Firesticks!
This weekend I tried something completely new and completely different.
I have never been around firearms before. I've haven't had much of an interest in owning a gun, but have wanted to learn how to safely handle one should the need arise. Plus, I have to admit to being a bit curious as to whether I could actually bring myself to fire a gun and do so with any degree of accuracy.
The first step of course was finding a good teacher...and...thanks to MartialTalk, I did exactly that. Andy Moynihan lives about 20 minutes away from me, has his NRA cert, plus we share the same interest in the Filipino arts...and in an IM convo, Andy invited me up to his range.
It hit us both in the beginning...here are two people that talked to one another but never met face to face and, what's the first thing we do? Go use deadly weapons. Of course. Doesn't everyone?
We started at the rifle range where I tried my hand at shooting targets at 25, 50, and 75 yards. I didn't make any 100 or 100+ yard attempts, that will be a test for another day. The rifle was a Winchester .45, I forget the exact model (Andy? Help?).
It was an interesting and sobering experience. I was surprised at how much my breathing moved my sight around. I remember a past acquaintance who had told me the athleticism in marksmanship comes from the ability to slow one's heart rate and breathing in order to get a better shot. The gent had a varsity letter in the sport, I believed him at the time. Recalling his words, I tried to grasp just how the heck I was supposed to slow my own heart rate.
My own art, Kenpo, does not actively teach chi. The NRA safety course certainly doesn't either. While I'm admittedly ignorant of the internal arts, I can't help but wonder if I was training myself how to root while trying to steady my sights on the target. I found myself getting calmer with each shot.
Together we shot about 50 rounds or so on the rifle range. After a quick break away from the sun for some rehydration, we started up again, this time on the pistol range.I did enjoy the rifle work and the accuracy of the Winchester. But after trying my hands at closer targets with smaller, lighter guns...oh my heavens I am hooked.
Andy brought two 9mm pistols with him, a Glock 17 and a Glock 26. And between the two of us, we shot...uh...almost 500 rounds. I did say I am hooked didn't I? The lighter Glocks were definitely more to my liking. So, we shot at targets, we shot at bowling pins, we shot at candlepins, and otherwise had a grand old time "turning money in to noise", as Andy said.
For whatever reason, I was much more comfortable with the Glock 17 than I was the 26. I am not a big person, and don't have big hands. Most of Andy's corrections were on my grips, it took most of the range time to devise a way to hold the gun steadily. Once I had a better understanding of what I need to do for a better grip, my accuracy increased substantially.
So how did I do?
After knocking over some bowling pins, Andy and I tacked up two targets, side by side. We took turns shooting 5 rounds each in to them.
Three sets of 5 rounds, and I shot a bullseye.
Next target after that, 4 sets of 5 rounds. I didn't shoot a bullseye, but my aim is getting more consistent. The 5 shot group in a "U" under Andy's "Thumbs Up" drawing, was one set, the 4 shots just south of the bullseye plus the shot in the 10 o'clock position on the 8 ring was one set, and the 5 shots in a row in the 9-10 rings were one set.
I think I have a rather good instructor, don't you?
Props, Andy!!
This weekend I tried something completely new and completely different.
I have never been around firearms before. I've haven't had much of an interest in owning a gun, but have wanted to learn how to safely handle one should the need arise. Plus, I have to admit to being a bit curious as to whether I could actually bring myself to fire a gun and do so with any degree of accuracy.
The first step of course was finding a good teacher...and...thanks to MartialTalk, I did exactly that. Andy Moynihan lives about 20 minutes away from me, has his NRA cert, plus we share the same interest in the Filipino arts...and in an IM convo, Andy invited me up to his range.
It hit us both in the beginning...here are two people that talked to one another but never met face to face and, what's the first thing we do? Go use deadly weapons. Of course. Doesn't everyone?
We started at the rifle range where I tried my hand at shooting targets at 25, 50, and 75 yards. I didn't make any 100 or 100+ yard attempts, that will be a test for another day. The rifle was a Winchester .45, I forget the exact model (Andy? Help?).
It was an interesting and sobering experience. I was surprised at how much my breathing moved my sight around. I remember a past acquaintance who had told me the athleticism in marksmanship comes from the ability to slow one's heart rate and breathing in order to get a better shot. The gent had a varsity letter in the sport, I believed him at the time. Recalling his words, I tried to grasp just how the heck I was supposed to slow my own heart rate.
My own art, Kenpo, does not actively teach chi. The NRA safety course certainly doesn't either. While I'm admittedly ignorant of the internal arts, I can't help but wonder if I was training myself how to root while trying to steady my sights on the target. I found myself getting calmer with each shot.
Together we shot about 50 rounds or so on the rifle range. After a quick break away from the sun for some rehydration, we started up again, this time on the pistol range.I did enjoy the rifle work and the accuracy of the Winchester. But after trying my hands at closer targets with smaller, lighter guns...oh my heavens I am hooked.
Andy brought two 9mm pistols with him, a Glock 17 and a Glock 26. And between the two of us, we shot...uh...almost 500 rounds. I did say I am hooked didn't I?
The lighter Glocks were definitely more to my liking. So, we shot at targets, we shot at bowling pins, we shot at candlepins, and otherwise had a grand old time "turning money in to noise", as Andy said. For whatever reason, I was much more comfortable with the Glock 17 than I was the 26. I am not a big person, and don't have big hands. Most of Andy's corrections were on my grips, it took most of the range time to devise a way to hold the gun steadily. Once I had a better understanding of what I need to do for a better grip, my accuracy increased substantially.
So how did I do?
After knocking over some bowling pins, Andy and I tacked up two targets, side by side. We took turns shooting 5 rounds each in to them.
Three sets of 5 rounds, and I shot a bullseye.
Next target after that, 4 sets of 5 rounds. I didn't shoot a bullseye, but my aim is getting more consistent. The 5 shot group in a "U" under Andy's "Thumbs Up" drawing, was one set, the 4 shots just south of the bullseye plus the shot in the 10 o'clock position on the 8 ring was one set, and the 5 shots in a row in the 9-10 rings were one set.
I think I have a rather good instructor, don't you?
Props, Andy!!
