Firearms training at Abernathy Creek

• Washington Our Home
• May 10, 2018
• Gear, Hunting, Recreation
• 0
• 1839

The video game, Oregon Trail, was an educational masterpiece of activity and learning, and one of the most successful early entries into the early world of computer gaming. I remember spending hours trying (usually unsuccessfully) to reach the state just south of the one in which I grew up. And one of the key skills needed to reach the Columbia River was hunting.

Love them or hate them, firearms are a part of Washington State’s heritage. Without the advantage offered by guns and rifles, Washington’s first settlers may not have survived long against the wilds of our state. Some could argue that guns in the hands of the Native Americans were the only thing that prevented their outright obliteration. Later, as society progressed, firearms became an integral part of a police force, home protection and self defense.

Today, millions of Washingtonians responsibly own and use firearms for sport, hunting, target shooting, and to stoke a feeling of connection to a long history of what may very well be the single most defining object man has ever created. The United States Constitution’s Second Amendment guarantees that “the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed,” which means it was so important to the founders of this country that it was listed only after the rights to free speech, religion and assembly.

Until that changes, guns will continue to be part of our shared culture.

Now, having laid that foundation I must confess that I enjoy shooting pistols, rifles and shotguns. I’ve never been hunting, but I certainly can appreciate the need to spend time alone in nature. I also admire those in touch with their primal roots, hearkening back to a time when humans hunted to provide food and warmth for their families.

And there are thousands of them in Washington State who purchase millions of dollars worth of weaponry and accessories, special clothing, equipment, and gear – all of which helps drive our state’s economy forward. Additionally, all of those hunters must purchase permits from the state, further strengthening the economy as well as providing the majority of resources used to manage, conserve and protect fish and game here.

People who like guns don’t usually like just one type of gun. If you’re a gun person (firearms aficionado sounds better, doesn’t it?), then you can no doubt appreciate the vast selection of rifles, shotguns and handguns available to try out whenever you’d like, pending the required background checks of course.

Law-abiding, responsible gun owners like myself enjoy taking time away from the hustle and bustle to go bust off a few rounds and derive satisfaction from operating a machine so well-designed that it not only contains a tiny explosion but harnesses that power to direct a projectile at an impossibly fast rate of speed. Cavemen threw rocks…firearms are just the natural evolution of that. Why do you think they’re called arms?

I was fortunate enough to spend some time in Cowlitz County recently, where my friend Joseph Govednik – an expert in both historic and modern firearms – took me to a local “community” gun range off Abernathy Creek Road. You know it’s a spot favored by locals because it’s in the middle of the woods and there’s already a pile of used targets. It was here that we decided to throw some lead downrange and try out some of our new toys.

In the video above, you’ll see that Joseph and I brought several weapons of various types to try out, from shotguns to rifles, and handguns both automatic and revolver.

First up was my go-to bear defense whenever I’m hiking or camping in the woods around Washington. It’s a Smith and Wesson M&P .45, worn in a hip holster. With the right bullets, the M&P has a tremendous amount of stopping power should you encounter a bear, cougar or another similarly-sized animal. It’s an excellent choice against bipedal threats as well. There’s not much in North America that wouldn’t turn around and run for cover in the face of 10 .45 caliber bullets screaming in it’s direction. You can check out the specs here.

Next up is one of my favorite guns; easily one of the most fun revolvers I’ve ever shot. It’s a Taurus Model 66 revolver in .357 with wood grips, manufactured in the 1990s. The six-shot cylinder is one of the smoothest I’ve handled, and the action is – for lack of a better word – perfect. I have to point out the manufacture date, though, because today’s Model 66s don’t have the same feel. You can see for yourself what they look like nowadays. With their rubber grips and oversize barrel, the current 66s seem like they’re trying too much to be like The Judge.

Moving back into the world of automatics, Joseph brought his Tokarev Type 213 9mm to try out. Here’s a weapon I’ve never heard of and know nothing about. From what Joseph tells me, it’s a Chinese version of a Soviet semiautomatic (and boy, does he have fun with it at the three-minute mark of the video above!). He also mentioned that it’s been “rechambered in 9mm parabellum,” which means its a firearms cartridge that was designed by Georg Luger and introduced in 1902 by the German weapons manufacturer Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken for their Luger semi-automatic pistol. I knew those two years of German in high school would pay off someday.

From there, we moved into long guns. Joseph has a Rossi M92 carbine in .357 magnum. It’s a lever action rifle that can shoot the same rounds as a .357 magnum revolver (note that the .357 I mentioned earlier is NOT a magnum, so you wouldn’t want to mix up the rounds between the two). Frankly, I thought the whole thing was kind of a novelty until I tried it out for myself. There’s something to be said for heading into the woods with a rifle and a handgun and only bringing one type of ammo that can be used in both. And lever actions can’t help but invoke images of wild west movies we all watched as kids. Anyway, we had fun with it. 

Joseph wanted to try out his Marlin 70PSS “Papoose” .22 semiautomatic with a custom camouflage paint job. At first glance, it is easily the least impressive long gun I have ever seen. With a tiny barrel, missing fore-end and weirdly-disproportionate stock, I was left trying to find the benefits to owning such a firearm. And then Joseph broke it in half in about three seconds. Turns out, it’s a take-down rifle meant for carrying somewhat discreetly in a backpack. Then it all made sense. And even though it’s just a .22, the sound of the bullets whizzing out of the barrel made it more fun to shoot than I would have expected. So much for judging books by their covers.

We broke out the shotguns after the long guns, and the first one we fired was a Rossi Tuffy .410. That gauge is likely the smallest of the shotgun family, and that makes it fun to shoot. This particular model is a backpacking and survival-type shotgun with a little feature I’d never seen before. You can store up to four extra shells in the butt stock, which has a window where you can see how many are in there. It’s a pretty cool little single-shot shotgun, and you can watch the fun I had with the auto-eject here.

Next we moved on to what I had been anticipating all day…the Shockwaves. Not only have I never fired a shotgun before, I’ve certainly never fired a firearm with a short barrel and a bird’s-head grip. Joseph bought one in 12-gauge a few months before I did, and I thought it would be a perfect addition to my deep-woods backpacking equipment. I snapped one up around the time they started making them in 20-gauge, when the 12-gauge prices dipped. My plan was to use it like Hicks in the movie Aliens, loaded with Brenneke Black Magic slugs. You know…something I like to keep handy. For close encounters.

We test drove a few rounds of bird shot, followed by a few rounds of buckshot and ending with two slugs. The kick from the slugs wasn’t as terrible as I expected, but the buckshot blowback was jarring. The Mossberg 590 Shockwave firearm (and it’s technically a “firearm,” not a shotgun. Just ask the ATF) was a real thrill to shoot and we had a ton of fun with them.

Lastly, I couldn’t let the outing conclude without firing another of my favorite pistols…my everyday carry, the Ruger LCP II .380. This thing has been one of the best firearm purchases I have ever made. It’s extremely lightweight, very compact, super affordable, and packs quite a punch. Plus, it’s fun to shoot (they also make an LC 9 that’s just a tad bigger in 9mm).

I picked up a leg holster from Bear Armz Tactical that keeps it snug against the inside of my shin, and after wearing it for a week I don’t even feel it anymore. I’m not worried about printing (when your concealed firearm can be distinguished through your clothing) even when I sit with my legs crossed. It’s like it’s not even there. And yet, if I need it, it’s right there. I highly recommend it for your EDC.

If you like guns, get out and shoot them when you can.