
AR-15...9mm Browning...Oh my!
That's right, your favorite gun advocate and mine...Me...Shot some serious guns yesterday...
The only shooting I've done in my life (though many times) was with a bolt-action .22 caliber long rifle, and 12 or 20 gauge shotgun. Shooting semi-automatic assault rifles was an eye opening experience. And not just because of the guns.
When you go to a place that people shoot guns, like a place designed specifically for shooting, you will always meet someone you don't want owning a gun (or 10). My guy was named Robert. He was a "safety" meaning he was a gun club member, who volunteered to staff the range and make sure that everyone was safe with their guns. Good idea, right? Certainly, however, there is something creepy about this breed of individual.
Robert was a Marine. I don't know much about the military, but I was under the impression that the Marines were the guys stupid enough to go in first. I also know they are damn proud of it.
JFH, who took AJK and I to the range was in the Army. When he mentioned to Robert that he was just out of the service, they immediately hit it off. It was like a huge brotherhood, and they were both members. While Robert was probably 55, and JFH was in his late twenties, it didn't make one bit of difference. Until Robert realized that JFH was not a marine. Then it became kind of a 'shit-talking' adventure. This culminated in Robert picking a shell of the ground, handing it to JFH and saying "do you know what this is from?" When JFH couldn't identify it, Robert threw his head back and laughed the laugh of a deranged man. "You see, this is what's wrong with you 'new-fangled military boys." he laughed "They don't teach you shit!"
That explanation was too long already so I'll move on.
The guns were big, and they put off a shock-wave like I've never felt. I was standing 4 feet to the left of JFH when he first shot the AR-15, and I was literally shaken by the blast.
Also, I'd like to mention that shooting handguns is HARD. I was shooting the 9mm at 17 yards, and I could barely hit the paper. In the movies, they just squeeze off shot after shot, hitting people in the head, legs, etc. like it was no big deal. I'll just say that the little black circle I was shooting at, survived with only minor flesh wounds. I'll get it next time.
An interesting story via JFH, I hope I don't butcher it.
- This range was "semi-public" in that it is owned by the State of Tennessee, and anyone can shoot there for a fee, however you can also sign up for an annual membership. This is a lot like "semi-public" golf courses. JFH had some friends who liked to shoot at a FULLY PUBLIC range out in South Carolina. This range was having problems because they had some "trouble-makers" who had been coming to the range, waiting for someone to shoot all their ammo, and then pulling guns on that person and taking their stuff. They call it "rolling" the person.
- Well JFH had some buddies who were Army Rangers that were shooting at this very range one day. These guys, the trouble-makers, waited until the Rangers finished shooting all their weapons, and were packing it in. The pulled their guns, and tried to roll the rangers (not knowing they were rangers of course). Well, being a good military man, the ranger had a gun on his ankle, which he promptly pulled out, and "flex-cuffed" the trouble-maker until the police could arrive.
- Just goes to show you, don't fuck with people on gun ranges, even if you think they are unarmed.
Stay Tuned...