ARCHIVE - ISSUE THREE - AUG 2013 COVER - FEATURED PICTORIAL - LIFESTYLE - REVIEWS ARCHIVE - ISSUE THREE - AUG 2013
Breaking Out of
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The Thrill of Sporting Clays
by Nicole R. Ferrata
Is there anything more thrilling than that of sporting clays? The calling for the clay... "Pull", the movement of the gun barrel as you track it trough the sky, finding that perfect spot when you just know you're going to break it, and when you do, watching the little pieces of bright orange fall to the ground. From the very first time I got behind a shotgun, I was completely hooked! I was in Maryland in the mid 90's the first time I tried my hand at sporting clays. A friend of mine took me out and showed me the basics; how to hold the gun, how to mount it and most importantly, keeping my finger off the trigger until I was ready to take the shot. It was the beginning of an absolutely incredible journey. There is just a certain dignity about sporting clays... maybe it's the rich history from its early beginnings in England, where the attire was every bit as important as shooting the clay itself. There is something truly wonderful about being able to experience success your very first time out. I hit several clays that first day and knew I had to learn more. I read everything on the subject I could get my hands on. 
Soon after that first time, I got an opportunity to work some NRA celebrity shoots in California and jumped at the chance. It gave me the opportunity to meet like minded people and put some time in behind the gun. I was lucky enough to fill in for someone who didn't show up for the event and I shot over 400 rounds that weekend! I really started comprehending and applying the things I was learning... I felt so lucky to have stumbled across a sport that literally became my passion. It is a great way to connect with people whether its family, friends or business associates, everyone seems to enjoy this wonderful sport.
There are some really great courses out there just waiting for you to come try them, so get your shotguns and your girlfriends and Happy Shooting!! Nicole Ferrata is one of our resident shotgun experts and a Sure Shot. She currently lives in Houston. Guide to Gun Store Gurus
[continued from cover story]
What's funny is that some of these people spend far more time talking about guns than they do shooting them. In other words, their “expertise” can be anything but, and their advice or opinions highly suspect. But their most fundamental transgression is their readiness to denigrate customers. As a friend of mine said, “If there is one field in the entire universe of curiosity, nobody should be made to feel stupid when learning about an object that has the power to take a life.” If you've gotten this far, you might be thinking that I'm trying to talk you out of ever going into a gun store; I'm not. There are plenty of good people behind gun store counters. They are friendly and helpful. They truly care about starting you off on the right path in the gun world. They know their limitations and will find another employee who might have the specific experience or knowledge you're looking for if they can't help you. What can you do to ensure that you avoid the idiot gun store employees? First, research your intended purchase online or through printed materials, preferably books. Don't stop after you've read one article – read everything you can find and you'll start to get a feel for what's true and what isn't. Next, or maybe at the same time, try to make friends with shooters local to you. Most of the shooters I know will be happy to answer questions or point you in the direction of someone who might be more capable. See if they want to accompany you to the store, even if they just hang back and listen to the conversation. Finally, look for an employee who seeks you out and greets you politely. If you have to work at getting the employee's attention when he or she is otherwise unoccupied (or talking to other employees, which is worse), they're a waste of time. Bottom line? Intuition is a powerful thing – don't ignore it. If you walk into a store and aren't made to feel welcome, don't reward them with your business! Beyond that, please look for a manager or owner and tell them exactly why you won't be spending your money with them. On the other hand, if an employee provides the kind of service that makes you want to return to the store in the future, you might consider mentioning that to the higher-ups as well. If good behavior is rewarded and bad behavior punished, everyone in the gun world will benefit. I wish you the best of luck in your next trip to a gun store. If all else fails, just ask them whether 9mm is better than .45 and start backing away slowly. They'll be talking so much that they won't even notice you leave. 
Andrew Tuohy was in the Navy and once worked in a gun store. He enjoys writing, photography, shooting, driving fast cars, flying slow airplanes, and riding all kinds of motorcycles. He writes at vuurwapenblog.com.
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How Big a Role Does Gender Play in Learning to Shoot? [continued from cover story]
Personally we believe that if you intend on carrying it then you should also train with it regularly, but that is another article in itself. Once you get the gun that fits, you are one step closer to your goal. (Note: Stephen Pineau wrote a great article addressing the selection process on Military.com, if you’re interested. Read the article, read the comments, but do NOT make any decisions which could take a life or ruin your own just based on something you read. (http://kitup.military.com/2013/02/factors-selecting-handgun.html)
Oh, and don’t just learn from one instructor. There’s a word for that. It’s called inbred and that’s how you wind up with retarded 3-eyed sumbitches who try to polish their desert boots with bootblack. So let’s say Richard (Swingin’ Dick Kilgore) happened to be a woman and Slim (Jake Call) is his instructor. (Richard would say this should be the other way around, but we’ll let it ride for the time being.) Richardina (or Rachel or whatever you want to call him/her now) has the gun that fits and finds out the Slim is the best firearms instructor money can buy. (FYI, he really thinks that sometimes so we are feeding his ego a little here.) Slim says, “Let’s do this and teach you how to shoot!” Slim goes over the basics of sight alignment, sight picture, sights and targets, stance, blah blah blah. He ASSUMES that Richardina understands what he just taught—which in fact he (well, she) probably didn’t. If you don’t know what happens when you ASSUME, it makes an ASS of of U and ME. Slim ran through the period of instructing, being the awesome instructionally instructive instructor he is, and in this case forgot to actually, physically SHOW Richardina how all that actually works while teaching. If this happens to you, then the instructor SUCKS. Find a new one. This is where the question of gender typically arises. Women who are learning are almost universally more literal than men. This makes them better learners. (This just adds to the other things appealing about women—they smell good, they look good, they have boobs, etc.) Note that this tendency has been proven in academics as well. Male students are frequently so gung-ho tough guy, or unwilling to admit uncertainty, that even if they don’t know they’ll act as though they do understand and so wind up not getting the help or guidance needed. Sometimes they’ll flat out refuse help because they are too stubborn or self-conscious. Women tend to do exactly as instructed (on the range, if not the kitchen…*sigh*). If you tell them to align the sights and pull the trigger, that just what they do. Guys for the most part go out there and try to man handle the weapon while they are learning. Let us be clear, not all men and women are like this but the majority are. There are a few out there who are either born naturals or just plain great students right out of the chute. (Get it? Chute? Shoot?) Saying and showing are two different things, and both should be used when instructing. All of it should be a combination of lecture and practical application. The instructor you use should know this. We have instructed many males over the years, and at times find it can be a struggle when we try to demonstrate how to do what is being taught. Conversely, when we instruct women, we frequently find it is less of a struggle. That goes back to women overall being more open to being taught (or at least being willing to admit they need some help). The next time you look for a class, do some background on the instructor. Find a place about which you can locate feedback and hear what others thought of the instruction. Beware any cults of personality or claims that someone’s background will guarantee skill instruction. Some great operators who have shot lots of insurgents in the face aren’t so good at teaching. Some guys who haven’t smoke-checked anyone are great instructors—but again, that’s an article for another issue. So does gender play a role in learning to shoot? The short answer is yes, but not in the way most folks would think. It plays in favor of women. Wit, wisdom & doorkicking insight of 2 HSLD little operators.The Mad Duo enjoys celebrity status in the action figure world and among those sheepdogs perspicacious enough to follow them. Iconic trigger-pulling pundits whose wit and witticisms have been described as the literary equivalent of a .308 boat-tail to the head , they offer commentary on everything from current events to the relative merits of tactical gear, TTPs and weaponry. |
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