Unforgiven ,,,,,,,

[Hirlau]

Life waits on no one and growing old holds no mercy.

Last June my son decides to take a major step toward his future. He wants to fly someday. After a year of examining the civilian path in an aviation university & the military path, he chose the military path.

We meet with the big four & opportunities were explained by each. There will be some time before we officially proceed. Just enough time for Dad to teach Son how to shoot a rifle. Now, son shoots .22 target with a rifle and trap with a 12 ga. for several years now. But dad is going to teach son how to shoot America's rifle, the M-16. See, dad used to teach other men how to shoot this rifle when he was young; teaching son will be a pleasure & a breeze.

So dad runs down to his favorite gun store of 30 years, Lou's in Miami. Dad needs to get son an AR-15, the civilian version of the M-16.

Dad, " Can I please have an AR-15?"

Young, nice sales lady of 25 years old, "A what?"

Dad, "An AR-15, long black, tri-angular handguard, look like an M-16, 5.56 caliber,, looks similar to one of those (Dad points to tiny rifle on wall). "

Young Lady is bewildered.

I hear laughing coming from the desks to the left of me.

"John, we haven't sold an AR-15 like that in 30 years.", This from one of the old timers I know there.

Old Timer, " John nobody buys them. We could probably order you an H-Bar from Colt. People now purchase AR platform rifles such as these."

He points to a wall of rifles that look like they belonged in a Star Wars movie.

Old Timer, " John they buy mostly M-4 Carbines."

Well, I ponder the situation, hell they look similar to what I want, just smaller,,, they must work the same.

Dad, " O.K. I'll take a Colt M-4.'

Out the door, happy as can be.

So dad sets up a training course for son. Six months of training(No Shooting), Monday thru Friday,, one hour a day on the history, mauntenance of the M-16 thru the M-4 of today. Some of the days were missed due to other family obligations, but the schedule endured. Son cannot fire the weapon, until all is known about the rifle first. Range day is upon us. Fun day !!!

3 hours of prep the night before the range, all equipment staged. Arrival at the range,, set-up complete, magazines loaded.

Dad to son,,, "It's a new rifle, I'll shoot it first, slap a mechanical zero on it, get it on paper at 50 yards,, after that we will step her out to 200 yards."

2 rounds down range,,, "How do they look son?"

Son with binoculars, " Dad you missed the target."

Dad, "Not possible,, look again !!"

Son, "Dad,, there are no holes in the target."

" Give me the da%n binoculars!!"

Sure enough, no holes 2 misses.

Long story short,, I thought there was glare on the front sight post, making it a blurr,,, no glare, I was under an overhang.
I'm blind, I can't see the front sight post clearly. I have great vision at a distance, but the front sight is as fuzzy as a giant Tribble.

Bad morning for dad, 120 rounds,,, about 11 hits in a 13 inch group at 50 yards.

Home we go,,,, next day I'm bit#hing at the archery club. One of the old guys laughs & tells me to try this out, a pair of shooting glasses he retrieves from the office. The glasses had a little rubber stick-on black circle. he said, "Look through the tiny hole first , then at your front sight post." I used my keys as a sight post & It worked !! The key became clear!!

I spent all day putting these together,,,, using black sequins ,,, holes punched of various sizes.

Back to the range the following week & all hits back in the black,,, Dad can shoot again !!!!







,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,