Thread: I got teased at the range

I went down to the Clackamas County range over the weekend. SUPER NICE range masters who are employed by the sheriff's department.

I rented a Smith and Wesson M&P 40. Single stack 15 rnd. Dead Eye accurate out to 6.5 yds for an inexperienced shooter.

The guy next to me was popping off 45s and the concussion was giving me a headache and somehow in all that from both 3 yds and 6 yds I emptied 15 rounds each in the center with a 1-1/2" - 2" pattern. This was not the normal round target this was the 5 target ovals on one sheet of paper. So the targets were small for me that has never really shot before. Ok I shot a 38 years ago and a 22 LR when I was a kid.

So here is the teasing. The guy next to me stops after my second clip empties and pops his head over, taps me on the shoulder and says "you can't shoot worth sh** can you?" The range master was equally surprised and I just laughed and blamed the gun.

The only thing I did not like about the pistol was the mag release. I kept ejecting the mag because of my hand placement. Thankfully it can be switched to the right side instead of the left.

I think I may have found the pistol for me. I think the coolest thing about the place was the range master put a plastic gun in my hand and had me hold it with the proscribed grip and hit the muzzle to tell me what the recoil was. I think that really prepared me for what lay ahead.

BTW it was the best $39 I ever spent. I also shot my fatherinlaws 22 Walther semiauto. Neat little piece. Pretty accurate too although the sights are a little low.

There is no recoil in this gun. I mean none. The manner in which I was told to handle the gun eliminated the recoil and target acquisition after the shot was fast.

If you're learning to shoot a 22LR is the way to go in the beginning. Relatively cheap ammo, no recoil and you can get the basics of squeezing the trigger while holding perfect sight alignment down. That is really all there is to accurate shooting.... fundamentally I mean.

I shoot 50 or so rounds through my ruger MK2 before I even think about getting out the .45. It is a cheep way to refresh your reflexes and trigger control.

Don

First time at the range shooting a .40 cal handgun and you got 1.5 - 2" groups at 7 yards?

Years ago when I first started working in Law Enforcement and we carried revolvers (.357) with 4 inch barrels we had one of our qualifying courses at 50 yards with timed firing. Thats where you separate the men from the boys with a pistol. Later when we carried semiautos (.40 cal) At 7 yards we had to draw a holstered weapon and fire 5 rounds and reholster all in 5 seconds. Of course we used a silhouette target.

I thought the thread title was "I got tased at the range"

oh well.

congrats on finding what you like!

Hi,

I used to shoot pistols a lot once upon a time. The best training for accuracy and trigger control is to use a .177 target air pistol. The pellet travels relatively slowly through the barrel and any imperfection in sighting, holding and trigger control shows up. It also has the advantage that you can practice any time in your own back yard with very cheap ammo. My favourite all round pistol was and always will be the Colt Gold Cup. It was good for bullseye target, IPSC and bowling pins.

Originally Posted by Navaja

First time at the range shooting a .40 cal handgun and you got 1.5 - 2" groups at 7 yards?

Yes.

No Lee I was not tased. Although a friend of mine was in Corrections and had to be tazed and maced as part of his training. He said the mace hurt worse than the taser.

So you're gonna get a 40 cal. then eh?

Also it sounds like that guy next to you was an A$$hole; he could've tried to give you some pointers or maybe ask if you would like any help on shooting more accurately...