Well, I Did It (Part 1) [View All]

[Nuclear Unicorn]

My dad picked up at my place about 7am and as soon as I opened the door he propmptly excoriated me for wearing a dress. Ten minutes later we were off on the road. We went for breakfast and we talked about all kinds of stuff. I talked a lot about my conversations here in this forum and he was more than a little surprised. We met my BF and his dad at the range. His dad invited a co-worker who in turn brought his daughter. She's a long time shooter (something of a Palinista but whatever) and she was obviously there to keep it from being Sausage Fest 2010, although she and I didn't talk much.

The first thing that struck me was the sound. We weren't even in the range area proper when I couldn't help but notice the sound. I expected some thunderous roar but I was surprised it sounded more like loud popping. This may sound crazy but I think Hollywood exaggerates the sounds of gunfire.

I'm shocked!!!

Anyway we go inside and I'm thinking I'm in hell because this state is pretty conservative to begin with and I wish I had a few of you guys on my side with all these guns around but the BF keeps pecking me on the neck to keep me distracted. Then he sits me down and we go over the parts of his pistol. Trigger, trigger guard, front sight, back sight, slide catch, decocking lever, hammer. He made me recite the name of each part as he pointed to it because he says when he says to do something he doesn't want me waving the gun around looking for this part or that. Then he made me describe a proper sight picture and he made me start over again when I started to say, "make the front thingy..." He even handed it to me and right away asked for it back just to see how I handled it and passed it back and forth. Apparently I did OK. He was never an ass about any of this but he was very firm. In a way that was comforting because I felt secure he was doing everything to keep things safe.

I must also say I have the handsomest drill sergeant ever. He just oozes yummy. :P

We put on our plastic ear muffs and head out to the line. We rented 3 lanes. My dad and BF dad on 1, co-worker and his daughter on another and me and BF by ourselves. He shot first because I wanted to see someone else do it before it was my turn. Stupid phobias I know but whaddaya want?

The first gun he put into my hand was his mom's .22. For such skinny bullets the gun seemed kind of heavy. When it was my turn to shoot. I think I did pretty good at my stance because all he did was recite how I was already standing. He asked how my sight picture was and I said it looked pretty good so he sidled up behind me and put his arms around me to check. (SEK-ZEE!) He had me hold the damn thing for what seemed forever. I asked when could I shoot and he said as soon as I relaxed. I asked when would that be and he said when I was too tired from holding the damned thing.

So I relaxed and he said I could shoot when I was ready. So I pulled the trigger.

What a friggin' jip!

My roommate's cat farts harder than that thing shoots. Don't get me wrong. I'm glad he didn't start me on his dad's dinosaur hunting pistol but WTF?!?!?!

Anyway I fired the last 7 shots. Apparently I had breathing issues because my shots were going up and down on the paper. It struck me as curious that he could tell such a thing but he congratulated me on generally hitting what I aimed at (I did miss 1 completely though).

Next he allowed me to shoot his 9mm. I got off 2 clips in the time allotted. My breathing was better but now I was jerking the trigger because my shots were going left and right. Ugh! Too much to keep track of. Two sessions with 2 more magazines each and my groups became more roundish. Not exactly tight but Palin-wanna-be chick congratulated me. Whatever.

They never let me shoot the Desert Eagle but I did try a 357 and that really hurt my wrists. That was a scary gun but the Eagle was even worse. Coworker dad warned me, "it'll be like God is slamming doors". I was pretty much done myself but we stayed longer while others took their turns shooting. I did load some magazines and cylinders for practice and just to be a buddy. We then went back to BF's parent's place for grillin' and chillin'.

It was a nice time and I think I learned a lot but truth be told I don't think I'm a regular shooter. Still, I learned and it did wonders for the libido...both his and mine. Late last week I told my best buddy--AKA the gay boyfriend--what I was doing and he was very excited for me. He's pretty much a pacifist like me but he said he would learn with me. I told the BF and he said he'd happy to teach my other BF to shoot (one more soul over to the Dark Side for him), so the 3 of us will probably make a date of it soon.

The BF wanted to borrow a bow from one of his buddies but that didn't pan out. I still want to bow shoot.

Sorry to be so long-winded. Part 2 will be in the Lounge when I get it written. I'll post that link here when I can.