I visited the local range today to fire 100 rounds through my Walther PPS (beautiful gun). It's an indoor range and it was exceptionally busy tonight, I had the last open lane which was lane 5 of 7. Looking to my left I saw a guy and his girlfriend shooting (about 21 or 22) who had rental guns (which with their age and the fact that they were renting, that always makes me a little more nervous/cautious. Yes, it's hypocritical since I'm only 23 myself, but I consider myself pretty mature for my age due to my occupation and I've also had several classes of firearm training. The renters always make me nervous as well). Then further down was a manwho talked to the target...saying stuff like "i gunna kill you foo! Dunt you look at me like 'dat! Haha, take that!" To my right was a couple, middle aged of around 35, that occupied the last 2 lanes and were shooting with their kid who looked to be 11. Not really a concern for me because the dad was watching the son very closely and helping him with his grip and stuff.
So I started firing a few rounds down range. While reloading, I hear the girl next to me "HOLY <expletive>!" I immediately take a step back and look to see what's going on. I see she got a hot brass down her low-cut shirt and was dancing all over the place...with the gun in her hand and she's muzzle flashing everyone (mainly where I was standing in the lane next to her) with her finger on the trigger. I just say to her in a stern voice as quickly and clearly as I could "FINGER OFF TRIGGER POINT THE GUN DOWNRANGE!" She heard, took her finger off the trigger and pulled it down range. Finally got the brass out and her boyfriend apologized to me. I said it's not a problem but just to make sure that when something like that happens, it's best to just set the firearm down and then try to get it out quick, always keep the gun downrange, and to take your finger off the trigger if you're not ready to fire. So no harm was done, it never happened again, and I doubt they'll forget the lesson.
I'm now looking back down range watching the laser dot on the target to the right next to me (which a woman was shooting a .357 revolver. I'm watching the laser, hear her fire, and see the laser go up to the ceiling and hit the ceiling. Ok...one bad shot, happens to everyone :\. Then her next shot...on target, shot after that, ceiling, then ceiling again, then ceiling again. At this point I step back and start talking to her as she brings her target in. Her husband comes over and looks at the target and asks her where did all her bullets go. She said she didn't know and I told him where I saw them go, and suggested some dry fire practice to help her with anticipating recoil. He agreed and wouldn't let her fire for the next 5 minutes until he watched her practice with the laser on target with her dry firing. No harm done (except for the poor ceiling).
At the end of the range trip, the best shooter? The 11 year old kid shooting his .22 All his shots seemed to be on target, he took his time lining up his shots and he was the perfect little kid at the range, minded all the rules and I had no complaints. Most of the other people at the line could've took some tips from him!
As far as the Walther PPS performance, 100 rounds with no malfunctions. I am shooting a little low and to the left by about an inch which I think is due to too little trigger finger after shooting one handed with support hand and having all 7 shots hit bullseye (i noticed I had my finger farther in). The sight on the walther does make it a little different shooting it because it's combat alignment (not sure if that's the proper term, could use some help there, but it's where the front dot is covering the intended target). I'm still working on shooting with both eyes open, but it's taking a little bit of time to get used to.
Sorry for the long read, but just thought some of you would find it interesting. Will gladly accept any input any of you have as well as enjoy reading your range stories. Thanks for your time in reading this.
So I started firing a few rounds down range. While reloading, I hear the girl next to me "HOLY <expletive>!" I immediately take a step back and look to see what's going on. I see she got a hot brass down her low-cut shirt and was dancing all over the place...with the gun in her hand and she's muzzle flashing everyone (mainly where I was standing in the lane next to her) with her finger on the trigger. I just say to her in a stern voice as quickly and clearly as I could "FINGER OFF TRIGGER POINT THE GUN DOWNRANGE!" She heard, took her finger off the trigger and pulled it down range. Finally got the brass out and her boyfriend apologized to me. I said it's not a problem but just to make sure that when something like that happens, it's best to just set the firearm down and then try to get it out quick, always keep the gun downrange, and to take your finger off the trigger if you're not ready to fire. So no harm was done, it never happened again, and I doubt they'll forget the lesson.
I'm now looking back down range watching the laser dot on the target to the right next to me (which a woman was shooting a .357 revolver. I'm watching the laser, hear her fire, and see the laser go up to the ceiling and hit the ceiling. Ok...one bad shot, happens to everyone :\. Then her next shot...on target, shot after that, ceiling, then ceiling again, then ceiling again. At this point I step back and start talking to her as she brings her target in. Her husband comes over and looks at the target and asks her where did all her bullets go. She said she didn't know and I told him where I saw them go, and suggested some dry fire practice to help her with anticipating recoil. He agreed and wouldn't let her fire for the next 5 minutes until he watched her practice with the laser on target with her dry firing. No harm done (except for the poor ceiling).
At the end of the range trip, the best shooter? The 11 year old kid shooting his .22 All his shots seemed to be on target, he took his time lining up his shots and he was the perfect little kid at the range, minded all the rules and I had no complaints. Most of the other people at the line could've took some tips from him!
As far as the Walther PPS performance, 100 rounds with no malfunctions. I am shooting a little low and to the left by about an inch which I think is due to too little trigger finger after shooting one handed with support hand and having all 7 shots hit bullseye (i noticed I had my finger farther in). The sight on the walther does make it a little different shooting it because it's combat alignment (not sure if that's the proper term, could use some help there, but it's where the front dot is covering the intended target). I'm still working on shooting with both eyes open, but it's taking a little bit of time to get used to.
Sorry for the long read, but just thought some of you would find it interesting. Will gladly accept any input any of you have as well as enjoy reading your range stories. Thanks for your time in reading this.
All joking aside though, that is crazy. I try to go home to shoot on the farm as much as possible but an hour and a half drive from school isn't always possible, so i have to go to Bud's Indoor Range (A.K.A Bud's Gun Shop). They don't have any range officer and that makes me nervous, but i have never seen anything like you have described. I'll definitely be keeping my guard up for now on.
They are just way ahead of the rest of us.