Omg! What a fun morning!

[NeverGoodEnuff]

So I have a pistol shooting tutor and once a week we meet at a small, nearby outdoor pistol range for my lesson. He is my age so in my cohort, which is so nice for me.

The first few weeks was about handling the pistol and hitting the target. The next few were about getting faster on the draw and hitting the target.

Today, he had a timer specifically for shooting with different exercises and times to meet or beat for each exercise. O M G! It was a blast, lol! It was combining everything learned into one exercise. For instance, last week we did one-handed firing. Fire a shot, switch to the other hand, fire another. You have to change your stance to do this. Lots to remember. Do NOT drop the gun! Well, today, I had to do fast draw, one shot to the head, two to the chest (on the target) right handed. Unload, reload, switch to left hand, and fire again. In twelve ? seconds. Holy cow! Lots of those kinds of things. They call it "tactical training". I actually did pretty good.

*Shaking head* because I bought the gun to CTB and it is so much fun, it has saved me.

Getting ammo has been really hard. We use about 150 rounds each lesson. I found a source and when I told him what I paid, he was shocked at how much it cost, way too much. I told him it was either that or quit and quitting isn't gonna happen if I have a choice.

I love these shooting days. It's such a high and I hope by sharing this with you, it will at least make you smile or give you hope?

Hang in there, Friends!

 

[Good4Nothing]

I love shooting, too. I'm glad you're having fun. I've always wanted to take a tactical handgun course - I'm shit with handguns. I used to compete in military rifle competitions. That was a blast.

Edit: oh yah... you should look into reloading. You'll save a ton of money.

 

[KleinerWolf]

target shooting is so much fun!
I see the appeal for sure.
I'd probably feel less suicidal if I get to do this sort of things.

 

[Deleted member 1465]

What gun are you using? That sounds quite advanced. I'm from the UK so no guns here, but when i went to the states I was taught the basics with all sorts of stuff. And whilst in principal I'm not entirely in favour of weapons designed to kill...guess what? I fecking loved shooting!

 

[goodbyebunny]

Thanks for such an uplifting post. I'm so happy for you. Thanks for making me smile.

 

[NeverGoodEnuff]

My late husband did reloading for friends now and then. After he died, I gave all of his guns to his son (at hubbie's request), along with the reloading stuff. I wasn't into guns back then. Sigh.

I am looking at rifles. Many years ago, I fired a couple and liked it then. Right now, though, the budget won't allow getting into them but it is definitely on the list. A local gunsmith can build an AR to specs but I don't know which specs to want. Working on that. Learning is free, so far.

The first pistol I bought was a S&W .380 Bodyguard, thinking a small pistol would be easier to shoot. Used it at the first Basic Pistol class. Hated it! Another student let me fire his Shield 9mm and OMG, what a difference. So I sold the .380 and bought a used Sig Sauer .45, double action. Love it! Then
Got a CZ P10C 9mm and love it, too. The heavier weights and longer barrels are easier to control but my hands are small so I have to compensate for that. I don't now or currently plan on carrying so the larger pistols are fine for now.

Target shooting is what I thought everybody does. Surprize! Nope. After a few lessons, my mentor said, "Do you know what we tell people who have all shots in a small circle like that?" I said, "what?" He replied, "You're too slow, you need to speed up!" Got it.

He said I am ready for a more advanced class offered here. I hesitate because I suffer from anxiety in groups. I know I will make a fool of myself. That's why I am doing the one-on-one lessons. I am considering the class but just thinking about it gives me the shakes. Damn. I have told him "I just don't do well in groups," he says I am at least as good as some who have been shooting for several years. This is a very small community and I fear I will screw up and the whole town will be laughing at me. Right now, only a few people know me, I keep a very low profile (love Covid lockdowns, lol!). So the group thing is just scary...thinking on it. Screwing up my nerve... One of the lady instructors is deeply involved in lots of things in this little community so she knows "everybody" and that feels like a community bulletin board, doncha know. Argh!! Why can't we just be like everybody else?!

Anyway, I can count on at least one good day per week, which I see as a Good Thing, right? I'll take it!
This whole thing happened by accident and just fell into my lap. I had a fight with my sister, stormed off to the gun store and was going to go home and kms. But the lady at the gun store was just so cool and by the time I left, I was in a better frame. A year later, decided it was time but wasn't sure how to use the gun. An ad for the basic class appeared somewhere, it took a couple months to get up the nerve to take the class. And it just ballooned from there. Who knew?

This sort of thing has happened before, where something just happens that leads me to a Good Place. When I fall back into the Pit, I try to remember that. You never know when a Good Thing will happen. It is just so hard to remind oneself of that during the Hard Times.

 

[netrezven]

This is fun :) I rarely like shooting, but it can be fun too.

 

[BPD Barbie]

I used to shoot clay pigeons here in the UK until the firing pin snapped and fell out the shotgun. It was a lot of fun but painful on my shoulder with the kickback. I'm super happy you've found something good in life to keep going for and get enjoyment out of. Keep it up!