I attempted to cross out something from my bucket list this year. Luckily I have a husband who knew exactly what to do to help me accomplish it. So for the last straw of my birthday celebration this year we visited BUCOR FIRING RANGE at Muntinlupa and did a practical shooting for the very first time in my life. What makes it more special was that my husband arranged everything to make it happen.My interest about shooting came out of curiosity. I wanted to experience and learn the real deal about shooting responsibly and gun safety. I also wanted to overcome my fears (of some sort) and test my limits.
It is not everyday that I get to learn something significant like this one, so I felt a mixed of emotions running inside of me. I think it was just natural for a newbie like me to feel excited, thrilled yet nervous at the same time. The presence of a firearm or ammunition doesn't scare me but to fire it out is totally a different thing. I never had a chance to experience beforehand so I thought it was just perfect that I got to do it now that I am old enough.
ARRIVAL AT THE BUCOR FIRING RANGE
GETTING READY
It was my first time to meet our guide and instructor that day, his name is Jaycee and he happens to be my husband dear friend way back in high school. I am so glad to see and meet him personally and I am thankful of how light and bubbly his personality is. With both of them throwing funny antics around I easily felt comfortable and at ease. (I knew I am in the good hands.. hahaha)...
While Jaycee was preparing for the materials (board, target sheets, magazine, bullets and firearms). I got a chance to hear more of his stories and shooting adventures. I also got to notice some actions from the other experience shooters at the range.
But before we start our session, of course we had to capture our excitement on cam (lol).
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| A hint of how I felt that very moment. lol |
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| The boys and the unloaded firearm :) |
We got to try two firearms that day namely the 9mm caliber pistol and M4 Commando (I didn't expect the latter... lol).
The 9mm caliber pistol was the first one we tried. For safety reasons Jaycee was the one who fill and refill the magazines with bullets for us. He loaded it to the gun only when we are all (physically and mentally) ready to shoot. My husband was the first one to try it while I capture the happenings on the camera. All gear up and we are ready to shoot.
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| 5 Meters Distance from the target for the first try. That's how far I am from them when I took this picture of my husband firing it all out to the target. Just a precautionary measure. lol |
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| This was taken by my husband and that's how much he trusted a skill of a newbie like me. ;) |
POINTS TO REMEMBER
First, Jaycee showed and tell us the proper way of handling or carrying gun even explaining the principles behind it. He also taught us on how to get the proper balance and breathing. I have enlisted what I got to learn from him.
For safety reasons:
- Never point a gun with anything or anyone that is not your target.
- Lock the loaded magazine in the gun when you are all ready to shoot.
- Hold the gun firmly with your dominant (strong) hand and give support by positioning your other hand index finger under the guard and wrap it around the dominant hand.
- Always put your point finger away from the trigger when you are not shooting.
- Use the rear and front sight of the gun to aim on the target.
I PULLED THE TRIGGER (I DID IT!)
My husband was the first one to try. A loud deafening sound echoes through the air after my husband first shot. Now nervousness came knocking on my chest again (hahaha) but by looking at how he handles it and how Jaycee guided his friend eventually I felt comfortable hearing the succeeding shots.
Now my turn....
I do not have any idea of how heavy guns were until I tried to hold a loaded 9mm caliber pistol. It was hefty but still manageable. I wore the ear plugs on both my ears, properly positioned my feet and body for support, breathe and hold the gun firmly (but not tightly) as instructed by Jaycee and then click on the trigger when I am ready. The first time I click on the trigger and a loud sound echoes through the open air. I feel the recoil of the gun and saw a tiny hole on the cardboard in front of me. Finally, I did my first shot and it was overwhelming (hahaha) it feels like it releases something out of me and then I aim and click the trigger one by one (taking my time) until the last drop of the bullets. I feel the heaviness of the gun on my hand and my wrist started to feel a bit jaded so I started missing my shots at the board (reasons...reasons...reasons.. hahaha). The poor sandbags at the back receives my wrath (lol).
After we have discharged all 9mm bullet we went on to our shooting session this time using the M4 Commando. Imagine how heavy this ammunition is... this particular firepower is being use by military personnel particularly in a warfare. I never thought that I would be able to carry it moreover fire it at the range. The sound is triple time louder than the small firearm, I must tell you, nothing I ever heard before. I can feel the power and damage it can cause by just hearing it's every shots. In that moment I feel for our servicemen, I imagine the responsibilities and danger they get themselves into especially when they are out in the battlefields. With that I salute and give much respect to all of them. It was an eye opening and breathtaking experience for me. It was an astonishing moment for me.
The circle on the sheet was supposed to be the target but none of my shots infiltrates the middle of it. The nearest was on the line itself but considering how heavy it was I am happy that my shots got to reach that far.
Overall the experience I had at the range heightened my awareness about gun safety more than just the shooting itself. I am happy that I got to meet a new friend, learned new skills, engaged myself into a new adventure and allowed myself to open a new door for another journey of self discovery. It was truly one of the best birthday gift I had in my life!☺
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| This is how I did at shooting using the 9mm Caliber. We were joking around after the last piece of the bullets and just realized now it had formed a letter "J" on the board lol. But kidding aside look at how small and fine the bullets filtration was. |
After we have discharged all 9mm bullet we went on to our shooting session this time using the M4 Commando. Imagine how heavy this ammunition is... this particular firepower is being use by military personnel particularly in a warfare. I never thought that I would be able to carry it moreover fire it at the range. The sound is triple time louder than the small firearm, I must tell you, nothing I ever heard before. I can feel the power and damage it can cause by just hearing it's every shots. In that moment I feel for our servicemen, I imagine the responsibilities and danger they get themselves into especially when they are out in the battlefields. With that I salute and give much respect to all of them. It was an eye opening and breathtaking experience for me. It was an astonishing moment for me.
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| We move further backward adding distance from the target. It looks easy but it was definitely the opposite. M4 Commando is big, heavy and real powerful but I am lucky to have tried it and shoot it once in my life (at the range that is). |
The circle on the sheet was supposed to be the target but none of my shots infiltrates the middle of it. The nearest was on the line itself but considering how heavy it was I am happy that my shots got to reach that far.
Overall the experience I had at the range heightened my awareness about gun safety more than just the shooting itself. I am happy that I got to meet a new friend, learned new skills, engaged myself into a new adventure and allowed myself to open a new door for another journey of self discovery. It was truly one of the best birthday gift I had in my life!☺
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| Our smile right after our shooting session. It reminds me of how lucky I'm to be in love with my best friend... ♥♥♥ #happywifehappylife |