In a previous post I said I like to shoot alone
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I have several reasons for this and I thought I would explain myself.
To start with, I will tell you that my shooting experience began with my uncle when I was about ten.
Occasionally we would go into a woods behind the house where we lived and just plink with .22s. He was an avid and very capable hunter but I only went hunting once and decided I didn't like it.
I was constantly concerned with the direction I was pointing the muzzle. Internally I was asking the question: What if I allow myself to become distracted for even one second and the muzzle sweeps across my uncle. Even if the rifle didn't accidentally go off, even if my uncle was never aware of the mistake, I WOULD KNOW and the potential harm is too severe to even think about.
Then in the Navy we shot quite often. Did "Famfires" on a regular basis, shot for the medals (243 on the pistol and 225 on the rifle). This of course was always done on a range (even a makeshift range on the fantail) and always with about a million other folks around, folks who had absolutely zero concern or respect for the weapon. Always there was a range master who insisted upon strict adherence to his rules (and rightfully so).
To escape this craziness I started shooting BP on my own. I developed a tendency to shoot alone, and the tendency turned into a practice and the practice turned into a religion.
I shoot alone:
1. Because I don't like having to adhere to a range master's pace, timing and rules. I know the rules are inescapable if more than one person is shooting. They are good rules which have saved a lot of lives and should never be dispensed with.
2. I think that two people on a range at one time is more than twice as dangerous as one person.
3. Since the only thing I really have to care about is not shooting my truck, my solitary shooting has caused me to developed some habits which I am sure could be disastrous if two people were present.
4. No other person would tolerate my shenanigans. I am slow. I aim slow, I load slow, I shoot slow, I check my targets slow, when I go into the weeds to urinate, I urinate slow. No one would tolerate me.
5. I shoot not just for shooting but for solace.
There are an awful lot of disadvantages to shooting alone. Most prominently is that the development of my shooting technique has been flat. I know I would be a better shooter if I had the input of other shooters who are better than me (which include just about everyone who shoots.)
Also, if something unfortunate happens I am out there alone. I have my cell phone but the coverage ain't that great and it is only just moderately likely that the phone would work.
I am not going to change my ways. And I am not apologizing for them. Criticism of my "I always shoot alone" practice could come from many directions. It is just the way I like to do business.
