Awesome
Just got back from the range. Took my Garand out for her maiden shoot. Damn, I am in love with that rifle. But that is not what this thread is about.
I noticed an old timer standing behind me watching me shoot. During one of the breaks in firing, he struck up a conversation about the old M1. Told me about the his time in Korea and how much he liked the M1. Believed that without the old Garand, we would have lost a lot more boys over there.
I offered to let him shoot my rifle. He seemed hesitant, but I think the thought of reacquainting with an old friend finally got the best of him. He said he’d take a couple shots. I handed him a full bandoleer and told him to shoot as much as he wanted.
The look in his eye after that first shot went off was worth more than the cost of ammo could ever be. It was like he had just lost 60 years and was a youngster again. He ended up shooting of all six clips.
When he finished, he handed me back my rifle with a tear in his eye. Told me that shooting the old M1 brought back a lot of memories, some good and some bad, but everyone of them worth holding on to.
Letting that old timer have that experience made my day.
February 15th, 2010 at 11:57 am
I wonder if in 50 years, the people of this generation will feel the same way about shooting an AR.
February 15th, 2010 at 12:06 pm
Wow, you don’t normally see great posts like that on Arfcom. (Maybe I just need to stay out of General Discussion!?)
Thanks for linking it.
February 15th, 2010 at 12:06 pm
Haha I just noticed that post is IN General Discussion. That is amazing.
February 15th, 2010 at 1:29 pm
And THAT is what I love about the “gun thing”.
February 15th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
My father, a WWII Seabee, passed away on December 7th. One of my fondest memories was during July 4th weekend in 2004 when he came to a campout/picnic that we do every year. We had planned a small surprise for him…one of my friends had brought his Browning Automatic Rifle, the firearm that my father carried during the war. Just out of sight of the pavilion we set it up on a pedestal mount (Dad was 76 at the time and I doubt he could have controlled it otherwise) and when a few test rounds were fired, my father perked up and said, “That was a BAR!” My father had not handled or heard one in 56 years and the picture I have of him grinning from ear to ear is simply precious to me…for 15 minutes he was 18 again. He also got to shoot a Japanese Type 99 light machinegun that day and enjoyed it also…I treasure the memories, the video and the photos of that day.
February 15th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
ExUrbanKevin, barring any drastic technology changes, I suspect we will still be using something similar when that time rolls around.
February 15th, 2010 at 3:37 pm
I hope somebody buys that guy a beer. Very cool.
tweaker
February 15th, 2010 at 10:26 pm
Never turn down an offer to shoot someone else’s firearm.
February 16th, 2010 at 1:37 pm
It was the steel butt plate on the walnut stock that caused the tear after firing 48 rounds of 150 gr. .30-06 ammo.
Garands sure are fun to shoot, and I love the trigger on a factory Garand, but about 100 rounds per range trip is about all my shoulder will handle. That and I really need to get into reloading, ’cause .30-06 is expensive, to blow through that fast!
I guess I’m just a pussy, raised on pachmeyer butt pads for .30-06, and mostly shooting 6.5×55 for hunting, and 5.56mm ARs for centerfire plinkin’!
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for helping a veteran!
February 17th, 2010 at 10:44 am
That’s how I get my range practice too. Just come up and pretend that I used that weapon while in the military. The tear in the eye was a great touch, so I’ll have to remember it.
P.S. – Just kidding, but I can imagine it happens.