Dad at the range

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TAK

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My sister bought a new skyy 9mm and wanted to go to the gun range and shoot. She asked me to go because I have the range pass. I told her to invite dad along.

His aresenal as he calls it consists of a Colt buntline .22 with 11inch barrel and real stag grips that mom bought him for Christmas the first year the were married in 1963. His other is a Shield 9mm that he kept 2 years ago when I left it with him when I brought the Colt home to clean it.

Dad is 77 years old, his shooting stance is right elbow braced against his ribs and his left hand supporting the right forearm because his shoulders are shot from working in a steel mill for 50+ years.

He was happy to be hitting the hill behind the target.

Using the Shield I tried to have him point shoot from the hip but he didn't like that. So he took his stance and I watched as he pulled/ jerked the trigger. I talked him through the next few shots, pull the trigger don't jerk it. Put one on the paper. Now focus on the front sight, 3 inches left of center, the next few shots the same. He had a group. I was happy, he was excited to be hitting the target.
The rest of the visit he kept most at the same poi. The sights could be adjusted, but he's pushing the trigger, forcing the shots left.

We'll keep going and I'm sure he will get better. If not that's ok. I may adjust the sights at that point.


Sorry folks I don't post much. Just wanted to share.
 
TAK

Good on you for helping your Dad get on target with the Shield. If I get to be his age (Lord willing), I will probably be glad just to see the target, let alone hit anything while shooting at it! Thanks for sharing that with us on Father's Day!
 
It was great to see the smile it put on his face to hit the target.

We'll go again in a couple weeks and work on it some more.

It's funny, when I was younger 30 years ago dad was the dumbest person in the world. Now as I've grown older he has become one of the smartest people I know
 
All smart Dads are dumb when their kids are teenagers. You wouldn’t imagine how dumb I have been for the last few years. The middle child is 20 and is discovering that I’m getting smarter every day. The youngest just made 14 and thinks he’s so much smarter then me now.:rofl: And he asked me to make pancakes this morning because he didn’t know how.
I wish my dad was still around to take shooting. Sounds like y’all had a great time. Oh! How did your sister do with her Sccy?
 
I was the same. When I was a teenager I had little use for my dad's advice. As I got older I started to realize that he was one of the most intelligent men that I'd ever known. He never did finish his PhD (Philosophy) because he had to quit school to feed his kids, but he could have gotten them in various subjects if he'd had time.

I have a 13-year-old and a 20-year-old. The youngest considers me to be dumb and annoying. The oldest is starting to occasionally listen. The wheel keeps on turning. :)
 
GunnyUSMC, my sister did ok with the sccy.
She stayed on the target and was using aluminum cased ammo with no problems.

It was interesting she was doing her thing and laughing at dad trying to reload his magazines. (I kept asking if he wanted help and he kept saying nope it takes time and I got plenty of that.) She was observing us working together on his technique and started asking me about her own technique. So I gave her some pointers. I've fired a couple sccys and have been impressed.

I did put out some milk jugs and when he hit his it was another smile and hey I hit it moment.

Maybe Hickock 45 is right "life is good":)
 
Life is good as hickock45 says.

My dad, unfortunately, has retired his guns for the most part now. On more than one occasion I've had to take an 'unloaded' gun from him out of fear for my life:what:

I would like nothing more than see him shoot again and have a good time doing it. But, I'll take what I can get.
 
Since he uses an unconventional stance your dad might get a huge benefit from one of those "newfangled laser pointer things". Situations like that are where they really shine (pun intended).
 
Last edited:
Took my dad to the range today. He fired (for the first time) his new Ruger SR9-C I got for him (loved it) as well as my SA Operator, my suppressed 22-45, my PS-90, my M24 (he hit plates out to 500 yards) and my RAR ranch suppressed, in 300 B-O. He had never fired stuff like this, and we both had a blast.
 
Sounds like you had a great day. He'll get it.

GunnyUSMC said:
I wish my dad was still around to take shooting. Sounds like y’all had a great time.
Click to expand...

Very true. We lost dad 7 years ago this July. Enjoy your folks while they are here for sure. I think of him daily.

-Jeff
 
Since he's 77, I'd focus as much on having fun at the range as getting him to improve. My dad can't safely handle guns anymore. With that said, he really does sound like a good candidate for a laser.
 
I try to spend time with them a couple times a week. Now that he has shown an interest I was considering a laser.

Mom has dementia and can be a challenge. So this is also therapeutic for him.
 
Enjoyable times to cherish! :thumbup:

In younger years I took dad as "dad". Wasn't till decades later that the realization he had much to offer in many areas. I miss him and mom now that they've gone on.
Dad didn't get to shoot the Arisaka rifle he brought back from his service tour.
 
Glad you were able to get your dad out shooting. Enjoy all the time you can spend with him.
Lost my dad 17 years ago today.
Dana
 
My dad has been gone since 1981 but I always think of him when I do things with my 3 boys. All three are grown men now and I'm getting old but I still love shooting with them. My dad and I never went shooting because we lived in NY but we did a lot of fishing in the ocean.

Cherish all the time you spend with family, each time only happens once.
Happy belated Father's Day. You guys just touched this old man's heart, thank you.
 
TAK said:
My sister bought a new skyy 9mm and wanted to go to the gun range and shoot. She asked me to go because I have the range pass. I told her to invite dad along.

His aresenal as he calls it consists of a Colt buntline .22 with 11inch barrel and real stag grips that mom bought him for Christmas the first year the were married in 1963. His other is a Shield 9mm that he kept 2 years ago when I left it with him when I brought the Colt home to clean it.

Dad is 77 years old, his shooting stance is right elbow braced against his ribs and his left hand supporting the right forearm because his shoulders are shot from working in a steel mill for 50+ years.

He was happy to be hitting the hill behind the target.

Using the Shield I tried to have him point shoot from the hip but he didn't like that. So he took his stance and I watched as he pulled/ jerked the trigger. I talked him through the next few shots, pull the trigger don't jerk it. Put one on the paper. Now focus on the front sight, 3 inches left of center, the next few shots the same. He had a group. I was happy, he was excited to be hitting the target.
The rest of the visit he kept most at the same poi. The sights could be adjusted, but he's pushing the trigger, forcing the shots left.

We'll keep going and I'm sure he will get better. If not that's ok. I may adjust the sights at that point.


Sorry folks I don't post much. Just wanted to share.
Click to expand...
My dad is 85 and I hope someday to be as good a handgun shooter as he is.
 
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