After several months of lurking, I finally started posting to THR. After a couple weeks of posting, I'm working my way down the forums, but find myself coming back to Rifle Country on a regular basis. Since IDPA wrapped up and it's gotten cooler here in North Dakota I've found myself spending more time online and saving a bit more money than I did during the competition season. Between the excess of the cash and the overexposure to gun porn, my addiction took over and I recently purchased a ban-era Colt M-4 6920, my first non-pistol buy.
While it's a big purchase, the system isn't something I'm unfamiliar with after enough years in the military. However, the first time on the range with it was a uniquely good experience I thought I'd share with ya'll.
I got the call this afternoon and rushed to my local FFL to take delivery of the latest addition to the family. I walked out of the store with 120 rounds of 5.56, a big brown box under my arm, and a smile longer than John Kerry's face. Heeding the muffled cries of "Shoot me!" coming from that cardboard shipping box, I made a snap decision to get out to the local range while the sun was still up and conduct a test fire. I arrived at the range with about an hour of daylight remaining. There were ten shooters on the line when I got an open bench, every single one sighting in his deer slayer for the upcoming hunting season. No pistols, no non-hunting firearms in sight. I pulled the rifle out of the box and immediately noticed the looks the rest of the line was flashing towards my bench on the end. I picked up on a bad vibe, as if every negative stereotype of the American gun owner was embodied in me - militia, irresponsible, paranoid, quantity of rounds over quality of accuracy, etc. (Aside from irresponsibility, there's healthy forms of each, but the negativity is with the stereotypes attached to them.)
After the first twenty rounds, my benchmate's curiosity got the best of him. He started asking questions about caliber and function, then asked me if I planned on firing my "no-longer-banned assault weapon on full auto."
I seized the opportunity. Starting at the top of the rifle, I pointed out the "evil" features: "Imagine the slits in the flash suppressor are filled in with metal, pretend this knub is knocked off, and that the stock can't be moved from the extended position. 
His eyes turned the size of saucers at the revelation...
After realizing I was saner than he thought, and my gun wasn't as evil as he thought, he asked to try it out. After a few rounds, he handed it back explaining to me that his son, 12, was interested in guns like that, and how he would have to look into buying one they so they could shoot it together. By the end of that hour, 4 more people had come over from other benches and learned a bit about the AWB (Nothing to do with full auto ), owners of "black guns," and how fun they are to shoot (the guns, not the owners, jackass).
Even though it was a quck trip to the range, it was still one of the most memorable I've had this year. Got to spread a little truth, make a couple friends, and enjoy a well-built rifle that's hiccup-free after 120 rounds. Thanks for let'n me share guys.
While it's a big purchase, the system isn't something I'm unfamiliar with after enough years in the military. However, the first time on the range with it was a uniquely good experience I thought I'd share with ya'll.
I got the call this afternoon and rushed to my local FFL to take delivery of the latest addition to the family. I walked out of the store with 120 rounds of 5.56, a big brown box under my arm, and a smile longer than John Kerry's face. Heeding the muffled cries of "Shoot me!" coming from that cardboard shipping box, I made a snap decision to get out to the local range while the sun was still up and conduct a test fire. I arrived at the range with about an hour of daylight remaining. There were ten shooters on the line when I got an open bench, every single one sighting in his deer slayer for the upcoming hunting season. No pistols, no non-hunting firearms in sight. I pulled the rifle out of the box and immediately noticed the looks the rest of the line was flashing towards my bench on the end. I picked up on a bad vibe, as if every negative stereotype of the American gun owner was embodied in me - militia, irresponsible, paranoid, quantity of rounds over quality of accuracy, etc. (Aside from irresponsibility, there's healthy forms of each, but the negativity is with the stereotypes attached to them.)
After the first twenty rounds, my benchmate's curiosity got the best of him. He started asking questions about caliber and function, then asked me if I planned on firing my "no-longer-banned assault weapon on full auto."
I seized the opportunity. Starting at the top of the rifle, I pointed out the "evil" features: "Imagine the slits in the flash suppressor are filled in with metal, pretend this knub is knocked off, and that the stock can't be moved from the extended position. His eyes turned the size of saucers at the revelation...After realizing I was saner than he thought, and my gun wasn't as evil as he thought, he asked to try it out. After a few rounds, he handed it back explaining to me that his son, 12, was interested in guns like that, and how he would have to look into buying one they so they could shoot it together. By the end of that hour, 4 more people had come over from other benches and learned a bit about the AWB (Nothing to do with full auto
), owners of "black guns," and how fun they are to shoot (the guns, not the owners, jackass).Even though it was a quck trip to the range, it was still one of the most memorable I've had this year. Got to spread a little truth, make a couple friends, and enjoy a well-built rifle that's hiccup-free after 120 rounds. Thanks for let'n me share guys.
