I've always read and enjoyed some of the outrageous claims made by people and related here at THR but I never really had one myself to contribute. The closest, IIRC, was a dealer at a gun show stating one of the rifles he was selling, an RPK parts gun built on an AK receiver, will shoot quarter (25 cent piece) sized groups at 200 yds all day long. That is, until today.
I had to watch a product being manufacture on the plant floor to try to determine the problem the customer was having with it. The operator working the machine is one I had talked to on occassion as I'm on the floor often. Previously, about a month ago, a co-worker friend had mentioned to hiim that I was at this year's CMP National Sporter shoot at Camp Perry recently. The operator struck up a conversation at the time concerning firearms and conveyed that he had a few and recently purchase a ".38 auto" for his wife. Immediately I was thinking ".38 Colt or.38 Super" and asked. He wasn't familiar with those so I helped him along and it sounded like he meant .380 ACP (gun was a Bersa). Conversation continued on small stuff, mentioned that he was in Desert Storm as a Marine, shot .50 BMGwhile there, etc. He wasn't too familiar with the laws concerning .50 BMG and thought it was illegal. Tried to set him straight but wasn't sure he understood.
Fast forward to today. Had to work with him again today. As we're watching the process, firearms again came up (by him). Asked what I like to shoot and mentioned that in the past 4-5 years I've been focusing on .22 lr and .17 HMR. Prior to that, it was probably .308/7.62. Then goes on to ask handguns and mention probably 9mm as it is the caliber I have the most platforms for. He had inquired how many I had and not being the type to divulge that information, merely stated, "a few". Goes on to say he has 12, a couple 9s, a .40, .45, etc. and mentions again (correctly this time) his wife's .380. From here on, things get interesting.
He mentions that he doesn't like shooting the .40SW because the gun is a Glock. At which I'm thinking it's probably the block shape of the girth of the grip as I don't like that feature much myself on my G34. Before I could ask if it was this and much to my surprise, he says he doesn't like grip safety of his Glock (indicating where the position of the safety is on the web of his hand). It causes him to grip the gun oddly causing inaccuracy in his shooting abilities.
Personally, I'm not the type of person who corrects a BSer unless the information is dangerous. I just like to sit back and let them dig their own holes and see how far they get. So, I let him run.
He goes on how when he was in the Marines how he was heavily into competition and has all of the gear needed for it. This included PMI clothing. Not being or having been in the military, I did not know what PMI was and inquired to which he describes its got padding on the shoulder, etc.
"Oh", I said,"a shooting jacket".
"Yeah, I've got all of that stuff", he says.
I ask, "You use a shooting glove?".
His reply was,"No, I like the feel of the trigger on my finger."
Personally, I've never seen a serious shooter with a shooting glove on their shooting hand but rarely ever see one without one on their weak hand, which is what I was asking about (I use one myself for position shooting). I let that little tidbit go.
Continues to describe how he has won 5 competitions in handgun (M9) and 10 in rifle while in the Marines.
I had asked, "With an M16 or M14?"
He says, "M16."
Goes on to give a few specs, muzzle velocity being "800 ft/sec". I asked again and he restated "800 ft/sec". I figure he meant 800 meters/sec but didn't correct.
To describe his abilities, he had mentioned that he was able to shoot 10 rounds into a group the size of a quarter (25 cent piece) at 500 YARDS! With an M16! Iron sights! I was proud of myself of being able to even suppress a smile and just complimented him on his skill. Asked where he was taught, mentions Quantico.
In fact, he (and his group)was taught by, "...what's his name....can't remember...he's a famous Marine sniper...he has a few books..."
I offer, "Hathcock?"
Him, "No...I think his name was Rodriguez?...wait...what's that guy's first name?"
Me, "Carlos."
Him, "Yeah, that's him, Carlos Hathorn." (Laughing inside.) "Yeah, met him in 2003."
At this point, I knew Carlos had passed away, didn't know when but was sure it was before 2000. I let him continue. I think he was a little iffy on that bit of information, particularly considering I at least knew Carlos Hathcock's name, and he started to backpeddle a little.
Him, "Wait, didn't he die before that?"
I feigned ignorance and say, "I don't know."
Him, "I'll have to check my records and get back with you tomorrow."
Him, "Yeah, I love shooting."
Some additional ancillary discussion not worth notingother than he still thinks .50 BMG, particularly the Barretts, are illegal for civilian purchase/ownership.
I could have corrected him along the way but would have risked gaining his ire to which he would probaly never speak to me again. Why would I want to remove a source of humor? I will certainly NOT invite him to the range to see his mad skillz as it will probably mean allowing him to try some of my stuff and I do not want him to try on my shooting gear and handle my CMP AR or any of my other guns.
I had to watch a product being manufacture on the plant floor to try to determine the problem the customer was having with it. The operator working the machine is one I had talked to on occassion as I'm on the floor often. Previously, about a month ago, a co-worker friend had mentioned to hiim that I was at this year's CMP National Sporter shoot at Camp Perry recently. The operator struck up a conversation at the time concerning firearms and conveyed that he had a few and recently purchase a ".38 auto" for his wife. Immediately I was thinking ".38 Colt or.38 Super" and asked. He wasn't familiar with those so I helped him along and it sounded like he meant .380 ACP (gun was a Bersa). Conversation continued on small stuff, mentioned that he was in Desert Storm as a Marine, shot .50 BMGwhile there, etc. He wasn't too familiar with the laws concerning .50 BMG and thought it was illegal. Tried to set him straight but wasn't sure he understood.
Fast forward to today. Had to work with him again today. As we're watching the process, firearms again came up (by him). Asked what I like to shoot and mentioned that in the past 4-5 years I've been focusing on .22 lr and .17 HMR. Prior to that, it was probably .308/7.62. Then goes on to ask handguns and mention probably 9mm as it is the caliber I have the most platforms for. He had inquired how many I had and not being the type to divulge that information, merely stated, "a few". Goes on to say he has 12, a couple 9s, a .40, .45, etc. and mentions again (correctly this time) his wife's .380. From here on, things get interesting.
He mentions that he doesn't like shooting the .40SW because the gun is a Glock. At which I'm thinking it's probably the block shape of the girth of the grip as I don't like that feature much myself on my G34. Before I could ask if it was this and much to my surprise, he says he doesn't like grip safety of his Glock (indicating where the position of the safety is on the web of his hand). It causes him to grip the gun oddly causing inaccuracy in his shooting abilities.
Personally, I'm not the type of person who corrects a BSer unless the information is dangerous. I just like to sit back and let them dig their own holes and see how far they get. So, I let him run.
He goes on how when he was in the Marines how he was heavily into competition and has all of the gear needed for it. This included PMI clothing. Not being or having been in the military, I did not know what PMI was and inquired to which he describes its got padding on the shoulder, etc.
"Oh", I said,"a shooting jacket".
"Yeah, I've got all of that stuff", he says.
I ask, "You use a shooting glove?".
His reply was,"No, I like the feel of the trigger on my finger."
Personally, I've never seen a serious shooter with a shooting glove on their shooting hand but rarely ever see one without one on their weak hand, which is what I was asking about (I use one myself for position shooting). I let that little tidbit go.
Continues to describe how he has won 5 competitions in handgun (M9) and 10 in rifle while in the Marines.
I had asked, "With an M16 or M14?"
He says, "M16."
Goes on to give a few specs, muzzle velocity being "800 ft/sec". I asked again and he restated "800 ft/sec". I figure he meant 800 meters/sec but didn't correct.
To describe his abilities, he had mentioned that he was able to shoot 10 rounds into a group the size of a quarter (25 cent piece) at 500 YARDS! With an M16! Iron sights! I was proud of myself of being able to even suppress a smile and just complimented him on his skill. Asked where he was taught, mentions Quantico.
In fact, he (and his group)was taught by, "...what's his name....can't remember...he's a famous Marine sniper...he has a few books..."
I offer, "Hathcock?"
Him, "No...I think his name was Rodriguez?...wait...what's that guy's first name?"
Me, "Carlos."
Him, "Yeah, that's him, Carlos Hathorn." (Laughing inside.) "Yeah, met him in 2003."
At this point, I knew Carlos had passed away, didn't know when but was sure it was before 2000. I let him continue. I think he was a little iffy on that bit of information, particularly considering I at least knew Carlos Hathcock's name, and he started to backpeddle a little.
Him, "Wait, didn't he die before that?"
I feigned ignorance and say, "I don't know."
Him, "I'll have to check my records and get back with you tomorrow."
Him, "Yeah, I love shooting."
Some additional ancillary discussion not worth notingother than he still thinks .50 BMG, particularly the Barretts, are illegal for civilian purchase/ownership.
I could have corrected him along the way but would have risked gaining his ire to which he would probaly never speak to me again. Why would I want to remove a source of humor? I will certainly NOT invite him to the range to see his mad skillz as it will probably mean allowing him to try some of my stuff and I do not want him to try on my shooting gear and handle my CMP AR or any of my other guns.
