I now understand the hand gun thing

Status
Not open for further replies.
OVERKILL

OVERKILL

$100 Site Donor 2021
Joined
Apr 28, 2008
Messages
61,567
Location
Ontario, Canada
Just got back from Dallas (again) Tuesday night. While I was there I managed to visit the DFW range with a group from work along with our new guy (from Houston) who brought a couple of semi-auto pistols that he let us try.

I rented a S&W .357 revolver (but only fired .38spl out of it) along with an AR-15 with 25 round mags.

SO MUCH FUN!!!

The revolver was great, and I was pretty darn good with it given that I've never fired one before. One of our guys rented a .45 (semi) but it seemed to be giving him a bit of a workout (he's a newb too and his stance wasn't great) whilst the much heavier revolver I was able to keep on centre with relative ease and cycle the hammer with my right, trigger with my left and squeeze them off quickly and hit within a 6" area at 15 yards (centre mass on the target). I doubt I would have been anywhere near as good with actual magnum rounds in the thing.

I was also able to shoot the guns that our new guy brought, which were a 9mm (large frame) and a smaller .380APC, which was "carry size". I preferred the feel of the 9mm, but liked the revolver better than both of them.

Ultimately I came out of there now completely understanding why you guys that have hand guns, have hand guns.
thumbsup2.gif


Gun I was shooting was I believe this guy (the 686):
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/s...playErrorView_Y
 
Ammo for those kinds of guns is expensive. It's not like you'll fire a few dozen times and head home in 10 minutes, you'll shoot hundreds of rounds, at what, at least 30-50 cents each. I'd rather spend my day at the track.
 
When I lived out West in Calgary I used to rent handguns at the range.

I was an excellent handgun shot, it feels much more "natural" for me than a rifle.

I have a weak right eye, and I am a right handed shooter, so with a dominant left eye I always had a double image when point shooting a rifle, so I always had to shoot with one eye closed (my dominant eye).

When shooting a handgun, I can shoot perfectly with both eyes open and line up the sights with ease.

I have very steady hands so handguns are a blast.

It really feels like you are doing your part when you can hit targets with ease with a handgun. If you are a horrible shot, nothing is going to prove it quicker than a handgun.

I would love to hunt with a handgun, and carry one regularly, but alas, in Canada they are very restricted.

I remember those days at the range out West fondly... I was always a pistol shooter myself, never liked the feel of a wheelgun. I like the Glock the most for "feel", but I never liked their on-trigger safety, always felt like it had no safety at all.
 
Originally Posted By: turtlevette
Ammo for those kinds of guns is expensive. It's not like you'll fire a few dozen times and head home in 10 minutes, you'll shoot hundreds of rounds, at what, at least 30-50 cents each. I'd rather spend my day at the track.



I own a 110BA in .338LM, THAT is expensive. And I have no problem going through 100 rounds with it.

I enjoy both hobbies. Guns is just a more recent one for me and I'm still in the "newlywed" phase
wink.gif
 
Shooting .38spl in a .357 is very pleasant, Try the Magnum rounds next time...You will see how unpleasant it can be.
I have a old .41 mag Ruger....I hate that gun, Though it is amusing to watch someone who thinks their a bada$$ shoot it.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: clinebarger
Shooting .38spl in a .357 is very pleasant, Try the Magnum rounds next time...You will see how unpleasant it can be.
I have a old .41 mag Ruger....I hate that gun, Though it is amusing to watch someone who thinks their a bada$$ shoot it.


I bet! And yes, definitely want to try some real Magnum rounds, I have no illusions about how much more intense it will be, as you said, the .38spl rounds were pleasant.

On your 2nd point, there were a few guys there who should not have been in the room without an instructor. They had rented an AK-47 and the one guy looked like he was firing it "middle east" style with it 4" off his shoulder. He shot the hanger for the track off by accident, which caused a cease-fire and a staff member came in very concerned and lectured him and his buddy, who had equally horrific posture. Neither of them could hit the broad side of a barn.

On the flip side, there was a very attractive and well endowed in the areas that matter Hispanic girl there with a few of her friends and they were great shots, great safety practices, stance...etc. Obviously quite experienced.
 
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL

I enjoy both hobbies.


My wife was talking to the wives of several of my friends at a CCA tech event and quickly learned that I wasn't the only guy interested in track events, firearms and high end home theater...
 
Originally Posted By: MCompact
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL

I enjoy both hobbies.


My wife was talking to the wives of several of my friends at a CCA tech event and quickly learned that I wasn't the only guy interested in track events, firearms and high end home theater...


cheers3.gif
 
When I was in my late teens I would go shooting every single day of the week. Lots of fun. Sadly I can no longer afford that. Ammo is so expensive now. If you do any shooting at all you need to load your own ammo.
 
Originally Posted By: clinebarger
Shooting .38spl in a .357 is very pleasant, Try the Magnum rounds next time...You will see how unpleasant it can be.
I have a old .41 mag Ruger....I hate that gun, Though it is amusing to watch someone who thinks their a bada$$ shoot it.


+1000.
 
It can be quite fun, I put about 50 through a 1937 Colt 1911 (.45)
The recoil was much milder than I thought it would be.

Its the early model that would give you really bad hammer bite if you aren't paying attention with your grip. Luckily, I didn't find out from personal experience.

I really enjoyed shooting, but hardly have time or place for it now. Back in the day you could grab a couple bricks of .22 long rifle and have fun for hours with some crab-apples etc.

Its kind of like that saying its more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.

I have a marlin 25N with a cheapo Tasco 4-9scope and at 75yards you could hit 1-2" crabapples every time.

Shooting the historical .30-40 krag (1898 or 1896 IIRC)with iron sights at watermelons 300-400 yards away was a blast too

also had a .35 lever action.. full wood stock it packed a decent kick.
 
My favorite gun, .44 Magnum, and the best line ever.............I know what you're thinking. 'Did he fire six shots or only five'? Well to tell you the truth, in all this excitement, i kind of lost track myself. But being that this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well do ya, punk?
 
Last edited:
My son and his friends were target shooting behind the house today- rifles, semi-autos, revolvers- it's wonderful not to have any neighbors!
 
Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
They "rent" guns in Texas? What kind of permit is required to rent a gun?


As long as the gun stays on the range, none. Safety training & waiver signed, go have fun.

This might seem completely impossible in California, but in Ametica, it's common...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Astro14
S&W Lever Action Model 1854 Range Report
Replies
10
Views
889
Astro14
shortyb
Ruger RXM. 250 rounds. First impressions
2 3 4
Replies
67
Views
11K
Bottom_Feeder
S
Which pistols etc should I select to shoot at the range?
2 3
Replies
49
Views
9K
Revving2Redline
jeremy2171
Commercial ammo in garands test resutls.
Replies
17
Views
2K
Nuclear_42
slo town
Our trip to the 108th running of the Indy 500
2
Replies
30
Views
3K
Carmudgeon
Back
Top Bottom