Let me explain...no there is too much...

Let me sum up.  It's been a while.  Here's why:

1) Finished last bit of intensive research and living at the beef farm
2) Lived in the lab and office finishing lab work and writing dissertation
3) Job interviews
4) Job accepted (involves moving rather far)
5) Pack almost all belongings
6) Dissertation defense
7) Get house ready to sell

But, in the midst of all that, lots of fun firearms related stuffs have happened.  I picked out and acquired my very own pistol (any guesses?).  That deserves it's own post, and I promise to get to that ASAP.

I finished my dissertation, passed the exam, and my husband presented me with the best present ever!  My very own Cody range bag.  There is nothing not to love about this bag.  It holds everything with room to spare and has the most delightful pattern in a gold and grey color scheme.  Love love love!!!

Finally, I've been enjoying having my sister in the same town and taking her to the range for shooting fun.  We just got back from some sister bonding time at the range.  Good times!  More soon!

Girls Night Out

Details to come later this week, but suffice to say, girls night at the range rocked!  

We got to try out lots of different things and everyone shot things they loved and things they hated.  It was a learning experience.  Plus, we got to talk in the back of class and not get shushed.  We were having a ball!   Oh, and I fell in love with a $1000 gun.  Sigh...maybe if I win the lottery?

Miller-Welch WMA

So, husband picked me up from the office last Friday and told me we were going on an adventure.  After a quick change of clothes and grabbing the range bags, we headed south.

We ended up here:

This is the shooting range at the Miller-Welch Central KY WMA.  Turns out, my husband grew up just around the corner from here and spent many formative years hunting, fishing, and yes...shooting here.  Though back then there was no forma range.

The range is a bit limiting.  100yards only, through the shooting tubes.  I really need to get some good pictures of those next time we go out.  They are nifty, something completely new to me!

We went as we have just acquired a shiny new (to us) AR-15.  In particular, this is a Windham R16M4A4T.  What a mouthful!  But, more on the rifle itself in another post.  This is about the location.

It's gorgeous really, after shooting, we locked the tuck and wandered around looking at the wildflowers, old home-sites, tobacco barns, and more.  We already have plans to go back soon and do some land-nav with friends.  And blackberries galore!  I see cobbler in the future.

mmm, cobbler...  BTW, if you don't already read Pioneer Woman and you like food, you are missing out!

Oh!  And there is an archer range!  I really awesome one at that, woods walk, targets at 10-60 yards.  I love my crossbow and now I have a better place to shoot.  The one range in town doesn't allow crossbows.  So, y'all should expect some archery stories soon.  I know it doesn't go bang, but twang-thwap is close enough, right?

Not dead, really!

So, not this week turned into not this month.  School, research, life, and other hobbies all conspired to prevent me getting to the range.  Ok, maybe there was a little laziness in there as well...

I got stuck on part two.

But, I have been shooting twice in the last week!  Two new guns tried out, plus my first time shooting at 100 yards.  I can't wait to tell you guys all about it.  Unfortunately, I completely failed to take pictures of either outing.  Words will have to suffice for now.

Nope, not this week.

Well, it looks like no range time this week.  That is, unless I can convince my dad he'd rather go shooting than to a bourbon distillery.   I don't really see that happening! 

We're a bit low on bourbon as you can see...

But that's ok, I've had a great time with my parents here so far and intend to thoroughly enjoy the rest of their visit.  Maybe next week I'll get to make things go bang.

A new awareness

Some people who start carrying mention becoming more aware of their environment.  Who and what is around them, safety concerns, etc.  I haven't started carrying yet (though my snap-pak finally came in the mail!) so haven't expereince that yet.  But I do find myself more aware of firearms in TV and movies.

It's not that I didn't notice them before, but now I'm 'aware.'  I find myself trying to see what weapon a person is carrying, counting shots, and more.  But especially, I find myself annoyed by sound effects.  It's amusing now to hear the cocking sound while seeing a pistol without an external hammer.  Or hear a racking slide without seeing any hands move.


You'd think that in some of these big budget thing they'd make an effort to do the research and get it right.  Ah well.  I figure it's just one more thing to giggle to myself about.  I already find lab scenes and animal work (especially riding) to be amusing. 

What things do you see on screen and giggle or complain (if you are like my husband) about?

Back after this Break!

I hope everyone is enjoying Thanksgiving.  I'll be back next week, but for now, I'm enjoying the holiday with my family!  In the meantime, check this out:

"Almost 400 years ago, a 20-year old cooper by the name of John Alden traversed the Atlantic on the good ship Mayflower. Along with his fellow travelers, Alden carried with him a collection of hopes, dreams, and a modified .66 caliber Italian single-shot wheellock carbine. That rifle, known as the Mayflower gun, now resides under glass here at the National Firearms Museum.
The Mayflower Gun could very well have been "one of the guns responsible for the first Thanksgiving," says Senior Curator Doug Wicklund of the National Firearms Museum."

Read the rest of this article here:
The Mayflower Gun: A Piece of the First Thanksgiving

The big questions: WHY?

Why do I want my own handgun?  We have two in the house that I am perfectly capable of shooting accurately, even if I don't 'love' them.

Short answer, I just do.  Long answer, well...

1) I enjoy shooting for sport.  I like shooting skeet and clays with a shot gun and have found that target shooting with a pistol is also quite enjoyable.  It's a new skill that takes time to master, and I like mastering skills.  Especially practical ones.  Skills are easier to master if you have equipment that is yours; suitable, and comfortable for you.

2) My husband shoots.  We like doing things together (novel I know!).  I can't continue to shoot his guns all the time if we shoot together.  Plus, I feel more invested in our time together if something is mine and not just hanging with him while he shoots.

3) Safety.  This one gets raised eyebrows on occasion.  Not a lot among our close friends, but they tend to think the same way.  If I have a gun that's mine, I can carry it with me.  I'm not often in scary places, but who knows where life will take me.  Better to be prepared with the skill, knowledge, and equipment before I actually need it.

This is where the debate arises for many people.  "Why/where would you need a handgun?"  "The police are there to protect you if needed."  "Would you really shoot someone and if not, why carry?"

All of these are things I've heard and they are valid questions.  I could answer them with my opinions, but being a scientist, I'm going to take the time to research some of the fact, figures, etc behind the issues and report back to you all here.  Consider this fair warning of numbers and statistics to come!

What questions have you run into when people learn you own/carry guns?  How do you answer them?

Adventures at indoor ranges

Buds Gun Warehouse in Lexington is our local indoor range. I already wrote about Bud's and gun stores in general later, it's a whole new world!

I'd never shot at an indoor range before a couple weeks ago.  Now, I've been thrice.  The first time was mid-day on a Wed.  My husband and I and one other couple were the only people there.  It was fairly quiet and relaxed feeling.

The second time, completely different story.  Thursday evening, about 7pm.  CRAZY BUSY!  Every lane was in use and there was a USPSA group doing a competition on the reactive metal range.  (Gotta get in and try that out sometime, it looks awesome!)  But, back to the regular range.  It was busy, and loud.  Not ever unsafe, Bud's is awesome about safety.  But there was rarely more than 30-60 seconds without someone firing.  Plus, it was a rifle night, so some of the guns were big and loud.

I've also found that indoor ranges echo a lot.  The sound just hangs around.  It's much louder than shooting outdoors.  If you are a first time shooter or at all timid about loud noises, I'd recommend shooting outdoors or going when the range is likely to be empty.

But it's warm, which is awesome this time of year.  Plus, it eliminates all that walking down the range to check and reset targets.  Bud's is automates, you push a button to get the target to you and then back out to whatever distance you want.  In addition, since you aren't walking down the range, you don't have to wait for a cease fire to check your target.  Very handy.  I love being outside and shooting outside, but the indoor range definitely has it's perks