I originally wrote this story six years ago but it was a fine day and fun to share.
Forgive my crude subject line -- was just a couple of years ago that I learned the definition of an octogenarian. While I always thought it meant "old timer", it actually means a human person between the ages of 80 and 89 years old. Well, last time my bro-in-law and I got together for a range day, my Uncle showed a slight interest in such an event... so when we knew he'd be around and available this time, we contacted him a few days out and invited him formally. He accepted.
A bit of a background is in order. Uncle Frank is my Mom's oldest sibling and I attended his 80th birthday party just last fall. This is a young 80-year old guy, in case you were wondering. Sure, he's had his different health issues as many 80-year old guys might, but he doesn't live the life of some aged old man. He's just two-weeks back on the continent after spending a month with his Hungarian girlfriend in Budapest!
Like my Mom, Uncle Frank was born in Budapest and came to North America when he was a teenager, fleeing worn-torn Europe with my Mom, my Uncles and my Grandparents. It's actually a pretty interesting story but more to the point... my Uncle Frank lives in the Niagara peninsula of Ontario, Canada, where he's been since the mid-1940's. So not only did I just share a great range day with an 80-year old, but I sneaked a dang Canuck to an American gun range. Haha, don't tell the Dominion!
Frank finds firearms interesting and in his limited experience, enjoyable. Definitely a jack of all trades type, he repairs Grandfather clocks as a retirement job. He enjoys the mechanics of handguns but at the same time, he cannot for the life of him understand what on bloody earth possesses myself or my brother-in-law to wish to carry one. But he enjoyed his last time shooting handguns -- which was with my own Father, just before he married my Mom back in 1956. Don't worry about the math, I've done it for us. The last time my Uncle Frank shot a handgun was at least 55 years ago, to the best of his recollection.
We felt it most prudent to treat him as if he were a brand new shooter, so I gave him a clear run-down at the house before we left. I went over Cooper's Four Rules and I stressed what is expected of all shooters at a shooting range that is open to the public. We also did a quick intro to the different handguns we were bringing that day and spent a bit of time on how the slide reciprocates on the semi-auto's (so he didn't get bit) and how the flash gap works on a revolver (so he didn't get blasted.) We stressed two things more than anything -- muzzle direction and the finger on the trigger. Then we headed to the range.
Our venue was a place that was actually in operation back when he last had a range day, though he didn't shoot there. William's Gun Sight in Davison, Mich.
Williams Gun Sight Company Indoor Range
These folks made quite a name for themselves in the last century with rifle sights, and has long been a local place to shoot. While I tend to visit a couple times each year, my brother-in-law is a much more frequent visitor and member. Good shop, good range, good rates and some darn fine RSO's here. It's a great place to shoot.
Mom had asked me to take her pistol out to the range since it's been many years and she wanted us to "make sure it still works!" I knew it was good to go, but it was simple good karma that we were bringing the LAST pistol that Uncle Frank had shot in 1956 to the range with us for his first shots in the year 2012. It's a very basic Colt Challenger pistol...the "budget" model in the Colt Woodsman line--fixed sights, brown plastic grips, and the most gorgeous 1950's Colt Bluing you would expect from a classic Colt pistol. We set up at 7 yards because those shooting spots were open and available, and also because it's a good distance for a new shooter.
I loaded up a magazine in the classic Colt pistol and put aimed fire on to a 9-inch paper plate. I wasn't surprised at how well the Colt pistol dropped shots in a small group on this plate. It's probably been nearly a decade since this fine pistol made any noise, but it didn't disappoint. And after my magazine to ensure that it was working and hitting, I loaded 5 rounds for Uncle Frank.
I had to stop him before the first shot to suggest he move his support hand out of the way of the slide that would surely smack it had he pulled the trigger -- and I had to correct that 3 or 4 times in the early going until he got more comfortable with a hold that kept his support hand out of danger. Had to remind him a couple of times about his finger on the trigger as well... however muzzle discipline was NEVER an issue, not even once. From his first mag of 5 rounds, he put four of them on a 9-inch paper plate. And we were off and running.
Couple mags through the Colt and we transitioned to a Browning Buck Mark Camper that I had recently picked up. From there he moved to my new GSG 1911-22. To there, a Walther PK-380. Next up was a Ruger SP-101 in the elusive .327 Federal Magnum. Then a Springfield XD-9 subcompact. Then 125gr .38 Specials from my 6-inch Dan Wesson revolver... then 125gr .357 Magnum loads from the same.
When I ran out of the 9-inch big paper plates, I moved to the 6-inch smaller ones and his groups tightened enough to stay on those plates also. This guy did not shoot like a new shooter, and he did not shoot like a man who last shot more than FIVE decades before. Whether or not he shot like an 80-year old guy just isn't for me to say, because he's the only octogenarian I've shot with, to the best of my recollection. Sure, it was just 7 yards, but he was eyeing up the 15-yard points and asking why we didn't shoot from "over there."
As we were bringing the session to a close (the heat and the mosquitoes demanded it, among other factors), I offered him up the chance to shoot the handgun that I carry, so he'd have an idea of what I have with me most of the time. I carry a Glock 29, 10mm. Glock calls it a subcompact but it's almost exactly the same external dimensions as a Glock 19 only thicker. I had brought my usual practice load, 180gr FMJ that punches just a smidge harder than does the 175gr Winchester Silvertip that I carry.
Started him with 5 on this one also, followed by two full (10rd) magazines after the first five. He'd always wanted to experience the mystery of the well-known "Glock" and he said more than once that of the NINE different handguns he just shot over the last 90 minutes... that Glock was his favorite. A 10mm compact carry gun-- the favorite of an 80 year old shooter who last pulled triggers more than HALF A CENTURY before.
Wow. Not what I expected...not that I had any preconceived notions or anything, but still. I've had a number of different folks shoot my EDC and most of the gun guys have somewhat of a like or respect for it, some do not, and many of the newer shooters don't care much for it at all. I've also had well-experienced shooters hand it back to me still loaded, not wishing to finish a magazine. (?!) But my Uncle Frank will tell you with a straight face that he enjoyed the G29 more even than four different rimfires... a .380, .38 Special, 9mm, .327 Federal Mag and .357 Magnum.
A day later, well after guns had been cleaned and brass sorted, we chatted about the range trip. He had a very good time and is looking forward to another invite in the future. He felt quite comfortable with the shooting and the instruction, and he felt comfortable (if not surprised) about his own performance. Still, he admits that he could never see himself with the desire to actually own a handgun, and though he didn't use exactly these words -- he still thinks it's just one side or another of ludicrous that any regular guy would want to arm himself all day long and go out in public armed. Now I can't tell if these are the words of a long time Canadian or the words of a man of a "certain age", but he's adamant about them -- just as surely as he's looking very much forward to his next invitation to go shooting.
Of course, I told him that he should surprise us and show up with the hardware next time, but his citizenship and home address would preclude that even if somehow, his own will led him to the "our" side.
Sorry for the length, but the personal experience demanded it. We had a pretty darn good day.
(Originally written in 2012)
Forgive my crude subject line -- was just a couple of years ago that I learned the definition of an octogenarian. While I always thought it meant "old timer", it actually means a human person between the ages of 80 and 89 years old. Well, last time my bro-in-law and I got together for a range day, my Uncle showed a slight interest in such an event... so when we knew he'd be around and available this time, we contacted him a few days out and invited him formally. He accepted.
A bit of a background is in order. Uncle Frank is my Mom's oldest sibling and I attended his 80th birthday party just last fall. This is a young 80-year old guy, in case you were wondering. Sure, he's had his different health issues as many 80-year old guys might, but he doesn't live the life of some aged old man. He's just two-weeks back on the continent after spending a month with his Hungarian girlfriend in Budapest!
Like my Mom, Uncle Frank was born in Budapest and came to North America when he was a teenager, fleeing worn-torn Europe with my Mom, my Uncles and my Grandparents. It's actually a pretty interesting story but more to the point... my Uncle Frank lives in the Niagara peninsula of Ontario, Canada, where he's been since the mid-1940's. So not only did I just share a great range day with an 80-year old, but I sneaked a dang Canuck to an American gun range. Haha, don't tell the Dominion!
Frank finds firearms interesting and in his limited experience, enjoyable. Definitely a jack of all trades type, he repairs Grandfather clocks as a retirement job. He enjoys the mechanics of handguns but at the same time, he cannot for the life of him understand what on bloody earth possesses myself or my brother-in-law to wish to carry one. But he enjoyed his last time shooting handguns -- which was with my own Father, just before he married my Mom back in 1956. Don't worry about the math, I've done it for us. The last time my Uncle Frank shot a handgun was at least 55 years ago, to the best of his recollection.
We felt it most prudent to treat him as if he were a brand new shooter, so I gave him a clear run-down at the house before we left. I went over Cooper's Four Rules and I stressed what is expected of all shooters at a shooting range that is open to the public. We also did a quick intro to the different handguns we were bringing that day and spent a bit of time on how the slide reciprocates on the semi-auto's (so he didn't get bit) and how the flash gap works on a revolver (so he didn't get blasted.) We stressed two things more than anything -- muzzle direction and the finger on the trigger. Then we headed to the range.
Our venue was a place that was actually in operation back when he last had a range day, though he didn't shoot there. William's Gun Sight in Davison, Mich.
Williams Gun Sight Company Indoor Range
These folks made quite a name for themselves in the last century with rifle sights, and has long been a local place to shoot. While I tend to visit a couple times each year, my brother-in-law is a much more frequent visitor and member. Good shop, good range, good rates and some darn fine RSO's here. It's a great place to shoot.
Mom had asked me to take her pistol out to the range since it's been many years and she wanted us to "make sure it still works!" I knew it was good to go, but it was simple good karma that we were bringing the LAST pistol that Uncle Frank had shot in 1956 to the range with us for his first shots in the year 2012. It's a very basic Colt Challenger pistol...the "budget" model in the Colt Woodsman line--fixed sights, brown plastic grips, and the most gorgeous 1950's Colt Bluing you would expect from a classic Colt pistol. We set up at 7 yards because those shooting spots were open and available, and also because it's a good distance for a new shooter.
I loaded up a magazine in the classic Colt pistol and put aimed fire on to a 9-inch paper plate. I wasn't surprised at how well the Colt pistol dropped shots in a small group on this plate. It's probably been nearly a decade since this fine pistol made any noise, but it didn't disappoint. And after my magazine to ensure that it was working and hitting, I loaded 5 rounds for Uncle Frank.
I had to stop him before the first shot to suggest he move his support hand out of the way of the slide that would surely smack it had he pulled the trigger -- and I had to correct that 3 or 4 times in the early going until he got more comfortable with a hold that kept his support hand out of danger. Had to remind him a couple of times about his finger on the trigger as well... however muzzle discipline was NEVER an issue, not even once. From his first mag of 5 rounds, he put four of them on a 9-inch paper plate. And we were off and running.
Couple mags through the Colt and we transitioned to a Browning Buck Mark Camper that I had recently picked up. From there he moved to my new GSG 1911-22. To there, a Walther PK-380. Next up was a Ruger SP-101 in the elusive .327 Federal Magnum. Then a Springfield XD-9 subcompact. Then 125gr .38 Specials from my 6-inch Dan Wesson revolver... then 125gr .357 Magnum loads from the same.
When I ran out of the 9-inch big paper plates, I moved to the 6-inch smaller ones and his groups tightened enough to stay on those plates also. This guy did not shoot like a new shooter, and he did not shoot like a man who last shot more than FIVE decades before. Whether or not he shot like an 80-year old guy just isn't for me to say, because he's the only octogenarian I've shot with, to the best of my recollection. Sure, it was just 7 yards, but he was eyeing up the 15-yard points and asking why we didn't shoot from "over there."
As we were bringing the session to a close (the heat and the mosquitoes demanded it, among other factors), I offered him up the chance to shoot the handgun that I carry, so he'd have an idea of what I have with me most of the time. I carry a Glock 29, 10mm. Glock calls it a subcompact but it's almost exactly the same external dimensions as a Glock 19 only thicker. I had brought my usual practice load, 180gr FMJ that punches just a smidge harder than does the 175gr Winchester Silvertip that I carry.
Started him with 5 on this one also, followed by two full (10rd) magazines after the first five. He'd always wanted to experience the mystery of the well-known "Glock" and he said more than once that of the NINE different handguns he just shot over the last 90 minutes... that Glock was his favorite. A 10mm compact carry gun-- the favorite of an 80 year old shooter who last pulled triggers more than HALF A CENTURY before.
Wow. Not what I expected...not that I had any preconceived notions or anything, but still. I've had a number of different folks shoot my EDC and most of the gun guys have somewhat of a like or respect for it, some do not, and many of the newer shooters don't care much for it at all. I've also had well-experienced shooters hand it back to me still loaded, not wishing to finish a magazine. (?!) But my Uncle Frank will tell you with a straight face that he enjoyed the G29 more even than four different rimfires... a .380, .38 Special, 9mm, .327 Federal Mag and .357 Magnum.
A day later, well after guns had been cleaned and brass sorted, we chatted about the range trip. He had a very good time and is looking forward to another invite in the future. He felt quite comfortable with the shooting and the instruction, and he felt comfortable (if not surprised) about his own performance. Still, he admits that he could never see himself with the desire to actually own a handgun, and though he didn't use exactly these words -- he still thinks it's just one side or another of ludicrous that any regular guy would want to arm himself all day long and go out in public armed. Now I can't tell if these are the words of a long time Canadian or the words of a man of a "certain age", but he's adamant about them -- just as surely as he's looking very much forward to his next invitation to go shooting.
Of course, I told him that he should surprise us and show up with the hardware next time, but his citizenship and home address would preclude that even if somehow, his own will led him to the "our" side.
Sorry for the length, but the personal experience demanded it. We had a pretty darn good day.
(Originally written in 2012)
