The First Time I Fired A Gun

by - Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Over the weekend, I shot a gun.

It.was.terrifying.

My friend begged me all week to go to the shooting range on Saturday morning. I tried to get out of it, suggested lots of other fun plans (like running). I didn't want to go at all.

Guns scare me and the last thing I wanted to do was hold one in my hand and actually fire it.

But his incessant pleading eventually wore me down.

I caved and next thing I knew I sitting in NRA headquarters, taking a test on gun safety, wondering how I'd been duped into this.

My friends begged me to go to the NRA shooting range over the weekend. It was terrifying.
My new fancy NRA range card

I passed the test, got my NRA range card and eventually our little group was standing in a lane at the firing range. As the guys assembled guns and filled magazine cartridges, I was scoping out the people in the other lanes.

Some of them matched every single NRA stereotype you could imagine. Others didn't. I couldn't believe the number of little kids that were firing guns.

Eventually our little area was set up and ready to go.

At this point, I was still hoping I could get out of the actual firing a gun thing and just sit and watch the guys, but they weren't about to let that happen.

After a brief rundown of safety and how to aim, I found myself holding an H&K USP (9mm).(It was some sort of handgun).

I stood there for a while just holding it.

Then figured I should probably just get it over with.

So I squeezed the trigger.(The range doesn't allow photos of any type, so you'll just have to take my word that I actually shot it).

I fired all the bullets at the target and actually managed to hit it a few times.

When it was empty, I quickly handed it over and was hoping to be done.

But nooooo, the guys had other plans.

In total I fired:

  • AR-15 BHAR (.223)
  • AR-15 carbine (9mm)
  • H&K USP (9mm)
  • the AR-15 HBAR (converted to a .22)
(this list actually means nothing to me, my friend just sent it in case I was curious).

The AR guns were huge and scary and I think semi-automatic. (Google them if you want to see pictures) One of them had so much force that the bullets went clear through the target and ricocheted off the back wall like 150 feet away.

All in all, this experience was pretty terrifying, and I'll be very happy to never hold a gun again.

But at least I can say I tried it once.

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9 comments

  1. Lindsay9:18 AM

    I think it'd be awesome to go to a shooting range. Or to shoot skeet. Haha. I've never done either. Id def be nervous too. Better that you have a little knowledge now?

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  2. Wes9:55 AM

    even if you don't like it, it's a good idea to know how to defend yourself. just sayin...

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  3. Mon Amour10:14 AM

    My boyfriend wants me to go to the shooting range with him but I am also really scared of guns. Luckily I have gotten out of going every time so far

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  4. Kandi10:33 AM

    I bought an online deal for a shooting range and plan to take my fiance before we are married. I bought it on a whim with another friend. I am a bit scared of guns too but I'm curious to know how it feels to fire a gun. I've only ever fired BB/airsoft guns.

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  5. DaphyCee10:54 AM

    My boyfriend took me to a firing range too, and I felt the same exact way! I was terrified, and after the initial round, I didn't want to shoot again. But I did. Still terrified, but glad I at least tried it once!

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  6. Anonymous12:48 PM

    I'm a little (read: A LOT) terrified of guns myself... But I have added going to a shooting range to my 30 to 30 list. I'm such a peace maker & even BB guns scare me. No really... I'm not joking!! lol

    But more power to you for over coming the fear & doing it!

    If you guys can overcome it & do it, maybe I can too? wishful thinking. Guns totally freak my beans.

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  7. Heather12:57 PM

    I am freaked out by guns, but I think the minute I learn how to handle them and understand that just looking at them wont make them go off, I will get over that.

    My bf wants me to go to a range so bad (from a guy that shot guns for a living in the Army).

    But like you said, you tried it...and its over

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  8. Dan9:45 PM

    Paintball is the closest I've ever gotten to projectile weapons. Firing real guns isn't very high up on my list of things to do!

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  9. Susan10:13 PM

    My uncle has guns and we would sometimes go to the shooting range when we would visit...it made me nervous but he was always very safe about it. It's the other people who scare me!

    ReplyDelete