ol' scratch
Member
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Shooting just for fun?
- Thread starter Carl Levitian
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ol' scratch
Member
I owned a Finn M39 for years before I bought an AR, and enjoy shooting both, thought the AR gets more range time. And, at 40, I have to say I do consider myself "grown up," thanks.
Sorry Ben. I didn't mean to be insulting. Sometimes tone is difficult to convey. I was saying the guys who are not safe and knock my equipment for not being what they would use need to grow up. By the way, that looks like a nice Finn. I build black rifles and they are what got me into home gunsmithing. I have a deep respect for them.
benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
ol' scratch,
No problem at all; it is indeed easy to misconstrue in a text-only forum, and I apologize for misreading you.
And I have no problem whatsoever with people who prefer older style guns; heck, I think blackpowder muzzleloaders are neat, too, though I don't own one. And I greatly respect benchrest/bullseye shooters, shooters whose sole interest is hunting, etc. All I ask is the same tolerance in return.
No problem at all; it is indeed easy to misconstrue in a text-only forum, and I apologize for misreading you.
And I have no problem whatsoever with people who prefer older style guns; heck, I think blackpowder muzzleloaders are neat, too, though I don't own one. And I greatly respect benchrest/bullseye shooters, shooters whose sole interest is hunting, etc. All I ask is the same tolerance in return.
Jason_W
Member
The one time it happened to me, it had more to do with getting a hot brass shower than it did the noise.
There wasn't another bench available to which I could move.
The point of my post was that I can see both sides of the issue and I understand that there are a lot of approaches to the shooting sports that can conflict with each other on small ranges.
This "zombie" thing is a great marketing tool to get some of these paranoid types to spend a lot of money on stuff they will never use. It's fun to watch because in time I can buy some of their stuff cheaper than it's worth. Just a rifle and shotgun here or there or a nice 1911. For the most part it's become a fascination with the
end of days" scenario, "Mel Gibson was way ahead of his time with Mad Max". I watched it the other night again and it is more relavent today than when it was written. Then it was science fiction, now it "to many" is more of a pediction.
Whenever I shot at the range, started carrying in the early 70's in NYC, it always seemed like a good idea to simulate "as close to you could", what you would need to do in a real attack. The kind where someone just jumped out with a gun and fired at you, or more than 1. I never understood the guys who only trained one way. There is nothing wrong with that if all you do is shoot targets, and don't carry for personel protection.
But if you do, you should at least get in some reality type of training, "as much as you could in your circumstance". I would draw and fire from my normal concealment. If this wasn't allowed, then at least put the gun on the counter and grab it and fire at different distances, and at multiple targets. Sometimes I would use 2 or 3 lanes, if I was shooting with friends. Also a good drill was to put the target out and just let it come from the farthest allowed spot, all the way in, to simulate someone running at you shooting. And the reverse. Using my weak hand, firing one handed with either hand etc.
As long as you are there you may as well get in some usefull drills, along with paper punching. I never was at a range with a 2 second rule, closest was "no rapid firing", which no one seemed to enforce anyway. There are a lot of folks who need training out there that just aren't aware of it. They emulate what they saw in a movie, or what some "expert" who works at the the range, who has been shooting fo a year or two , or took a course on the internet, told them. It's a shame that so many people believe they are prepared for a confrontation, and will more than likelly get shot if they ever really encounter one.
Some guys think that "he who makes the most noise" is the "cool guy". It's unfortunate, but it's part of the society we live in. I wish all of my guns could be legally suppresed without breaking the bank. I would love a nice quiet place to shoot. It's much like guys "or gals" who have big mouths, and have to shout over everyone to be heard. It just carries over to another format.
end of days" scenario, "Mel Gibson was way ahead of his time with Mad Max". I watched it the other night again and it is more relavent today than when it was written. Then it was science fiction, now it "to many" is more of a pediction.
Whenever I shot at the range, started carrying in the early 70's in NYC, it always seemed like a good idea to simulate "as close to you could", what you would need to do in a real attack. The kind where someone just jumped out with a gun and fired at you, or more than 1. I never understood the guys who only trained one way. There is nothing wrong with that if all you do is shoot targets, and don't carry for personel protection.
But if you do, you should at least get in some reality type of training, "as much as you could in your circumstance". I would draw and fire from my normal concealment. If this wasn't allowed, then at least put the gun on the counter and grab it and fire at different distances, and at multiple targets. Sometimes I would use 2 or 3 lanes, if I was shooting with friends. Also a good drill was to put the target out and just let it come from the farthest allowed spot, all the way in, to simulate someone running at you shooting. And the reverse. Using my weak hand, firing one handed with either hand etc.
As long as you are there you may as well get in some usefull drills, along with paper punching. I never was at a range with a 2 second rule, closest was "no rapid firing", which no one seemed to enforce anyway. There are a lot of folks who need training out there that just aren't aware of it. They emulate what they saw in a movie, or what some "expert" who works at the the range, who has been shooting fo a year or two , or took a course on the internet, told them. It's a shame that so many people believe they are prepared for a confrontation, and will more than likelly get shot if they ever really encounter one.
Some guys think that "he who makes the most noise" is the "cool guy". It's unfortunate, but it's part of the society we live in. I wish all of my guns could be legally suppresed without breaking the bank. I would love a nice quiet place to shoot. It's much like guys "or gals" who have big mouths, and have to shout over everyone to be heard. It just carries over to another format.
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FourTeeFive
Member
For me range shooting is to practice accuracy and sight in guns. The gravel pit is where I go for plinking and general "fun" shooting. I do plan on going to a local range for IDPA shooting, and I miss my old range that had individual areas with falling plates that you could use when competitions were not taking place.
P5 Guy
Member
Shooting IS Fun
Carl, Any way you care to shooting is fun. Serious practice, games, formal targets for record, or busting clays. If I'm shooting I'm having fun.
Carl, Any way you care to shooting is fun. Serious practice, games, formal targets for record, or busting clays. If I'm shooting I'm having fun.
I wasn't going to offer a reply to this but I can't resist. I find myself judging others according to me. My likes,dislikes, talents, shortcomings. I think we all do to a certain extent. My point is that while I am old (72) and came up with bolt, lever, slide action guns, I do like the modern guns to some extent. What I don't like is bumpfiring at a public range. I don't think it's safe and I do think it's disturbing. My preference is Black powder muzzle loaders, .22s, and my .223 Savage Varmint rifle with which I am trying for that elusive one hole group.
Aside from all that, have fun out there. I'll be the old coot at the next bench.
Aside from all that, have fun out there. I'll be the old coot at the next bench.
bigfatdave
Member
[citation needed]
I had an interesting trip to the range today.
Most of my friends here are into shooting pistols, and we do that a lot. I've been thinking about getting a shotgun for a while and trying out skeet and clays, but none of my other friends are into it. So I finally went out and bought myself a Remington 870 this week for pretty cheap, thinking I'd finally give it a try. I'm almost 30 now, and haven't shot skeet since I was like 13 with my dad.
So I show up by myself to the club, go inside and pay and whatnot. I come out and there are two skeet ranges. One empty, and the other has a couple older guys shooting. So I go up to the older guys and ask if they mind if I try a round with them.
Long story short, I don't think I could have been any more unwelcomed. I'm very familiar with range safety and whatnot, but the older crowd was visibly annoyed that a noob was ruining their day and "doing it wrong". I hit probably 10 or 12 out of 25 on my first time out since I was a kid (and first box of shells with this gun), so I didn't think it was so bad. It was kind of like if you didn't come out with a $5k gun and shoot a perfect round, you didn't have any place being there.
Even had somebody tell me how "nobody uses pump guns anymore, you need an over/under like us, blah blah blah". I'm thinking to myself, well seems like I can be unwelcomed just fine with a $300 gun, sure glad I didn't spend $1k...
After one round, I packed up my stuff and thanked them anyway for letting me shoot a round, and apologized for getting in their way. I headed back to the car, and one of the guys could see I was annoyed and came out and caught me in the parking lot to give me a few tips.
As long as I'm being courteous, following the rules, being safe, and trying to learn, why do you have to treat the newbie like crap? I'm half the age of everyone else there, and I'm left wondering just how the heck any new shooter is supposed to get into something like that. Don't understand why it has to be so friggin serious...
Most of my friends here are into shooting pistols, and we do that a lot. I've been thinking about getting a shotgun for a while and trying out skeet and clays, but none of my other friends are into it. So I finally went out and bought myself a Remington 870 this week for pretty cheap, thinking I'd finally give it a try. I'm almost 30 now, and haven't shot skeet since I was like 13 with my dad.
So I show up by myself to the club, go inside and pay and whatnot. I come out and there are two skeet ranges. One empty, and the other has a couple older guys shooting. So I go up to the older guys and ask if they mind if I try a round with them.
Long story short, I don't think I could have been any more unwelcomed. I'm very familiar with range safety and whatnot, but the older crowd was visibly annoyed that a noob was ruining their day and "doing it wrong". I hit probably 10 or 12 out of 25 on my first time out since I was a kid (and first box of shells with this gun), so I didn't think it was so bad. It was kind of like if you didn't come out with a $5k gun and shoot a perfect round, you didn't have any place being there.
Even had somebody tell me how "nobody uses pump guns anymore, you need an over/under like us, blah blah blah". I'm thinking to myself, well seems like I can be unwelcomed just fine with a $300 gun, sure glad I didn't spend $1k...
After one round, I packed up my stuff and thanked them anyway for letting me shoot a round, and apologized for getting in their way. I headed back to the car, and one of the guys could see I was annoyed and came out and caught me in the parking lot to give me a few tips.
As long as I'm being courteous, following the rules, being safe, and trying to learn, why do you have to treat the newbie like crap? I'm half the age of everyone else there, and I'm left wondering just how the heck any new shooter is supposed to get into something like that. Don't understand why it has to be so friggin serious...
Oh you ran inyto the Bentlty crowd. With the chauffer carrying the shotguns for them. You have to go back every week until you kick their butts. I had an employee who used to go to one in Conectcut every Sunday. He didn't make as much as their chauffer, but had great eye hand co-ordination, within a month they were all chatting away with him like he was their son. It's a load of crap but don't allow them to ruin it for you. I would say stuff to them like ' "wow this is hard", It's already my third time and I only got 98 out of 100. Before you know it they will be asking you to look at their fifty thousand dollar shotguns. People have to feel important when they have a few bucks, it's easy to bring them back to reality. Or bring your friends with you and make them feel uncomfortable, as long as you take the high road. Sometimes playing a little dumb can help also. I would ask him how much a gun like that cost, "even if you know", then ask if he thought it actually helped his score? Then make sure you out shoot him.
FourTeeFive
Member
A buddy of mine was a regional skeet champion in his teen years. Many years later we went to the range just for the fun of it, and he had a basic hunting 870. All of the doctors and lawyers were there with their custom Italian shotguns. It was great fun to watch him do much better than most, then quietly pack up and leave. So much for their $5000+ guns...
bcp280z
Member
This whole thread is a rant, and calling others out on what the like is not very Highroad IMHO, I'm surprised it's still open
bigfatdave
Member
I'm wondering what happened to Carl
mrbro
Member
orionengnr
Member
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2005
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- 5,712
There may have been a few muggings, but I can tell you for certain that the terms "carjacking" and "home invasion" are recent developments. They did not happen in my childhood or teen years, or my 20s, 30s, 40s. They started happening within the last 15-20 years and are a reflection of our society and judicial system. OJ and Casey Anthony are perfect examples.
Absolutely. When I grew up, nobody locked their doors at night. Do you know of anywhere that exists today?
No, not really...if you read the graph, from ~1950 to 1970 the rate is 5--as late as 1995, the rate is 10. It has been trending downward since then. Guess what? CCW laws and the ability of the individual to keep and bear arms has been moving towards a more "liberal" (in the original Constitutional meaning) definition.
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bigfatdave
Member
mrbro, well, there's another law on the books that makes no sense. my mistake, I gave too much credit to the legislators.
What a load of crap, how do they enforce it? A paper bag, pocketknife, and a sharpie and you have a humanoid target in less than 15 seconds ... two of them in fact!
Any convictions?
What a load of crap, how do they enforce it? A paper bag, pocketknife, and a sharpie and you have a humanoid target in less than 15 seconds ... two of them in fact!
Any convictions?
I've been shooting for for over 40 years and had been raised to enjoy shooting. All of us should be able to shoot any style we want. However it seems to me that all the gun mags and discussion forums are heavily weighted toward defensive discussion. The amount of time spent worrying about having to defend yourself should be spent just having fun shooting with zero thoughts of paranoia.
Everyone is more than welcome to shoot and live their lives their own way and to think what they want. Times may have changed but I just enjoy shooting at maybe rocks, twigs or pop cans in the woods or maybe having a little fun competition with friends instead of practicing only for self defense and giving little else in the shooting world any thought at all. I've rarely practiced defensive shooting but can hit the heart lung area in an instant at 20 feet. This from doing fun games and challenges shooting in the woods or desert that I or someone else just made up at the time. I'd really not want to shoot anyone ever.
Getting really familiar with your gun or guns as well as fundamentals is the key. Do that and you'll be good enough for self defense at home or on the street and have fun shooting. If you are an NRA member and read the monthly armed citizen, especially over years, there aren't any major shoot outs where a lot of ammo is fired. I don't remember any articles where someone needed more than what a revolver will hold to defend themselves and even that many rounds is the exception.
Everyone is more than welcome to shoot and live their lives their own way and to think what they want. Times may have changed but I just enjoy shooting at maybe rocks, twigs or pop cans in the woods or maybe having a little fun competition with friends instead of practicing only for self defense and giving little else in the shooting world any thought at all. I've rarely practiced defensive shooting but can hit the heart lung area in an instant at 20 feet. This from doing fun games and challenges shooting in the woods or desert that I or someone else just made up at the time. I'd really not want to shoot anyone ever.
Getting really familiar with your gun or guns as well as fundamentals is the key. Do that and you'll be good enough for self defense at home or on the street and have fun shooting. If you are an NRA member and read the monthly armed citizen, especially over years, there aren't any major shoot outs where a lot of ammo is fired. I don't remember any articles where someone needed more than what a revolver will hold to defend themselves and even that many rounds is the exception.
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Aren't guns great. You can pick the weapon of choice and go shoot.
All my life I have loved shotguns and still own the first shotgun I ever shot. Unfortunately I don't shoot them very often.
My first pistol was a Ruger Single Six. A single action 22. I own one but not the one I bought when I was 18. I regularly shoot revolvers. Slow and fast.
Ruger 10/22's will always have a soft spot in my heart. Over Christmas I found an old 1960's era Finger groove stock which I mounted a fluted barrel and a Kidd trigger. On the bench it is an absolute tack driver and isn't ammo particular.
I recently found a Colt Anaconda in 45 LC. The gun hadn't been shot in years and is still real stiff. I am working it out to get it where it is an easy shooter again.
My last purchase was a DD M4 SBR, a Rem 700 SPS Tactical in 308 and an AAC 762 SDN-6 Suppressor. I am hoping to get the tax stamp's in the early fall.
I really love shooting IDPA but am not very good. I don't practice these skills enough.
My focus, safety first, have fun, enjoy the fellowship with the other shooters. One of my biggest pleasures is shooting with my grown son and my daughters husband. Recently I gave my son in law a M4. His first centerfire rifle.
One thing, in the south in the summer you won't find many shooters dressed in black at the range. Too dang hot. If you see me it is likely I will be in shorts and keen sandals drinking lots of water.
One last thing, when Clinton passed the AWB back in the 90's I had never handled an AR only wooden stock guns. According to my son all of his friends who own guns today have shot AR's. I think this is a good thing. The fear associated with the AR back then is not near as prevalent today as it was back then. Personally, I have come to love AR-15's and next to classic revolvers it is my favorite platform.
All my life I have loved shotguns and still own the first shotgun I ever shot. Unfortunately I don't shoot them very often.
My first pistol was a Ruger Single Six. A single action 22. I own one but not the one I bought when I was 18. I regularly shoot revolvers. Slow and fast.
Ruger 10/22's will always have a soft spot in my heart. Over Christmas I found an old 1960's era Finger groove stock which I mounted a fluted barrel and a Kidd trigger. On the bench it is an absolute tack driver and isn't ammo particular.
I recently found a Colt Anaconda in 45 LC. The gun hadn't been shot in years and is still real stiff. I am working it out to get it where it is an easy shooter again.
My last purchase was a DD M4 SBR, a Rem 700 SPS Tactical in 308 and an AAC 762 SDN-6 Suppressor. I am hoping to get the tax stamp's in the early fall.
I really love shooting IDPA but am not very good. I don't practice these skills enough.
My focus, safety first, have fun, enjoy the fellowship with the other shooters. One of my biggest pleasures is shooting with my grown son and my daughters husband. Recently I gave my son in law a M4. His first centerfire rifle.
One thing, in the south in the summer you won't find many shooters dressed in black at the range. Too dang hot. If you see me it is likely I will be in shorts and keen sandals drinking lots of water.
One last thing, when Clinton passed the AWB back in the 90's I had never handled an AR only wooden stock guns. According to my son all of his friends who own guns today have shot AR's. I think this is a good thing. The fear associated with the AR back then is not near as prevalent today as it was back then. Personally, I have come to love AR-15's and next to classic revolvers it is my favorite platform.
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mrbro
Member
Enforce? It's Massachusetts, just making the law is supposed to make it so.
.22's are just pure fun. No other reason, they aren't tacticool, they don't advertise you have enormous brass balls, they don't make women faint at the sight of your manly ability to control your .825 G&S Online Express Magnum. .22's are just for the pure fun of shooting.
I am under 40 and own and shoot almost exculsively single actions revolvers...love them from my .22 to my 45 colt....own a couple of 9 mm auto but they hardly ever come out.....i love to shoot for fun and to just plink around....think the black tactical crap is silly and makes people look foolish....BUT i also think my fellow single action shooters who dress up like the Lone Ranger are just as silly......i like to dress in jeans and t-shirts and shoot older style guns...works for me and I can't imagine why anyone would do otherwise....but alot of people do and to each his own
As long as you are safe and do not do damage to my rights as a gun you can strap a ceiling fan to your Glock Floding Stock Desert Eagle or you can wear a long horn steer belt buckle
As long as you are safe and do not do damage to my rights as a gun you can strap a ceiling fan to your Glock Floding Stock Desert Eagle or you can wear a long horn steer belt buckle
I carry concealed always, and practice shooting a carry weapon a half-dozen times a month these days. I hunt some, but I'm not exactly an avid hunter. I live on a farm... Guns here are about varmint control mostly.
But I have a 125yd. target range set up about a one minute walk from my back door. The running joke this Summer is me getting home from the day job, changing clothes, and telling my wife "I'm gonna go shoot my bullet", then going to the lane I have set up between the hedge row and the corn, and taking ONE shot with a rifle (usually Savage .308) at a paper target. It's a daily ritual challenge that I'm finding to be very satisfying. It's like golf, but better, because unlike golf, I'm placing my shot closer to the mark most of the time, not farther, and it takes up way less time and energy, and really re-sets my attitude in a positive way.
But I have a 125yd. target range set up about a one minute walk from my back door. The running joke this Summer is me getting home from the day job, changing clothes, and telling my wife "I'm gonna go shoot my bullet", then going to the lane I have set up between the hedge row and the corn, and taking ONE shot with a rifle (usually Savage .308) at a paper target. It's a daily ritual challenge that I'm finding to be very satisfying. It's like golf, but better, because unlike golf, I'm placing my shot closer to the mark most of the time, not farther, and it takes up way less time and energy, and really re-sets my attitude in a positive way.
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Dmitri Popov
Member
When my great grandfather taught me to shoot, it was with a .22. That was a long time ago and I still love shooting my little .22. Its cheap, fun, and offers plenty of challenge. Especially when I have a scope on them, since when I was learning I wasn't introduced to scopes for a long time. Ill take open sights most anyday, not to say I can't "take out the invading chinese zombie horde" with my scope, I just have my preferences.
And as for the 2 second rule, if I pulled that trigger faster than 10 seconds apart he would ask me if I thought it was a machine gun lol. So I definately understand your viewpoint.
I shoot for fun, slow most of the time, and with every bit of accuracy I can muster from myself and my rifle. But thats not to say that I dont like to open up occasionaly on an unsuspecting water filled milk jug.
And as for the 2 second rule, if I pulled that trigger faster than 10 seconds apart he would ask me if I thought it was a machine gun lol. So I definately understand your viewpoint.
I shoot for fun, slow most of the time, and with every bit of accuracy I can muster from myself and my rifle. But thats not to say that I dont like to open up occasionaly on an unsuspecting water filled milk jug.
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