A BIG gun

So, after all the stress of the last few days, I went to Quantico today because the .50 cal shooting club had an open house. I figured I needed some sun and fresh air, and a bit of gunpowder. More on why, later. For now, the guns.

My blood began to race as I parked the truck. The thump of the .50 BMG was familiar to me from my time in Iraq, but this time I knew I could get up close and personal, and not have to worry about someone shooting back at the sound. Every time one fired, the ground shook just a bit, and the closer I got, the more pronounced this phenomenon became. Cresting the rise to enter the 1000 yard range, my eyes were greeted by a wonderful sight: about 30 sets of .50 cal shooters, plenty of targets, and smoke. I walked down to the firing line and within minutes had been invited to test fire one.

How could I say no?

What an experience. For anyone who has not tried it, I highly recommend it. For those who have, you know what I am talking about...putting a 600 grain slug 1000 yards downrange accurately is AWESOME! The blast from the muzzle brakes of guns on either side rocked me a bit, but nothing compared to the shove the one on my shoulder gave me when I squeezed the trigger. Grass to the front and sides was burned and flattened from the brake, and I managed to pull the scope back on target in time to see the bullet hit about 8 inches high. Not bad for a first try...at 2/3rds of a mile. Center of mass aim, still would have been a dead bad guy.

The fun did not end there, however. As I made my way down the line, more and more invitations to try guns were proffered. I fired a kit gun, an AR build and, best of all, a Barrett semi-auto. 10 rounds as fast as you could pull the trigger.

Two magazines.

WOW.

I want one...