This year 2012 has been a year of many firsts for this Mindanao blogger. For the very first time, I was sent to the USA by the US Embassy in Manila for a really special leadership program. I was also given the chance to accompany US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas when he visited Mindanao last July. And on a less formal (but still very exciting) opportunity, I met a1, Blue and Jeff Timmons. I also have a new sport this year – boxing! Yup! Who knew I’d fall in love with boxing? 🙂
And now I have fallen in love with another sport – practical shooting.
Practical shooting is a sport which “challenges an individual’s ability to shoot rapidly and accurately with a full-power handgun, rifle, or shotgun.” Yes, folks, practical shooting is shooting with real guns and real bullets!
Now I’m not even going to try to lie. When I received the invitation to try practical shooting at NMPSA Firing Range in CDO, I had reservations. And for good reason. The mere thought of handling a gun (a loaded one at that!) scares the living daylights out of me! But I knew that was my chance to face my fear…and conquer it!
But before tapping your inner Godfather, read these 4 cardinal rules of gun safety:
And pay attention to your range instructor:
My friends and I were oriented with the various types of guns, pistols and rifles at NMPSA Firing Range Cagayan de Oro – a .45 caliber gun, a .22 pistol, an MP5, a Ruger (my favorite!), a World War 2 sub-machine gun called a Thompson and a shotgun.
After tutorials on gun handling, bullet reloading and gun safety (finger out if you’re not ready to fire yet!), it’s time to fireeeee!
The moment of truth (*gulp*)
Don’t be fooled by my all-knowing stance in these photos. I WAS SCARED TO DEATH. I actually kept on screaming. I almost backed out. Good thing the rifle instructor was so patient with me and told me that there was really nothing to be afraid of.
He was so right.
When I finally fired that .45 caliber gun, I felt like as if years…no, DECADES…worth of stress got dissolved. I felt like a huge boulder was just lifted off my shoulders. I felt…ASTIG 😀
IT. WAS. AMAZING!!!
After that very first shot, I already felt so comfortable. I knew there and then that I liked practical shooting and I wanted to do this over and over again.
My favorite was the Ruger. I actually hit a metal plate! When I fired the .45 caliber gun, on the other hand, I also hit the “A” on the paper target. Yay! 😀
I conquered my fear, folks! And you can do it, too!
Give practical shooting a try. DO IT AT LEAST ONCE IN YOUR LIFE! You won’t regret it, believe me!!! Think of it as something new to do in CDO 🙂
The NMPSA Firing Range CDO is located at Zone 9, Anhawon, Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City. For reservations and inquiries, please contact Rheinhart at (+63) 9177170209 You may also want to check out the NMPSA Firing Range CDO Facebook Page
Northern Mindanao Practical Shooting Association, Inc., by the way, is an accredited Gun Club with three (3) accredited firing ranges in Region X.
Here are the available packages:
Company Package
P500.00/person. (Minimum: 15 pax, Maximum: 25 pax)
Duration: half day(approx 4.5 hrs)
Package includes:
• Lecture of Range Instructor about the Rules of Firearm Safety, Fundamentals of Shooting, Dry Firing, Live Shooting and Unloading Firearms
• Use of 4 Firearms(Pistol, Sub Machine-Gun, Rifle, Shotgun)
• 10 rds pistol ammunition
• 15 rds sub machine gun ammunition
• 12 rds .22 rifle ammunition
• 1 rd shotgun ammunition
• 1 small target paper
• Free use of range and equipment
• For companies outside Cagayan de Oro, we will be having a free transportation service from specific pick up points.
• Additional P70.00 for lunch(food and drink)
Tourist Packages:
Barkada 1 Package (10 persons or more) P 6,000.00
• 30 minutes lecture of Range Instructor about the Rules of Firearm Safety, Fundamentals of Shooting, Dry Firing, Live Shooting and Unloading of Firearms.
• Use of 3 Firearms ( Pistol, Shotgun and Sub-machine Gun)
• 10 target papers
• 100 rounds of pistol ammunitions
• 100 rounds of sub-machine gun ammunitions
• 10 rounds of shotgun ammunitions
• Free use of range and equipments
Barkada 2 Package (5 persons or more) P 3,000.00
• 30 minutes lecture of Range Instructor about the Rules of Firearm Safety, Fundamentals of Shooting, Dry Firing, Live Shooting and Unloading of Firearms.
• Use of 3 Firearms ( Pistol, Shotgun and Sub-machine Gun)
• 5 target papers
• 50 rounds of pistol ammunitions
• 50 rounds of sub-machine gun ammunitions
• 5 rounds of shotgun ammunitions
• Free use of range and equipments
Small Group Packages
Sub- Machine Gun MP5 (1 or 3 persons) P 2,000.00
• Lecture
• 3 target papers
• 50 rounds of ammunitions
• With Range Instructor’s assistance
Pistol Classic 1911 (1 or 3 persons) P 1,250.00
• Lecture
• 3 target papers
• 50 rounds of ammunitions
• With Range Instructor’s assistance
Sub- Machine Gun Thompson (1 or 3 persons) P 1,600.00
• Lecture
• 3 target papers
• 50 rounds of ammunitions
• With Range Instructor’s assistance
Shotgun Pump Action P 750.00
• Lecture
• 1 target paper
• 10 rounds of ammunitions
• With Range Instructor’s assistance
Ruger 10-22 Rifle P 1000.00
• Lecture
• 3 target papers
• 100 rounds of ammunitions
• With Range Instructor’s assistance
Every tourist package will consume a maximum of 2 hours. NMPSA Firing Range CDO requires early bookings and reservations for the availability of the range.
Time Schedule for tourist packages:
• 8:00 – 10:00 AM Monday – Sunday
• 10:00 – 12:00 AM Monday – Sunday
• 1:00 – 3:00 PM Monday – Sunday
• 3:00 – 5:00 PM Monday – Sunday
• 5:00 – 7:00 PM Monday – Sunday
For reservations and inquiries, please contact Rheinhart at (+63) 9177170209
Related Images:
Mindanaoan is a multi-awarded blogger, content creator, seasoned social media strategist and publicist with undeniably successful track record. 2012 International Visitor Leadership Program (for global leaders) alumnus and O visa grantee (for people with extraordinary skills and who have risen to the top of their field). Avid traveler and a proud relief operations volunteer. Regular resource person for social media, blogging and content creation. Available for work and travel – [email protected]
Humaygad! I’m skeeerd! hahahaha… Good thing you conquered your fear and pulled the trigger so we can start firing with the Submachine Guns and the shotgun.
It was really fun… How about going back there next month? hehehe…
Let’s goooo!!! Balik na dayon ta heeheehee
Wow exciting! Me want to try that. Curious if I could even bring it coz as far as I know its heavy and all the more heavy when fired up.
Practical shooting is super fun pala 🙂 It’s a bit scary at first but once you fire the gun the first time, you won’t be scared anymore 🙂
I will surely inform my teammates at work to include this on our next team building options. I want to try the feeling of shooting a gun. 🙂
You should! I’m sure you and your friends will like it 🙂