I made an enemy at the rifle range on Saturday,,,

aarondhgraham · February 7, 2012, 12:55 PM

I took a co-worker shooting saturday,,,
It was windy and cold but we had it planned so we went.

I knew he would be plinking away on his own,,,
So I took the opportunity to fine-tune my NEOS Carbine.

I had sighted the scope in at 50 yards a few weeks ago,,,
But now I wanted to try and really fine tune the zero past Minute of Tin Can.

Anyways, there I was, minding my own business, happily shooting away,,,
When I noticed I was being watched by a very cute young girl,,,
I said hello and she proceeded to tell me about her Crickett.

To make a long story short, she told me that she was turning 11 this year,,,
Her dad had promised her a semi-auto rifle for her birthday,,,
I asked her what kind she wanted and she didn't know,,,
She wanted a pretty rifle,,,
"Like yours" she said.

I struck up a conversation with her Dad and offered to let her shoot my NEOS,,,
This is where the trouble started.

I went down range and set up 10 dirt filled water bottles,,,
I also set up a 4" plastic spinner target,,,
This was at 50 yards.

She stood behind the bench with 5 loaded mags,,,
8 out of 10 bottles fell, 1 wiggled, 1 was a clean miss,,,
Then she very deliberately hit the spinner 36 out of 40 shots.

When she turned around her grin was HUGE,,,
"Daddy" she said, "I like this rifle.",,,
"Can this be my birthday present?

$240 for a NEOS Pistol,,,
$235 for a NEOS Carbine Kit,,,
$100-ish for a scope and mounts for it.

Making your daughter keep that grin on her face,,,
Priceless!

So maybe "enemy" is a strong word,,,
But Dad isn't very happy with me right now.

I have no pity for him though,,,
He drove to the range in a new Cadillac Escalade,,,
He was popping away with a fully tricked out AR something-or-other,,,
I told him to go ahead and buy two pistols as it was a pain to swap the receivers.

He just groaned.

Aarond

taylorce1 · February 7, 2012, 01:02 PM

I know how that dad feels! My daugherter wants a Sig Sauer Mosquito after shooting her mother's and she is only nine. Oh well, at least I get to buy more guns, as I have a hard time justifing the ones I buy as I'm not missing many calibers between .204 and .375 except 7mm and 9.3 in rifles.

4runnerman · February 7, 2012, 01:22 PM

You might have ruined her dad's day,But you sure put a smile and a future shooter in her heart. That is worth more than all the money it will cost.

Good for you. Had a similar expirence last year and it still sticks in my head all the time when i see a young one shooting.

pgdion · February 7, 2012, 01:32 PM

Great story Aarond.

Nothing sells a NEOS better than letting someone shoot it eh?

tahunua001 · February 7, 2012, 01:43 PM

man what's with people these days? I was gonna get my daughter a $150 marlin 60 for her birthday but some jerk at the range just let her shoot his $600 ugly little NEOS carbine and now she wont shut up about it...now how am I supposed to trick out my other AR?

lol nothing beats putting a smile on a kids face. I doubt daddy will hold it against you.

aarondhgraham · February 7, 2012, 02:37 PM

My carbine ain't ugly!

She's just "beautifically" challenged is all.

Aarond

**Spats McGee** · February 7, 2012, 02:38 PM

Had that child been mine, I would have groaned, too. But I probably would have been glad the next time I saw you at the range. A huge smile on your kid's face makes LOTS of things worthwhile.

Well done, aarond!

5RWill · February 7, 2012, 02:41 PM

Lol "beautifically challenged".. beauty is in the eye of the beholder and ever so more in guns.

Good story as usual Aron

Salmoneye · February 7, 2012, 02:47 PM

Too funny...

tahunua001 · February 7, 2012, 03:20 PM

I didn't mean any offense. I usually tend to gravitate towards beautifically challenged guns anyway

aarondhgraham · February 7, 2012, 03:41 PM

It's all good Tahunua001,,,

Now my Hi-Point 9mm Carbine,,,
That's the definition of ugly!

Aarond

rjrivero · February 7, 2012, 04:11 PM

We all should make "enemies" like that. Thanks for sharing the story, Arrond

boostedtt91 · February 7, 2012, 04:30 PM

If i was that dad, id be absolutley thrilled that my daughter loved guns and wanted to shoot, so id buy her anything she wanted that i could afford

aarondhgraham · February 7, 2012, 04:35 PM

Apparently she's been shooting her Crickett for two years,,,
I did have the scope dialed in very well,,,
And she was supported by the bench,,,
But she was hitting very very well.

Because of that I would buy her the rifle she wants,,,
Unless it was a good-looking piece of junk.

I would make a bet he wanted to get her an AR style .22 rifle.

Aarond

P-990 · February 7, 2012, 10:17 PM

Way to go! You made somebody's day and everybody had fun. Well done!

(And if daddy has trouble with the expense of that kit, he should go see what the other juniors are dragging out to shoot smallbore. That NEOS kit is cheap! And un-beautiful...

)

Yung.gunr · February 7, 2012, 11:21 PM

I did somthing like that as well a couple weeks back..

A guy was out in the desert where I go shooting with a couple of buddies and his wife. This clown has her shoot a .270 which she clearly did not like. So I offered her to shoot my Saiga .223.

She obviously liked it because I overheard her talking about it and wanting one for the rest of my time there.

I left earlier then I had planned. I have a wife of my own and would not be too happy if someone added a gun to her want list.

bitttorrrent · February 8, 2012, 12:40 AM

I would gladdly apply a gun that my wife wants to my list. Since she has no gone to add and in fact does not want me to add any either.

You don't know how lucky you are.

Don't get me wrong. She doesn't mind shooting since my Dad dragged her down to the basement and made her shoot wax bullets on our somewhat first date. She passed. And this is the same girl who when we took skeet shooting was great at it and wanted to go again. But after 2 kids and work, she doesn't care about guns anymore and just wants to garden.

So I go shooting my 9yr old daughter and Dad and she does her own thing.

Sparks1957 · February 8, 2012, 03:59 AM

Quote:

So I go shooting my 9yr old daughter and Dad...

You shouldn't do that.

Aarond, that's a great story. You do love getting those girls of all ages to shoot, don't you?

tahunua001 · February 8, 2012, 07:18 AM

Quote:

So I go shooting my 9yr old daughter and Dad...

the movie "Kickass" comes to mind

February 7, 2012, 12:55 PM	#1
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 8,638	I made an enemy at the rifle range on Saturday,,, I took a co-worker shooting saturday,,, It was windy and cold but we had it planned so we went. I knew he would be plinking away on his own,,, So I took the opportunity to fine-tune my NEOS Carbine. I had sighted the scope in at 50 yards a few weeks ago,,, But now I wanted to try and really fine tune the zero past Minute of Tin Can. Anyways, there I was, minding my own business, happily shooting away,,, When I noticed I was being watched by a very cute young girl,,, I said hello and she proceeded to tell me about her Crickett. To make a long story short, she told me that she was turning 11 this year,,, Her dad had promised her a semi-auto rifle for her birthday,,, I asked her what kind she wanted and she didn't know,,, She wanted a pretty rifle,,, "Like yours" she said. I struck up a conversation with her Dad and offered to let her shoot my NEOS,,, This is where the trouble started. I went down range and set up 10 dirt filled water bottles,,, I also set up a 4" plastic spinner target,,, This was at 50 yards. She stood behind the bench with 5 loaded mags,,, 8 out of 10 bottles fell, 1 wiggled, 1 was a clean miss,,, Then she very deliberately hit the spinner 36 out of 40 shots. When she turned around her grin was HUGE,,, "Daddy" she said, "I like this rifle.",,, "Can this be my birthday present? $240 for a NEOS Pistol,,, $235 for a NEOS Carbine Kit,,, $100-ish for a scope and mounts for it. Making your daughter keep that grin on her face,,, Priceless! So maybe "enemy" is a strong word,,, But Dad isn't very happy with me right now. I have no pity for him though,,, He drove to the range in a new Cadillac Escalade,,, He was popping away with a fully tricked out AR something-or-other,,, I told him to go ahead and buy two pistols as it was a pain to swap the receivers. He just groaned. Aarond __________________ Never ever give an enemy the advantage of a verbal threat. Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time) Last edited by aarondhgraham; February 7, 2012 at 01:12 PM.

February 7, 2012, 01:02 PM	#2
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,242	I know how that dad feels! My daugherter wants a Sig Sauer Mosquito after shooting her mother's and she is only nine. Oh well, at least I get to buy more guns, as I have a hard time justifing the ones I buy as I'm not missing many calibers between .204 and .375 except 7mm and 9.3 in rifles. __________________ NRA Life Member

February 7, 2012, 01:22 PM	#3
4runnerman Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,577	You might have ruined her dad's day,But you sure put a smile and a future shooter in her heart. That is worth more than all the money it will cost. Good for you. Had a similar expirence last year and it still sticks in my head all the time when i see a young one shooting. __________________ NRA Certified RSO NwCP- Performance Isn't Optional

February 7, 2012, 01:32 PM	#4
pgdion Senior Member Join Date: April 22, 2010 Location: MPLS, MN Posts: 1,214	Great story Aarond. Nothing sells a NEOS better than letting someone shoot it eh? __________________ 597 VTR, because there's so many cans and so little time!

February 7, 2012, 01:43 PM	#5
tahunua001 Senior Member Join Date: July 21, 2011 Location: Idaho Posts: 7,839	man what's with people these days? I was gonna get my daughter a $150 marlin 60 for her birthday but some jerk at the range just let her shoot his $600 ugly little NEOS carbine and now she wont shut up about it...now how am I supposed to trick out my other AR? lol nothing beats putting a smile on a kids face. I doubt daddy will hold it against you. __________________ ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar. I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin

February 7, 2012, 02:37 PM	#6
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 8,638	Ugly?,,, My carbine ain't ugly! She's just "beautifically" challenged is all. Aarond __________________ Never ever give an enemy the advantage of a verbal threat. Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time)

February 7, 2012, 02:38 PM	#7
Spats McGee Staff Join Date: July 28, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 8,821	Had that child been mine, I would have groaned, too. But I probably would have been glad the next time I saw you at the range. A huge smile on your kid's face makes LOTS of things worthwhile. Well done, aarond! __________________ I'm a lawyer, but I'm not your lawyer. If you need some honest-to-goodness legal advice, go buy some.

February 7, 2012, 02:41 PM	#8
5RWill Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2008 Location: Mississippi Posts: 2,654	Lol "beautifically challenged".. beauty is in the eye of the beholder and ever so more in guns. Good story as usual Aron __________________ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me."

February 7, 2012, 02:47 PM	#9
Salmoneye Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 2,076	Too funny...

February 7, 2012, 03:20 PM	#10
tahunua001 Senior Member Join Date: July 21, 2011 Location: Idaho Posts: 7,839	I didn't mean any offense. I usually tend to gravitate towards beautifically challenged guns anyway __________________ ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar. I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin

February 7, 2012, 03:41 PM	#11
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 8,638	No offense taken my friend,,, It's all good Tahunua001,,, Now my Hi-Point 9mm Carbine,,, That's the definition of ugly! Aarond __________________ Never ever give an enemy the advantage of a verbal threat. Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time)

February 7, 2012, 04:11 PM	#12
rjrivero Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2008 Location: NW Ohio Posts: 1,399	We all should make "enemies" like that. Thanks for sharing the story, Arrond

February 7, 2012, 04:30 PM	#13
boostedtt91 Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2011 Location: Danville, Pa Posts: 520	If i was that dad, id be absolutley thrilled that my daughter loved guns and wanted to shoot, so id buy her anything she wanted that i could afford

February 7, 2012, 04:35 PM	#14
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 8,638	The little girl could shoot,,, Apparently she's been shooting her Crickett for two years,,, I did have the scope dialed in very well,,, And she was supported by the bench,,, But she was hitting very very well. Because of that I would buy her the rifle she wants,,, Unless it was a good-looking piece of junk. I would make a bet he wanted to get her an AR style .22 rifle. Aarond __________________ Never ever give an enemy the advantage of a verbal threat. Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time)

February 7, 2012, 10:17 PM	#15
P-990 Senior Member Join Date: May 2, 2002 Location: Only1/2WayThere Posts: 1,316	Way to go! You made somebody's day and everybody had fun. Well done! (And if daddy has trouble with the expense of that kit, he should go see what the other juniors are dragging out to shoot smallbore. That NEOS kit is cheap! And un-beautiful... ) __________________ NRA Master, Highpower Rifle, Across-the-Course NRA Expert, Highpower Rifle, Mid-Range Prone

February 7, 2012, 11:21 PM	#16
Yung.gunr Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2010 Location: Phoenix area Posts: 1,442	I did somthing like that as well a couple weeks back.. A guy was out in the desert where I go shooting with a couple of buddies and his wife. This clown has her shoot a .270 which she clearly did not like. So I offered her to shoot my Saiga .223. She obviously liked it because I overheard her talking about it and wanting one for the rest of my time there. I left earlier then I had planned. I have a wife of my own and would not be too happy if someone added a gun to her want list.

February 8, 2012, 12:40 AM	#17
bitttorrrent Senior Member Join Date: April 21, 2011 Location: Chicago Posts: 703	I would gladdly apply a gun that my wife wants to my list. Since she has no gone to add and in fact does not want me to add any either. You don't know how lucky you are. Don't get me wrong. She doesn't mind shooting since my Dad dragged her down to the basement and made her shoot wax bullets on our somewhat first date. She passed. And this is the same girl who when we took skeet shooting was great at it and wanted to go again. But after 2 kids and work, she doesn't care about guns anymore and just wants to garden. So I go shooting my 9yr old daughter and Dad and she does her own thing.