Smith & Wesson M&P 9

Well, I needed something to help lower my blood pressure after the election and I needed something to do when the weather was so bad I couldn't play golf. I have always had an interest in shooting but never found a place to shoot that was convenient.

I went on a search and found a place called Range USA not to far from home. I did some research and they had an indoor range and rental guns. I thought I'd give them a try. I am glad I did.

You need to know the following happened between the November election and the shooting in Connecticut on December 14th.

I walk into the store, find a guy and say I haven't shot a pistol in 45 years and I think I want to take up shooting pistols as a hobby and I asked 'What would you do?" He asks if I will be shooting more the 4 or 5 times a month and I respond yes.  He then recommended a monthly membership that for $50 will get me unlimited range time and rental gun. Since range fee is $10 and rental gun is $10 it sounded like a deal. He then says to shoot the rentals and decide what I want to buy. Fortunately they have over 50 rental pistols in both revolvers and semiautomatics. The only stipulation was you had to use the house ammo in the houses guns. No problem as the ammo was cheap.

I asked the shop guys about availability of handguns so I'll know if I will have to wait after I order something. They say they have good stock on most popular semi autos and can get anything else, within reason, from the distributor in 3 days. They said they are having a mini run but that's not unusual after a democrat is elected president and things should settle down in a month or so.

Well I start shooting the most popular 9mm semiautomatics, Glocks, Rugers, SW, Baretta, Taurus, Khar and Springfield. 9mm because that's cheap and  shooting 22's doesn't do anything for me. I am becoming a regular and they guys say I have shot everything in the case except the revolvers. So instead of buying what I decided on, a Smith andWesson MP9L, I wanted to buy American and it was between that and a Ruger SR9. I start shooting the revolvers they have and I fell in love with a Ruger GP100 357. I didn't like the snub-nose revolvers and did like the 4 inch barrel. 357 because its not a 22 and can shoot cheaper 38 ammo.

While I was still trying to make up my mind, the tragedy in Newton Ct took place.

Within a week the only new guns left in stock were $1000 1911's. I tell them what I am looking for and they would let me know when something becomes available. I am in the store on Dec 20th and they just got in a SW 9mm. I wanted a L version but bought the regular full size on the spot. Glad I did because I love the gun. Only issue is that is was a Massachusetts version with 2 10 round magazines and a 10 pound trigger pull. I spend $20 on the internet for a new trigger spring and they install it for nothing. Range USA rocks!!!

On December 20th I place an order for 2 17 round magazines that cost $23 each. Two days later I get a back order notice. They are impossible to find and if I wanted to I could get some 10 rounders on eBay for $75 each.

I guess I picked the wrong time to pick up a new hobby. I guess I'll have to wait a few months to buy the revolver.

I have over 1000 rounds through the gun and I can hit what I am aiming at and find shooting strangely relaxing. It helps that Range USA is a great place to shoot with a great staff. The people who shoot there are white, black, brown and yellow. They are young and old, male and female. They range from white collar to redneck. If the rest of this country got along like the people at the range we'd all be better for it.