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An American obsession
9 years ago
One of the interesting things about America is the fascination with guns.
And no, this isn't going to be some political rant for or against that.
In 1984 I bought a Colt Government Model MK IV Series 70 .45 caliber handgun.
They are not cheap, nor are they small.
In 1999 I applied for a conceal carry license in Culver City California. One of the only cities south of San Francisco that would issue them.
While standing at the target range to qualify, I was thinking "I haven't shot this thing in 10 years." Surprisingly the instructor said, "Damn, you're good."
Fast forward. Sunday I headed down to the range out here in "Middle of nowhere Texas" to take the CHL (Concealed Handgun License) course, test and qualification.
Interesting course. Mainly "This will get you put in prison....don't do that."
I managed to get ONE question wrong. And I have NO idea how I did that. It was True or False, so I had a choice of A or B on the answer sheet. I wrote down D.
Finally, out to the range so I can show I know which end the pointy things come out of.
As we're setting up, I look at the instructor. "I hear that the proper stance is one of the key things to accuracy."
He nods approvingly.
I turn so I'm facing to the left of the target. Point the .45 at it while it's sideways in a "ghetto grip" then turn my head away from the target and cover my eyes with my left arm. "What'cha think, am I doing this right?"
*laughter* "I'll give you $5 if you even HIT the target."
I put one in the face. (Silhouette) Turn around "Pay up."
Ok, play time over.
Now, per instruction I put 50 rounds into the target. Possible high score is 250. I got 248.
"How'd I do?"
"Ya done good."
"Funny thing, I haven't shot this thing since the last time I qualified."
"When was that?"
"1999"
"Damn..."
Well, off to the post office Monday to send off my paperwork to Austin. Then hurry up and wait for the license in the mail.
Bunners
"Armed and amorous."
And no, this isn't going to be some political rant for or against that.
In 1984 I bought a Colt Government Model MK IV Series 70 .45 caliber handgun.
They are not cheap, nor are they small.
In 1999 I applied for a conceal carry license in Culver City California. One of the only cities south of San Francisco that would issue them.
While standing at the target range to qualify, I was thinking "I haven't shot this thing in 10 years." Surprisingly the instructor said, "Damn, you're good."
Fast forward. Sunday I headed down to the range out here in "Middle of nowhere Texas" to take the CHL (Concealed Handgun License) course, test and qualification.
Interesting course. Mainly "This will get you put in prison....don't do that."
I managed to get ONE question wrong. And I have NO idea how I did that. It was True or False, so I had a choice of A or B on the answer sheet. I wrote down D.
Finally, out to the range so I can show I know which end the pointy things come out of.
As we're setting up, I look at the instructor. "I hear that the proper stance is one of the key things to accuracy."
He nods approvingly.
I turn so I'm facing to the left of the target. Point the .45 at it while it's sideways in a "ghetto grip" then turn my head away from the target and cover my eyes with my left arm. "What'cha think, am I doing this right?"
*laughter* "I'll give you $5 if you even HIT the target."
I put one in the face. (Silhouette) Turn around "Pay up."
Ok, play time over.
Now, per instruction I put 50 rounds into the target. Possible high score is 250. I got 248.
"How'd I do?"
"Ya done good."
"Funny thing, I haven't shot this thing since the last time I qualified."
"When was that?"
"1999"
"Damn..."
Well, off to the post office Monday to send off my paperwork to Austin. Then hurry up and wait for the license in the mail.
Bunners
"Armed and amorous."
Oh god, I'm dying of laughter just from the description of it.
Also, that's a nice pistol. M1911 "pattern", right? I don't know much about guns, what I do know comes from random wiki-walks.
And you're right, the M1911. Designed to not just kill someone, but to knock them down so you KNEW you got them.
Bunners
Ahem: There is no "overkill." There is only “open fire” and “I need to reload.”
Of course I wouldn't know anything, since I've never even held a gun much less fired one.
In the 1890s, the desk jockeys in Springfield and Washington decided that, in a civilized world, our solders no longer had need of the .45 caliber horse-pistols Sam Colt and his successors created in the 1850s, '60s and '70s. They chose the .38 caliber, and a nice, solid-frame, double action revolver.
One of the spoils of the Spanish-American War was the Philippines. Another was the Muslim 'Moro' dissatisfaction with all things European (and by extension, American). When the Philippine Insurrection broke out in 1899, U.S. forces quickly discovered the Moro Rebels were... unimpressed... by both the Colt M1892 revolver in .38 Long Colt, and later by Browning's hotter .38 ACP in his Colt M1900. Officers reported dropping Moro Rebels cranked up on drugs and enthusiasm frequently absorbed two or more bullets before stopping their attacks.
Browning's efforts led to the introduction of the M1905, similar to the M1902, but chambered in the new .45 ACP caliber to meet updated specifications from the War Department. As my father, a gun fancier and Veteran of World Wart II reported, the new round would knock a Moro out of a tree with a single shot.
And I still love it! I probably have five pistols in .45 Automatic Colt Pistol (ACP). Ruger P90 and P97, a Para Ordinance P14-45, A Taurus G2, but the best of the batch is my Kimber Stainless 1911.
V.
I used to be able to put of a clip of 9, 6 or 7 of them through the same hole at 100m. Then my eyes fuzzed up like a soft rabbit
When I worked Have Gun, Will Travel, our standard course of fire had a possible high score of 300 and a minimum of 210; I used to shoot 285 pretty regularly. Your range officer sounds a lot like the guy who gave me my last examination for my CT Security permit; a pleasant, easy-going former Detective from New Hampshire. The sort of guy you want for a requal.
Nice little toy, picture makes it look too small to be a .45
Practiced shooting a feed sack until I could hit the letters on the label.
--IF-- I take my time (and I mean a lot of time) to line up, I can head-shoot a coyote from far enough to not spook him first.
If I try to shoot TV- style, I'm basically a slow motion 9mm shotgun. No reason to fear, Mr Coyote, the faster I shoot the safer you are. >.<
Ruger P95 if it matters.
And yes, old fart. Collecting SS retirement benefits here too.
However, I managed to do quite well.
Bunners
But you've a lot more experience with it over previous life time.
This is new for me.
I might show you a bit with an old-fashioned iron-sight single shot .22, my first gun (with the glue joint on the stock, where it was sawed off for a little hillbilly kid (me) and glued back on later on.
I used that for the coyotes for the first year, but damn, climbing through fences 9 times a day, brush and gullies, a long gun is damn awkward. And the Game and Fish guy said 9mm was pretty much the minimum I should be carrying in case I pissed off the feral hogs; the ACP would just bounce off. (Those suckers basically have body armor, to ward off each other's tusks.)
Bunners
Seriously, WTF is up with .22LR?
Used to be $.99 a box.
Now you just flat can't buy it.
Ya know, it's funny, it's like "he" isn't even trying.
Bunners