kapson@sparky.eecs.umich.edu (John Kapson) (05/01/91)
Recently someone posted a request for info on the 10/22 stating that they were learning to shoot, etc. I e-mailed my response directly to him but now I'm curious about what others think about one point I brought up. When I learned to shoot, it was with a bolt-action single shot .22 (the same way Dad learned, the same way... ;-) The reason I was told was that you really pay attention to what you're doing when you've only got one shot (especially when hunting!) as opposed to just blasting away with a full clip (as I tend to do with my 9mm 8^). Were others ever taught this philosophy? Anyone have an opinion on whether learning this way may be more/less beneficial? Please post responses as I rarely read my own e-mail. John Kapson IEEE ACM _NRA_ "Help! I'm trapped in a Politically Correct university and can't get out!"
tproctor@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Tom Proctor) (05/02/91)
I have always thought that a bolt action gun is more accurate then a semi-automatic because it holds the casing tighter. I have always used a British .303 for hunting, or a single shot 10 gage. With a punkin Ball.
pfeiffer@NMSU.Edu (05/02/91)
kapson@sparky.eecs.umich.edu (John Kapson) says: Recently someone posted a request for info on the 10/22 stating that they were learning to shoot, etc. I e-mailed my response directly to him but now I'm curious about what others think about one point I brought up. When I learned to shoot, it was with a bolt-action single shot .22 (the same way Dad learned, the same way... ;-) The reason I was told was that you really pay attention to what you're doing when you've only got one shot (especially when hunting!) as opposed to just blasting away with a full clip (as I tend to do with my 9mm 8^). Were others ever taught this philosophy? Anyone have an opinion on whether learning this way may be more/less beneficial? Please post responses as I rarely read my own e-mail. I believe you are correct, though in my case from the perspective of trap shooting. I've gotten to where I only load one barrel (my shotgun is an over/under), because I actually do much better when I'm not planning my second shot before I get the first one off! Now I'm a poor shotgun shooter, but I'm much worse with rifle and pistol. I believe at this point that getting semi-auto arms to learn these with (as I did) was a mistake; but I'm getting better about paying attention... -Joe.
JJD118@psuvm.psu.edu (John Donovan) (05/02/91)
I learned at summer camp on an old bolt action .22LR. I think part of the reason was to keep a bunch of 10-12 yearolds from going insane on the range. Another part of the phlosphy on why a bolt action for learning is cost, you can get a good used gun in my area(central PA) for 50-75 cost for a younger shooter may be a major concern. For an older shooter this may be less of a concern but it does not make sense to go spend lots on a super gun if you are not shure you like the sport. In many states a semi is illegal to hunt with. This may not be true in your area now but, you may move and laws change so it would be a drag to own a $200 plinking toy . Also a semi gun helps form bad habits fast. With a semi you seem to think more about #of shots than aim. With a bolt gun you have to aim carefully because unless it is a tin can it will run if you miss. Semi guns get costly fast. Me and 2 friends went out and blew 9000 rounds in just a few hours. We would have shot more but we had only one clip and had to reload before we could shoot again. I am a person who believes in carefuly selected an well aimed shots over spray and pray. I think any responsable hunter would. The bolt gun I admit may not be as much fun but, I would rather have less fun than start bad habits now that will take a long time to break later. The net net result is everyone has a suggestion, but its your $$$ and your life so you have to be happy with what you do, take all advice with a grain of salt. _______________________________________________________________________________ John Donovan student lab attendent at | Penn State University | Oh gosh this is going to hurt | tomorow morning. Internet JJD118@PSUVM.PSU.EDU | Bitnet JJD118@PSUVM | Usually said late friday | |
hes@ccvr1.cc.ncsu.edu (Henry E. Schaffer) (05/02/91)
In article <1991May1.080256.20018@doug.cae.wisc.edu> kapson@sparky.eecs.umich.edu (John Kapson) writes: > ... >When I learned to shoot, it was with a bolt-action single shot .22 I also learned with a rifle like that, and taught my son to shoot with the same rifle. (I had it reblued last summer - but that is another story.) I agree that it does make the shooter pay more attention to each shot. It also presents them with a less complicated situation (many fewer state variables) so that more attention can be paid to other factors such as safety and marksmanship. It also is harder for the learner to do something dumb, and it is easier to prevent this, than it is with a semi-automatic or a handgun. --henry schaffer n c state univ
v085hqww@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (John J Tetlow) (05/02/91)
Hello, Well, my brother and father taught me to shoot when I was quite young. They made me learn to reload shells if we shot skeet, and often arranged competitions between my sister and I with .22's. I hate to lose to her, and I had less to reload if I didn't miss much, so I learned to do my best. Later on I discovered that ammo didn't grow on trees, I was poor,and lesson number two was learned. Lastly, when I started deer hunting, I was shown or came across deer that had suffered with wounds from poor shots. I hit a ten point buck that same year and dropped him where he stood. The problem was after a few seconds, he got up,jumped a fence, and ran/limped away. I tracked him as long as it was light, blood was everywhere, but I couldn't find him. I truly felt that I had done something wrong. That is when my brother said to me, "It's better to let one go than to just hit it and not kill it." I must admit that with adrenaline flowing and your heart pounding it is not always easy to abide by that rule. It is also frustrating to leave empty handed, but I feel responsible hunting involves thinking. Anyhow, I didn't mean for this post to preach ethics. Just that with a good teacher, shooting/hunting is really a great pastime. John T. P.S. My brother taught me to call turkeys too. I called my first gobbler in last year. It was HUGE. Well, decent size anyhow. Too bad my buddy spooked it before I could shoot. Such is life.
roa@davinci.acc.virginia.edu ("Robert O. Anderson Jr") (05/03/91)
I received my first gun for Christmas, I was six years old. It
was a Remington Model 552 (22 semiauto). My dad always preached the
bennies of the first shot, but being a kid, I liked the Rambo
effect. We always started out with the same number of shells...
He came home with squirrels and shells.....I came home empty handed.
I sold that gun to a fellow for $45 (needed money for school)
12 years later. The year I got married (5 years after I sold it), I
bought it back from the same man.....for $65. Needless to say, I still
have it.
My teenage years were exciting.....I'd blast away at deer, but
I always heard only one shot from the direction of the old man. I can
hear the old man now, "Boy, when are you going to learn to look down
the gun barrel?"
It took me awhile to learn the importance of the first shot...
..while hunting.....and the rewards are much greater.
=======================================
bobby@virginia.edu (Internet)
bobby@virginia (BITNET)
=======================================HUDSON%EIVAX%UALR.BitNet@vms3.macc.wisc.edu (05/03/91)
>...taught to shoot with a single shot .22....
This is the way I was taught about shooting and it seems to be fairly
common, at least in the South, Texas and Arkansas in particular.
Shooting for my family usually meant hunting, some plinking at cans,
etc... . As a boy of about 8 or 9, I was given a Remington .22 bolt
single shot (which my brother currently has) and a Mossberg (I think?)
bolt .410 shotgun. We never shot at targets, but were expected to
"make each shot count" (sounds like "whites of their eyes" and
"remember the Alamo", doesn't it???). It turns out to have worked
pretty well. I do shoot at targets now, informal 25 yard pistol and
NRA/DCM Highpower Rifle. It sure helps my sight picture and shot
placement in hunting. I will use the same techniques with my children
in a few years, but will teach them on targets to start.
I have had a few friends who learned how to shoot at older ages, and
bought very nice weapons, semi-auto or pump, and noticed they tended
to "blast away". I think that is a learned trait, not a function of
gun type. I use only semi-auto rifles and shotguns, and I still use
the old one shot technique, using the semi-auto action to allow me to
remain still for additional shots at other animals who hang around,
even with all the uproar.
Keith Hudson
hudson%eivax@ualr.bitnet
wolf@netcom.COM (Buckskin Tech.) (05/03/91)
kapson@sparky.eecs.umich.edu (John Kapson) writes: >When I learned to shoot, it was with a bolt-action single shot .22 >(the same way Dad learned, the same way... ;-) The reason I was told >was that you really pay attention to what you're doing when you've >only got one shot (especially when hunting!) as opposed to just >blasting away with a full clip (as I tend to do with my 9mm 8^). >Were others ever taught this philosophy? Anyone have an opinion on >whether learning this way may be more/less beneficial? Please post >responses as I rarely read my own e-mail. Yes, I learned to shoot with a bolt-action single-shot .22. In my case, it was more a matter of "that's-the-gun-I-got-and-I-can't-afford-a-new-one". I did learn to appreciate the feel of having "one chance" to get it right. Sort of made the whole thing more challenging. Since I've discovered black powder, I've been glad I learned the way I did. I know people who won't even try powder because it's "too much work". >John Kapson IEEE ACM _NRA_ >"Help! I'm trapped in a Politically Correct university and can't get out!" - Wolf
averett@cs.unc.edu (Shava Averett) (05/03/91)
In article <1991May1.080256.20018@doug.cae.wisc.edu> kapson@sparky.eecs.umich.edu (John Kapson) writes: >When I learned to shoot, it was with a bolt-action single shot .22 >(the same way Dad learned, the same way... ;-) The reason I was told >was that you really pay attention to what you're doing when you've >only got one shot (especially when hunting!) as opposed to just >blasting away with a full clip (as I tend to do with my 9mm 8^). My first shooting was with similar equipment, shooting at corn cobs tossed out on the ice of the farm pond, same reasoning. At first, I got to wait for the corncobs to stop skittering...;-) Shava Nerad Averett shava@rad.unc.edu