I went shooting with my father today. I helped him sight in his Christmas Compact ACOG on his Colt, but he brought an old warhorse with him.
He’s almost 69, and served in the US Army from 1960 through 1963. At the time, they were still using M1 Garands in Basic and throughout most non combat MOS’s. He spent most of his time with a M1 Carbine after Basic. He’d wanted a Garand for years, and a couple years ago, I got one for him through the CMP.
Anyway, I took some pictures as he was loading up the Garand and shooting and all I could think of was Walt Kowalski facing off against the Hmong gangbangers.
Where is that range? I have been looking for a range in the NOVA area but still can’t find a dam thing within a two hour drive. With all the Mil and Leo’s up here one would think there would more to chose from.
My dad and I bought a couple of M1 Garands together, back in the early 90’s. We were just talking about taking them out later this week and shooting them.
Dave, that’s Cavalier Rifle and Pistol. We were on Range #5, which is the do-all range…from contact to 500 yards, with steel gongs set up at 200, 300, and 400 yards.
The man started teaching me how to shoot when I was 6, and those lessons have stuck with me my whole life. My best memories of growing up were shooting the 10/22 with him.
Now, the roles are reversed, with me teaching him more modern shooting techniques, but getting to the range with him is still something I try to do as often as I can.
He took Dave Pennington’s Concealed Carry I with me earlier this year, and did pretty well.
Thanks for the info on the range, you are right it is quite a hike down there.
Be thankfull you have such a nice place to shoot. I was spoiled living in Texas all this time…
I am looking to join range 82 up by me, do you or anyone have any info on it?
I swear there are times I think we grew up in the same house.
My Dad got me started. First gun was a German Luger when I was in the 4th Grade, by the time I was 7 years old I had a Ruger Security Six. My Dad is the reason I own guns today.
And in later years, it was me bringing him up to speed on the latest offerings from HK, FN and Colt and “trying” to explain why the new ones were in any way superior to his HKs, FNs and Colts. Also showed him some of the tricks and tips I’ve picked up from knowledgeable shooters along the way.
Sadly I lost him a little over a year ago way too soon. Really sucks because every time I get a new interesting firearm my first thought is how cool my Dad is going to think it is and then I remember.
I’m sure I don’t need to tell you, but get as much quality time as you can. Because it is never enough.
Cool, that’s only 22mi NW of me. Looks like I have something to do, since I’m off work for a bit. I’ll pop down there tomorrow and see what’s what, probably register for membership, unless there’s a bloody altar and a pile of skulls by the front desk. Hell, even that’d probably be counted in the “Pro” column, given the proximity.
I drove down to Louisville, KY this week to spend Xmas with the family, and took Dad shooting at a place called Open Range yesterday. He hadn’t picked up a rifle in 22 years (former Naval aviator; no shit, huh?). He REALLY liked shooting Kindness, since she didn’t beat him up the way the M-14s did, way back when. 5" groups @ 100yds, so he clearly remembers his fundamentals. Pistols were a bit more problematic for him; he had trouble seeing the front sight clearly because of his bifocals, but still had a good time. I taught him the phrase “Tupperware gun” so he could curse my M&P properly.
We both enjoyed Mom griping about us reeking of gunpowder.
