Quarterly Qualifications

It was a warm day for one in the beginning of February today, at least by New York City standards, warm and damp, and even sometime wet. The steel gray clouds held low and promised rain, and every now and again they obliged that promise today, and the rains fell. Mostly gentle drizzle, sometimes a bit harder, up to a steady rain, but nothing to severe. Then back to being just damp again. That was okay by me, it had my spirits pretty high because I had to go to the range today for quarterly qualifications and the range is an outdoor one. With great timing, great for us shooters, the skies held back their tears as we left our training in the classroom and headed outside to shoot. So it turned out to be damp and warm, at least for a February qual. Warm meaning about in the low to mid 50s; and you can bet, that was good.

What wasn't so good though was my first score on the pistol course of fire. I have not shot as poorly as that in at least 24 years , and I mean that literally. When my range officer got done scoring it, he looked at it again, and asked me: "Where were you?" Where was I indeed to have scored a 220 out of a possible 250. I don't know, though I can think of some excuses, but excuses don't make one shoot better, or do they. I figured on what to do to improve by examining those excuses and a couple of other possible variables, and I then shot a 241 out of 250 on the second go round. Now that is none to great either. I have been known to shoot my fair share of perfect scores, but not that much in the last couple of years. That drop in score from the mid to high 240s, from scores in the mid to low 240s, which is what I usually shoot lately, is probably due to the eyesight not being what it once was. Oh well, that I can live with. A 220 score though, that is a tough one to live down for me, but I guess we can all have our off moments - better those off moments come at the range than in a gunfight.

As for shotgun, a perfect score. As to the MP-5 Submachine gun, I shot a 243 out of 250, which was good enough to satisfy me. Had I not turned around my pistol score though on that second go round, I would have been heartily disappointed for the rest of the day, maybe the rest of the week. I still cannot believe I shot a low score like a 220, very disappointing indeed. Still though it was uplifting to have brought up my score the second time around; so I guess I left the range a happy camper, qualified for another quarter, and with some extra ammo for practice. I'll be pretty sure to be shooting the practice ammo in the near future, I don’t want another 220 next time. As for the clouds, they remained friendly, the air remained crisp (or warm depending on how you look at it for February), and all in all it made for a great day at the range. Yes you can even shoot poorly and still have a great day at the range. Like fishing, a bad day shooting is better than a great day in the office; and this while not my best of days at the range, was far from a bad one.

All the best,
Glenn B

Another Day At The Range...

...another day in Paradise. Getting back to work was great if only because I spent most of the afternoon at the range for quarterly qualifications. I didn't shoot as well as usual, but I guess that is sort of understandable what with my health in the dumpers over the past several weeks. I did manage to do fairly well though and scored a 138 and 137 out of 150 on both quals with my Glock 19. Then I shot a perfect score with my Remington 870, and shot a 246 out of 250 with my MP5. Those Glock scores had me a bit on the downside, but as the range officer said - he could tell I had been ill. I am sure next time, my score will be up where it belongs in the high 140s to 150. I also enjoyed some tactical exercises, and some defensive tactics training regarding defense against knives. All very informative, though I hope I never have to try to use those techniques.

Work can have its good days, and range days usually are very good indeed.

All the best,
Glenn B

Back To Work...

...for me today. Feeling somewhat better, so I figure I had better get my butt back to the job. I have been out a week and a half straight now, with about 2 or 2 1/2 weeks added to that over the past month and a half; I am running out of sick leave. Anyway, it sucks being home with not a lot to do, I am better off at work with not much to do; though I kind of doubt I'll have little to do as I'll need to play catch up on some things.

Today though, I am hopeful they will have room for me at the range for our quarterly qualifications. I have already missed two range days I scheduled because of whatever bug has been keeping me down. I think I'll be able to shoot today, and hope I do it well. Regardless of how I do, I do need to get my qualifications finished.

No blogging for the rest of the day; probably some tonight.

All the best,
Glenn B

Nice Day At The Range

I spent most of the morning today cleaning my issue H&K MP5, my issue 870 and my issue Glock 19. Only the shotgun needed cleaning, but it was a job I enjoyed doing on all three weapons. Make no mistake about it, these three firearms are my weapons when I am working. Hopefully I'll never have to shoot anyone with them, but I like to keep em ready to shoot well, even if only at the range.

This afternoon, I spent most of my time at the range for quarterly qualifications. I disappointed myself a bit with the Glock 19. I shot for score twice, the first time getting a 141 out of 150, the second time around I got a 147. Should have been a 150 second time around, but I made mistakes. Then I shot perfect with the shotgun, 5 out of 5 - yes we only shoot 5 shots at 25 yards to qualify. It was a fairly nice group as usual with the 870 in my hands. Then I shot a 247 out of 250 with the MP5; that really was a disappointment because I was shooting right on all the way, then my glasses fell off while shooting a few three round bursts. I kept shooting just like if it had been the real deal in the street, and put three rounds just out of the center ring losing 3 points. Oh well, stuff happens, and you have to keep on going.

All in all it was a great day. The weather was fine with temps in the mid fifties to low sixties, a slight breeze, and bright blue skies. The range officers were pleasant as usual, and that makes for fun shooting. Besides the qualifications we shot tactical stuff from behind cover. First though we ran about 40 yards or so, just enough to get a little bit pumped, then into the range sort of blind. Had 6 targets face, had to get behind cover, then fire at the bad guy targets. Only had 6 rounds per mag, but had to empty all the mags, so reloading would get done .I got em all, and did not shoot the good guy target. I also had a failure to extract, then the next round failed to feed. Did the tap rack, but did not reengage because it was obvious I had to strip out the mag, and reload a new one because it had not cleared. The range officers were quite pleased in how I handled the malfunction, and said so to me; that was nice of them. I am wondering why this one happened in the first place. It is not something that happens with any regularity for me, so I'll have to check the pistol over tonight. The range officers were quite pleased in how I handled the malfunction, and said so to me. It was nice of them to let me know I did that well, because they sure let you know if you foul up, and so they should do both.

All in all it was a great day, outside, and at the range.

All the best,
Glenn B