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A Lovely Day at the Range
Been trying to get to the range more. It’s amazing how a stone-cold proficiency with firearms helps keep the nightmares at bay. During one of my sojourns to said range, I saw a flier for a “Women Only” concealed carry/pistol introduction class.
Made me think. All the years Mrs. Mongo has seen me carrying, has watched as I enter the house after the workday, grab the nearest kid, and task him/her with “unload, clear, and safe this weapon,” I cannot recall her actually going to the range. Sure, she did some rooty-poot pistol work when she went into the Army,
But, on consideration, nothing since then. I kind of figured that the arc of my own life (wherein one feels naked without some kind of firearm, somewhere on one’s body) kind of magically transmogrified to the Lovely and Talented Mrs. Mongo. Sadly, no.
Okay, babe, you’se gotsta hafta go to this course. She had trepidations (What if I’m the only mom there and all the other girls are tattooed 20-something bippies wearing tactical pants and sports bras?), but finally agreed.
She loved it. Came out of the class wanting to hit the range again, soonest. I’ll put this one in the win column.
Published in General
Nah. Unless I get into a war, my Glock 19 will be plenty.
I just meant that it won’t tire you.
And dress up in little outfits and say “Come over here, Bill, and show me why they call you ‘Wild.’ ” and then he can say “Annie get my gun.” Have fun, you two kids.
Sounds like you’ve (role)played this game before.
I can’t help it if I have good ideas.
My friends and I talk about going to a class together, but I never manage to do it. I don’t have a gun, don’t know what to get, and don’t know where to start. And, as much as I want to be otherwise–I am in Texas afterall–it scares me to have one around.
They’re just tools, like hammers and computers. Not as dangerous as computers, though, nowhere near it.
Miz Christie, I would encourage you to endeavor to persevere, and take an all ladies class. Mrs. Mongo went from scared to have one around to “I get it” in the space of the six hour class. M’lady said that most of the (10) ladies in her class were having heart palpitations, shaky hands, and dry mouths. After about an hour and a half, they were totally absorbed in learning a new skill.
Taking guys out of the equation means no testosterone (and all the hijinx that come with it) interfering with beginners learning. M’lady was really, really trepidatious going into it. And wound up having a blast.
Her words: I’m no longer scared of a gun. I respect it.
Once you get used to carrying one, it becomes just as indespensable as a wallet and car keys.
The other day, a friend of mine was wondering why I carry. “What are you scared of?”, she asked. “Not a damn thing,” I replied. 😎
Zee Germans.
Knowledge conquers fear. I have taught many ladies, young and otherwise, in NRA Basic Pistol. They aren’t intimidated by an old fat guy instructor. You might look for one like me, who specializes in folks who don’t aspire to be Rangers or Seals. Most important, find an instructor who will help you try as many handguns as possible. You have to find your gun, the one that will become your best friend; often, you will know as soon as you touch it. It will snuggle into your hand and become an extension of your arm. My Beretta Model 86 Cheetah still does that, and I still get a distinct pleasure from simply picking it up. It is essential that you enjoy your firearm, that you look forward to shooting, cleaning and carrying it. If you don’t you will talk yourself out of carrying it, and it won’t be there when you need it.
Gun shops with an attached range often have a rental counter with a variety of firearms available to try. My local range/shop‘s policy allows a renter to swap models as much as one wants for a single fee. They don’t put a time limit on the range lane rental either, and you can pop out to put more ammo on the tab as much as you like. The shop makes $$ in additional ammo sales, and the renter finds a favorite easily.
When I lived in Virginia my son and I spent many happy hours and well-spent dollars at Clark Brothers in Warrenton. They’ve been open since 1959. I occasionally teased the owner (third generation Clark) that he would never sell the place if the EPA knew how much lead had been fired into the berms at the range behind the store. Because of the number of Civil War re-enactors in that part of VA it was not uncommon to hear the distinct low note of a flintlock rifle out there; I added some BP pistols to the arsenal and still enjoy shooting them. Clark’s gets a lot of estate sales and consignments, so we saw, fondled and occasionally bought some interesting firearms. I will be forever in their debt for a call I got from them in 2009, offering me first chance at a Beretta 84 factory-engraved with gold inlay for the Beretta tercentennial; there are only 300 in existence, and 100 in the USA. One of which is in my safe. It took me three months to pay for it, but they held it in spite of getting better offers. I take them bottles of cider from the Niagara region, my true home, whenever I visit.
Places like that are just great. That’s the sort of place where I fell in love with my current carry weapon.
But please get some kind of training first. Also, some of those places (I’ve heard) will not rent a gun to you, unless you can show them you already own a gun. (Because people have used rental guns for suicide before.)
Here is the difference between reality and the People’s Republic of NJ
Boss posts a picture of the lovely and talented Mrs M with a firearm. The post is titled “Lovely Day at the Range” and gets 46 Likes … as well it should.
In NJ, a family took their high school son and some of his friends to a private shooting range. The son posted a picture on social media with a caption “ Fun day at the range.” And got suspended from school for a week for violating the school’s policy on something … firearms? Pictures of firearms? Having fun?
NJ…There are just no words.
http://www.nj.com/ocean/index.ssf/2018/03/gun_group_says_it_will_sue_school_after_students_a.html
Mrs. Hoplite is theoretically fine with the idea of having her own concealed pistol license (CPL, what it’s called here in WA), but so far has no personal interest in carrying. I’ll keep looking for a way to spark some enthusiasm for trying her hand at pistol shooting.
Unbelievable. Actually, all too believable.
.22s give you a terrible dilemma: “Will I have more fun with a single action .22 revolver, or a nice semiauto like a Ruger Mk whatever or a Browning Buckmark?”
The answer seems to be to bring them both and run a multiyear test.
Well, right now, I’m working on a Ruger standard that has stamped on the barrel, “Made in the 200th year of American liberty.” I don’t have a .22 revolver, though I have a .38 special and a .45 Vaquero.
The Single Six with the interchangeable cylinders (.22/.22WMR) is very nice. On a dark or indoor range the muzzle blast from the unburned powder in shooting WMR is… a blast.
One can always use another gun. I’ll look in to it. The Vaquero has interchangeable cylinders. It can shoot .45 ACP or long Colt.
I’ve got a 9-shot .22 High Standard revolver. It’s a hoot.
Y’know, I keep saying this to Mrs. Hoplite, but I haven’t convinced her so far…
Would she rather see you spend your time and money on a mistress?
(Laughing) She knows I’ve neither the time nor the money for such silliness!
Your poor .22 rifle might be getting jealous about all the attention being paid to pistols here. Kim du Toit has revived his “gratuitous gun pics” lately and had this to say today:
<catching up>
I attended Front Sight, outside of Pahrump, Nevada, a few years ago with friends. It was pretty good training. I recommend it.
Home of the Little Drummer Boy.