Like a scene out of The Godfather…armed with a Glock 9mm, I placed my finger on the trigger, braced myself and pulled. The bullet hit the paper target several feet ahead of me.
Adrenaline rushed. Stress relieved.
I fired again, hitting nearby the already pierced paper. With every shot, I wanted to improve. Something so simple was quite challenging.
Top: Megan Kurtz Maher gives author Alexandra tips on aiming her shot. Alexandra with owner George Kurtz.
Did you know that shooting is also a sport? It might not fall in line with classics like soccer, basketball or football, but it is established as a competitive sport that you can do either by yourself or with a team.
I might not be joining a tournament anytime soon, but I got to brush up on my target practice at Shooters Sporting Center, where I was welcomed by one of the owners, George Kurtz and his daughter Megan.
The center sits on 24 acres of land in Little Egg Harbor Township and is the biggest range in South Jersey since opening in 2013. Branded as the sportsmen’s paradise, this shop has everything you would need for a trip outdoors.
Not only can you grab clothing or gear, you can practice your firearm skills in the 15-lane indoor range, with an outdoor range soon to come. They also offer a 10-lane archery range and shooting classes.
After 30 or so minutes of practicing, I realized shooting a gun is a little more than what meets the eye.
You’ll need arm strength to hold the gun directly in front of you, hand-eye coordination to connect the barrel of the gun to the target, patience to understand that you won’t be perfect and balance to stand strong on your feet. All of these are lessons in remaining a great shooter.
Kurtz also stresses gun safety. You must complete a safety course prior to shooting, and wear the protective gear. When asked for some safety tips, Kurtz replied, “Never leave a loaded gun unattended and always keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.”
Next time you are in the area, Shooters is definitely worth the shot.
For more info or to check out the online store, visit www.shootersnj.com.
