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Thought for the day
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Wayne
Nov 26, 2011, 3:58:17 PM11/26/11
to
Received this today from my range buddy.
"Long-range rifle-shooting is the most difficult, requiring finer training,
wide-knowledge, steadier nerve, and better physique than is demanded of the
follower of any other sport. ... Rifle shooting ... calls for the exercise
of all the qualities that that most ennoble a person -- determination,
self-possession, faith, self-confidence. ... It allows -- nay commands --
the exercise of intelligence. There is no pastime the equal of rifle
shooting. Rifle shooting, pure and simple, will satisfy without the adjuncts
of applauding crowds, 'pots' won or honours received, for the use of the
rifle is in itself a sport unsurpassed."
- W. W. Greener, The Gun and its Development (1910)
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Learn about rec.guns at http://www.recguns.net
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"Long-range rifle-shooting is the most difficult, requiring finer training,
wide-knowledge, steadier nerve, and better physique than is demanded of the
follower of any other sport. ... Rifle shooting ... calls for the exercise
of all the qualities that that most ennoble a person -- determination,
self-possession, faith, self-confidence. ... It allows -- nay commands --
the exercise of intelligence. There is no pastime the equal of rifle
shooting. Rifle shooting, pure and simple, will satisfy without the adjuncts
of applauding crowds, 'pots' won or honours received, for the use of the
rifle is in itself a sport unsurpassed."
- W. W. Greener, The Gun and its Development (1910)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Learn about rec.guns at http://www.recguns.net
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Louis Boyd
Nov 26, 2011, 7:21:38 PM11/26/11
to
Wayne wrote:
# Received this today from my range buddy.
#
# "Long-range rifle-shooting is the most difficult, requiring finer training,
# wide-knowledge, steadier nerve, and better physique than is demanded of the
# follower of any other sport. ... Rifle shooting ... calls for the exercise
# of all the qualities that that most ennoble a person -- determination,
# self-possession, faith, self-confidence. ... It allows -- nay commands --
# the exercise of intelligence. There is no pastime the equal of rifle
# shooting. Rifle shooting, pure and simple, will satisfy without the adjuncts
# of applauding crowds, 'pots' won or honours received, for the use of the
# rifle is in itself a sport unsurpassed."
#
# - W. W. Greener, The Gun and its Development (1910)
#
W.W. Greener's life depended on selling his fine firearms and promoting
shooting. Of course he was enthusiastic. I doubt anyone would have
said that if they had participated in World War One. A person can
throw themselves into any sport thoroughly. Few sports have any
significant end results. Outmaneuver someone on a chessboard, get
balls ball into a goal. Poke holes closer to a marker than the
competition. Beat on someone until the submit.
The term "sport" pretty well labels any activity useless except for
exercise and maybe box office fees. For that shooting is not high on
the scale of benefit to the sportsman. You don't often hear medical
science or any of the engineering disciplines called sports.
Certainly shooting can be personally rewarding and can require
exceptional concentration and self control. You don't have to
participate at that level to enjoy it. You're likely to find it more
enjoyable if you don't. I'd hate to end my life knowing my greatest
accomplishment was putting a few deer heads on the wall, knowing I'd
shot a few sub 0.1 MOA group, or winning at Camp Perry.
I think Samuel Colt had it right. A gun is just a machine for throwing
balls.
# Received this today from my range buddy.
#
# "Long-range rifle-shooting is the most difficult, requiring finer training,
# wide-knowledge, steadier nerve, and better physique than is demanded of the
# follower of any other sport. ... Rifle shooting ... calls for the exercise
# of all the qualities that that most ennoble a person -- determination,
# self-possession, faith, self-confidence. ... It allows -- nay commands --
# the exercise of intelligence. There is no pastime the equal of rifle
# shooting. Rifle shooting, pure and simple, will satisfy without the adjuncts
# of applauding crowds, 'pots' won or honours received, for the use of the
# rifle is in itself a sport unsurpassed."
#
# - W. W. Greener, The Gun and its Development (1910)
#
W.W. Greener's life depended on selling his fine firearms and promoting
shooting. Of course he was enthusiastic. I doubt anyone would have
said that if they had participated in World War One. A person can
throw themselves into any sport thoroughly. Few sports have any
significant end results. Outmaneuver someone on a chessboard, get
balls ball into a goal. Poke holes closer to a marker than the
competition. Beat on someone until the submit.
The term "sport" pretty well labels any activity useless except for
exercise and maybe box office fees. For that shooting is not high on
the scale of benefit to the sportsman. You don't often hear medical
science or any of the engineering disciplines called sports.
Certainly shooting can be personally rewarding and can require
exceptional concentration and self control. You don't have to
participate at that level to enjoy it. You're likely to find it more
enjoyable if you don't. I'd hate to end my life knowing my greatest
accomplishment was putting a few deer heads on the wall, knowing I'd
shot a few sub 0.1 MOA group, or winning at Camp Perry.
I think Samuel Colt had it right. A gun is just a machine for throwing
balls.
Murff
Nov 27, 2011, 8:57:15 AM11/27/11
to
On Sun, 27 Nov 2011 00:21:38 +0000, Louis Boyd wrote:
# Certainly shooting can be personally rewarding and can require
# exceptional concentration and self control. You don't have to
# participate at that level to enjoy it. You're likely to find it more
# enjoyable if you don't. I'd hate to end my life knowing my greatest
# accomplishment was putting a few deer heads on the wall, knowing I'd
# shot a few sub 0.1 MOA group, or winning at Camp Perry.
Thoughtful articles... I don't need to hunt - we welcome meat on the
table from it, but we don't depend on it.
I'm a member of a friendly rifle club (in Ilkley, Yorkshire) but I don't
go there as often as maybe I should. They shoot a lot of bench-rest
there. And once, on the range, I met a chap with an exquisite target air
rifle - wearing a suit, into which he was strapped, of stiff fabric. He
was shooting paper at 10 metres and putting every round through the same
hole. I was momentarily horrified.
Extreme precision is a shooting discipline - whether bench-rest or
standing. The brief reaction of horror was the realisation that
ultimately extreme precision will always be defeated by the simple fact
that a human can't eliminate uncertainty as much as a big clamp can.
For me, the hunt isn't principally about delicious meat on the table. It
is about learning from the experience of going into a highly variable
environment and reacting to that environment appropriately. Slowly,
quietly stalking a deer to take a shot with a .30-06 at 60 yards. Hitting
a rabbit in the head at 115 yards with a subsonic .22LR in a 30mph cross
wind. Bringing down a fast-flying pheasant or partridge put up in a
walked-up shoot. All these are full of uncontrollable variables which
must be handled in order to make that successful shot - they cannot be
eliminated.
And it is a clean, honest environment. You can't make excuses, or rescue
a bad situation with political bull. You don't even necessarily need to
take a shot to come away with a sense of achievement (stalking to within
30 yards of an out-of-season Roe doe, having left the rifle in the car).
Close encounters with nature - near misses with owls and actually having
to observe and understand quarry to effectively shoot it. And I've gained
a great many friends - fellow shooters but also farmers, gamekeepers, and
people who don't shoot but like to cook and talk about cooking game.
I don't do hunt trophies, and I don't competition shoot any more. But I
do get a great deal out of my shooting. Then again, the sport isn't just
throwing balls at targets.
Murff...
# Certainly shooting can be personally rewarding and can require
# exceptional concentration and self control. You don't have to
# participate at that level to enjoy it. You're likely to find it more
# enjoyable if you don't. I'd hate to end my life knowing my greatest
# accomplishment was putting a few deer heads on the wall, knowing I'd
# shot a few sub 0.1 MOA group, or winning at Camp Perry.
Thoughtful articles... I don't need to hunt - we welcome meat on the
table from it, but we don't depend on it.
I'm a member of a friendly rifle club (in Ilkley, Yorkshire) but I don't
go there as often as maybe I should. They shoot a lot of bench-rest
there. And once, on the range, I met a chap with an exquisite target air
rifle - wearing a suit, into which he was strapped, of stiff fabric. He
was shooting paper at 10 metres and putting every round through the same
hole. I was momentarily horrified.
Extreme precision is a shooting discipline - whether bench-rest or
standing. The brief reaction of horror was the realisation that
ultimately extreme precision will always be defeated by the simple fact
that a human can't eliminate uncertainty as much as a big clamp can.
For me, the hunt isn't principally about delicious meat on the table. It
is about learning from the experience of going into a highly variable
environment and reacting to that environment appropriately. Slowly,
quietly stalking a deer to take a shot with a .30-06 at 60 yards. Hitting
a rabbit in the head at 115 yards with a subsonic .22LR in a 30mph cross
wind. Bringing down a fast-flying pheasant or partridge put up in a
walked-up shoot. All these are full of uncontrollable variables which
must be handled in order to make that successful shot - they cannot be
eliminated.
And it is a clean, honest environment. You can't make excuses, or rescue
a bad situation with political bull. You don't even necessarily need to
take a shot to come away with a sense of achievement (stalking to within
30 yards of an out-of-season Roe doe, having left the rifle in the car).
Close encounters with nature - near misses with owls and actually having
to observe and understand quarry to effectively shoot it. And I've gained
a great many friends - fellow shooters but also farmers, gamekeepers, and
people who don't shoot but like to cook and talk about cooking game.
I don't do hunt trophies, and I don't competition shoot any more. But I
do get a great deal out of my shooting. Then again, the sport isn't just
throwing balls at targets.
Murff...
Louis Boyd
Jan 28, 2012, 12:34:53 PM1/28/12
to
Wayne wrote:
# Received this today from my range buddy.
#
# "Long-range rifle-shooting is the most difficult, requiring finer training,
# wide-knowledge, steadier nerve, and better physique than is demanded of the
# follower of any other sport. ... Rifle shooting ... calls for the exercise
# of all the qualities that that most ennoble a person -- determination,
# self-possession, faith, self-confidence. ... It allows -- nay commands --
# the exercise of intelligence. There is no pastime the equal of rifle
# shooting. Rifle shooting, pure and simple, will satisfy without the adjuncts
# of applauding crowds, 'pots' won or honours received, for the use of the
# rifle is in itself a sport unsurpassed."
#
# - W. W. Greener, The Gun and its Development (1910)
Greener made his money selling guns. Of course he'd hype them.
# Received this today from my range buddy.
#
# "Long-range rifle-shooting is the most difficult, requiring finer training,
# wide-knowledge, steadier nerve, and better physique than is demanded of the
# follower of any other sport. ... Rifle shooting ... calls for the exercise
# of all the qualities that that most ennoble a person -- determination,
# self-possession, faith, self-confidence. ... It allows -- nay commands --
# the exercise of intelligence. There is no pastime the equal of rifle
# shooting. Rifle shooting, pure and simple, will satisfy without the adjuncts
# of applauding crowds, 'pots' won or honours received, for the use of the
# rifle is in itself a sport unsurpassed."
#
# - W. W. Greener, The Gun and its Development (1910)
Greener made his money selling guns. Of course he'd hype them.
penultimate
Jan 29, 2012, 10:03:16 PM1/29/12
to
W. W. Greener made his money designing and making guns, including
considerable personal time at the bench, and is responsible for a
number of patented innovations that brought him a pretty good income
from other makers. Among his better known "inventions" are choke-
boring shotguns to improve pattern uniformity and density and the
particularly strong means of cross-bolting a double barrel shotgun
action named in his honor ("The Greener crossbolt") which is still in
common design use today. He was also one hell of a competitive
shooter. My point is simply that he was a lot more than a mere "gun
salesman" hyping his product. Further, since he actually made and
sold mainly shotguns, I would judge his comments regarding the
discipline of long range rifle shooting as pretty unbiased.
haraoi_conal
Feb 5, 2012, 7:06:01 AM2/5/12
to
Greener's comments pretty much mirror Jeff Cooper's thoughts, "A good
shot must necessarily be a good man since the essence of good
marksmanship is self-control and self-control is the essential quality
of a good man."
I'll pretty much take the Colonel's word for it and not second guess
or criticize.
shot must necessarily be a good man since the essence of good
marksmanship is self-control and self-control is the essential quality
of a good man."
I'll pretty much take the Colonel's word for it and not second guess
or criticize.
misanthropic_curmudgeon
Feb 6, 2012, 8:07:13 PM2/6/12
to
On Jan 30, 4:03=A0pm, penultimate <drwi...@cimtel.net> wrote:
# W. W. Greener made his money designing and making guns, including
# considerable personal time at the bench, and is responsible for a
# number of patented innovations that brought him a pretty good income
# from other makers. =A0Among his better known "inventions" are choke-
# boring shotguns to improve pattern uniformity and density and the
# particularly strong means of cross-bolting a double barrel shotgun
# action named in his honor ("The Greener crossbolt") which is still in
# common design use today. =A0He was also one hell of a competitive
# shooter. =A0My point is simply that he was a lot more than a mere "gun
# salesman" hyping his product. =A0Further, since he actually made and
# sold mainly shotguns, I would judge his comments regarding the
# discipline of long range rifle shooting as pretty unbiased.
Quite probably, but saying that shooters "requir[e a] better physique
than is demanded of the follower of any other sport" is pure hyperbole.
# W. W. Greener made his money designing and making guns, including
# considerable personal time at the bench, and is responsible for a
# number of patented innovations that brought him a pretty good income
# from other makers. =A0Among his better known "inventions" are choke-
# boring shotguns to improve pattern uniformity and density and the
# particularly strong means of cross-bolting a double barrel shotgun
# action named in his honor ("The Greener crossbolt") which is still in
# common design use today. =A0He was also one hell of a competitive
# shooter. =A0My point is simply that he was a lot more than a mere "gun
# salesman" hyping his product. =A0Further, since he actually made and
# sold mainly shotguns, I would judge his comments regarding the
# discipline of long range rifle shooting as pretty unbiased.
Quite probably, but saying that shooters "requir[e a] better physique
than is demanded of the follower of any other sport" is pure hyperbole.
penultimate
Feb 7, 2012, 8:54:09 AM2/7/12
to
# Quite probably, but saying that shooters "requir[e a] better
physique
# than is demanded of the follower of any other sport" is pure
hyperbole.
As opposed to impure hyperbole?
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