I'm with my sister on Long Island, when she lets out that she'd like to shoot a handgun for the first time. With her birthday approaching I ask my son-in-law if he'd help, by supplying the firearms and training her for a range outing. Normally my husband and I can take care of our own range guests, but we live in SC now, so I'm not equipped in NY.

My wonderful SIL agrees, and asks his friend to also supply some of his firearms for the task. They just give me a list of ammo calibers and targets to get. At dawn this morning, my SIL, his friend, and my granddaughter arrive with a range bag to give my sister home instruction before we get to the range.

When we get to the range, my SIL never leaves my sisters side, and has her shoot a wide range of handguns.

My sister and SIL as she shoots what I think was his first service weapon on the NYPD. Maybe it's a Model 10.




None of the guns were mine, but today I got to shoot several types that I'd never had the chance to before. I shot:

My first "J" frame
My first "K" frame
My first "X" frame and first .460
My first .40 cal
My first .22WM
My first .45 Derringer
My first Glock

Me and the .460



Granddaughter and the .22WM (I think?).



The weather cooperated and three generations of my family had a great day of shooting together. As the guys were repacking their range bags, my sister gives me a big hug, and tells me that this was her best birthday ever.

Looks like you think that 460 is goin to turn arund a bite you. Thinking about it: I've owned and shot a lot of guns, but I've never shot a 460, 40 S&W, 22WM or a derringer of any kind.

That was one of the last guns I shot yesterday, and my arms were pretty tired, so I was thinking "this is a gosh darn heavy beast and I can't wait to put it down.".

It's wonderful to hear that everyone had a good time!

It sounds sexist, but I would rather teach ladies to shoot than men any day. There's no testosterone to get in the way, and they listen very well. And 9 times out of 10, they do very well.

Well done!!

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

It's so hard to hear at the range. This is huge.

Glad you all had a wonderful time. I finally got around to firing my MP-40 .22 clone a week ago. Man that thin's fun to shoot and carry. Next trip, ill be taking my STG-44 clone to the range.

Excellent post! I have always liked the concept of girls and guns.

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Real men love cats!

I certainly agree about it being much easier to teach women than men. Was up at my club a week ago and a couple around their late 60s were next to me. The wife, who dripping wet might have touched a 100 lbs was having difficulty with the gun her husband chose for her. A 0.32 KelTec. Finally I offered to let her shoot my Browning HP in 0.40 S&W. Well, the look of enjoyment on her face as she hit 5 out of 5 on a 9" Pie Plate at 10 yds after a few ranging shots, versus the look on her husband's face as she did so, was very entertaining. She then wanted to know where she could buy a proper gun instead of a pip-squeak!! Dave_n

Wow,that sandpit looks familiar.I think I shot there 40 + years ago with my NYPD Model 10-6.

Forty + years ago it didn't look that good.

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

I didn't drive, but I think I was near Calverton.

Yeap,that's the place.

I recognized the sand.

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

Must have been the old Grumman gun club. I was thinking they shut it down as the county was trying to 20+ years ago.

If you go that far back there was a sand/gravel pit (I remember more than one pit) off Rt.110 in Melville. Weekends there'd be lots of people shooting. I learned the basics there from a uncle on a old 22lr bolt action.

Are you saying that this range is near the "Old Grumman Iron Works" near Bethpage?

Many fantastic aircraft were built there!!!!!!

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That's what we do!

I think that pit developed into the Huntington Town Range?Very close to World of Guns on 110 and Leslie Eldelman's gun stores.

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

Yeah, the Old Grumman on Long Island was a company that built cutting edge machines, and was renowned for how well they took care of their employees.

The range was near their airport facilities further east at Calverton, near the east end of the Long Island Expressway.

The Babylon Rod and Gun Club that renamed to the Peconic River Sportsmans Club is across the street from the Grumman Aircraft Testing Field in Manorville,next to Calverton.

The 400+ acres of the PRSC property was the old Woolworth Estate.

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

I didn't start shooting till I retired and moved to SC, so I'm unfamiliar with the ranges in NY.

The Calverton Shooting Range at 395 Nugent Dr. is where he took us.

Calverton Shooting Range - Home

Grumman's main plants were in Bethpage but they also had facilities in Calverton.
My father retired from Grumman around 1989 after 30+ years. I still have the Grumman news paper with my Father sitting in the lunar lander. I worked there for about 3 years. Didn't like it.
"iron works" was a nick name given to Grumman during WWII from pilots. Many a shot up hellcat with pieces of airplane missing would crash land on a carrier only to have the pilot walk away. I think it was Leroy Grumman who said the last thing to fail in our airplanes should be the cockpit.

At the gun show this past weekend, I saw several ladies buying guns. One lady in a red shirt-bought a pink AR-style rifle, and three other guns-on Sunday alone. On Sat, I saw her buy a handgun from Brad and Joseph's table--which was one of their Auto Ordnance 1911's---which proves she has good taste.