Show and Tell in Sociology of Guns Class

In my Sociology of Guns class yesterday, we de-briefed our field trip to the gun range the previous week. Some of the students’ written reflections are forthcoming – always some of the most read posts on this blog.

In the meantime, pictured below are 4 ammunition cartridges I brought with me to show the class. Three of them the students shot at the range: .22LR, 9mm, and .223 Remington. I highlighted how the diameter of the .22 and .223 bullets are almost the same, though their size and the amount of gunpowder used to propel them are dramatically different.

Although ballistics are well outside of my areas of expertise, students did have questions about calibers designed for hunting, the difference between rifle rounds and shotgun shells, and the legality of fragmenting bullets.

As you can see in the above photo, I also brought a .50 BMG round (actually a bottle opener made from one) because in the chapter of my book-in-progress the students read for class I discuss my experience shooting a “fifty cal” rifle – not well – back in 2012.

This was actually captured on video, which I have posted to my YouTube channel.

As in most things shooting, Sandy does better than me. She took the top right off of the water bottle target.