A beginner on the Mauser 7.92x57
Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2013 2:16 pm
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?"
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?"
