Shooting pistols with West Point guy and granddaughters

Good thing I loaded up a bunch of ammo (158 gr 38 Sp wad cutters), cause we ran through a bunch. You old guys will appreciate that I way outshot the Army Ranger. But we were using my guns mostly. Worse for him however is that when we finished up with the usual One Shot Challenge, his GF (my lovely 100 pound granddaughter) out shot him by about 1/4 inch. We had a ball, trash talking and putting up new targets. Hopefully, his unit won’t hear about him being outshot by the GF. He would lose some cred for sure. He’s a Captain. So young. Were we ever that young?

Really nice young man. He may well wind up as a grandson-in-law, and I sure hope he does. He’ll be based soon at Scofield on Oahu soon. He has not yet been in a hostile environment, though he has been to Chicago.

I asked about his duty weaponry, and he has the usual M4 and carries the Beretta M9. He said some units, like the 82nd Airborne have the new duty pistols. He also mentioned that a lot of units still are issued the old M16 with the carry handle upper. As for rifle qual, they have to qualify with iron sights and the optical sights.

I once watched my company commander a Captain try to qualify with the M9. Out of 40 shots at 25 yards he was getting like 5-10 hits. He tried about 10 times and finally said it was the pistol. 3 guys qualified with that pistol and then he tried again and failed again. We finally put another guy on the firing line next to him and had the E2 shoot the captains target 25 times and the captain qualified. He was really excited and had no ideas most the hits on his target were from the other shooter. Personally I’ve never seen an officer that was a really good shot. Most are studs in PT and good in an office but not so much with a weapon from my experiences. I’m sure there are some out there that can really shoot well though.

Never a doubt, 603. Old guys rock.

That E2 though

Thanks for sharing 603!

Could be that the future son-in-law is making sure the family wins. Just another possibility if he is smart.

Lol! He sounds like a great man 603 and a maybe great addition to your family.

Hang around any branches other than the army? Not that it mattered, but I agree with you, at least in the medical corps, the Air Force officers were pretty lousy shots. When I was in balad, I always thought about how much of an utter slaughter it would be if the base got over run. The thought of medical officers and the supporting airmen protecting anything is laughable. I know it isn’t their job, but dang, grow some balls and don’t quiver out of fear from a mortar alarm. Watched too many senior officers shake in their boots when the claxons roared to life.

Love the story and hope the potential grandson in law does his country proud in scoffield and beyond! My brother spend several years there as a chinnook load master (or whatever the army calls them).

Sounds like a great time was had by all.....

One thing I forgot to mention is that the Ranger’s dad gave him a graduation gift when he got out of West Point. It’s an engraved 1911A1 Colt 45. Beautiful pistol and it shot real well, though he ran out of ammo before I got to shoot it.

And yes, we had a ball. I told them no drinking till we were through shooting, and they just kept on shooting and not worrying about the beer. I sure hope the granddaughter marries that boy. We want him in the family. And I want to shoot that Colt 1911A1.

Experience can beat youth very often. Good for you, sir.