Shooting at Ben Avery

AZ Game & Fish had a shooting event at the Ben Avery range so Bobbins took the kids for something to do. Aunt Katie joined them.

MM's First Shoot; 38 Revolver

While up at the cabin to take Gaia & Marco (another Italian exchange student living near us) to the Grand Canyon, I took the kids out shooting, and MM got to shoot a real gun, my little Ruger 1022, for the first time. She didn't do too bad.

I also got to shoot a new [to me] gun, my grandfather's old 38 revolver. He was a Phoenix policeman and won the gun in a shooting contest. It sat in my mom's safe deposit box for the last 30 years until she moved to Arizona and gave it to me. I got it cleaned. It worked like a charm after probably sitting unused for at least 50 years. It's a small piece with not much of a grip, so harder to shoot. It packs a lot of firepower in the small frame.

Also Got This

Wasn't for my birthday, per se, but my mom had this in California and gave it to me when she moved here. It was a .38 caliber revolver her father won in a police shooting contest in the 1960s (he was a Phoenix police officer).

Silly me, I mistakenly bought .380 rounds, so I didn't get to shoot it when we went to the cabin on my birthday.

CCW Class

My sister Katie graciously watched the 4 kids, with a little help from Zach, so Bobbins and I could take the all-day concealed carry weapons (CCW) class at the Scottsdale Gun Club. Neither of us have a great desire to carry concealed (in fact, I didn't even submit the permit paperwork, which cost $60, for Bobbins) but just wanted to better educate ourselves. It was informative. Half the class is legal considerations. I was surprised they have you shoot first, just five rounds at five yards and five rounds at ten yards. Bobbins had to go twice to pass.

 

Shooting Date

For our date night recently, I took Bobbins to an indoor shooting range on ladies night, which meant she shot for free. We rented a gun and squeezed off about 100 rounds. Bobbins likes the 9mm I got for my birthday in August. We didn't like the rented gun. I'm still pretty interested in getting one of those little Ruger .380's, even though it's too small for Bobbins.

 

Labor Day Wkend at the Cabin

The plan was for us and our friends to haul the families up to the cabin for Labor Day wkend, but the women didn't feel like roughing it, and I didn't feel like having all the kids for two nights, so we just went up for one. Karin, JoJo, Booch, and I left Sun. morning after Mass at St. Joe's. We unloaded at the cabin, then headed out to the shooting spot. Zach drove up too, with Margaret riding with him. I tried to talk Karin into shooting, but she refused. Kevin eventually joined us with his boys and Sienna. I got to shoot my new Glock, which was fun, and shooting that .22 Ruger rifle is always a good time. After a couple hours, we returned to the cabin and the fire pit next to the garage. We chopped wood, built a fire, and grilled some meat for dinner.

 

 

 I was a little worried about the sleeping arrangements, but it worked out fine. Jip started out on the floor next to her sister, but eventually she joined Booch and I in the bed. We had a quick breakfast and a nice long walk "around the block" before driving back to Phx. The traffic was ok. We ended up stopping at McD's on the way home, like we did in Flag on the way up. Karin didn't seem to be as scared of the mice as Julia was, and said she had a good time. I'll get her to shoot a gun yet...

Speaking of Birthdays

I guess we're pretty much an old married couple, or at least one step further. Instead of buying each other gifts, we just bought what we wanted ourselves (our birthdays are in the same month). For Bobbins, it was a camera to replace the one she lost last year; for me, it was a deal on a new Glock I couldn't pass up.

New Rifle

Got an early birthday present from Grandpa this year - a new Ruger 10-22 rifle.  He even put a nice scope on it.  Pretty excited and can't wait to shoot it.  Easy to afford the ammunition too - if I can find it in stock anywhere!

Also can't wait to take Owen shooting someday.

Bobbins Oakley

Along with her brothers and dad, Bobbins recently did a really cool cowboy shoot at the Bunkhouse at the Compound.  She of course went all out in her get-up.

 

 

Shooting

Sunday morning, after breakfast, the men (including Mikey & Abby) went shooting.  Paul brought his Colt .45 and I had my Glock 27.  Mr. M brought the best guns, his .30-30 Winchester rifle and his father's old .270 rile.  The .270 with the scope was fun; Mike and Mark really enjoyed it.  But all of us loved the .30-30, especially me.  The lever action was cool and the piece (made about 1915 Mr. M thinks) fired smoothly and perfectly.  It is a magnificent machine, a good boomstick.

 

Nifty Fit

Really a Shooter?

Definitely him because of the mom jeans.