Howdy guys. Usually, I come on here whining and complaining about my day's experience at the shooting range. Time for a change!
I finished class today at 1000, so I hurried to my car and drove home to get some trigger time. I stopped by Academy on the way (Only one box of 7.62x39!) and then hit the range. I'll have to comment on the two Hispanic gang-bangers that were at the bench next to me. To put it simply, I can confidently say, free from any form of racial profiling, that these guys were up to no good. Just the way they approached what they were doing. They were shooting an SKS and a little pearl-handled .380 (I think). I was really uncomfortable next to them, because I got the feeling that they didn't know how to operate the SKS. I would put good money on the odds of them or one of those firearms being involved in a gang-related shooting here soon.
The good news, though, was that the trigger happy gang-bangers weren't cheap. They must've bought all of Walmart's Remington UMC 7.62x39, because I must've collected 100 rds of brass from it. I just purchased a Remington 799 in x39, and I'm finally about to go in on some reloading supplies. So, the gang-bangers (and the other gentleman that shot ~250rds of .223 brass that I snagged) provided me with a substantial amount of brass.
The real highlight of my afternoon, though, was getting to help someone out. After the gang-bangers left, they were replaced by an older guy, 75 or so, with a brand new TC Encore pistol in .223. I was just getting ready to leave, when the guy looked over at me and asked if I knew anything about sighting in a scope. Well, I'd just finished shooting the pins off at 100 yds with my CZ 527 American, so I decided I'd lend him some of my "expertise" in that field. I could tell that he knew his way around the gun, but a pistol with a scope was something completely new to him. In the end, I got to stay at the range for an extra hour, getting some quality conversation with an old timer. It felt kind of surreal, me helping him instead of the other way around. But, my new friend Tony and I finally got his gun shooting straight, so he's ready for his big buck this fall.
My advice to all of the younger guys like me on here, never take for granted to company of our elders. It made my day to be able to help Tony out, and I'd like to think that I made him feel a little bit better about the new generation of shooters and sportsmen that will pick up where he leaves off.
I finished class today at 1000, so I hurried to my car and drove home to get some trigger time. I stopped by Academy on the way (Only one box of 7.62x39!) and then hit the range. I'll have to comment on the two Hispanic gang-bangers that were at the bench next to me. To put it simply, I can confidently say, free from any form of racial profiling, that these guys were up to no good. Just the way they approached what they were doing. They were shooting an SKS and a little pearl-handled .380 (I think). I was really uncomfortable next to them, because I got the feeling that they didn't know how to operate the SKS. I would put good money on the odds of them or one of those firearms being involved in a gang-related shooting here soon.
The good news, though, was that the trigger happy gang-bangers weren't cheap. They must've bought all of Walmart's Remington UMC 7.62x39, because I must've collected 100 rds of brass from it. I just purchased a Remington 799 in x39, and I'm finally about to go in on some reloading supplies. So, the gang-bangers (and the other gentleman that shot ~250rds of .223 brass that I snagged) provided me with a substantial amount of brass.
The real highlight of my afternoon, though, was getting to help someone out. After the gang-bangers left, they were replaced by an older guy, 75 or so, with a brand new TC Encore pistol in .223. I was just getting ready to leave, when the guy looked over at me and asked if I knew anything about sighting in a scope. Well, I'd just finished shooting the pins off at 100 yds with my CZ 527 American, so I decided I'd lend him some of my "expertise" in that field. I could tell that he knew his way around the gun, but a pistol with a scope was something completely new to him. In the end, I got to stay at the range for an extra hour, getting some quality conversation with an old timer. It felt kind of surreal, me helping him instead of the other way around. But, my new friend Tony and I finally got his gun shooting straight, so he's ready for his big buck this fall.
My advice to all of the younger guys like me on here, never take for granted to company of our elders. It made my day to be able to help Tony out, and I'd like to think that I made him feel a little bit better about the new generation of shooters and sportsmen that will pick up where he leaves off.
