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Sunday, March 18, 2007

A Novice No More

What a difference a day makes! I went shooting for the first time yesterday, and the results weren't pretty even with the target set at merely five yards away from me. In my defense, toward the end I was getting better and all the shots in the top right quadrant were actually aimed there on purpose.
But today, much better! I can now shoot someone in the chest from 25 yards away--five times as far as yesterday! I learned that most right-handed people tend to shoot to the left and slightly below where they aim, so I think my shooting's pretty normal but not bad for a beginner.

posted by Pei at 8:25 PM

12 Comments:

  • and the shots were made with 357 magnums and 38 specials -- not a wussy 22. -J

    By Anonymous Anonymous, At 3/18/2007 10:26:00 PM  

  • wow armed and dangerous. did you know that civilian bullets usually cause more damage then military ones? Military bullets are have to adhere to strict guidelines. Civilian ones don't and tend to shatter after they hit someone causing more internal damage.

    By Blogger John, At 3/19/2007 06:57:00 AM  

  • Lesser known facts like that are why I think it's important for everyone to learn more about guns, even if not everyone wants to go out and shoot a gun at the range. Knowing more about something never hurt anyone. If everyone keeps saying things like "Guns kill people; I don't want to know or have anything to do with those wretched things," the only people who will know anything about guns will be military and law enforcement personnel and criminals.

    By Blogger Pei, At 3/19/2007 11:42:00 AM  

  • I agree people should be more educated about guns. But I found shooting disturbing. The power and force of the bullet and even the sound of shooting frightened me. I am definitely against hunting now. I can't imagine pumping something so destructive into any living beings.

    By Blogger Cat, At 3/19/2007 12:56:00 PM  

  • also gunshot wounds are surprisingly bloodless. It's not like the movies where people come in gushing blood. Usually there is just a little hole that you could easily overlook.

    Also it's apparently more painful (for men) to get a foley catheter inserted then to get shot.

    By Blogger John, At 3/19/2007 01:03:00 PM  

  • Ha, like how (allegedly) passing a kidney stone hurts more than childbirth. My mom passed a gall stone once and said she wasn't sure about kidney stones, but the gall stone didn't hurt nearly as much as she remembers childbirth hurting.

    By Blogger Pei, At 3/19/2007 02:23:00 PM  

  • Impressive target shooting. you rock.

    By Blogger She-Hulk, At 3/19/2007 05:12:00 PM  

  • you are correct that passing a gallstone is not as bad as childbirth. Also according to women I have talked to who have done both natural child birth and passed kidney stones the jury is out. Some say it's as bad some say it's not as bad.

    As to getting shot and placing a foley this was from a guy who had gotten shot 3 times. Once in the leg and twice in the abdomen and got a foley as soon as he got to the ED. He said getting the foley hurt more. I'm going to take his word for that one. (also please note that it was an experienced resident placing the foley not me, so it was not a case of incompetence) I was taping paperclips to the entrance and exit wounds so we could find them on x-ray.

    By Blogger John, At 3/20/2007 12:10:00 PM  

  • that's an excellent sheet for a rookie at 25 yds.

    i too dislike the violence implicit in firing a gun, but i too decided that knowledge was more important.

    i practiced hitting the shoulder and hip for disabling shots, and found this somehow more justifiable.

    i also used to have great reservations about hunting, but unless you're vegan, you're killing critters. again, upon deeper reflection, i find that knowledge of a thing is better. to hunt successfully, you have to enter the animal's habitat, understand its behavior, and control your own accordingly. pulling the trigger is still hard, but if the entire process is done with respect, it teaches you to appreciate your place in the ecosystem as well as the animal's. this is better than buying shrink wrapped steaks at costco every week and thinking you're an animal lover.

    no offense intended, just another way to think about it.

    By Blogger Edward, At 3/21/2007 11:10:00 AM  

  • I know my position is not entirely consistent - alas I was fed a carnivore's diet and I do crave meat from time to time. However, we do not hunt for sustenance these days, people hunt for pleasure. I can't imagine deriving joy out of getting to know an animal, its habit, and then killing it?

    By Blogger Cat, At 3/21/2007 03:11:00 PM  

  • My position is very close to Edward's. I think if everyone were forced to hunt for dinner, people would have a greater appreciation and respect for animals, and we would waste less meat.

    It's actually because none of us are required to consider the violence implicit in killing for food that we are so happy to blissfully gobble it down. So if you think about it, requiring more killing would result in less consumption.

    By Blogger Pei, At 3/21/2007 04:06:00 PM  

  • "i practiced hitting the shoulder and hip for disabling shots, and found this somehow more justifiable."

    ...you never know when that immobile assailant is going to stand 25 yrds away with his arms at his side. It's a good thing you practice.

    By Blogger Cube Dweller, At 3/29/2007 04:16:00 PM  

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