A day at the range

[StatiK TactiK]

So I had an interesting day yesterday. For my buddy's birthday we went to a local firing range. Guns are pretty taboo in Canada (at least in Toronto) and I don't know anyone with a gun license. I've never fired or even handled a real gun before so that was a first-time experience for me.

I fired a Sig P226 (I think) 9mm and .40, a Glock 17 9mm and .40, a M1911 .45 and a 12ga pump shotgun. So much fun lol. The shotgun had a lot less kick than I was expecting. I annihilated that zombie with those buckshots (yes our targets were zombies). I wish we could have fired some magnums or semi-auto rifles but those weren't included in our group package and costed quite a bit extra if we wanted to try them. I might go back in a smaller group sometime so we can pick and choose which guns we want to use, which we couldn't do as a large group.

Yeah you guys might not care but these boards have been quiet the last few days so I thought I'd share lol.

[ItsEvan]

The only gun I've fired was my millennium edition Red Rider :S

But what you said you did sounds awesome. Were they cardboard zombies OR BALLISTIC GEL ZOMBIES?

[StatiK TactiK]

They were just sheets of paper with a zombie picture stapled onto a more solid piece of wood and they could control the distance. Ballistics gel would have been cool though.

The guys running it were goofs though. They were young and I get that it's a cool job to have but they were just messing around the whole time. It made me kinda nervous that they deal everyday with live firearms in the hands of untrained, unlicensed people and they didnt seem to be taking things very seriously. The girls who went with us were terrified and the range officers kept making jokes about how you can break your arm if you don't fire properly or how the shell casings can burn you. Tell us these things cause they're important but these guys were laughing and joking around about it while these girls were almost shitting themselves. That's not cool.

But two of my friends bought 50 extra rounds and had a competition where the loser would pay for them. That inspired these three range officers to have their own competition except with one bullet each and at twice the distance we were shooting at. All three of them hit the bullseye lol it was insane.

[Rah5er0]

..the range officers kept making jokes about how you can break your arm if you don't fire properly or how the shell casings can burn you. Tell us these things cause they're important but these guys were laughing and joking around about it while these girls were almost shitting themselves.

I just had to let you know that I'm LMAO!!

[StatiK TactiK]

Honestly, it was pretty funny and it's good to be in a relaxed atmosphere where you can make jokes but there's a time and a place y'know? I think if it was just the rest of us, it would be fine but these girls were petrified (especially about firing the shotgun) and that just didn't seem appropriate to be joking about stuff like that and scaring them when they were already apprehensive about the whole situation y'know what I mean? It all went fine though and after a while they were ok even firing the shotgun...although they looked really awkward holding it lol. Guess they didn't know how to handle one that big *zing!*

[Rah5er0]

! lol!

Nice..!

[Murgatroyd7]

Sounds like you had a great time. I actually almost went to the firing range yesterday. We visited my wife's family for a little bit and the guys were all going, but we were running a bit late. We still could've met up with them, but I wasn't feeling well (thought I was having heart problems; it turned out to be acid reflux). Which reminds me...our gun is still in the trunk of the car. I'll have to get it out when she gets home from work.

The firing range you went to sounds like it's way fancier than what we use. It's outside and there usually isn't anyone actually running it when we go (I think they're only there on certain days); you just pay a membership fee and get a key and combination for the gate so you can let yourself in at any time. They have a bunch of metal targets set up or you can set up your own with wood or pylons. There's also a cool little crossbow range with a western scene set up. It's very old and weathered, but this is what the hillbillies consider high class. Heh. You unfortunately can't rent guns there (at least not that I know of), but most people in the area have their own guns anyway. It's a bit scary at first, especially when asking a girl's father for her hand in marriage...only a few feet from the gun rack, but shootings are quite rare.


I can't take a picture right now, but this is basically what our gun looks like:

It's a Taurus .44 magnum and it's like firing a handheld cannon. You can't tell by looking at that picture, but the thing is a beast and has a hell of a kick. I still get a little apprehensive sometimes when shooting it, mostly because of how ridiculously loud it is, so I usually have to warm up with a 9mm or empty out a cylinder before I feel comfortable with it. Of course, if I got to use it more than once every several months, that might not be the case.

[StatiK TactiK]

Yeah I had an awesome time. But yeah as I said, there's not many firing ranges in this area because of how few people actually own guns here so it's definitely likely that there was more attention put into it to ensure safety and all that rather than just a ghetto outdoor range. But to be fair, I'm not sure if there is supervision all of the time either. I know you can get a membership so the range officers could just be there to supervise when unlicensed people like us come for the day. Not entirely sure.

[Murgatroyd7]

Well, your gun laws up there are definitely stricter, so that alone could be the reason for security. But like you said, it could also just be because of people without licenses. Without one, you don't have anything to show that you're responsible. And there's also the fact that they keep guns on the premises. At the place we go to, there aren't any guns. It's just a small structure and dirt; no guns to possibly steal. Makes sense to me anyway.

Of course, I've never been to any other firing range, so security could be normal. This is kind of a backwoods area full of hunters and fishermen. If you were to drive through, you would probably expect to hear dueling banjos.

[Juppy]

I still get a little apprehensive sometimes when shooting it, mostly because of how ridiculously loud it is....

That's how I was a few years ago when my brother asked me to sight in his girlfriend's gun for her. She goes deer hunting when the season rolls around and for some reason that year she neglected to go until the very last couple of days. With work and all, she didn't have time to sight the scope in so he asked if I'd do it for her and I said yeah, no problem. Have to keep in mind that I'm used to shooting either a .22 rifle with hollow points (varmint gun, mainly) or a .410 shotgun (bigger varmint gun at closer range, LOL). I can't remember the model of that gun she has, but it took a .45-70 shell. Compared to my little .22 shells, those things were huge! So, long story short, I took it out there, loaded the shell in, pulled the trigger, and BLAM!!! Felt like Mike Tyson just slugged me in the shoulder. Plus, my ears were ringing (learned to wear ear plugs after that first shot). I was amazed I even hit the target, because I know the tip of the gun popped up in the air a little. Finally got it sighted in and luckily I haven't had to do anything with that gun since then. Think I'll stick with my varmint guns. LOL.

Oh yeah, Chris....that gun range you mentioned is kinda how they are around here too. Pay a membership, get a key to the gate, go fire your gun off with everybody else at your own risk. Just one little shed office thing out there and a bunch of metal targets way at the other end mounted on the side of a big shale cliff. You go there and all you hear is "BANG!" followed by a *plink!* sound at the other end of the range. I have seen some places on tv that sound like that place he was talking about though. You pay a fairly high fee to go in and fire a bunch of different guns off, from handguns all the way up to machine guns and stuff. Oh, BTW, loved the "dueling banjos" reference.

[Murgatroyd7]

Yeah, that sounds exactly like the gun range we go to. Just a big dirt field with people shooting at a mountain. Heh. I know we have one of the indoor places like you see on TV, but I don't know if they let you rent guns or not. Kinda makes me think of a skating rink.

I don't know much about rifles, but I think the one my father-in-law has is probably a .22, maybe slightly bigger. He doesn't actually hunt with it as far as I know, so he doesn't need anything powerful. It's basically just for fun, although they use firearms for search and rescue...but I believe he only carries a 9mm glock for that. Anyway...our magnum has way more kick than his rifle; I can only imagine how it must be with some of those big rifles. All I know is that now that I've fired a few guns, I can't stand seeing guys in movies who walk around shooting some serious firepower single-handedly.

As for the dueling banjos...the reference is unfortunately is very fitting. I mean, just take a look at the area (last two shots are by my family's house):
http://pics4.city-data.com/cpicc/cfiles36932.jpg
http://www.travelblog.org/pix/shim.gif
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h1...o/100_2823.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3558/...6a4ee5a0cd.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3578/...31a8aa1d21.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._Route_178.JPG
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3266/...ea863d12e1.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZXISBSVm8G...aped+barns.jpg


And here's an example of some shopping:
http://www.scvresources.com/highways...yx%20store.jpg
http://www.travelblog.org/pix/shim.gif


Cemetery near my family's house:
http://cache.virtualtourist.com/4462...cture-Onyx.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2097/...7a78271dea.jpg
Rarely used these days. A lot of the town's founders are buried here, as well as at least two or three people named Druzilla (unrelated). Lots of children there who died of polio.


Buildings like this are littered all over the place. There are also a few on the bottom of the lake that you can see during droughts. This particular place is a burned-down lodge that was owned by a Mr. Harvey Fred Krueger in the 90's:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2351/...1791cf48_z.jpg


Some locals:
http://images.townnews.com/kvsun.com...0219234296.jpg
http://images.townnews.com/kvsun.com...9390473697.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pynesjr0zZ...2BRobinson.jpg
http://kernrivercourier.com/joomla/i...9/fullfish.jpg
http://kernrivercourier.com/joomla/i...808fishing.jpg
http://image07.webshots.com/7/1/75/1...4uhxNaS_ph.jpg


What keeps people coming back:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rhQylIsqwa...er-rafting.jpg
http://k53.pbase.com/o4/10/702910/1/...icture5024.jpg
http://ic2.pbase.com/o6/10/702910/1/...icture7395.jpg
http://images.travelpod.com/users/we...00-giants1.jpg
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Dzhf9qT-D_0/Rv...A/IMG_0821.JPG
http://www.hikespeak.com/img/Sierra/...k_IMG_4978.jpg
http://www.bakersfieldvision2020.com...eadows_low.jpg
http://images.skiresorts-test.com/sk...adows_2_l1.jpg


Most of the people are hillbillies and there are thousands of acres of nothing, but it's actually a pretty great place to live and we want to go back once I can find a well-paying job that I can do from home. Sorry for posting a bunch of links, by the way. The forum only allows four images per post, so I just did this. Besides, I figure it'll be easier for your dial-up connection anyway.

Also sorry for hijacking your thread, Statik. I really didn't mean to!

[DeYanKees1]

Nice I never been to a firing range but want to go badly. Might go to one in the summer time shoot me some guns. My dad owns a couple but seeing as we live in the city we never shoot it or thank god never had the opportunity since there mainly for protection.


Damn Murgatroyd I can never live in a such an open area like that, I'm to accustomed to the city life lol. I think I'll go crazy. I still remember visiting the Dominican Republic last year since thats where my parents are from and where my dad grew up its like that I almost went insane luckily they have so many hot chicks over there so I did go crazy somewhat

[Murgatroyd7]

I grew up in the city and I did go a little bit crazy when first moving up to that area. Got very depressed and always felt vulnerable. But now it's the other way around. After living up there for 10 years, I feel like I'm going crazy down here in the city. Somehow, my social life was far better up there! And I miss how safe it felt. As creepy as it can be sometimes, you never feel like you're going to get robbed, jumped, stabbed, or shot.

[StatiK TactiK]

lol Im in the middle. I grew up in suburbs so I feel too claustrophobic and chaotic in the heart of the city but then feel like I'm lost when Im up in the boonies. Being in the middle of nowhere can be fun though. No one to bother you. My friend just moved up north about 6 months ago and he just rips his snowmobiles and dirtbikes all around his property with no one to complain about noise or call the cops lmao

[Juppy]

A lot of those old barns you linked to, Chris, look like some of 'em around here. All dilapidated and looks like you could sneeze beside one and make it fall down. Nice pics of the landscape too (liked that one with all the trees and the stream running down the middle.

Oh, and yeah, you're right....for me, links are better anyway. My dialup would've choked on all those pics if they were directly loaded in the post. Sometimes I think it'd be faster to tie notes around a hamster's neck and just let him run to the destination server and back again with the reply. LOL.