bannockburn
Member
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- Apr 24, 2007
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- 26,299
aarondhgraham
Outstanding story and very nicely written! Thanks for sharing.
Outstanding story and very nicely written! Thanks for sharing.
Interesting meet at the range yesterday evening,,,
- Thread starter aarondhgraham
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erkman
Member
Great story. Thanks for sharing.
230RN
2A was "political" when it was first adopted.
amd6547
Member
I've always maintained that some of the best handgun shooting practice is to pick out features on the berm and shoot them...you can see your impacts and correct. Soon you are hitting every shot...even better when you hit and they move and you hit them while moving.
I do the same with rifles at 100yds, as well.
Other shooter have given me funny looks when I show up and just shoot the berm without putting up bullseyes first. I tell them I'm just function testing...
I do the same with rifles at 100yds, as well.
Other shooter have given me funny looks when I show up and just shoot the berm without putting up bullseyes first. I tell them I'm just function testing...
Hardtarget
Member
I'm 63 and I love to see men my dads age at the range. Very often they impress me with their ability with rifle, pistol, or shotgun. Most have sent a lot of rounds down range and as long as vision and strength stays good they can still "git 'er done"
Mark
Mark
r1derbike
Member
Beware the man with one arm!To paraphrase a sig line of someone I've seen on here: "Beware the man with one gun".
yzguy87
Member
Great story! Thanks for sharing!
fallout mike
Member
Hvreagan, yes ArkansasPaul is one of those guys. He is old as dirt.
aarondhgraham
Member
Hello amd6547,,,
I do this as well,,,
I'll lay 8-10 clay pigeons on the berm,,,
Then I'll shoot them as well as any fragments I can see.
I think your point of seeing your impacts and immediately correcting is very valid.
Aarond
.
I do this as well,,,
I'll lay 8-10 clay pigeons on the berm,,,
Then I'll shoot them as well as any fragments I can see.
I think your point of seeing your impacts and immediately correcting is very valid.
Aarond
.
Arkansas Paul
Member
Any chance that you're one of those old timers?
Yep. I'm the ripe old age of 33. Time to sit back in the rocker and chase kids off my lawn.
And fallout mike is a year older than me, so he probably doesn't have but 2 or 3 good years left.
Man, you aint kidding. My dad is only 66 but he shakes like a leaf but when it comes shooting time, he's on. Last saturday, opening day of muzzleloader, he killed 2 deer. The first was an easy shot, 40 yds broadside, but the 2nd on was a doe that just stuck her head out into the shooting lane. He put one through her ear hole at about 60 yds. Its crazy. He can't even fill his coffee cup up all the way without spilling it but he earholes a deer.
xxjumbojimboxx
Member
Really good story.. Whenever I meet someone like that, I always think why? Why does this old man hang around a range, and shoot one box of ammo ( that would be a TEASE for me.)... Makes you wonder... Perhaps something happened in this guys life that made him feel as though he should always stay proficient with that ONE pistol that may have potentially saved his life at one point. Lots to speculate. Interesting character indeed.
PavePusher
Member
We've been cultivating the new generation of such people for the last 12 years. Much like the last gen, we don't shout about it....
doubleh
Member
Why would an old guy hang around a range and only shoot one box of ammo? Probably because he can and that's what he wants to do. Anyone can burn up a bunch of ammo. Not hard to do at all. What is hard to do is to be able to hit what you are aiming at every time. Different strokes for different folks.
SilentStalker
Member
Interesting. Can you describe his technique in more detail?
aarondhgraham
Member
Hello SilentStalker,,,
Not much to tell,,,
He stood with his right side to the target,,,
His body was pointing almost exactly 90 degrees from the berm,,,
His left hand was parked on his hip and his right arm was fully extended.
He looked exactly like the old photos you see of 1940's GI marksmen.
I did notice that he aimed a bit high,,,
He seemed to let gravity lower his pistol,,,
And he shot when the pistol lowered onto the target.
This last is not for certain,,,
It just looked like he was doing what I had read somewhere.
The old guy could outshoot me,,,
That was for sure.
Aarond
.
Not much to tell,,,
He stood with his right side to the target,,,
His body was pointing almost exactly 90 degrees from the berm,,,
His left hand was parked on his hip and his right arm was fully extended.
He looked exactly like the old photos you see of 1940's GI marksmen.
I did notice that he aimed a bit high,,,
He seemed to let gravity lower his pistol,,,
And he shot when the pistol lowered onto the target.
This last is not for certain,,,
It just looked like he was doing what I had read somewhere.
The old guy could outshoot me,,,
That was for sure.
Aarond
.
afponiky
Member
I would love to have been in your shoes!
Great Post, hope you see him again. do more with him if you do!
AF
Great Post, hope you see him again. do more with him if you do!
AF
toiville2feathers
Member
My father-in-law was infantry in the Battle of the bulge. They had fought no-stop for several days and nights. They had very little sleep and hardly any rations. As they were advancing the front line he walked past a dead german soldier. They were supposed to check to be sure they were dead, but being so tired, he didn't check and walked by. After he got by the german sat up and was going to shoot him in the back. His Sargent was watching and shot the german soldier. My father-in law was pretty rattled and the sargent took the holster and pistol and shoved it in front of my father-in-laws pants and said, "next time you start to forget what you were trained to do, remember that you have already got your second chance." He was lucky and made it home and liberated that Luger pistol and brought it with him.
When we would get together and do some target shooting he would bring that pistol out. It's got 2 clips and one is full of WW II ammo. He would always tell us that under no circumstance should that ammo ever be shot. That pistol meant a lot to him. And he could shoot very well with it. When he got that pistol out, he got real serious. He didn't kid around and got real focused. Totally different demeanor.
He also fought in Italy. On a couple of occasions my son asked him if he had any other war stories. His answer would be; "The pistol story is the only good war story I know, all the others are bad, you don't need to know about war." There were other stories. Sometimes at the VFW you would hear them be told when he was around other vets. My mother-in-law said on occasion she would have to wake him because he was having bad dreams about it. Right up to the end before he passed. According to her, and she heard some bad stories about the war and what they went through, at the units reunions that they held. He went just about every year. My wife had to change our wedding date because the one she chose was to close to his army reunion.
He taught me how to shoot a pistol, just like the OP posted. You stand 90 degrees to the target, the foot on the range side is planted pointing towards the target, the other foot is planted 90 degrees to the target. The hand that is not holding the gun is hooked into your pants belt. In the event that you are wearing a heavy over coat, you place it on your hip. You aim the pistol at the target with a 6:00 hold. Take a deep breath, the pistol will rise. Then you slowly let out your breath and as the pistol comes back to point of aim, squeeze the trigger. At 25 yards he dead on and was shooting at copenhagen cans. Sometimes he would fill them with flour, they were a blast to hit.
Using his method, I and my son are fairly decent shots also. My father-in-law taught us well, and has passed now and gave the luger to my son. Now my two grandsons are learning the story and one is starting to learn the method with a 22lr auto.
Thanks for your sacrifice Dad and the knowledge. Love You!
When we would get together and do some target shooting he would bring that pistol out. It's got 2 clips and one is full of WW II ammo. He would always tell us that under no circumstance should that ammo ever be shot. That pistol meant a lot to him. And he could shoot very well with it. When he got that pistol out, he got real serious. He didn't kid around and got real focused. Totally different demeanor.
He also fought in Italy. On a couple of occasions my son asked him if he had any other war stories. His answer would be; "The pistol story is the only good war story I know, all the others are bad, you don't need to know about war." There were other stories. Sometimes at the VFW you would hear them be told when he was around other vets. My mother-in-law said on occasion she would have to wake him because he was having bad dreams about it. Right up to the end before he passed. According to her, and she heard some bad stories about the war and what they went through, at the units reunions that they held. He went just about every year. My wife had to change our wedding date because the one she chose was to close to his army reunion.
He taught me how to shoot a pistol, just like the OP posted. You stand 90 degrees to the target, the foot on the range side is planted pointing towards the target, the other foot is planted 90 degrees to the target. The hand that is not holding the gun is hooked into your pants belt. In the event that you are wearing a heavy over coat, you place it on your hip. You aim the pistol at the target with a 6:00 hold. Take a deep breath, the pistol will rise. Then you slowly let out your breath and as the pistol comes back to point of aim, squeeze the trigger. At 25 yards he dead on and was shooting at copenhagen cans. Sometimes he would fill them with flour, they were a blast to hit.
Using his method, I and my son are fairly decent shots also. My father-in-law taught us well, and has passed now and gave the luger to my son. Now my two grandsons are learning the story and one is starting to learn the method with a 22lr auto.
Thanks for your sacrifice Dad and the knowledge. Love You!
Last edited:
amd6547
Member
Yeah, my dad served in Europe, fought from France to Germany, and he never told much about the war.
He did open up a couple time when we watched the show "Combat"...seeing a Saunders or Kirby run across an open field to throw a grenade at an MG42 position, he would say "if you really tried that you would be cut in half...".
The only war story he told me was about fighting in the hedgerows at Falais Gap...having to drive his M8 armored car across an intersection that had an 88 shooting down the road...
He did open up a couple time when we watched the show "Combat"...seeing a Saunders or Kirby run across an open field to throw a grenade at an MG42 position, he would say "if you really tried that you would be cut in half...".
The only war story he told me was about fighting in the hedgerows at Falais Gap...having to drive his M8 armored car across an intersection that had an 88 shooting down the road...
ole farmerbuck
Member
rangerphil
Member
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2007
- Messages
- 98
As I read your posts, it is obvious that this gentleman had quite an effect on you for the short time you were with him. To me, that's the great thing about these veterans....there's something about their character and presence that is special. Kudos to you for striking up a conversation and getting acquainted with one of our nation's heroes.
My wife and I ran into a group of Korean war veterans in Nashville this year while we were vacationing. We introduced ourselves and I extended my hand to two of them who were sitting on a bench at the Country Music Hall of Fame. They smiled and actually seemed a little surprised as I thanked them for our service to our country....it was all I could do to not tear up as I enjoyed their firm handshake.
My wife and I ran into a group of Korean war veterans in Nashville this year while we were vacationing. We introduced ourselves and I extended my hand to two of them who were sitting on a bench at the Country Music Hall of Fame. They smiled and actually seemed a little surprised as I thanked them for our service to our country....it was all I could do to not tear up as I enjoyed their firm handshake.
InkEd
Member
I always enjoy talking to old-timers at the range. I can often pick up a tip or two from them.
justice06rr
Member
It's definitely a good range story.
MattShlock
Member
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2013
- Messages
- 787
Aawww... I wanna give him a hug. Brought a tear to my eye.
Nice story. There is an old adage, "Beware the man who has only one gun, He know how to use it!".
For those of you who are unfamiliar with bullseye shooting, it is the "foundation of all handgun shooting sports". While not "popular" today, it is still a National Championship NRA sport. Every year there are hundreds at Camp Perry Ohio and participate.
It is my personal belief that too many youngsters that shoot various action pistol games couldn't compete in bullseye as they don't have the dedication and concentration it requires. If you have an opportunity to join a bullseye league please do, you will find you will learn more about hitting your target than you ever thought you could. Remember a bullseye shooter wins by center of center "X" count, not settling for "C" zone hits.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with bullseye shooting, it is the "foundation of all handgun shooting sports". While not "popular" today, it is still a National Championship NRA sport. Every year there are hundreds at Camp Perry Ohio and participate.
It is my personal belief that too many youngsters that shoot various action pistol games couldn't compete in bullseye as they don't have the dedication and concentration it requires. If you have an opportunity to join a bullseye league please do, you will find you will learn more about hitting your target than you ever thought you could. Remember a bullseye shooter wins by center of center "X" count, not settling for "C" zone hits.
madwildcat
Member
Great story. Good for you for being willing talk with the guy and enjoy the time shooting (much easier to do when you are getting to watch an old marksman ). Far to many of us "youngsters" are unwilling to give old timers the time of day, much less take time to learn from them. Lord only knows what will happen to us when they are all gone.
). Far to many of us "youngsters" are unwilling to give old timers the time of day, much less take time to learn from them. Lord only knows what will happen to us when they are all gone.- Status