Posted on Mar 9, 2015
Do you still go to the range since you left the service?
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Since I left the military, I haven't been shooting nor I plan to go. I'm not opposed to weapons or shooting. It's just something I desire to engage in since I transitioned. After being out two years, I still occasionally think about range qualification days. I know many of my comrades and vets who own personal weapons and still go shooting today. I'm a bit curious about the post-service shooting choices. Do you still shoot or no? Why or why not?
Weapons
Transition
Military Industry
Shooting (Sport)
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 129
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I haven't been, but it's not from a lack of desire. It's more from a lack of capability and not being able to get the right ammo.
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Shooting and reloading are two of the fun things I get to do. Unfortunately time doesw not allow me to do this as much as I want.
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It's funny, because being "expert" in the Army really doesn't mean much at all next to the civilian training I've been able to do since I've gotten out. Civilian training courses(especially law enforcement training) are a hundred times better than the basic range training the Army conducts. Real eye opener.
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SFC Michael Jackson, MBA
since you were an expert in the military, you already had the fundamentals down going into law enforcement training. you could let loose and have fun with it.
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SPC James Johnson
Those fundamentals that the military teaches are literally just the tip of a much larger iceberg of knowledge that should have been taught as well to entry level soldiers IMO. When I said "expert" I referred to the badge you get for being able to hit a non moving target while you are also stationary and under no duress of any kind. I mean no disrespect to anyone, but that is really a joke considering how far we've developed the art and science of shooting.
Look at police departments. Unlimited ammo available to officers to be able to use their range and practice as much as they want. Obviously this costs money, and the military is on a budget. But that really sucks for new servicemen straight out of basic training, about to go on a deployment to an actual combat zone.
When it comes down to it, there are a LOT of things that are left out when the military teaches the "fundamentals" of shooting, and this is mainly due to a limited budget and ammo allotted for training purposes. And probably sacrifising solid training for safety as well, don't want then soldiers accidentally shooting themselves...
That's why we went with the M9! Because that safety was the perfect distance away from any trigger happy Joe's thumb!
Look at police departments. Unlimited ammo available to officers to be able to use their range and practice as much as they want. Obviously this costs money, and the military is on a budget. But that really sucks for new servicemen straight out of basic training, about to go on a deployment to an actual combat zone.
When it comes down to it, there are a LOT of things that are left out when the military teaches the "fundamentals" of shooting, and this is mainly due to a limited budget and ammo allotted for training purposes. And probably sacrifising solid training for safety as well, don't want then soldiers accidentally shooting themselves...
That's why we went with the M9! Because that safety was the perfect distance away from any trigger happy Joe's thumb!
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SSG Jerrold English
I agree! I myself was competing before I joined the Army but most of the guys I went thru basic with couldn't hit a barn After basic. How many lives would not have been lost if more time were spent teaching better skills???
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I like going to range or a friend's property to do some target shooting with friends but I have not been shooting in about a year. It's so easy to let life get in the way.
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I grew up in a hunting family I think I learned to shoot before I could walk. In basic I was asked if I wanted to go to sniper school: no.
After a tour of Vietnam, I kinda got burnt out of shooting anything.
Later in the National Guard we went out every other year to qualify. That was enough; still shot expert, and was the only one who could turn back in the cleaned weapon on the first try.
My wife didn't want guns in the house as a brothers friend had lost a son who had found his dads loaded gun that went off and killed him.
When my daughter was in FFA she raised a couple sheep. One day one of the sheep gave birth and disembowled herself. I went next door and asked the neighbor if he could come over to shoot the sheep and put it out of its misery. He said why don't you do it. I said I don't have a gun. This guy went off, what kind of a whimp am I, in the National Guard and you don't have a gun? That's un-American, on and on. So when he finished, I said so can you do that? He did.
A few weeks later he came over and asked if i had an issue with him teaching my son how to hunt. No problem. We talked a at a more level headed conversation, explained everything. Later that week we all went to the range where I politely out shot him.
I have PTSD. I just didn't want to do anything stupid. My kids are grown and on their own, I am not married to that woman. My current wife has no problem with me owning a gun.
When my dad passed away 4 years ago I wanted my grandfathers 16 gage pump shotgun I grew up with, plus it was in the will but my brother and sister decided I shouldn't have it, and sold it.
But society is getting to where I think it's time to have something that goes bang, just for protection insurance.
After a tour of Vietnam, I kinda got burnt out of shooting anything.
Later in the National Guard we went out every other year to qualify. That was enough; still shot expert, and was the only one who could turn back in the cleaned weapon on the first try.
My wife didn't want guns in the house as a brothers friend had lost a son who had found his dads loaded gun that went off and killed him.
When my daughter was in FFA she raised a couple sheep. One day one of the sheep gave birth and disembowled herself. I went next door and asked the neighbor if he could come over to shoot the sheep and put it out of its misery. He said why don't you do it. I said I don't have a gun. This guy went off, what kind of a whimp am I, in the National Guard and you don't have a gun? That's un-American, on and on. So when he finished, I said so can you do that? He did.
A few weeks later he came over and asked if i had an issue with him teaching my son how to hunt. No problem. We talked a at a more level headed conversation, explained everything. Later that week we all went to the range where I politely out shot him.
I have PTSD. I just didn't want to do anything stupid. My kids are grown and on their own, I am not married to that woman. My current wife has no problem with me owning a gun.
When my dad passed away 4 years ago I wanted my grandfathers 16 gage pump shotgun I grew up with, plus it was in the will but my brother and sister decided I shouldn't have it, and sold it.
But society is getting to where I think it's time to have something that goes bang, just for protection insurance.
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