In the event a zombie outbreak happens (and it will), one of the most useful survival skills you will probably need to know aside from running for your life is how to shoot a real gun. Though I play the occasional first-person shooters like Left4Dead and have tried shooting games like lazer tag, paintball, and airsoft, nothing beats target practice at a shooting range.
I had a chance to test out my gun-toting skills in a firing range in Isabela province for a shoot for Living Asia Channel. I haven’t even started writing about this trip last year for the blog (add that to my backlog list), but I did post some photo highlights on Facebook.
Piazza Zicarelli Hotel and Restaurant is an Italian-inspired hotel located along the busy Maharlika Highway in Upi, Gami, Isabela. The place is owned by an Italian expat married to a Filipina. Aside from serving pretty good food and serving as an events venue, the basement of the hotel has been converted into a gaming room/hangout with a billiard table and its own private firing range.
Mr. Zicarelli himself demonstrated a few rounds for the camera and then reloaded the gun and let me try it out. He gave me some safety reminders, instructed me to wear goggles and ear muffs, and showed how to load the barrel of the gun and aim properly. There’s really something about shooting a gun that’s really empowering. It can be a real rush especially when you aim and anticipate the first loud bang. The recoil was pretty rough at first, but after a few more shots, I was able to steady the gun and hit the target more accurately.
I have to say the whole experience of firing a gun provided a real adrenaline rush. Mr. Zicarelli checked out the target board and said I did pretty well, as all the shots I fired hit the target close to the center. Maybe all those shoot-em-ups at the arcade helped somehow. It’s good to know that I can make that life-saving headshot come the zombie apocalypse. And if handguns aren’t readily available, I know I can use an AK-47 as well. ;p Now, if only someone would offer crossbow and samurai sword lessons.
NOTE: Always remember that guns are not toys. Loaded firearms should be treated with respect. Read more about Range Etiquette.
SAFETY REMINDERS:
- Consider every gun as loaded
- Never let the muzzle of a gun point at anything you do not intend to shoot
- Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire
- Be sure of your target and what lies beyond and around it before you shoot
Piazza Zicarelli Hotel and Restaurant, Maharlika Highway, Upi, Gamu, Isabela. Tel. No. (078) 622-2340 Email: zicarellicaterina@yahoo.com Contact Person: Zenaida M. Zicarelli
Photos of me by Del Mercado.