I thought some of you guys might be interested, but if not I'm going to post it anyway. I had never held or fired a weapon before in my life, but I got some target practice in with my local police department last night along with some other people in my class. Usually I feel nervousness to impress, but I actually didn't have any "butterflies" going into the basement shooting range, and it felt pretty natural. I didn't need much coaching. Apparently my stance was correct, so was my knowledge of aiming down the sights and holding the weapons (thanks Battlefield/Call of Duty/Insert shooter game name). All I had to do was widen my elbows out a bit and boom. No massive kick, no muzzle flash that blinded me, and with hearing protection everything sounded fine. We shot at relatively short range (10-15 feet) but I think I did pretty well for my first time.

 

The weapon we used was a Glock 27.

 

 

It was pretty easy to handle and I liked it. .40 cal ammo and pretty newbie friendly. It was a good experience overall. (U.S.A.! U.S.A.! Sorry, just had to get that in; gun laws, etc.) Thanks for viewing, anyway.

Edited October 30, 201312 yr by unr3al

Thanks for sharing it! And for being the first time, it's a really good result! 

Thanks, I was happy with how I did. One of the older officers stopped me in the hallway and ribbed me about it. "What was that at, three feet?" Maybe at some point next year I can buy one of my own and get practice at longer range. The department I shot with use the SIG P226 (as do most around these parts) but this one was easier to start with, though it's no pea shooter. .40's a pretty good round. It has more velocity than a 9mm but better recoil than a 10mm.

That was pretty good, especially since 27's are harder to get a good grip with since its primarily a concealed carry gun, plus the .40 has more kick than a 9 or a .45.

Yeah, nice job! Too bad you only got to fire three times though (assuming you didn't completely miss a bunch of shots).

You did a great job! 

 

 

 

 

That was my first time, which was a few years ago (I don't remember what gun I shot lol) 

Great job

Not bad at all!

 

The Glock is a great gun, i personally carry a Glock 23, and i own a Ruger 1911 as well.

 

In terms of recoil, a .40 does not have more kick than a .45 :p

It's a different kind of recoil altogether.

A .45 has a big, heavy, slower kick, but your gun is moving more than a .40

A .40 is a more snappy, fast recoil, which is difficult for some people to manage.

 

If you decide to get into shooting, and possibly carrying concealed, make sure you practice practice practice. Especially drawing.

 

Dry fire exercises are fantastic. Unless you have a rim fire, don't listen to people who tell you that dry firing your weapon will damage it. While that's true of a lot of older rim fire guns, it's generally not true of newer center fire pistols.  If you are really concerned about it, buy a few Tipton snap caps. You want the clear red ones with brass ends. Most other, cheap snap caps will damage your gun. Definitely stay away from Aluminum snap caps. As the pin strikes the snap cap, they mash into the chamber and can cause damage.

 

Two of the most important parts of shooting is grip and trigger pull. You need to be able to pull your trigger without moving your front sight post. I'm sure the officers there went over it, but it really is important. The best way to practice your trigger pull is by using a piece of paper on your wall. Put an X on it with a marker and then aim your gun. Practice pulling the trigger without moving your front sight post off the X. When you practice your live fire, imagine that you're dry firing, and try not to focus on the recoil.

 

Anyways, i'm rambling on now, but that's just my .02 cents!

Yeah, nice job! Too bad you only got to fire three times though (assuming you didn't completely miss a bunch of shots).

Thanks. lol Yeah it was only three times. My very first shot was the one in the bullseye area black spot (furthest left), the second one was outside to the right, the third one was on the center bullseye. They said 5 shots at first but they lowered it to three, I'm guessing due to ammo cost. They said it's about $50 for a box of ammo (however much that is). That being said, I'm no firearms expert. I can shoot a weapon, but if you asked me to clear the chamber or drop the magazine out on that Glock I used, I couldn't. Doesn't mean that I couldn't do it if shown, but they didn't go into all of that. As far as coaching Ceril, the only few things he pointed out to me were that I need to keep my thumbs 2nd knuckle below the slide since when it pulls back it can cut me (most pistols have an area for that anyway), that I needed to widen my elbows a little bit, and lastly he said to not anticipate the shot, because if you do, people tend to lower their aim a little. He didn't explain why, possibly in anticipation of the kick, I guess. But the recoil wasn't bad at all, in my opinion. I'm sure with practice I'd get good at it. And yes, I'd love to be able to draw relatively fast, although I'm not looking to be a cowboy or a trick shooter. He was a good coach. He is the firearms trainer for the department, and was a firearms trainer in the military for several years before that. He also happens to be the K9 officer for the department. Kind of a jack of all trades, I guess. I was able to get my hands on a 1911, a Sig P226, a P227, a Glock 27, a .38 Special, a pepper gas gun that is no longer in service, and the infamous M4A1 tactical rifle.

Great for your first time! First time I shot a pistol I missed completely lol. Just wait tell you have to shoot a target 100 yards away with a AR-15. The iron sight covers up the the target so you just need to judge lol....

I've never been shooting, but I would love to try it. I have handled a few weapons when the Canadian Forces were in downtown Toronto celebrating the War of 1812 and had their entire arsenal out for the public to see (chained down of course). I would have loved to fire the C7 or C8 that they had on hand. Perhaps one day I'll mosey on down to a firing range and try them out. Or join the army ^.^

Great to hear it all went well! Get out there as often as you can and get some practice! The more you do it, the better you get :)

 

I've never been shooting, but I would love to try it. I have handled a few weapons when the Canadian Forces were in downtown Toronto celebrating the War of 1812 and had their entire arsenal out for the public to see (chained down of course). I would have loved to fire the C7 or C8 that they had on hand. Perhaps one day I'll mosey on down to a firing range and try them out. Or join the army ^.^

 

Completely off topic, but why were you guys celebrating the War of 1812? I know we got our butt kicked but it was still a "Tie" in war terms. Just wondering out of curiosity..

Edited October 31, 201312 yr by Darkangel

Great to hear it all went well! Get out there as often as you can and get some practice! The more you do it, the better you get :)

I'd love to, but first I need a pistol. And some ammo. That's gonna take a while. lol Handguns aren't cheap, ammo prices are sky rocketing, and the process of getting one is a lot tougher. Maybe in the coming year.

I'd love to, but first I need a pistol. And some ammo. That's gonna take a while. lol Handguns aren't cheap, ammo prices are sky rocketing, and the process of getting one is a lot tougher. Maybe in the coming year.

 

haha fair enough mate, just start when you can :)

 

Or join the Police force :D

haha fair enough mate, just start when you can :)

 

Or join the Police force :D

 

I plan on both. Developing a healthy relationship with local departments is a good first step.

I plan on both. Developing a healthy relationship with local departments is a good first step.

 

Sounds good champ. Yes that would be a good start :)

Although I do not know you personally, I have read quite a few of your post and comments, it would be great to have a chap of your calibre join the Law Enforcement family :)

Edited October 31, 201312 yr by MarkyyG123

I appreciate that, thanks. I'm eager, but I think sometimes it's not always what you know, it's who you know. I think if I manage to get a hold of the right combination of contacts/references, good answers to interview questions and show physical/mental adaptation to duties of the job, I can make it. Advice I get from current and former L.E.O.'s from different departments is to keep trying, and never give up. That's how you get the job, according to a lot of them. And a few things have been going right for me. I wound up at a citizens academy, the staff is friendly with me, I now work with a retired D.E.A. agent of 27 years who is happy to refer me to any place I apply and I've managed to remain in good standing as far as my record goes. Just gotta keep it up, have the right attitude going forward and show them I'm hungry.

I appreciate that, thanks. I'm eager, but I think sometimes it's not always what you know, it's who you know. I think if I manage to get a hold of the right combination of contacts/references, good answers to interview questions and show physical/mental adaptation to duties of the job, I can make it. Advice I get from current and former L.E.O.'s from different departments is to keep trying, and never give up. That's how you get the job, according to a lot of them. And a few things have been going right for me. I wound up at a citizens academy, the staff is friendly with me, I now work with a retired D.E.A. agent of 27 years who is happy to refer me to any place I apply and I've managed to remain in good standing as far as my record goes. Just gotta keep it up, have the right attitude going forward and show them I'm hungry.

 

Exactly, spot on mate. Listen to them and take heed of their advice and you can, without a doubt, go a long way :)

Its good to see that you are mature enough to understand that and know how to get where you want to go in life

Man! In that first picture it looked like L.A Noire