How to Shoot a Gun and Other Lessons about Life

I was always afraid of guns, because I didn't understand them.  So I decided to learn to shoot.  I didn't realize I was going to learn about a lot more than just firing a weapon. 

My instructors were two old Texans, one who had served in the United States Calvary and the other a German American veteran of World War II.  I was practicing at an open range one day when the old German walked up to talk to me.  He owned the range where I was shooting.  He complimented my shooting and asked why I didn't come more often.  I stood there, with my gun pointed at the target in my outstretched arm and replied that I preferred to come when there were fewer people there.  I found other shooters to be too distracting and intimidating.  "NO!", he shouted with his thick German accent.  "When you are shooting a gun your mind should be HERE (he slapped my gun hand) and HERE (he slapped my forehead)!  You should not be worrying about what other people are doing!"  And he walked off. 

While that was sinking in two young men walked up next to me and began to shoot.  I carefully took aim and fired off a round into the respectable pattern I was making on the target.  The guys next to me were shooting rapidly, "Pop, Pop, Pop!" Red hot shells flew out of their gun and rained down on me.  "HERE and HERE", I repeated to myself and refused to look at what they were doing.  HERE and HERE.  Keeping my focus by sheer mental determination I continued to shoot.  I felt like a dumb girl slowly taking aim and firing a single round, aim, shoot, aim, shoot, while they fired off rounds in rapid succession next to me.  I was sure they were professionals and felt like a foolish amateur, but I was determined to finish shooting the box of bullets I had brought.  HERE and HERE.  Aim, shoot.  "Pop, Pop, Pop!"  A flaming shell bounced off my head and fell down my shirt.  I quickly shook it out, then refocused, HERE and HERE.  Aim, fire, aim, fire.  I was making a nice, tight pattern on the target, but it was so slow as I practiced good form and proper technique.  Aim, fire.  A shell bounced off my shoulder.  Aim, fire.    "Pop, Pop, Pop!"  A shell bounced off my head.   Aim, fire.  HERE and HERE. 

I finished the box of bullets, unloaded my gun and moved back to break it down and clean up.  For the first time I looked up to see what the guys next to me were shooting.  I studied their target - and studied it again.  It was blank!  Puzzled I watched more intently.  The targets were placed in front of a bank of dirt and as I watched, "Pop, Pop, Pop", their bullets did not hit the targets but everything around them.  Clumps of dirt flew up in front of and above the targets as the bullets hit with wild abandon.  I almost fell over laughing - at myself!  Why did I naturally assume they were better than me?  That they were the experts and I was the amateur? 

The old guy was right, about shooting a gun and about life.  HERE and HERE.  Focus on your own performance.  That's all that matters. 

Comments

[John Manteria]

I love this blog, the funny thing is it is amazing how many things can apply to life, including guns. You are so right. There are many lessons to be learned everyday.
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