Went shooting for the first time today

oniman7 · #1 01-21-2013, 12:27 PM

My parents have wanted to get guns for a while. My dad was a certified expert marksman in the navy with a .45, M14, and 12 gauge slug as well as other general certifications. With me being 17 and my youngest brother at 11, they thought it was time and got a couple Sig Sauer handguns and signed the whole family up for the NRA first steps class. It was great having instruction and awesome to know I can safely handle a gun. I'm cross-dominant so I haven't been able to figure that out yet but I was at least precise. I shot my mom's .380 and while it wad an interesting report we were all able to handle it. I might try my dad's .40 next time. Anyways, even with the respect of the power of a gun and not quite being an expert handler I think I'm hooked.

With my 18th birthday coming up I'm really thinking about trying to get into rifle shooting. Some of the bolt action Mausers and such are giving me GAS

Just thought I'd share since there are enthusiasts here

zachoff · #2 01-21-2013, 12:32 PM

I have no guns, but my brother has a bunch and shooting them is wicked fun.

oniman7 · #3 01-21-2013, 01:20 PM

I had fun for sure. So did the guy with the automatic

Floyd Eye · #4 01-21-2013, 01:22 PM

That's awesome. It sounds like your parents are taking an interactive role in educating you about guns and safely handling them. That NRA course is top notch. Have fun and remember the golden rule. " All guns are loaded."

**Horny Toad** · #5 01-21-2013, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Floyd Eye

That's awesome. It sounds like your parents are taking an interactive role in educating you about guns and safely handling them. That NRA course is top notch. Have fun and remember the golden rule. " All guns are loaded."

+1

Very cool that you're getting into it in a safe and responsible manner. It's a great family sport.

bobba66 · #6 01-21-2013, 01:42 PM

When I was a small child my Dad to me to an air show at the base He was stationed at. The AP's had an M-60 set up on a fixed tripod and everyone got to squeeze off a burst. I'll always remember that sensation!

STRINGSLINGER · #7 01-21-2013, 01:51 PM

Congratulations and welcome to a very addictive sport. Have fun and remember you can only master firearms if you have mastered safety.

HaMMerHeD · #8 01-21-2013, 01:53 PM

Fun, addictive, and expensive.

Good luck with that .40. That's a punishing caliber to shoot.

.45 ACP is my favorite.

Sgt. Rock · #9 01-21-2013, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaMMerHeD

Fun, addictive, and expensive.

Good luck with that .40. That's a punishing caliber to shoot.

.45 ACP is my favorite.

"Punishing" is a matter of perspective. I've yet to shoot a handgun round that I would describe that way.

Floyd Eye · #10 01-21-2013, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sgt. Rock

"Punishing" is a matter of perspective. I've yet to shoot a handgun round that I would describe that way.

Agreed.

HaMMerHeD · #11 01-21-2013, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sgt. Rock

"Punishing" is a matter of perspective. I've yet to shoot a handgun round that I would describe that way.

Fair enough. The pistol I had was a .40 S&W of the subcompact variety, so the small weight of the gun was probably the primary culprit of the harshness of firing the thing.

lowsideonacurve · #12 01-21-2013, 02:18 PM

Wait til ya get into shotguns, big fun.

Skeet on a professional coarse is fantastic. Picking off clay targets in a field can be fun, but that's not Skeet. Sporting Clays is also great fun, like golf with shotguns.

SoonerMatt · #13 01-21-2013, 02:22 PM

Shooting's fun but hunting is tasty.

Maybe it's just my OCD, but one of the most important things you need to learn is how to clean them.

Floyd Eye · #14 01-21-2013, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoonerMatt

Shooting's fun but hunting is tasty.

Maybe it's just my OCD, but one of the most important things you need to learn is how to clean them.

This is true for guns and animals.

Relic · #15 01-21-2013, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoonerMatt

Shooting's fun but hunting is tasty.

Maybe it's just my OCD, but one of the most important things you need to learn is how to clean them.

Amen. Whenever we go, I end up cleaning them...then recleaning them.....then sometimes a third cleaning...

But other than the OCD-esque cleaning it's a damn good habit to get into

Sgt. Rock · #16 01-21-2013, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaMMerHeD

Fair enough. The pistol I had was a .40 S&W of the subcompact variety, so the small weight of the gun was probably the primary culprit of the harshness of firing the thing.

Yep. Felt recoil is a function of the round AND the platform. And light pistol+large round doesn't always mean high recoil. I have a Ruger LCR in .357 that shoots like a pussycat with full house loads.

Pilgrim · #17 01-21-2013, 02:58 PM

Congrats. Remember safety first, second and third. And then more of it.

Two rules:

1) Never point any gun at anything you don't want to shoot. Even momentarily.

2) Assume all guns are loaded all the time.

HaMMerHeD · #18 01-21-2013, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sgt. Rock

Yep. Felt recoil is a function of the round AND the platform. And light pistol+large round doesn't always mean high recoil. I have a Ruger LCR in .357 that shoots like a pussycat with full house loads.

Indeed. My favorite .45 was a 5" Springfield XD. It was so nice to shoot.

Biggbass · #19 01-21-2013, 03:22 PM

My favorite way to spend an afternoon shooting is with a muzzle loader. I have an old Browning Mountain rifle, 50 cal, and a Ruger ball & cap pistol that I take to the range.
Last time I hunted hogs was with the Browning Mt Rifle...came home with meat too!

SBsoundguy · #20 01-21-2013, 03:24 PM

Awesome, it is fun (but expensive) to go shooting.

I think it's great when parents teach their children firearms safety. It demystifies the weapon so they're a lot less likely to hurt themselves or others due to ignorance. It teaches them to respect the weapon the same way you should respect a table saw.