are all over it. I'm not really sure he even hit in any of the circles much less close to the X. He reloaded his magazine and sent out a clean target and I watched as he spread his legs out, pushed his arms way out in front and aimed. I swear, from 6 feet away I could literally see the barrel vibrating as his nervousness traveled down his arms to the gun before each shot. After he fired off the magazine he turned to his buddy and gleefully said, "This is great stuff man. You wanna try it." To which his buddy declined.

The funny thing is, on the other side was an instructor giving lessons to a young lady and he saw the target. He told the young lady to hold on a minute and asked the guy about his gun. The guy informed him that he bought the gun the day before and was just now firing it. The instructor then very nicely told him he was there giving lessons and asked if he could give the guy a few pointers. The guy said sure and the instructor proceeded to show him how to stand, grip and aim. He fired it a few times to show him how and then let him fire again. Bam, right in the X. Twice. Then the instructor let the guy fire his .45. What an extremely nice instructor. And professional to boot. He wasn't pretentious about it. He didn't act like he was better than everyone there.

I wish he'd been around when I started. No moral of the story here. Just a story is all.

[Dave2]

Another true story!!!! Sitting at the far right hand bench was this old guy with a scoped slug-barrel shotgun on a shooting rest hunched up into the scope. He'd been there all day. The other shooters decide to call a cease fire. Everyone calls safe, except this guy, who gets yelled at. "Sir? Sir? Cease fire? Sir?" He's still snuggled up into the buttstock, looking down the scope. Finally somebody walks over to him and loudly asks if they can get a cease fire. BOOM! he lets a shot off, falls off the bench...he'd fallen asleep! He packed up and left then and there.

I can totally see myself doing that in 60 years...

[The Annoyed Man]

Andy, if I recall correctly, I was there the day the police officer gave you guff. Wasn't that the day of the DIVA event? I just remember you telling me about it after it happened.

[Jumping Frog]

If three different people fired your Taurus PT92 right in front of you using your ammo, and it functioned flawlessly for them, but it stovepipes about every second-third round for you, you absolutely are not limp wristing it and you should send it in for repair.

Stay alert when the guy at the next bench with a .338 magnum rifle with a side-ported compensator is getting ready to send one ...... the concussion can rattle the brain if you're in condition-white. :)