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University of Tennessee Sustainable Technology through Advanced Interdisciplinary Research (STAIR) PhD Program |
Keffer Research Group at the Shooting Range
Norris, TN, July 18, 2013
![]() The range is located out in the woods in Norris State Park, accessible only by a narrow gravel road. The range was empty when we arrived. Shooting here is a relaxing experience. ![]() We began in the pistol range at a distance of 10 yards. ![]() Nethika Suraweera (PhD, Chemical Engineering, Dec. 2013) tries her hand with a Ruger .22 pistol. This was her first interaction with a gun. The .22 pistol is a fun, target practice gun. ![]() Qianping He (PhD, Chemical Engineering, Dec. 2013) also shot the Ruger. ![]() Marshall McDonnel (PhD, Chemical Engineering, 2015), who served two tours in Iraq in the US Army, decided to start with the Glock 9mm. ![]() Dr. Orlando Rios also started with the Glock. ![]() Nick McNutt (PhD, Chemical Engineering, 2016) opted for the Ruger, which is the most accurate of the handguns that I brought. ![]() Intent on improving her score, Qianping shot the Ruger several times. ![]() Nick made his way to the Glock. ![]() Orlando shot the Ruger. ![]() Qianping also was pretty accurate with the Glock. ![]() Orlando was the first to shoot the Smith & Wesson .38 revolver. ![]() The shooting competition was friendly. ![]() Nick shot the Smith & Wesson too. (I think everybody had a chance to shoot all three of the handguns I brought.) ![]() Nethika shot the .38 and then we moved over to the rifle range. ![]() I brought a .22 bolt action rifle with a very modest scope. At a distance of fifty yards, we shot targets and empty shotgun shells that we picked up off the ground. ![]() Nethika concentrated so much she would forget to reload the chamber. ![]() The scope is for helping the shooter identify where they hit the target. ![]() The surrounding forest is quiet, punctuated by the report of the rifle. ![]() I think everybody that tried was able to knock down shotgun shells at fifty yards, which is a satisfying feeling. ![]() We shot most of our ammunition. ![]() We stayed about three hours or so, which was pretty good considering it was about 90 degrees and Tennessee humid. ![]() We had a great time. ![]() You are looking at the bright future of multiscale materials modelers! |