Dad & Daughter: A Range Report

Eldest daughter Melanie & I are back from a trip to the Wet Bunny range (reports that it could have been called "Wet Blanket" are entirely unfounded, since a change in management.)

She had her new Beretta Neos .22 semi-auto, and I my 1911. She was really excited about getting the .22 to the range this morning, and even sent me an e-mail last night to remind me about it.

It had been about three months since the last pistol shoot for me, so I'm relearning the same lesson. The only difference was, this time, that I noticed what I was doing wrong sooner, and recovered more quickly. I'm going to take that as a positive accomplishment.

The skies were mostly clear, and there was little to no wind. Temp was 48 degrees when we started, so all conditions were favorable.

Mel experienced her first FTF about 10 minutes in, and did like she was told. No big deal, no confusion, just rack, tap & go. She has a good stance, but will need to work on her grip. Shots were scattered pretty evenly around the target, a mark of newbie shooter. Since she hadn't been to the range (apart from the two shots she fired last week) in a year, it's hardly surprising. There was noticeable improvement toward the end as she started achieving raggedy clusters rather than single holes. It's a good start.

My own shooting was better than I expected, after spending most of the summer working on my rifle skills. I'm still fighting the tendency to drop the muzzle to the right (I'm a leftie) in anticipation of the shot. Once I realized that, I concentrated on correction. My final target shows a ragged hole that started at about 4:30 about 3.5" from the center, working steadily up to the center. The hole is 3" long and about 3/4" wide, and nearly as straight as if I'd intended to do it that way. That represented my final two magazines, or 16 shots. I'm pleased, but not content; have to go back next weekend and do it again.

Mel's pistol seems to shoot low, but the rear sight is adjustable, so that should be an easy fix.

My only regret is that we couldn't get the whole family there, but daughter Sam was invited to a birthday party at a remote location some 55 miles to the north, so she and her mother were preparing for the trip while Mel and I sent lead downrange.

All in all, we had a very good morning, and I like this shooting-with-my-daughter thing a LOT.