Sunday Range Day and Mini Blog Meet

It was my first time shooting a non wheel gun or Varmint gun, since well before the knee surgery, having been on limited anything and desk duty for a while with the injury. Even before that, shooting had been infrequent while I tended to Dad on days off.  Rusty was not just the color of my hair.

But I was anxious to exercise both the Sig and a 1911 and EJ had a brand spanking new Glock 21 to check out.  I've never been a fan of the glock grip but I wanted to try it.

First some warm up.

It was great to see Eagle Creek Pistol Range open again.  I'd not been here in a couple years, for when it was strictly LEO, open many weekends to the public I got there too many Saturdays it was "open" on the website with Tam and Roberta X, only to find the local officers needed it for training.  Understandable, and it is their range, but disappointing after a long drive in.   But there's not an indoor range in IND I'd go to, given some of the laxness in safe handling I'd witnessed by some of the inner city "yoots" that frequent those places. One of the ranges you need to carry just to maneuver their parking lot.  No thanks.  I'll pay dues and go to one of the conservation clubs or my favorite pistol club up in Northern IND.  But still, I miss having some place safe to shoot on those weekends I am around the city due to work commitments.

Good news.  Thanks to the efforts of many, including the fine folks at Tactical Firearms Training, Inc. who provide the Range Officers and expert instruction for groups and individuals throughout the year, the Eagle Creek range is open to the public every weekend. (it has been for a while, it's just my first time here since the change).

It's open air, but the shooting area is covered.  I'd been here on a winter day where Caleb and I were about the only ones that showed up with the temps in the teens, wearing my Nanook of the North parka.  But the cover DOES keep you out of the precip, and the breeze in an area with a lot of shooting going on, is nice for both vision, and breathing.

One thing I was immediately impressed with - safety is foremost, each shooter getting a thorough safety briefing and review before getting a lane, if they'd not shot there in the last 12 months.  I'm not in the city often but I will be back. Thank you IMPD for sharing your fine range and thank you Tactical Firearms Training. (www.tactical-firearms.com) for promoting both the sport and the safety of defensive shooting.

Now it's my turn.

I knew the first target wasn't going to be pretty. The first  two magazines were low and to the right.  Ok B, deep breath, tighten the grip 20%, imagine balancing a penny on the top of the muzzle.  Bingo!  That's the grouping I want.

I liked EJ's Glock (the grip was comfy, and the trigger was sweet)  and appreciated running a couple magazines through it.  But too soon, it was time to leave our lanes for someone else, as we headed out to meet MSgtB  and MSgt J and their ladies at the brew pub for lunch.  We got there early, so we took a jog up the Monon  (in the interest of building up a thirst).  The river was high from all the rains, and muddy, but there were quite a few people out and about in an assortment of Skittle colored plastic kayaks, but what caught my eye was this one gent in a really nice canoe with pirate flag.  Woot!

Time to head back to the pub for liquid refreshment and meeting everyone. 

It was a ton of fun, and I even got the group to try "Scotch Eggs" ("It's like breakfast in a ball!") while there was some chuckling over the obligatory hippie food (mmmm, "garden crumbles, is that like Soylent Green?") on the always expansive menu

There was much laughter, the handsome MSgt's being an absolute riot and the ladies a joy to talk to.  There were photos, food and hugs all round, and we left them to maneuver the Monon themselves as we headed back out of the city.

It was a great weekend.  Thank you all!