My firearm license finally arrived, so I joined a shooting club right away.  There are only a few shooting range around Vancouver. The one in North Vancouver only open on weekend.  The Richmond club only shoots shot guns.  The Port Coquitlam club is outdoor only. Thompson Mountain in Mission looks perfect but it is too far away.  At last, the Langley Club is within driving distance and has a indoor range opens in the evening.  I went there after work and check out the place.  The facility is quite nice and people are very friendly. The club has loaner .22 riflers for club member to borrow.  Unfortunately I was told they sell ammunition but in fact you have to bring your own bullets.  So I have to drive to the closest Canadian tire to get some ammunition before I can start shooting.  I also picked up a visor and ear mug for just $20.  Now I am all set and looks like a marksman.

Since it is my first time shooting a rifle, the range officer gave me some basic training and shooting tips.  I learn how to hold the rifle. The key is to keep your left hand steady so the target is in the line of sight. There is no special way hold your right hand, as long as it is comfortable. Once you have aimed the target, you breath out half of the air from your lung, hold your breath and then pull the trigger. Pulling the trigger while keep the aim on the target is the hardest part.  You suppose to move only your trigger finger while keeping the wrist steady still. The rule of .22 sporting rifle competition is to shot 2 rounds at each of the 5 target zones.  If you hit bullseye on all 10 rounds, you got 100 points. The further away from the bullseye, the lesser the points. My best score today is 94 as shown in the photo above.  I fired 80 rounds in total and I am too ashame to show the other target sheets.  The range officer even let me try out his expensive rifle with a 9x scope. With such a magnification power, I can see the aiming cross is wobbling when I am trying to aim.

Shooting is a very delicate sport. It requires concentration, focus and a tranquil state of the mind to get a clear shot. I can foresee years of practice down the road for me to become a better marksman.