So I introduced another person to shooting today

I had gone out to a local range a couple of months ago with a guy from work, "L". He's 20 and was interesting in learning about handguns and shooting, so I got a brick of ammo for my .22 pistol and spent a couple of hours at the indoor range with him. We left happy and healthy some 450 rounds later. He even survived the embarassment of learning that Smith & Wesson revolvers have REALLY REALLY light triggers by putting a round in the ceiling.

So today, his friend "B", who is thinking about getting a concealed-carry permit, went with us. This was on L and B's dime, and they went all out. I had a fresh brick of .22 ammo, and they had bought 250 rounds of UMC 9mm hardball and 50 rounds of Speer .45 hardball, because L just had to try out a forty-five.

At the range we rented out a Beretta 92 (with a wussy ban-era 10-round magazine) and a Springfield Armory 1911. It was L's first time with a powerful pistol, but he took to it well, as did B.

First was some instruction, then I had L and B put a few magazines through my .22 first to make sure they had the basics down. Grip, handling, keep-that-finger-out-of-the-trigger-guard-dammit, safeties, slide manipulation, and magazine insertion and ejection were all covered quite well.

Then we moved up to the 9mm. Interest was high after I told L and B that the Model 92 was the same gun that Detective John McClane and Detective-Sergeant Martin Riggs (of Die Hard and Lethal Weapon fame, respectively), and both took well to the Beretta. The controls were explained, I sent a magazine downrange to try the gun out, and the fun commenced. The magazine was rather stiff to load, but past they they worked the gun quite well, sending round after round downrange without incident and with enough accuracy to keep the rounds (mostly) on the paper.

A few magazines (and aching fingers; that magazine was STIFF) later, we tried out the 1911. Again, I introduced the pistol to them explained the differences between the single-action 1911 and double-action-with-decocker Model 92. Then I loaded up a magazine (much easier), chambered a round, and sent 7 rounds downrange. The recoil was stiffer than the 9mm but managable. I did not know this, but the .45 bullet moves slow enough to be seen as it flies down range! That was pretty cool.

So we spend the next two hours or so sending .22, 9mm, and .45 rounds down range and into paper targets at distances betwen 15 and 50 feet. I talked about the history of the 1911 and the Beretta, how the mechanisms evolved and how the 96-year-old 1911 and 30-year-old Model 92 compared to the more modern designs like Glock.

Finally, with the hour getting late and our fingers sore from loading magazines, we slowed down and talked shop a little with a couple of other gun owners. One guy showed us his Sig-Sauer P226, and another guy (Ron), was nice enough to let us fire his Springfield Armory XD Tactical 9mm a few times each. We all walked away very impressed with the XD and agreed it was more comfortable and easier to point and shoot than either the Model 92 or the 1911.

All in all, a very enjoyable day at the range. I know L and B will be back for more! :-)

He has gotten two deers since. And last weekend, my dove hunt host let his kid shoot an AK clone -- he didn't like it since he couldn't hold it comfortably. But he likes his Marlin .22 single shot rifle! He'll "grow into" other guns as he sees fit, but for now this kid has the right stuff.

And way back 30+ years ago I introduced a woman to shooting. I wonder if she still goes to the range?

Did you notice any difference in the perceived recoil between the 92 and the XD?

I think it was the better ergonomics. The web of my hand seemed to be 'welded' to the gun better, so I was able to hold the gun better. But I only fired 5 rounds through the XD.

I liked it, though...