I grew up in New Jersey, and was taught to hate handguns. Really. Shotguns and rifles were okay if you hunted (not that I ever had the desire to hunt), but handguns? Evil. Death machines. The only reason to have one is to use it to kill someone. People get killed all the time by handguns, mostly people who found one, played with it, and shot themselves or someone else by accident. At least, that’s the lore I grew up on. But I’ve known since I moved to Virginia that it’s a very gun-friendly state, and y’know, I’m a woman alone, and my neighborhood has gone downhill considerably in the last two years. I’ve been thinking a lot about learning to shoot and buying a gun.
Which is why I spent Sunday afternoon at the Blue Ridge Arsenal in northern Virginia learning to load, shoot, and unload four different kinds of handguns. Plus a rifle.
These are the pistols I used. There’s a Ruger Single-Six and a Colt Woodsman, both .22’s, a Colt Official Police revolver (circa 1940), and an Enfield Mark 2 (.38). There was also a Stevens 15-B .22 rifle.
My teacher, Stretch, is an ex-police officer. He spent some time beforehand teaching me how each of the guns are opened, loaded, and closed. We did this, of course, without loading the weapons at Chris and Janet’s. However, I got really good at shooting empty guns at the fireplace logs to get the feel of the trigger and the gun. I was also tickled to hear Stretch compliment me on holding my finger properly off the trigger of each weapon until actually firing it. Because believe it or not, I learned that from reading military bloggers. Their posts making fun of faux soldiers, terrorists, and fauxtography taught me how to hold a weapon properly.
After Stretch was satisfied that I had a good idea of how to use the guns, we drove to the shooting range. We had to wait a while, and I looked over the various weapons and gear. I got a kick out of the pocketbooks that come complete with a holster inside for your weapon.
While we were waiting, I could hear some very loud reports from inside the shooting range. I didn’t realize it was going to be that loud, and I have to say, I was starting to get scared. I was wondering if maybe this was one of the stupidest things I’d ever decided to do. By the time it was our turn, I was pretty positive I was going to hate it. Inside the range it was even worse—we had earplugs and ear protection, but it was loud and startling and I was getting really nervous. But I figured I was there, I’d paid, I may as well at least try to shoot. Stretch started me on the rifle at three yards.
You know, it took exactly one shot to make my nerves disappear. I loaded the rifle, locked the bolt, cocked the hammer, aimed, and fired. And I hit the target. Where it counts. This was the result of my first shot:
Granted, it was only three yards, but Stretch told me he started me out close to build up my confidence before moving on to tougher targets. It totally worked. I spent the next few minutes loading, shooting, clearing out the shell casing, loading, shooting, clearing out the shell casing… it was kinda cool to see the little pieces of metal go flying out of the rifle. (I saved the shell casing from my first shot. Think I’ll drill a hole in it and add it to my keychain.) And we moved the target back to seven yards.
The rifle was the most fun to shoot. I’m thinking my first purchase is going to be a relatively inexpensive .22 rifle, especially since everyone tells me that you can buy a brick of 500 .22 rounds for about $10 at Wal-Mart. That’s a lot of hours of target shooting. Have I mentioned how much I really, really liked shooting that rifle?
I did spend much more time firing the pistols, however, and I now find myself rather fond of revolvers. Those were fun to load, fun to shoot, and fun to empty the casings out of. They were a lot harder to shoot than the other two, though.
You may notice that I shed my coat fairly quickly. That’s because I only noticed the cold about as long as I noticed the noise from the other lanes, which is to say, both went away after I started firing the rifle.
You can compare my hold and stance if you like. Damned if I can tell which gun was which in this picture. Not after two hours, anyway.
Oh, wait. That’s not a revolver. I think that’s the Colt Woodsman. I’m sure Stretch will correct me if I’m wrong.
My shooting got better as I went along, until, after about an hour, I started to tire and my groundhog started getting away. Okay, not really, but I didn’t get nearly as many shots in the bullseye area with the two revolvers as I had with the previous three guns. Here’s my favorite grouping, using the Colt Woodsman.
Stretch pointed out to me that if you take the targets we were using, and place them over a person’s chest, I pretty much destroyed my home invader at 21 feet. Now I begin to see the practical purpose behind target shooting. (All the shots in the corner were Stretch’s. He got his guy, too.) My first shot at the groundhog hit him square in the head. Wish I could say I was going for his brains, but I was aiming at the orange dot in the middle. I got that orange dot more than a few times.
I had fun. And I learned a new skill. Now that I’m back in Richmond, my plan is to find a shooting range nearby and take a course. While I was at the range in northern VA, I was absolutely struck by the thought that every single person in the lanes next to me had the capacity to kill every other person there. And so did I (albeit a little more slowly, what with all the .22 weapons we were using). I don’t think I ever paid closer attention to anything else I’ve learned in my life than I did to whatever Stretch told me. Well, except for the names and makes of the guns. While he was telling me the history, I was looking at the trigger, the hammer, the magazine, the chamber, and the other parts of the gun and making sure I understood exactly what to do with the moving parts. I made only one mistake at the range. I put an unloaded weapon on the counter in the lane pointing into the room, not at the target. I won’t make that mistake twice. It might even have been this one.
I think it is highly likely I will at least buy a rifle for target shooting. As for home protection, I haven’t gotten that far yet. I’ll make that decision after I’ve learned a heck of a lot more about handling guns. But I’ve come a long way from the Triple-L liberal that was scared to death to so much as touch a gun.
UPDATE: Linked at memeorandum.
Wow. Remind me to keep behind you anytime when a push comes to shove.
Well done. I have been going to the range off and on for over 40 years. Have a couple rifles and pistols, and hope never to use them anywhere but at the range. I live in town where home invasions are common, so I might not be able to live in peace – but if someone is stupid enough to breach my house, I will be ready and willing to handle the situation.
Cheers on overcoming your fear.
Good old Annie Oakley (“Little Sure Shot” as Chief Sitting Bull called her), after she retired set up gun clubs for women–to teach thme how to use them safely and be comfortable with them. Annie always thought that a woman with a gun was the equal of any man!
Congratulations! While what you’re learned is deadly serious and comes with tremendous responsibilities(and it’s obvious you have an appropriate respect for that aspect of shooting), I’m especially glad that you learned it can be fun in the proper environment.
Might I recommend the Ruger 10-22 for your first rifle? It’s a light, sturdy, accurate semi-automatic with a ten round magazine, and is widely available used in great shape for relatively cheap. It’s not as “manual” as a bolt action, but it’s very fun and an easy rifle to learn on.
Best.
For home protection…A shotgun has advantages…accuracy not near as important (useful in pressure situations) and excellent stopping power.
You are doing well. All of the women or children I have seen shoot at a range for the first time have enjoyed it. Now you will receive a ton of unsolicited mail about what firearm to buy.
Laned – first! Heh.
I was always apathetic about firearms until I read the John Lott book “More Guns Less Crime”. Made me do some serious thinking. Two months later the towers came down.
I was at the range on September 12.
Try a 9mm semi-automatic. A little easier to handle, and more comfortable in the hand.
I got my fiance out to the range recently. This petite beauty in heels was busting tight groupings like she’d done it forever. Like you, she was nervous at first, but by the end she was saying things like, “Should we get the Ruger or the Glock, dear?”
If you’re looking to buy a .22 rifle for target practice, I would recommend a Ruger 10-22. They are relatively inexpensive – around $200 new, and Walmart should stock them as long as your local walmart isn’t one of the urban ones that have started. They come with a 10 round magazine, but you can buy replacement ones with more.
The nice thing about a 10-22 is that out of the box it’s an excellent target rifle, but people who get serious with them replace basically everything on them and turn them into competition rifles.
However it’s not what I’d suggest for you to use for home defense. For that, I’d tell you to get a Remington 870 express shotgun. Probably in 20 gauge. Once again, they’re about $200 new. But the wonderful thing about the shotgun is the sound. When you pump it, it will make anyone who’s not doped to the gills pause, because it’s unmistakable. And anyone that moves towards you after you’ve done that you know wasn’t going to stop, so it should ease the conscience.
I second the suggestion of a shotgun for home defense — you can get either a 20 ga or 12 ga. pump pretty reasonably, and, IF the recoil’s a problem, you can get a Knoxx stock for it, and just about eliminate the recoil.
Personally, the idea of unarmed women, esp. those that live alone, bothers the heck out of me.
You can’t beat a woman who shoots!
All my ladies, wife and daughters, shoot and shoot well. Sounds like your instructor taught and drilled you on the basics, good work. Helping people overcome their fear of guns is a real treat.
+1 on the Ruger 10/22 and shotgun suggestions. Consider birdshot in the shottie for defensive purposes – rread up on it.
checksix
Congrats on the new hobby.
I’ll second the motion for a Ruger 10/22 as a nice .22 rifle. Some say every gun collection needs one.
For home protection, the .22LR round is better than nothing, but inadequate. For a beginner, a .38/.357 revolver is the way to go.
And yes, you can miss with a shotgun. At close ranges, like indoor self protection, the pattern of shot may be as small as a silver dollar.
You go girl!!!
Last time I was at the range I borrowed a CZ .22 rifle from a friend – it was great. More unsolicited firearm information…
I agree with the shotgun for home defense – point, click, you are good.
I recommend Clark’s in Warrenton, VA. They have a free range open seven days a week. The only stipulation is that you buy your range ammo and targets from Clark’s.
For gunowners who want to introduce others to the joys of shooting, Stretch’s way of doing this is a great example of how to do it.
Start of with the basics of safety and firearm function in a quiet area without any ammo present. Then get them used to the noise by shooting first, so they know what will happen. Make sure they have really good ear protection. I find perceived recoil is less with heavy ear protection. Then most importantly, start them off on light recoiling firearms. Doing the rifle first instead of the handguns is a great idea. For those of us who have been shooting for a long time, it is easy to forget how alarming the recoil and noise of firearms can be to the uninitiated.
Only start them on bigger calibers once they feel completely comfortable with the smaller stuff. Depending on the person, you can move from .22LR to .44 mag in one session, others will require a number of sessions before they get to that point. The most important thing is not to push them to try anything they don’t want to do.
You look like your having fun on the range. Its not the gun, its the mind that is the weapon. The gun only give the mind expression.
Snoopy, you live in Israel. You can’t tell me you don’t run into girls with guns on a daily basis.
Meryl,
This is not meant to discourage your venture into shooting. It is just a comment about personal safety at home. By all means learn to use, acquire, and keep a firearm if you feel the need or desire. I strongly recommend a four-legged alarm system in the form of a medium sized dog. That will be sufficient to keep most intruders out and should it prove insufficient at any time it will allow you the few precious moments you need to clear your head and gather up your weapon.
Best wishes!
One more comment, the shotgun is a bad choice for a woman in my opinion. Too heavy, too long, and too much recoil. Better off with a revolver in .38 special or .357 mag or a pistol in 9mm.
I would recommend a 9mm with a light rail for attaching a weapon light. If you have to use it at night, in the dark, you need to be able to identify your target before you shoot. You need a flashlight for that.
Sounds like you did well, and so did your instructor. Safe, simple, and fun.
I too instructed for years, and that included a fair number of women. That includes all those in my family including those who married into it (!). each has their own slant on it but is able to cope with events. I’m proud of every one of them.
That Woodsman looks like mine. Elegant, wonderful little guns.
Congratulations.
I think I’m going to have to go to a few more ranges and try a few different rifles before I decide which one to buy.
I kinda liked the bolt action.
OK, if you want a bolt-action rifle, the Marlins and Brownings are decent, relatively inexpensive. And Marlin, at least, makes one that’s slightly smaller (a ‘youth’ model), which may be more comfortable to shoot for some people. I don’t own either, though, because I’m a lefty. And for lefties, the bolt-action choices are limited. I own a Savage in 17HMR which I quite like and I see that CZ-USA is now making lefty rifles. But other than that Remington is about the only manufacturer who makes them for reasonable money.
As someone said, you’ll get lots of recommendations about what to buy for this or that. It sounds like you have a capable instructor and mentor, go with his advice and your own preferences as you develop them.
Rugers Jam.
Semi autos jam.
Revolvers almost always fire.
Small, air/feather weight five shot revolver that has been ‘turned into a magnum.’ Split, Hollow points with magnum loads. Use 32s at the range.
Shotguns don’t necessarily stop. A 357 will, but it can go through walls. Make sure you shoot a warning shot in the floor before (or after) you shoot.
More unsolicted………..
“I had fun.”
The three words that strike terror in the hearts of gun control forces worldwide!
Welcome to the Dark Side!
Welcome to the Nation of Riflemen. Leave a message at UCV for me and I’ll take you shooting. My treat, (as soon as I find employment) and my pleasure. Congratulations on your shooting. There is only one indoor range in town and one in Colonial Heights that I know of. And of course, Chickahominy has a rifle range. But that can be hard to find. Just for more info from fellow shooters, I recommend the Gunthing.com.
Again, welcome. And Happy shooting.
Meryl;
When you feel the need to graduate to a larger caliber, I would suggest beginning with a .44 in black powder. They make clouds of smoke so a lot of indoor ranges don’t like them, but their recoil is soft and the “loading” is more complicated giving you time to think about what you did wrong of how to do it better. Cabela’s sells a whole bunch of black powder .44s and they have all the “trimmings” too: caps, balls, propellent, etc. Ask Stretch what he thinks. I’ve tought many kids shooting by starting them out on .44s. Have fun.
Here’s a great website that’s also written by a woman:
http://corneredcat.com/TOC.aspx
It covers the questions you’ve already mentioned, and a bunch more.
Do check it out.
Well done, young lady! Be very proud of yourself for demonstrating courage and intelligence. Even if you never punch a hole in anything but paper, you have started what can be an outstanding hobby.
So, what to buy. You have already fired a bolt action rifle with open sights. Try to borrow or rent a pump, a lever action, and a semi-auto, and something with a ‘scope. Then buy whatever was the most fun. Let the larger bore rifles wait for more experience.
Same for handguns, except vary the calebres. The .22 is a bit light, and you might find a .45 or the magnums to be a bit more than you want. Texas requires a minimum of .38 or 9 mm for the test for a concealed handgun permit. I like the 9 mm (Springfield XD9), but like I said, experiment first.
Again, congratulations, and welcome to shooting!
Jack
Congrats on stepping out into something new!
#9/Skip: You’ve got that right about a pump shotgun’s unmistakable sound. I lived in a rough apartment/neighborhood many years ago. One night a bunch of guys were outside my door beating on it furiously, I guess wanting to rob me. I jacked back that slide and nicely said, “Who is it?” They were racing down the stairs! Didn’t have to use the thing.
Meryl, there were 2 reasons you found the revolvers harder to shoot. Of course they are larger caliber than the .22s. But revolvers inherently have greater recoil than an autoloading pistol of the same caliber. The barrel of the revolver sits higher in your hand, which gives it more leverage. Before you decide on a handgun, try a DAO (double action only) pistol in either 9mm or .40 caliber. They are as easy to use as a revolver –pull the trigger and they fire. Those with polymer frames (Glock was the first, but several manufacturers now offer them) are also lightwieght, and the polymer helps absorb some of the recoil.
And add one more vote for the Ruger 10/22.
Finally, consider a quick access pistol safe, that can be opened in the dark with a touchpad combination. Especially important if there are ever kids (that includes teenagers and immature adults) visiting.
Be safe, and enjoy.
I learned to shoot with a .22 Marlin bolt action. Beautiful gun. 35 years later, I still shoot with it. Just as accurate as it was then. You don’t need to buy anything terribly expensive, but don’t go too inexpensive either. You want that first rifle to be around for a long time.
By the time you are ready to buy a revolver Ruger will have introduced a new cartridge to be chambered in its SP-101 small revolver. The SP-101 is my favorite revolver for concealed carry and you can get one without a hammer spur which is a good thing (because there is nothing to snag on clothing and you are not tempted to shoot it in single-action mode which you should never do with a concealed carry revolver for legal reasons beyond the scope of this conversation).
The new cartridge will be a .327 caliber which will allow 6 rounds in the cylinder instead of the usual 5 in the SP-101. It is supposed to be powered somewhere between a .38 special plus P and a .357 magnum, which sounds pretty interesting.
The SP-101 is ideally suited to fit most female hands. Take a look at it when you go shopping.
‘Way to go, Meryl. I disagreed with the late Rabbi Kahane on many things, and agreed with him on others, but “every Jew, a .22” is definitely in the latter category.
(As much as I’m tempted, I’m not going to get into the pistol vs. revolver thing on your blog, other than to say that I think that semiautos are more fun to shoot, and I pretty much exclusively carry a revolver for self-protection.)
Thumbs-up on the Ruger 10-22 — it’s terrifically reliable, accurate, and rugged.
If you’re ever out this way and of a mind to, a trip to the range is on me.
As to the whole home defense thing, I’m a big believer in something that you can tuck in the pocket of a robe or hold behind your back; rifles and shotguns have their place, but they don’t do that well.
I jacked back that slide and nicely said, “Who is it?†They were racing down the stairs!
For some reason that reminded me of the shark bit on Saturday Night Live.
Telegram for Ms. Yourish.
Click.
Sorry wrong address.
If you do make that shell casing into a key chain, be careful not to bring it to an airport. TSA will not like it one bit.
Enjoyerd the post and replies. I agree with most of the posts. I’ve got a S & W 44 sp for home defense and I got my father a 870 12 ga remington pump with a 18.5 ” open choke barrel. I especially want to echo the reply on the 4 legged alarm system. A few years ago my wife came home with a standard poodle, Completely worthless except doesn’t shed, hypoallegenic, and a great bark; but it’s still french. The only other thing is I recently read an article by a self defense expert advocating a pump 410 for home defense with women and folks not well versed in firearms. A 410 will make a plenty big hole at under 30′, has minimal recoil and maintiains that charateristic “pump” noise. Interesting idea.
Well done! I’ve been shooting for 45 years, and training for more than 35 years. As regards a gun for self defense, a shot gun is not necessarily the best for a home. Yes, a shotgun is hugely more powerful than just about any handgun, but it is big, heavy, clumsy to handle in close quarters, and at the distances it is used (10 to 20 feet) is no more likely to hit an intruder than a handgun (the shot pattern is still quite small – perhaps 3 to 6 inches).
Handguns, on the other hand, are easier to handle in close quarters, and quicker to bring to bear on an intruder.
That being said, I strongly recommend a revolver over an autoloading pistol, especially for someone who is relatively new to handguns. There are several good reasons for this:
ANY revolver in normal operating condition is infinitely more reliable than even the most expensive autoloading pistol – it’s simple mechanics; a revolver is a much less complex a mechanism.
ANY autoloader can jam. Revolvers don’t.
Auto pistols are harder to keep clean – they must be disassembled first. Revolvers require merely opeing the cylider.
An autoloader is not nearly as safe as a revolver – even after removing the magazine (and yes, it is a MAGAZINE, not a “clip”) a live round of ammo can always be left in the chamber of a semi-auto pistol.
Think about it – there’s a reason after all these years that Alaskan guides carry big, powerful REVOLVERS, not semi-auto pistols. They KNOW they will work when that big, angry bear comes punding down the hill.
Other than that, kudos for taking the time to learn a skill that every woman should know, whether she actually decides to own a gun or not.
John Caile
Eden Prairie, MN
As a person who grew up on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, I had a healthy laugh more than a few times at the yokels who believed in God, guns and country. As I got older I saw the laugh was on me. Way to go.
For a .22 rifle, you can’t beat a CZ. You can get a used one for slightly less than $300. Why the CZ? They have a wonderful reputation for phenomenal out-of-the-box accuracy, and I’ve found that most people who practice shooting regularly become more and more interested in accuracy. (I bought mine second-hand after having read various fora posts, and my CZ will regularly put 5 shots into 1/2 inch at 50 yards — which is pretty much what I expected. This is not to suggest that the 10/22 is inaccurate.)
Opinions differ on what works best for home defense. Some like shotguns because of the noise they make when they are racked, and the fact that shot won’t over penetrate (as in go through walls and take out a friendly). Others prefer a revolver, preferably in .38 Spl. or .357 Mag. (If you get a .357 Mag, you can use mild recoiling .38 Spl for practice). We keep a couple of .357s in the bedroom because if you pull the trigger on a revolver and it goes “snap” you simply pull it again until it goes “boom.”
I’ve been shooting and reloading for over 50 years, and I’ve been married for over 30 years. My wife showed no interest whatsoever in shooting until about 6 months ago, when our circumstances changed and she decided that she’d better learn how to shoot. She ended up with a SIG P-239 in 9mm, which she named Ziva after the TV character in the program NCIS, and in the 6 months since then has burned through close to 5000 rounds of 9mm. Talk about a conversion experience . . . She packs either Ziva or a little PPK (.380) in her car.
I agree with the readers who say automatics are easier and more fun to shoot than revolvers.
Good for you! And you’ve got the right idea. Try a lot of different guns before you buy one. Only you can decide what’s right for you. The darn things are getting expensive so there’s no point in buying something you decide you don’t like.
I will also recommend a good quality .38 Special revolver with 4″ barrel for beginners. A good double-action is probably the easiest weapon to handle under extreme stress. No safety to fumble with, no hammer cocking, just aim & pull the trigger. Also, no safety to release means no safety to forget to put back on.
I’ve got various magnums and I cringe at the idea of firing one indoors without plugs and muffs. The blast will peel paint and can stun even an experienced shooter. I vastly prefer subsonic rounds: .38 Special, .44 Special, & .45 ACP for self defense because of their much reduced blast. I also recommend frangible bullets like the Glaser and MagSafe for in-home defense. They’re extremely effective but won’t penetrate walls. They’re also much more reliable in a revolver as their light bullets often won’t cycle an autoloader.
For practice you might also consider an air gun. Much cheaper than a firearm, the ammo is also much cheaper and for $20 you can buy a pellet trap and practice shooting in your hallway or basement at home (they’re quiet, the neighbors will never know). Practice makes perfect and you can get in a lot of practice quickly and easily that way. Besides, you can buy a nice pellet pistol, a pellet trap, a box of co2 ‘powerlets’ (if necessary) and 500 pellets for less than 500 rounds of .38 Special ammo alone (and you should fire at least 500 rounds through any gun you intend to use for self defense to build ‘muscle memory’). They make many air guns to mimic the look and feel of popular defense guns too. They’re great for practicing safe handling, sight alignment, and trigger squeeze, and they’re just a ton of fun.
Finally, before you consider buying a gun of any kind for self defense, I strongly recommend reading Massad Ayoob’s In the Gravest Extreme and The Truth About Self Protection. He tells it like it is, including the ugly parts that anyone who owns a gun ought to know.
Meryl, Dominion Shooting Range (804-276-2851) on Midlothian Turnpike is a decent indoor range. I had a lot of fun shooting with my father there on Thanksgiving. And as a bonus, they’re located right behind Southern Gun World, which is supposed to be a reasonably good store.
Amen to the others that are recommending a pump-action shotgun.
The distinctive sound of a round bein’ chambered will make any intruder think twice, and lookin’ at the hole in the bore of something so small as a .410 is downright spooky, although it most likely won’t get that far… the problem will probably be gone after hearing “CLACK-CLACK!”
ADT beats a dog every time in a home with 2 cats.
More important to buy and shoot something you enjoy than to take advice on the Platonic ideal of a utilitarian choice. Billy the Kid with blackpowder Colts would survive just fine against a wonder 9 super semi-auto held sideways.
Join the NRA and/or JFPO and all the rest. Consider your own experience when evaluating politicians who seek a disarmed populace.
Meryl,
I shoot at Marine COrps Base Quantico nearly every weekend. I have a wide variety of firearms you can try.
John, now THAT would be fun. Quantico’s only about an hour away. Okay, a little more than an hour, but still… Hm. Would it be sexist of me to say, “Consider the eye candy?”
Yeah, probably.
Heh.
Welcome to the gun culture! Congratulations on taking the first step, and I’m glad you had a good time.
Whatever gun you pick to buy, make sure you enjoy holding it and shooting it. A gun that is uncomfortable to hold or that is painful to shoot will be one that you will keep in the closet instead of taking to the range regularly. And when you need it the most, you will be unfamiliar with it and will fumble it. (I speak from experience).
At some point, when you have reached a place of familiarity and confidence, you may consider introducing trustworthy friends to the sport. The more shooting buddies you have, the more you’ll shoot!
And to conclude the unsolicited advice, outdoor ranges have much less noise and blast than indoor ranges. Of course, the weather then plays a part as well. Perhaps you can find a good indoor and outdoor range to cover all conditions.
Way to go Meryl!
I am a over 60 year old woman who took a concealed carry class about 2 months ago using a borrowed semi-automatic. Since then I have borrowed a .22 to practice with back on the range.
I had always wanted to take a class so I would not feel uncomfortable with guns, just as a matter of experience. When a friend said she and some others were going to take the class I didn’t hesitate. I really liked it and am hooked.
My daughter-in-law and son practice using staged scenarios. That would be helpful too.
Even now I know I could probably slow someone significantly down at 30 feet.
Besides that, it’s just fun recreationally.