Trish Taylor, Austin Texas

REMEMBER: You can click on the above logo to get to the most recent posting.... Hope you have fun looking at my creations and other things I love in life.... calligraphy is my passion, but so is my family... consisting of "the love of my life", my hubby, and my three miniature long haired dachshunds. You'll see lots of them here. Loved this quote: There’s something sacred about reading a blog post on someone else’s site. It’s like visiting a friend’s house for a quick meal ’round the breakfast table. It’s personal—you’re in their space, and the environment is uniquely suited for idea exchange and uninterrupted conversation. In many ways, we should be treating our blogs like our breakfast tables. Be welcoming & gracious when you host, and kind & respectful when visiting.” – Trent Walton

Friday, November 30, 2012

My FIRST EVER shooting experience!

I probably NEVER would have shot a gun if it hadn’t been for my nephew Jason visiting Texas for the Thanksgiving holidays from Colorado. He is very competent in this field as he is a trained Law Enforcement Officer and teaches NRA safety classes. I was confident that he was the right person to give me all the pointers and instruction I needed. He was very thorough and serious about it all.  I definitely felt safe around him… of course, I need a lot more training and only wish he lived closer...

 

I think it would have been better if I had shot  a gun for the first time OUTSIDE rather than a shooting range as my mom has shot OUTSIDE many times, but once she entered the range, she was all jittery and jumped every time she heard someone else’s gun go off at another lane (there were ten or so lanes in total and most of them were being used).  She decided after getting hit by the shell of my first couple of rounds that she wasn’t really all that into it and opted to go “grocery shopping”.I couldn't convince her to even shoot one round... when she is certain... you cannot convince her. Her face was stoic and sincere... she just wanted "out". 
It was quite disconcerting for me, too, and I jumped every time I heard a BOOM from the pistol in the next lane… ha, otherwise, I probably would have hit the target on the black EVERY time. LOL!

Seriously, though, even though I had really good ear gear on and goggles, I was still “annoyed” with the surrounding sounds and the fact that every time I shot there was the cartridge that flipped out and hit the wall to my right, ricocheting into my hair or head. NOT good, but I persevered and shot until I could shoot no longer… Not that I didn’t have enough ammo… I bought two different boxes (9mm
and 45) of 50 rounds each, but the guns were quite heavy and to hold out my arms and steady my shot every time made me quite sore in my shoulders so after shooting about 5 or 6 guns both 9mm and  45’s a few times, my hand, arms and neck/shoulders were really throbbing.What a woos!   I kept thinking about the calligraphy class that I had to teach the next day and wondered whether I was going to be able to do it without pain and if I could do it with accuracy.  I managed, but was a little sore… nothing a round of Aleve couldn’t cure, though.

I think it will be much better when I actually get a gun with a grip that FITS me. That was the main obstacle we found for me.  Since I have a hand the size of a ten year old or younger, that was a major challenge.  Oh well… They did show me one gun which they had in one of their cases which they would have sold to me called a Walther PPQ, butI wasn’t prepared to BUY one that day… and they wouldn't let you try it out first.  Afterall, it was only my first day ever to shoot a gun.

The gun I am holding in the picture is a 40 caliber Sig, semi automatic.  It was Jason’s and the one he trained my mom and I on… showing us how to load the mag and advance the cartridge into the barrel, how to make the trigger pressure shorter…etc.  He was great…. He has a flashlight and a laser target on his, which you can see, as well as night time sights that glow in the dark… thought that was a great idea… I think I would upgrade to that for sure.  I know that the flashlight and the laser
probably would make it that much heavier, though it seems like a great option.

Overall, it was a …. TRIP!  I’m not sure I’m “hooked” as Jason would have liked me to be, but I can see a purpose for a gun in the home and probably will get one for self defense, although I doubt that I will get a concealed handgun permit.  I just don’t see me carrying one… but as they say, you should always have something to defend yourself….

It was scary… the first shot. It was loud and I didn’t know what to expect.  It really rocked my little body, too… the whole muzzle went up and on the .45, the recoil made my body go backwards even.  Jason giggleed at me….In my town, for the past 8+ years, I have passed the indoor shooting range never to step foot in there... and wondered many times when I saw "MONDAY is LADIES Day" what it would be like in there... NOW, I know.  I remember just before entering the facility for the first and only time I had that feeling like I was about to ride a roller coaster.. you know that butterfly in your stomach feeling.. like you have to go to the bathroom.... NOW, I know what it feels like and I will be more apt to walk in there with more confidence next time and feel a little more comfortable handling a gun. I have a long way to go, though.

On my last shot, when the gun was empty… it smoked…..If I weren’t so tired and still a little in beginner’s shock I would have blew on it and said,  “Go ahead, make my day”…. LOL!  I was beat
by then. though. I DID IT!!! Something that i never thought I'd ever do in my lifetime... another check off my bucket list...even though I had never put it there.  Thanks, Jason! 
I'd hate to be on the other side of my gun if someone enters my home!!







2 comments:

  1. Fun! I personally like my grandpa's Walther PP, smallish but a semiauto. I am really more of a revolver lover though. ;-) Shooting outside it way fun and you should definitely try it if you have the chance!

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  2. haa haa It was a nice thought about blowing on the gun.. but i doubt you would have gotten that far.. only point the weapon away from you.. far far away.
    I did something similar w/ED in Va. I started to ask a question and the gun turned, just a little, it didn't get far.. but he very gently pushed it in the direction it was supposed to be - down the lane.

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