Went shooting for the first time today

[Sgt. Rock]

Originally Posted by Snarf

For those saying shooting is expensive, I have two words: Mosin Nagant.

Absolutely. The Wife gave me a spam can (440 rounds) for Valentine's Day last year. It comes to around $.23 per round on sale.

Everyone who shoots should have a Mosin. Fun to shoot and easy on the shoulder, cheap, bonehead simple to operate and clean, plus it is ballistically respectable.

[oniman7]

Originally Posted by Sgt. Rock

Absolutely. The Wife gave me a spam can (440 rounds) for Valentine's Day last year. It comes to around $.23 per round on sale.

Everyone who shoots should have a Mosin. Fun to shoot and easy on the shoulder, cheap, bonehead simple to operate and clean, plus it is ballistically respectable.

Since you seem to have experience, do you mind if I ask about this? By easy on the shoulder, is it something that a beginning shooter could learn to handle? I have an incredibly small frame (115 lbs., no muscle mass) and I really don't want to develop a flinch or have a rifle I can't shoot.

[Sgt. Rock]

Originally Posted by oniman7

Since you seem to have experience, do you mind if I ask about this? By easy on the shoulder, is it something that a beginning shooter could learn to handle? I have an incredibly small frame (115 lbs., no muscle mass) and I really don't want to develop a flinch or have a rifle I can't shoot.

There is no reason that a person your size should have any real difficulty shooting the Mosin Nagant, provided you have good instruction. That is the real key. You need to find a qualified instructor to teach you the basics.

As I wrote previously, perceived recoil is a function of many factors. In my experience, when a person complains of excessive recoil, a major component of the problem is often poor shooting technique.

I'm not going to give instruction over the Internet for obvious reasons, but yes, you should be able to shoot the Mosin without a problem. There are a lot of resources available. Start by reading some Jeff Cooper articles.

And every long gun needs a sling. They aren't just for carrying your firearm.

[Sgt. Rock]

Also, not to be a jerk, but if you're turning 18 soon and are sitting at 115 pounds, you might want to invest in something called a fork.

[oniman7]

Originally Posted by Sgt. Rock

Also, not to be a jerk, but if you're turning 18 soon and are sitting at 115 pounds, you might want to invest in something called a fork.

I eat a lot. Sometimes three or four thousand calories a day. I'm seeing an endocrinologist for that along with some other issues to discuss if I have an issue or just a high metabolism. But trust me, I hear it a lot

[Snarf]

Originally Posted by oniman7

I've got my eye on one but it seems to be a challenging first rifle to own: between the sticky bolt, hard hitting round, and weight, it seems like I should be experienced before I get into something like that. Particularly if I'm going to try shooting left handed.

I'm a lefty with a rifle, and a righty with a hand gun. Neither eye is dominant, so I aim with the left for rifles and the right with hand guns. My brother tells me the military would hate me for that, heh.

Mosins aren't too tough lefty. Some people cycle the bolt with their left hand, but my bolt is a little tough for that, still need to do some work on it. I find it's not too tough to just take it down, grip the forend with my left hand, aggressively rotate the bolt with my right, bring it back up and get my sight picture back. Not too difficult with practice.

It is a heavy gun, I'll give you that. I'm not very strong myself, and after about an hour (with someone rotating at the bench while I reload) I have trouble holding it up. The recoil is no problem as long as your technique is okay, and I'm 6 feet, 160 lbs with almost no muscle. Just keep your arm down, don't wing it. Made that mistake the first time shooting my 12 gauge, couldn't move my arm for a couple days afterwards.

[Sgt. Rock]

Originally Posted by oniman7

I eat a lot. Sometimes three or four thousand calories a day. I'm seeing an endocrinologist for that along with some other issues to discuss if I have an issue or just a high metabolism. But trust me, I hear it a lot

Three to four thousand a day should translate into higher body mass, unless you're an endurance athlete. Your thyroid is probably screwed up (or you're not eating enough and are overestimating your calories). You probably need some of the same stuff I give my geriatric cat to slow his metabolism down. Definitely get it checked, and best of luck.

[paparoof]

Originally Posted by Sgt. Rock

You probably need some of the same stuff I give my geriatric cat to slow his metabolism down...

...or move to Wisconsin.





Ba dump bump bump.

[Dave the Bass]

I love taking my Mauser 98 to the range........and it does a fantastic job taking down a deer for me........and I can usually find ammo at a decent price 'cause no one else around here has one.

[sloasdaylight]

Originally Posted by Sgt. Rock

I carry a 1911 daily. It's my preferred platform for personal defense. Outstanding design.

+1000

[kanonfodr]

Originally Posted by oniman7

Since you seem to have experience, do you mind if I ask about this? By easy on the shoulder, is it something that a beginning shooter could learn to handle? I have an incredibly small frame (115 lbs., no muscle mass) and I really don't want to develop a flinch or have a rifle I can't shoot.

I wouldn't quite make that leap first, if I were you. If you like the 10/22, then get one and go shoot A LOT. Hone the Four Fundamentals on a platform that's easy to shoot and cheap to feed. Once you're grouping tight and predictably, start playing with distance so you can begin to understand how bullet trajectories work.

Inevitably you will want to move up, I suggest finding a second-hand .30-30, .243, .25-06 or similar - ammo is fairly plentiful, it will take most game animals if that's what you wish for, and it doesn't break your shoulder in half during a day at the range. Then see how you handle a bigger rifle round.

By this time you've become friends with the range owner because you've spent so much damn time there, and also ran across a few guys regularly and most shooters will let you put a few rounds downrange with their rifle to try it out.

BTW, don't feel too bad about being a small-framed shooter. I've never weighed more than 130 lbs and I carried a SAW in Iraq (with body armor, fighting load of ammo, and other stuff). I've free-handed that particular weapon through several boxes of linked 5.56, it's all about technique

Peace,
Greg

[Sgt. Rock]

Yeah, anyone who wants to get into firearms needs to start with a .22 rifle and shoot the hell out of it.

[bassistjoe93]

Cool story OP. Some of the greatest memories I have was my dad teaching me at 12 how to safely handle guns and going duck, turkey and dove hunting with him. That's the fun stuff to me! Priorities have changed and we don't have the time to hunt much anymore unfortunately, but I still love to target shoot and shoot skeet. I actually just bought my first gun under my name this past weekend (I've had guns given to me, but never purchased one under my name). Enjoy it man, it's a blast (pun slightly intended)

[Bipslapper]

I too have fond memories of going to the local range with my brother and father as a kid, shooting targets (.22 rifles, 12 gauge for skeet and similar). I believe I have a .22 Winchester with my name on it at my parent's house, but I never officially claimed it and I think my FID has expired. I am looking into getting a new license and purchasing a gun for practice. I went hunting once, but hated it - couldn't get into killing the animal.
Great memory of my Dad winning a Thanksgiving turkey in a skeet shoot! Get 'er done!

Nice thread

[Bipslapper]

Originally Posted by Unprofessional

A gun is exactly like a chainsaw, a piece of machinery that can hurt you or others if you don't handle it properly and with respect.

As an arborist and a person who appreciate guns, I agree 100%

[The Owl]

Not a firearm owner myself (yet), but did have the experience of shooting with a friend in upstate NY, first a Ruger .22 pistol (good warmup), and the big fun was a .41 Magnum (which I didn't know existed until that day, though I am familiar with the .357, .44 and the insane .50 Magnum that could take down a couple bears), sure was fun re-enacting a scene from Dirty Harry.

[oniman7]

Originally Posted by kanonfodr

I wouldn't quite make that leap first, if I were you. If you like the 10/22, then get one and go shoot A LOT. Hone the Four Fundamentals on a platform that's easy to shoot and cheap to feed. Once you're grouping tight and predictably, start playing with distance so you can begin to understand how bullet trajectories work.

Inevitably you will want to move up, I suggest finding a second-hand .30-30, .243, .25-06 or similar - ammo is fairly plentiful, it will take most game animals if that's what you wish for, and it doesn't break your shoulder in half during a day at the range. Then see how you handle a bigger rifle round.

By this time you've become friends with the range owner because you've spent so much damn time there, and also ran across a few guys regularly and most shooters will let you put a few rounds downrange with their rifle to try it out.

BTW, don't feel too bad about being a small-framed shooter. I've never weighed more than 130 lbs and I carried a SAW in Iraq (with body armor, fighting load of ammo, and other stuff). I've free-handed that particular weapon through several boxes of linked 5.56, it's all about technique

Peace,
Greg

Thank you for your input. I'll look into buying the 10-22 and see if I can find ammo. My grandpa also has a DPMS AR-15 style rifle in 5.56 I might could borrow. I can't wait to get back it in the range this weekend

[Unprofessional]

Concentrate on fundamentals.
- Proper positioning of gunstock butt, hands and feet for off-hand shooting
- Proper sighting
- Smooth trigger pull with no flinching
- Breath control
Fundamentals apply to any rifle regardless of caliber. Bad fundamentals are very difficult to "un-learn".

[aborgman]

Originally Posted by Unprofessional

Concentrate on fundamentals.
- Proper positioning of gunstock butt, hands and feet for off-hand shooting
- Proper sighting
- Smooth trigger pull with no flinching
- Breath control
Fundamentals apply to any rifle regardless of caliber. Bad fundamentals are very difficult to "un-learn".

...and they're all too easy to pick up by shooting guns with too much recoil.

[Relic]

Originally Posted by aborgman

...and they're all too easy to pick up by shooting guns with too much recoil.

Absolutely. My wife and kids also shoot and I started them all on our 10/22.
We worked up to the Nagant, Enfields and Mausers and now they love them all. My wife's tiny (4'11") and can easily handle the nagant with the right positioning and stance. For a first time shooter, a big blast in front of the face along with a punch into the shoulder is a little unsettling. It's almost impossible at first to not anticipate recoil and flinch or to not shut ones eyes or lose track of the target. Starting with something nice and tame like a .22 lr is the way to go IMO.