Heee!

[deliriumcrow]

Maniacal giggling ensues.

Right, so this was a good day, I think. Went out and learned how to fire several sorts of guns, and will very likely be purcahsing one. (Of course, it's the least practical of the lot of them ... whatever. Unfortunately, I have no photos of that at the moment. There might be a couple though, hopefully.


This one was big. And I have no idea if I actually hit anything I was aiming for with it, which means I probably didn't.


After firing. As you might be able to see, I sort of liked it.

And yes, I did get the requisite lecture on how this really isn't good for the environment upon returning home, but it was still a fun day. Much fun was had by all, and no one was seriously damaged in the process.

Comments

o...m...g

[dromaro.livejournal.com]

You are so dang rad! I'm jealous! The funny thing is, I'm not afraid of you toting a gun. Maybe because I've had much scarier people pointing guns at me. lol

Re: o...m...g

[deliriumcrow.livejournal.com]

Yes, well, I'm not exactly the most sacry thing walking ... but I'm kind of amused by the thought of being able to defend my hosue when the end of the world comes along. From the Battlements, with a deafening cry and ullulations, and probably a great deal of smoke and fire. And a vat of boiling oil, just in case.

Re: o...m...g

[dromaro.livejournal.com]

The end of the world being when the Zombies come? Because you know they are. You ive in a good climate for Zombie defense. They don't hold up well in the heat. And I'm sad you have no moat. We'll have to fix that.

[stonetimber.livejournal.com]

The lead can be bad for the environment. This is why I only fire into an approved sand backing, then sift to get the lead and copper. It is responsible to do such practices, as well as to practice with your weapon, so as to be proficient with it. Also, consider a long arm, a shotgun, as well as a pistol. I have always been an advocate of a rounded gun cabinet. I also try to keep 500 rounds on hand, for practice, etc. Any questions, ask dad. ;-)

[deliriumcrow.livejournal.com]

Approved sand backing? How do you find such things? Are they set up outdoors (because I cna't quite imagine firing black powder indoors, it seems like something that would be insanely unpleasant -- are regular ranges indoors? They certiainly look it from the films I've seen) and if so, how is it done? I'm not entirely certain that sifting through the sand in this place (there's a lot of it) would take less than a week, as we weren't the first people to have gone there to judge by the piles of cartridges and shells everywhere and the things shot all full of holes. (yes, I know, this place is just getting worse and worse in so far as environmentalism is concerned. I honestly did not know how bad it was when we set out, so this is being *quite* educational.)

[stonetimber.livejournal.com]

This is how I have made many of the pits to shoot into: I usually start by moving the topsoil/mast from where I want to have a pit, as well as move out soil and level out the spot, as needed. Then, using old telephone poles, I make a hard barrier, and I always want to build this up at least 6-7 feet. Next is gravel, held in by the outside layer, which is sand bags. Simple, efective, and you have to fix the sand bags every so often, so sift the lead and copper out before refilling the bags. Simple, and if your friends want to use the pit, they can help with the labor.

[deliriumcrow.livejournal.com]

I think I'm going to have to adapt this method a little, seeing as about two inches below the surface sand here, pretty much all the sand under it (heavy lime content I think?) turned into something that's more or less like concrete, and takes explosives to get through it. While this could be fun, it's probably also falling into the category of Very Bad Ideas.

[stonetimber.livejournal.com]

If you wanted to make an indoor range, you would use the same idea, with a heavy steel bell affair at the end to catch the lead/copper right behind the sand bags. I never build a fully indoor site, except for archery, semi-enclosed is as far as I have gone. With a little research, I might be able to change that, however.

[deliriumcrow.livejournal.com]

As to types, I tried the shotgun, and it hurt rather a lot. I liked the Nagant (the one in the photo) and the 22 sniper rifle, which had almost no kick at all, and with which I could actually hit the things I aimed at. Handguns will take a lot more practice, I'm thinking.

The one I'm thinking of getting is the one here: http://www.keepshooting.com/firearms/handguns/richardson-boot-pistol.htm
It was fun to shoot, made lots of smoke, and a very loud bang. The inaccuracy of it was probably owing more to my total enexperience than anything else, though you never know. Close range, maybe? That's pretty much all I'd want a handgun for anyway, though. I've also seen it listed elsewhere for about $30 cheaper than they sell it here. And I madly desire a Brown Bess ... well, unless you can reccomend anything better for that purpose? The BB was pretty much what I've always seen referred to in the books about the Rev War though, so I"m guessing that was the most popular/common, and that there were probably reasons for this?

[stonetimber.livejournal.com]

Eh, I like the M-1, Garand or.....
When I say pistol, I mean something that can be shot at a target more than once per second. I have carried a .45 cal. 1911 ser.A Colt, but will carry 10mm or .44 cal. handguns.

[deliriumcrow.livejournal.com]

yes, yes, I know that. :P

I would like to actually get some more practice with the handguns at some point, but I'm not sure when we're going out again. The Beretta wasn't bad at all, but being the first thing in my hands, I did very poorly with it. The 45 rather hurt my wrist, but the 40 (I think?) wasn't bad. Son't know what they were though ...

[delchi.livejournal.com]

Sticking my head in the door here, I frequent a few of the indoor ranges locally. For a fairly reasonable price you can try out a wide variety, and find something you like / feel comfortable with. Granted I've been trained with rifles, I have used handguns for recrational shooting for years. I'm 50/50 on it being just pure fun and stress relief. Given my current situation ( which was fairly obvious the other night ) I have not been out for a while, but sooner than later.

[stefka.livejournal.com]

Handguns are FOR close range, love. :)

I'l leave the discussion of the Bess to Da. Since he has one. My black powder long gun is a fowling piece, more F&I period.

[deliriumcrow.livejournal.com]

Yes, well, I suppose that wouldn't be so bad, though with the cute little thing I'd get one shot and after that, well, it's maybe good for bludgeoning? Not *quite* the most useful thing at that point. :)

Hmm. Well, if it's F&I, that's not so very long before Rev War, so there were probably a few from that era in use. But then, I also know next to nothing about what sorts of guns would have been on the field, and what would have been used by whom. I'm guessing an older fowling piece would have been more in the militias though?

[stonetimber.livejournal.com]

There were three types of long arm fielded by the military forces in the AWI: The smooth bore military long gun (Brown Bess, Charleyville, there were others), the hunting piece(usually smooth bore, fowlers, fucile du chasse), rifled long guns (Pennsylvania/Kentucky, Jaeger, etc.).

[stonetimber.livejournal.com]

Brown Bess is good, as is the Charleyville (French musket). I personally like the first land period BB, but that is because my arms are longer than average. Your milage may vary.

[stefka.livejournal.com]

Da and I are firm believers in knowing how to use firearms. I'm proud!

[deliriumcrow.livejournal.com]

It's a good and useful thing to know. My mother had a shotgun (courtesy of my father) when I was little but she refused to learn how to use it, which seemed silly to me, even at about four years old. She ended up selling it when I was in elementary school, I think. She seemed to think that guns weren't ladylike enough or something, or too unsafe ... Meh.

[stefka.livejournal.com]

"Every well-bred petty crook knows -- the small concealable weapons always go to the far left of the place setting." -- Inara, in the Firefly episode "Heart of Gold

[(Anonymous)]

**chokes** well that was a small waste of coffee. :) Mmm, tiny pearl handled derringer ... looks lovely on any well dressed table and fits conveniently into the handbag, cleavage, or garter. Can be engraved to match the crysyal, too!

[deliriumcrow.livejournal.com]

hrm, well, that was supposed to have been me, but I guess I wasn't digned in properly. Oh well.

[hellsop.livejournal.com]

So do we refer to you as Annie Oakley, or Kit Carson? (:

[deliriumcrow.livejournal.com]

**laughs** I think Calamity Jane.

[dromaro.livejournal.com]

Good call!

[grackles.livejournal.com]

What is bad for the enviromnent about learning to shoot a gun? I'm confused.

Look how cute you are! You look like a frontier woman about to take on bandits or something, seriously.

[deliriumcrow.livejournal.com]

The lead, according to the comment above. I actually had not known this when I went out in the morning, so I do feel bad now. I will say that at least it is a place that has been more or less set aside as "the palce to shoot stuff", so it's being kept in one area, but then, there's also the chance of water runoff, heavy metals, and ground water being not very good together. And other interesting problems. So I'm not sure if having it al in one concentrated place is a good idea or a bad idea now ... >_<

**giggle** I was having the frontier woman thoughts as well, actually. I really, really, realy hate wearing trousers.

[whildbill.livejournal.com]

I think that there are times when (and I say this from an environmentalist perspective) one just has to accept that the activity being undertaken is not the best possible thing for the planet ('cause let's face it, how many things that we do are actually *good* for the planet?) and have fun/enjoy it anyway.

[deliriumcrow.livejournal.com]

There is that .. though I'd like to make this at least a little less damaging the next time we go out for shooting. Because we will, if I"ve anything to say on the matter. ;)

[grackles.livejournal.com]

I hate pants too, they're just really uncomfortable. They pinch in places you don't want pinched! Or at least, I don't want them pinched. I can't speak for everyone. ;)

Well you didn't know. I know you can buy steel shot for shotguns and duck hunting, because you're not allowed to use lead, it poisons waterways. I wonder if they have something similar for other firearms. I know a bit about shotguns because I have one, that's about it.

[deliriumcrow.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure what was coming out of the shotgun ... I'd sort of like to have one at some point that is full of rock salt. Durned kids, stop copulating on my lawn!

... sometimes, life is just weird.

[grackles.livejournal.com]

Hahahahaa! Yeah I wouldn't mind the rock salt one for my annoying neighbors.

STAY HOME, OR I'LL BLAST YA AGAIN, DAGNABBIT!

I'm sure that would go over well.

[deliriumcrow.livejournal.com]

Oh yes. Yes, it would. Err ... or something. It would certainly teach people to stay the fuck away, which I'm guessing is what you're going for here? I find that a hedge of roses or cacti is effective, as well, depending on your climate. Here, cacti. At home, wild roses -- the ones that are all thorn. Yay, evil plants. Blackberries might be something to try, but they are rather difficult to keep in a controlled area for longer than a week, I've found. But they are lovely to have around, come summer .... Mmmm, pie.

[grackles.livejournal.com]

Blackberries grow easily here, you can just ignore them. I had a briar patch for a while! Critters ate all the blackberries though.

[auntiegrizelda.livejournal.com]

Just remember, gun control means using both hands. ;-)

I just think that's pretty damned cool. *is jealous*