As a graduation present for successful completion of the academy, Lacy and Camy wanted to go shooting. Works for me! My buddy Dan wanted to join in, and Lacy's boyfriend, another Richard, also joined us.

We arrived at 0530, at which time we all policed the trash left by others. God, do I ever hate people who refuse to clean up their trash! But it worked for me, as they had left about 750 spent 5.56 cases, which I promptly brass-whored.

Lacy had never shot anything in her life besides a small 22 LR pistol, so first thing was safety. Richard is an ex-Marine, and I am ex-Army, so we briefed everyone about the standard muzzle direction, trigger safety, etc. By then it was light and we began setting up targets. The pictures are deceiving, but we had 15 yards to 125 yards of targets to play with, which ranged from paper to old refrigerant bottles we found - and TANNERITE of course!

Among the toys available were my 45 Kimber Custom II 45; M1 Garand; Norinco SKS 7.62x39; Turkish and Russian 8mm; AK-47; and Dan's Kimber TLE II; 2 357's; CZ 75b; Ruger 9mm; Bennelli Nova slug gun; and a few 380s. And 26 bottles of Tannerite - for those who do not know, Tannerite is a legal, binary explosive that is not flammable. It is perfect in the desert, and explodes when a rifle round hits it. The catalyst is mixed in only on site, and you can hit it with a hammer and it won't go off. Very fun stuff. www.tannerite.com or pm me for special pricing if your local laws allow binary targets.

Pictures are in the reponse below. With all the tension of the N.O disaster, coupled with yesterday being the anniversary of this nation's biggest tragedy, I thought some target porn might make for a nice reprieve.

Lacy, as a first time shooter, did extremely well. Camy, as always, whored the Norinco. Dan, as always, outshot us all. And I, as always, smiled as I watched everyone getting together to have fun blowing stuff up. It's very hard on my leg, but I wanted Lacy to get her stance and sight picture right, so I was right there behind her with each shot. Her accuracy was overshadowed only by her enthusiasm. Welcome 2 new members to the board. They are joining - Lacy is an MCSO DO, having just graduated with Camy. Richard has an application in for a deputy position.

Richard and I sniped tic-tac-toe targets with the Norinco for games at 125 yards, open sights. All in all, one of the best days I can remember, and I wanted to share it with my friends here.

This is me and my Kimber.  Ignore the improper stance, please.  It was late in the day and my leg was in agony, so a proper, balanced stance is very hard to maintain.







After I ran through the details of the Bennelli, Lacy wanted to take a try.  She got 2 slugs out before it was too much on her shoulder to handle, so I told her not to shoot it anymore and take a break.  Still, she was extremely enthusiastic!  On the video we took, we have her doing the one-winged chicken dance!  







Hey Lacy, don't fall down!







Dan having his way with Tannerite.  This was his first time with Tannerite (he's from Chicago, poor guy) and needless to say, he just ordered 2 cases.  In fact, except for Camy and I, no one had seen Tannerite before, and they all fell in love with reaction targets!



 



Lacy's boyfriend playing cowboy with Dan's 6" 357 S&W.  One of the things Dan and I like to do with new shooters is mix 38 and 357 mag together in the wheel gun randomly.  Richard is not a new shooter, but he hasn't had trigger time in over a year.  By doing so, it becomes apparent if recoil expectation is hindering trigger squeeze.  Besides, the differnce between bang and BOOM is fun.








This is Dan with his brand new Kimber TLE II 45 - all stainless teel, and a very nice piece.  Very accurate with the night sight dot picture.  Dan is an excellent, excellent pistol shooter, by far one of the best I have ever known.  He did not let us down, punching a bunch of holes in anything his muzzle pointed to.

Dan put in a new mercury recoil reducer in his Bennelli.  Still, a 12 gauge slug kicks like a mule, especially out of a pump with a short barrel.  He swore the recoil would be nothing.  So he lined her up for the first shot.







Right, Dan, no recoil my ass!  Look at his muffs.  The recoil threw them right of his head and into the dirt!  We had to take a break we were laughing so hard.







Camy and her favorite, the SKS.







And here is Camy taking out 3 bottles of Tannerite taped together with the SKS.  Again, Dan, Richard, and Lacy had not had the pleasure of binary target shooting, and they wiped me out of Tannerite in a flash!  They loved it.








Surveying her handi-work.

Time to move on to some better things.  This is Camy's first time with my M1.  All H and R, 1952 issue middle grade.  She was extremely nervous at first, so I was right there coaching her and giving that needed reassurance of the hand on the shoulder.  Lacy and Richard loved my Garand, and they are going to buying one from the CMP.  







Dan and Tannerite.







Camy and Tannerite.  Notice the smile :)







Tannerite porn.







Tannerite porn.

From bottom to top:  Kimber Custom II in 45;  Yugo AK-47 in 7.62x39 (waiting on new forend to get rid of pistol grip);  Norinco SKS in 7.62x39;  H&R 1952 Garand M1 in original 30.06;  Turkish Mauser in 8mm;  Russian Mauser in 8mm, matching numbers, all original WW1 issue (still shoots great, original stamped cartouche on stock).  







Another view of same guns.








Another view of same guns.







Camy showing the GT community her favorite.

Camy home after first night as an LEO.  The sense of relief was so overwhelming I felt like I had been holding my breath all night.  God help the inmate who messes with my best friend!  







The patch she worked so hard to earn.

And finally, the target porn I promised.



This is Camy's target.  75 yards, standing, unsupported, no sling, 10 rounds, 30 seconds +/-.  6" group sans the one flyer.  Norinco 7.62x39 open sights.









My target sniping ol Saddam himself.  125 yards, prone, box supported, 20 seconds +/-.  4" group with a double tap.  Norinco 7.62x39 open sights.







The tick tac toe game played.  R denotes me, R2 denotes the other Richard (Lacy's BF).  I won this game after taking the top row.  

The conclusion.

As I said, we had an absolute blast (pun intended!).  

Lacy had never even held a 1911 before, so I was somewhat hesitant to allow a new female shooter a solo run with my Kimber.  I took a full 10 minutes to teach her loading and unloading, the safties, sight alignment, grip, etc.  I stood right behind her when she fired the first shot.  Then she fired the second and just stopped.

She put the safety on, turned and looked at me, and said, and I quote verbatim (minus the profanity), "Oh F YEAH!!!!!!!!"

I burned 600 rounds of 230 gr hardball!  She told Richard that was to be her birthday present...  A Kimber 45.  I have never in my life seen anyone so excited and so happy.

Richard was the exact same way with my M1.  I never even got to shoot it - he ran through all of my ammo sans two en-blocs saved for Lacy and Camy.  So that is to be his birthday present.

I need to take some pics of our targets.  Camy drives tacks with that Norinco.  Standing off-hand, unsupported and no sling, with open sights, she peppered all 10 rounds of the stripper clip into a 6" group (sans a flyer) at 75 yards.  That's pretty damn good shooting for a woman shooting a rifle longer than her arm, fellas!  1 hole touching the 10 ring, the rest just a little higher but pretty well centered.

I sniped a Hussein facial target at 125 yards from prone position with the same rifle.  My group was about the same as hers, though smaller (but I was prone, while she was standing).

Richard loved my WW1 era Russian 8mm and wiped me out of that ammo, too.  Surprisingly, the girls fired both my 8mm's too, and they did well (they kick like a mule).  

I was telling Lacy and Richard and Dan about GT and ARFCOM.  They have all said they are going to join, as is Camy.  Please welcome them with your normal cordialness (well, okay, DON'T.  Play nice and be polite, instead :)).

So I wanted to share this memorable day with y'all.  We retired to my house for a little lunch and to sort through all the brass - about 2,500 rounds.  Yep, I have LOTS of gun cleaning to do today.  Lacy is now a knowledgable shooter who said she wants to go out everytime I do.  

Good friends, good shooting, lots of laughs, and a relaxing day getting sunburned.  God is good, folks.  God is very good.

Ahh a great excuse to go shooting, and a present to people who deserve it.  Seems like you guys have a great time, and you took great pictures also.

A big congrats to them for making it, atleast they have good job security

Very cool!

I wish I could have gone.....

If you don't mind the company and the extra tannerite give me a heads up next time your planning to go. I shot both Saturday and Sunday this weekend but not as fun as
I would have liked it to be. Saturday was a CCW class and Sunday I went to the range solo to test fire two guns.


-John

AWESOME Post, richard!!


I love to see this type of fun.

Thanks for sharing!!

Quoted: Very cool! I wish I could have gone..... If you don't mind the company and the extra tannerite give me a heads up next time your planning to go. I shot both Saturday and Sunday this weekend but not as fun as I would have liked it to be. Saturday was a CCW class and Sunday I went to the range solo to test fire two guns. -John

We are going next Sunday bro, and I welcome anyone and everyone who wants to go!  We try to get out there by 0530 to avoid the idiots of late afternoon.  

Shoot me a PM if you'd like to go, and I'll return with my phone number, address, and details.  Always love to have responsible shooters who enjoy the sport, and shoot for relaxation and the friendship!

Yes very well done.

I think I need to teach you the finer points of taking pics of girls shooting guns tho...

Hey Richard,
The pics are showing big improvement!

"Lean back.......Lean back"

J/K, nice pictures.

Hey, nice SKS.  It looks familiar

:)

Jon

Quoted: Hey, nice SKS.  It looks familiar :) Jon

Man, that SKS is a tack driver!  Your loss is my gain.  Well, Camy's gain, actually...  I never get to shoot the damn thing!

Dude.. your AK is Romanian, not Yugoslav.

Is that Table Mesa?

Quoted: Quoted: Hey, nice SKS.  It looks familiar :) Jon Man, that SKS is a tack driver!  Your loss is my gain.  Well, Camy's gain, actually...  I never get to shoot the damn thing!

Glad you guys like it.

Quoted: Dude.. your AK is Romanian, not Yugoslav. Is that Table Mesa?

And the Last Mauser is not Russian, it is German that was captured by the Russians and refinished .  And it from WW2 not WW1

Quoted: Quoted: Dude.. your AK is Romanian, not Yugoslav. Is that Table Mesa? And the Last Mauser is not Russian, it is German that was captured by the Russians and refinished .  And it from WW2 not WW1

Typo on the WW2 thing.  I thought the guy I bought these from said it was russian...  how can you tell the difference between a German one and a Russian one?  Is it the stock?

And yeah, I know the AK is Romanian.  It was actually a kit that NEFP and James (MudBug?) put together for me.  First one I've ever owned.  Robert just got a new Tantal, also a kit, and I was thinking of that when I sleepily typed all this up.  I think that'll be my next rifle - his looks sweet.  

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Dude.. your AK is Romanian, not Yugoslav. Is that Table Mesa? And the Last Mauser is not Russian, it is German that was captured by the Russians and refinished .  And it from WW2 not WW1 Typo on the WW2 thing.  I thought the guy I bought these from said it was russian...  how can you tell the difference between a German one and a Russian one?  Is it the stock? And yeah, I know the AK is Romanian.  It was actually a kit that NEFP and James (MudBug?) put together for me.  First one I've ever owned.  Robert just got a new Tantal, also a kit, and I was thinking of that when I sleepily typed all this up.  I think that'll be my next rifle - his looks sweet.

Ther Russians didnt build or use the Mauser, they used the Mosin Nagant.  When they captured a ton of German mausers, they had their arsenals refinish them.  Thats why some of these mausers have had the eagle, circle, and swatstika removed in various places however you can still find them with the cartouches still on the rifle sometimes.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Dude.. your AK is Romanian, not Yugoslav. Is that Table Mesa? And the Last Mauser is not Russian, it is German that was captured by the Russians and refinished .  And it from WW2 not WW1 Typo on the WW2 thing.  I thought the guy I bought these from said it was russian...  how can you tell the difference between a German one and a Russian one?  Is it the stock? And yeah, I know the AK is Romanian.  It was actually a kit that NEFP and James (MudBug?) put together for me.  First one I've ever owned.  Robert just got a new Tantal, also a kit, and I was thinking of that when I sleepily typed all this up.  I think that'll be my next rifle - his looks sweet.   Ther Russians didnt build or use the Mauser, they used the Mosin Nagant.  When they captured a ton of German mausers, they had their arsenals refinish them.  Thats why some of these mausers have had the eagle, circle, and swatstika removed in various places however you can still find them with the cartouches still on the rifle sometimes.

Cool!  I did not know that.  The stock is stamped right by the butt plate in 3/4" characters that say, "FR 1704."  Does that say anything to you about it?  Would FR mean French?  

My knowledge of firearms is extremely limited, so I hope you don't think I'm an idiot or something.  I'm trying to learn, and I do learn more every day because I am not afraid to ask the stupid questions others laugh and scoff at like we should all know it.  I just like to shoot.  I know the rifle isn't worth anything, cause I bought all 3 of the Mausers I own for 100 or 125 bucks, and he included some stripper clips and ammo in that, too.  My questions are for curiosity, not because I think some admired collection.

The Mausers are fun to shoot, and that's good enough for me.  But now I'm curious about the origin.  Help an idiot out?  

Quoted: We arrived at 0530, at which time we all policed the trash left by others. God, do I ever hate people who refuse to clean up their trash!

Kudos. I also hate people who leave all their trash behind and make it worse for the rest of us. I usually take out two or three trash bags full of crap left by others in those rare times I get to go shooting in the desert. I know it's probably insignificant but it's more for my conscience than anything else.

That's some beautiful scenery by the way. May I ask whereabouts that area is?

It is at Table Mesa Road, about 2 miles North of New River.  Went to that same spot again today, as a matter of fact and, sure enough, more trash.  

We had a blast, but I took no pics this time and had no Tannerite.  I actually shot very well for me.  

Once again, and as always, packed out way more trash than we packed in and used.  But that's cool...  I don't mind, as it gives me a chance to just take in the solitude of the morning in this beautiful weather.  It was actually chilly this morning.  

Quoted: It is at Table Mesa Road, about 2 miles North of New River.  Went to that same spot again today, as a matter of fact and, sure enough, more trash.   We had a blast, but I took no pics this time and had no Tannerite.  I actually shot very well for me.   Once again, and as always, packed out way more trash than we packed in and used.  But that's cool...  I don't mind, as it gives me a chance to just take in the solitude of the morning in this beautiful weather.  It was actually chilly this morning.

Ya I was amazed also.,

We drove home at 4 AM yesterday morning in my open top Jeep and it was cold.

I still haven't been here long enough to think ~70 degs is cold :)

Looks like you had fun, but all of you need to start leaning forward