Learning to feel at home on the range

It's a cold and cloudy Sunday morning as I pull myself out of bed around 7:30 a.m. and get myself dressed. Normally the "day of rest" is used for just that; rest. On this particular morning of Aug. 19, however, I am heading down to the Silver Spur Shooting Range to cover one of several gun courses being taught by Silver Spur Outfitters in cooperation with Sgt. John Russo, who has been in law enforcement for 25 years. Having started in 2013, this is the fifth year that Spur Outfitters has held this training.

In the, nearly, 32 years that I have been on this Earth I have never fired a pistol, at least not one with live rounds. I spent many summer days bumping around county roads with my dad and a couple of .22 caliber rifles to shoot prairie dogs. Little did I know, as I drove up the road to the shooting range, however, that I would end the day having fired approximately 100 rounds.

When I arrive at the range, I see mostly firearm instructors wearing Silver Spur Outfitter sweaters. Aside from myself, there are two other men who are in attendance. I later find out that both Eli Suarez and Chris "C.J." Boxrud are also firearm instructors for Brush Creek Ranch. Russo informs me that more people had signed up for the course, but didn't seem to be coming.

The course, defensive handguns, begins with just Suarez, Boxrud and myself. Even though the two Brush Creek instructors have plenty of experience, Russo tells them that he will go over basics for my benefit. Over the next 30-45 minutes, we learn about the proper way to hold a handgun, the difference between "pulling the trigger" and "pressing the trigger" and proper stance.

Once the classroom portion of the training has completed, we prepare to get on the shooting range. At this point, the only thing I'm planning on shooting with is my camera. Russo comes up to me and asks me if I would like to take part. I mull it over for a brief moment, thinking to myself that there's no better place to fire a pistol for the first time than with trained professionals.

Russo pairs me up with John "J.D." Donnellon, a retired police officer and partner with Russo in guninpho.com, and gets me a pair of earmuffs for hearing protection. We join the others on the shooting range and Donnello runs me through everything that Russo told me. Before we even insert a magazine into the Ruger Security-nine 9mm, I repeat the proper draw technique and practice my grip.

After several minutes of this, Russo declares the range "hot" and shooting can begin. Over the next hour or so, I work to practice what I was taught. Sometimes I hit where I'm aiming, other times I jerk the pistol as I pull the trigger instead of pressing like I'm supposed to. After a while, Russo comes over and comments on how the Ruger Security-nine seems to be too small for my hands, so he lends me his Glock 34 9mm.

It feels much better in my hands, less like I'm palming it, but I'm still getting too tense. My shoulders ache, my knuckles need cracked and my arms are sore. When I do relax, and don't overthink the process, I do well. In one instance, out of 14 shots I miss three times. Both Donnellon and Russo comment on how well I've done for a novice. I'm proud of myself, but still frustrated that there were shots I missed.

As it reaches midday, and an afternoon storm approaches, I thank Russo and Donnellon for their time and the opportunity. Russo gives me a certificate of completion for the course, along with some Silver Spur and Guninpho swag, and I go on my way.

Overall, not a bad way to spend a Sunday.