Poopy Pants

Canadian_Eh

Canadian_Eh

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Location
Montreal, Quebec
I’d guess most of the people in this community count themselves as reasonably tough and confident. I would too, but at the risk of being chased out of town for showing weakness I have to admit something.

Range%20Day%2001a.jpg


The last time I shot handguns was two decades ago. When I pulled the trigger again on a 9mm last month at the range I was shocked and slightly scared. Indoor ranges magnify the sound pressure. The speed, power of the kick and noise surprised and briefly scared me. Of course I wasn’t going to let on I was shaken. Outwardly I kept it together. The next few rounds I was flinching and having trouble keeping some minor shakiness under control. It felt like I was in a fight. Still, you get it under control and move on.

Then, as I started to focus again, a shotgun went off in the next lane and the noise just about filled my shorts. My heart rate was up again. Focus. Control. Composure. Next thing to shock me was the punch back from the first few rounds in a 45 Auto I was testing. As I got myself under control again I felt humbled by the power of firearms.

Range%20Day%2002a.jpg


All of this was a huge surprise. I’m sharing this because I don’t remember feeling this way when I first shot 9mm, .38, .357 Mag or 45 Auto as a young punk. While I’m glad I got the butterflies out and my nerves under control, I never want to forget the power we wield. Feel free to judge my toughness. I just wanted to share, without bravado, what I felt that day. Just in case newcomers feel this and wonder if it will go away. The fear does. Hopefully the respect never will.
 
Once at the range I got the shakes from shooting guns I had shot many times. I was tired and my ear protection wasn't great but I couldn't lose the shakes and had to quit.
It had never happened before or since that one time.
I have no explanation for it.
 
On the range I use ear defenders and still find the guns uncomfortably loud. When I'm hunting I don't use ear defenders and hardly notice the noise or recoil.

I can remember something similar from my soldiering days. Ear defenders were used on the range and seemed quite necessary. But in my first couple of years policy was that for field firing, i.e. fire and maneuver exercises with live ammunition, they would be unsafe because you might not hear the commands of safety supervisors. The noise of your shots didn't seem so bad while you were shooting, but after the exercise you noticed your ears were ringing and you couldn't hear properly for a while.

(Policy changed during my service and latterly we all had to wear ear defenders during all live firing.)
 
Targets tell the story

Here are three targets that help tell the story I posted above (OP). Testing 9mm & 45 Auto rentals. I switch between head and body with each handgun. These are fairly close at about 6-7 yards.

1. The first target while I was shaken up a bit.
Head: Smith & Wesson M&P
Body: Glock 17
DVC%20Targets%2001%20-%202529.jpg


2. Then after 30 minutes I started to calm down. Two more 9mm handguns.
Head: CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow
Body: Sig Sauer P226
DVC%20Targets%2002%20-%202527.jpg


3. Then I started with the 45 Autos and things got worse.
Head: Glock 21
Body: Sig Sauer P220
DVC%20Targets%2003%20-%202528.jpg

Please don't judge those handguns based on my targets. They deserve better. I'm glad I took this trip to the DVC indoor range in Port Coquitlam, BC. Their staff were professional and they had a wide variety of firearms to rent.
 
Haha. Reminds me of the first time I shot a handgun, at an indoor range here about 4 years ago. It was a sweltering hot day, and I was nervous to begin with. You have to line up sitting on a bench just behind the shooters waiting for your turn. So, 'bang! bang! bang!' and I'm twitchily looking up and down the line watching who's doing what. Later was told it was pretty much all 9mm up to that point.

I finally start to relax a little bit, though it was at least as hot inside as out, and I was sweating like a pig. I'm gazing at my toes thinking about nothing much, when BBANGGG!!! the guy right in front of me let's off a .460 or .500 :eek: . You think YOU crapped yourself.

I don't think I hit the paper from 7 yards in my first 10 :redface:
 
Despite doing a big portion of my own shooting in indoor ranges I find that it takes a lot to deal with the noise and maintain composure. Recently I took a couple of months away from shooting due to house shopping and other priorities. When I got back to shooting I found that ol' man Flinch had come back. So I spent some quality time with the .22's for a while and drilled on the basics. It all came back just fine.

But I have to admit that a 20'ish year long layoff may need more than a single session.... :D
 
Electronic hear muffs are great. Stops the indoor noise or really reduces it. Got use to loud bangs in the late 60's early 70's. No ear protection issued when firing C1 and C2's .

Old RSM tore off cigarette filters and we stuck them in our ears. Not sure if it worked but he sure got extra packages of Players bought for him.

The ringing stopped about 2 days later. Loved that rifle the FN.
 
I remember trying to shoot bullseye for score, wearing only plugs, in a indoor lane next to an AMT .22 WMR Automag II. That hurt. :HR:

Even outdoors, I still strongly dislike compensated guns.

Double-plugging helps a lot. Shooting glasses that do not interfere with the ear muff seal is also a huge factor.

Try double plugging with quality high NRR ear plugs (like NRR 29), quality high NRR ear muffs (like NRR 30), and compatable shooting glasses.
 
the first thing i do when i get on the range if im in for practice is let off 10 rounds as fast as i can. it helps me cool and get a feel for it again.
 
I shoot indoors. It is really loud and I try and stay far away from guys shooting the really big stuff. I always double up on ear pro.
 
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