[KD Burke]

Years ago, I was employed by a large, indoor range and had more than sufficient opportunities to listen to the wisdom of "experts". On one occasion, I was happened to be using my pet Ruger Mark II Government model to make tiny, little holes in a business card at 25 yards.

An "expert" in the next lane, suggested that target pistols are one thing, but a "real gun" was sometning else. I agreed politely and drew my Gold Cup NM. It only took 2 rounds for my target to disappear entirely.

I then had to explain that "real guns" use up too many targets.

Funny thing is, I don't remember that particular "expert" having many more opinions after that. To give the guy credit, he decided he needed to do some more practicing and bought a Ruger of his own.

 

[Nathan]

I don't know about you guys but "punks in baggy pants and tattoos" just irritate the crap outta me. I don't care for the way they look, the way they act ( yes, the majority of them act as if they have a chip on their shoulders)
Call me old fashioned as a matter of fact you can call me anything, I don't care.

I hate to say it, but I kind of get that feeling too, but if he could shoot, I'd give him a second chance. You have to know you will be received poorly at a shooting range if you look gangsta.

 

[eckerph]

I hate to say it, but I kind of get that feeling too, but if he could shoot, I'd give him a second chance. You have to know you will be received poorly at a shooting range if you look gangsta.

Why? I am by no means gangsta but i also dont make assumptions about people either. I dont care much for country music but dont assume everyone in a cowboy hat is a hillbilly *******. p.s. Thanks to the people of clovis N.M. :dope: for changeing the way i look at people. I use use to make snap judgments on people untill it was done to me.

 

[Powderman]

Why? I am by no means gangsta but i also dont make assumptions about people either. I dont care much for country music but dont assume everyone in a cowboy hat is a hillbilly *******. p.s. Thanks to the people of clovis N.M. :dope: for changeing the way i look at people. I use use to make snap judgments on people untill it was done to me.

You are spot on with that post. I have found that I have had a tendency to make unfair judgements based on appearance too.

By far, the most unsafe examples of shooting I have witnessed have been done by those who look like your "mainstream" folks; conservatively dressed, clean cut and seemingly without brains or common sense.

On the other hand, I have seen youngsters with tattoos and piercings, sometimes in full Goth trim, come out to the range, bring out the full kit and practice position shooting.

One of the most memorable was a younger gentleman, in baggies and ten miles of gold rope complete with rings and much bling, with his hat on sideways who showed up as a guest one day. After setting up his gear, he did quite well doing fast presentations on silhouette-type targets from 5 to 15 yards.

Since I knew without a doubt that the two guys who brought him to the range were DEA, I had no doubt about what his job was. The G22 and the cases of ammunition kinda gave me a clue, too.

As a side note (no attempt to jack the thread, BTW) take a look sometimes at Dr. Kathryn Russell's work, concerning a phenomenon known as the "criminal black man" theory. It is an eye opener--and will have some questioning the immediate predisposition to place all people of certain ethnicities or orientations into the "trouble" or "undesireable" category.

 

[mitrod3]

in relation to the "looks" and a person's type and character thing, i always try to keep an open mind because of the following experience:

there is a young man (mid 20's would be my guess) who frequents our range. i run into him every few weeks. on 1st look this guy would definately fall in the "not like me-not even close" category. he has multiple pins (some of them darn big pins) through multiple visible body parts. shucks folks, i howl if i accidentally stick myself when stapling up a target. :bawling: what isn't pinned is a complete canvas for very extensive tatoo work. he does the full black clothing and the full tactical gear thing when shooting, but tactical shooting is not really part of his style. :hrm: he is your basic "master blaster" type shooter with no aimed rounds that i have ever seen or am aware of, but man does he ever have one heck of a good time peppering his targets.

but then when he speaks........he is one very nice, polite, interesting and interested person. in reality he is probably one of the nicest folks i see at our range. he never fails to start up a quick catch up converstaion. he also compliments other shooters who have done a nice job which just encourages those around him.

being completely opposite of this....older, more traditional, total avoidance to any body pain whatsoever i can avoid in any way, conservative, aimed COM shooter....we make an interesting pair talking away in the shop.

oh well.....so much for stereotypes out there. :scratch:

be safe, shoot well.:rock:

 

[robertbank]

Me thinks there are some on this thread who have short memories. From the early 1950's, Duck Tails, Pink Shirts and Black (Drapes) Pants, Side burns, Wallet Chains ring a bell. How about Crew Cuts, and my uncles favourite where the sides of your hair are left long with a brush cut on top - was that a boogy cut? My memory fades.

The of course we have the late 60's and early 70's....

From my view nothing much has changed. The youth of today have their own dress code, wild, outrageous, yup but then the same thing was said in the late 50's. Elvis was gong to ruin our generation. Kind of the rapper of the 50's & 60's. Then of course our musical hero died of a drug overdose or at least the effects of drug abuse. The youth of today will manage just as we did, much to the surprise of the over 50 group. Some things never change.

Stay Safe

Stay Safe

 

[mitrod3]

robertbank:

good words there brother. i look at my own kid (my tag along, the last of four with three married now) and yep....what you say does strike home.



On the note of the original thread here:

I saw another Mil Spec doing it's thing this weekend at the range. I am having my new one worked over right now and it should be ready this week. I am really looking forward to shooting a bunch of rounds through it as soon as it is in hand.

Be Safe, Shoot Well. :rock:

 

[eckerph]

i love my mil-spec,with a hogue grip and wilson combat trigger it is a dream. im leaving it as is for now but i do plan on fitting a bushing so as to get the most out of the gun but for $500 + grip and trigger you cant beat a springer mil-spec. :rock:

 

[WhyteP38]

Earlier today at our range I had the distinct displeasure of running into a visiting "know it all" who started yacking about how 1911's were hang overs from the past (mine was laying out on the table) and how any of the guns with newer designs and newer materials were just far better in terms of reliability, shootability, accuracy, yada yada yack yack yack . . . so I picked up the Mil Spec, handed him my spare ear and eye protection, and politely invited him into the range, where I thought about just accidentally shooting him :scratch: but then my cooler side prevailed.

Next time, you can invite the "know it all" to rob your house sometime. He shouldn't have anything to worry about if your hunk-a-junk 1911 can't hit anything except the ceiling, floor, or walls.

As for the punky kids at the range, I figure any young person at the range is worth encouraging in the right direction. The fact that they are there, rather than running around and causing trouble, is positive. Even those kids know the range has rules, and if they're willing to follow some rules rather than insist that the world revolve around them, that's a good start. What happens at the range may influence where they go in life from there.