A beginner on the Mauser 7.92x57

[meles meles]

We've had a glorious shoot at Whittington Ranges this morning, oomans. The late, and very warm, autumnal sun was bringing out the best in the colours on the oaks and there was scarcely a breeze to trouble the flag on the range boundary. Best of all, we had a new member, a delightful lady who, it transpired, is a nuclear physicist. Whilst the rest of the club took to the firing points and blazed away, we, as Training Officer, took the beginner aside and explained the NRA training process. That taken care of, we sought and received the RCO's permission to do some dry firing to teach the basics of gun handling, safety procedures, emergency drills and so forth, and then, after an hour or so, progressed to some live firing with a .22 LR. She was a pretty good shot !

We then showed her our collection of Mosin Nagants and Mausers over the coffee break, which she considered to be far superior in design and aesthetics to her partner's stainless and polymer rifles. We took a liking to this lady right away ! After coffee we fired off a couple of hundred rounds of 7.92 and 7.62 ourself, and then offered to let The Beginner have a go. She enthusiastically agreed, sought the permission of the RCO, and we then took to the firing point. The lessons of grip, relaxation, muzzle awareness and safety drills were repeated and then it was time to load 5 rounds and, at the target to her front, COMMENCE !

The club members stood back and waited. A Beginner on the Mauser. A Lady Beginner on the Mauser at that. This was going to be worth seeing. Badger told her to ignore the crowd, relax, remember what she had been taught and, in her own good time, SHOOT !

BANG !

BANG !

BANG !

BANGETTY - BANG !

Bolt smartly drawn back, rifle presented for inspection.

"Rifle Clear"

Silence from the crowd.

5 rounds in a 4 inch group, the last 3 rounds almost touching.


Badger smiled and nodded approvingly.

Lady Beginner smiled.

Boyfriend looked shocked.

Badger likes teaching beginners, and even more so the Lady Beginners. They tend to listen to what they are told, then do what they are told, unlike their male counterparts who already know it all. The best comment of the day came from Lady Beginner herself as she patched up her target.

"Isn't it a lot easier if you only need two patches to cover all the holes?"

[bobbob]

:goodjob:

[Mezzer]

We've had a glorious shoot at Whittington Ranges this morning, oomans. The late, and very warm, autumnal sun was bringing out the best in the colours on the oaks and there was scarcely a breeze to trouble the flag on the range boundary. Best of all, we had a new member, a delightful lady who, it transpired, is a nuclear physicist. Whilst the rest of the club took to the firing points and blazed away, we, as Training Officer, took the beginner aside and explained the NRA training process. That taken care of, we sought and received the RCO's permission to do some dry firing to teach the basics of gun handling, safety procedures, emergency drills and so forth, and then, after an hour or so, progressed to some live firing with a .22 LR. She was a pretty good shot !

We then showed her our collection of Mosin Nagants and Mausers over the coffee break, which she considered to be far superior in design and aesthetics to her partner's stainless and polymer rifles. We took a liking to this lady right away ! After coffee we fired off a couple of hundred rounds of 7.92 and 7.62 ourself, and then offered to let The Beginner have a go. She enthusiastically agreed, sought the permission of the RCO, and we then took to the firing point. The lessons of grip, relaxation, muzzle awareness and safety drills were repeated and then it was time to load 5 rounds and, at the target to her front, COMMENCE !

The club members stood back and waited. A Beginner on the Mauser. A Lady Beginner on the Mauser at that. This was going to be worth seeing. Badger told her to ignore the crowd, relax, remember what she had been taught and, in her own good time, SHOOT !

BANG !

BANG !

BANG !

BANGETTY - BANG !

Bolt smartly drawn back, rifle presented for inspection.

"Rifle Clear"

Silence from the crowd.

5 rounds in a 4 inch group, the last 3 rounds almost touching.


Badger smiled and nodded approvingly.

Lady Beginner smiled.

Boyfriend looked shocked.

Badger likes teaching beginners, and even more so the Lady Beginners. They tend to listen to what they are told, then do what they are told, unlike their male counterparts who already know it all. The best comment of the day came from Lady Beginner herself as she patched up her target.

"Isn't it a lot easier if you only need two patches to cover all the holes?"

Excellent work ... for a badger

Mezzer

[zzr1100]

Nice !! I love teachin !

[Mezzer]

Nice !! I love teachin !

Hey ZZ ... any news re the FAC yet?

Mezzer

[zzr1100]

Nothin yet mezzer, had the drama last week when they asked me to volantarily give up my sgc .. The doc had said I was suffering from anxiety ... The doc examined me in mid June !!
I went back to the doc for a fresh "opinion" and was told there was No reason at a why I couldn't have sgc or FAC !! I phoned the police and told them as such ... And the wait now continues !

[froggy]

Salut ,

Great report from the Bard-ger
and an extra for your K98 evangelisation

[meles meles]

We figured that a nuclear physicist would appreciate a big bang...

[450 Martini]

It's nice to hear that Whittington Ranges are still in use, even if its only the 25 yard ranges, they really are a underused resource. I have often heard rifle fire coming from the ranges on some sunday mornings while i was camping down the road at the staffordshire regimental museum, some times i have "returned the salute" with some (blank only) fire of my own. The woods next to those ranges hold some intresting secrets including exstensive ww1 practice trenches that i recovered several decayed 303 blank cases from. Plus in 1902 when new insignia bearing the kings crown were issued to the staffordshire regiments the quartermaster ordered all the old used victorian badges to be dumped in a pit at the back of the base, the area that the ranges are now, they remain undiscovered to this day. A very interesting area indeed.

[DOGGER2UK]

The woods next to those ranges hold some intresting secrets including exstensive ww1 practice trenches

Some sort of earthworks here 52°39'34.57" N 1°46'41.48" W …..Badgers sett?