Anyway, it was kinda weird from the get-go, because I wanted to buy more ammo before I went, but they were totally out of 38s at the gun shop I went to, the shelves were freaking bare. So I determined to just buy ammo at the range. Big fat mistake. Apparently $18-$20 would be a decent, normal price for the ammo I shoot, but at the range they had a $24 box and a $30 box. After a quick phone call to confer with my compatriot, I was educated to the fact that the $24 box was reloaded ammo. Really. $24.00 – so then I was faced with, do I pay $30 for an $18 box of ammo just so I am not paying  $24 for a $10 box of ammo? Or do I just save the $6 since I am there? Honestly, I was going to shoot at least 2 boxes, but at those prices not so much. So anyway I just sucked it up and paid for the reloads. One of which (see below) was curiously stunted for some reason, but instead of complaining to them about it I kept it so Pete could make fun of it and tell me what the hell was wrong with it. Everything’s educational, right?

What the heck is wrong with this sad-ass cartridge?

OK so anyway. I wanted to just get some more practice with my gun, and I wanted to shoot at a little further distance, and in double-action mode so I can improve at that. I don’t think it went all that well really. Pete said that new guns have a “break in” period after which accuracy improves. I hope that’s the case here, as I was a little disappointed in my performance. I didn’t shoot my eye out but here’s my 7-yards target (also includes some shot in double-action mode, which I don’t do as well in anyway)

I don't know what the hell is going on at the bottom right there. Either my eyes were tired from being at the office all day, or those were my double-action shots, or I am going blind maybe.

I actually felt that my 15 yards target turned out slightly better – It was certainly not worse. Like I said, I would have liked to shoot a lot more – but being there for the < 1 hour I was cost me $50 – so I couldn’t really afford to hang out shooting all night.

I think this is decent for that distance.

Anyway, so that was that. I thought the guys at the range were decently polite when I came in. They had a 15 minute wait or so b/c some of the lanes were down, and they were polite in that they treated me exactly like they treated all the dudes who were standing there (didn’t overly question my knowledge or ability or anything) But when I came out the guy who was working that counter was sitting with his feet up shooting the shit with some 20-something kid. That’s fine, shoot the shit as long as there’s no customer there waiting. But hey – *I* was there waiting. It was obvious that I was done, and I needed the little slip thing to take to the register to check out. But no – he kept jawing with the kid, feet up. His scintillating insights were: (Please add for yourself the tone of a guy who makes customers stand around while they shoot the shit with their feet on the counter. And wear baseball caps indoors for no reason.)

“Well there’s no good in having a gun if you don’t have it with you and know how to use it. The CCW is only the first step. It’s MY class that’s really going to teach you what to know to defend yourself. Now, it’s not for everyone, it’s intense…”

<<cue kid looking very wide-eyed and impressed>>

<<cue me still standing there, waiting for my fucking checkout slip>>

“…and you have to be prepared for it. My class is a combo of marine boot camp and police academy training…”

So at this point I stopped standing there smiling politely and just fucking interrupted him with a flat “I’m done. Do I need anything from you?” It was fun to watch him jump. Apparently no one questions his rude blow-hardness very often. So he got me my stupid slip and wished me a nice night. Fuck him. Rude.

That was all. Wish I could have shot more, but there’s always a next time. Now I get to practice cleaning my gun on my own. Stinky!