BEST OF CINCINNATI

Four places in or near Cincinnati that you might not be aware of, but should be:

BEST GUN STORE:
Peterson's Gun Shop
11338 Reading Rd, Sharonville


When you tire of looking at endless rows of the latest tactical offerings that debuted at SHOT and wish for something a bit different - drive over to Peterson's for a real treat. While they do have a respectable collection of new handguns, it's the items inside the back counter that you should spend some time studying. You'll likely find a treasure or two, whether you're looking for a vintage revolver or a more modern used weapon.

The pricing is fair, and the store offers 90-day layaway. If you're concerned about the reliability of their used guns - don't be. They have a gunsmith on premises to examine things before they're offered for sale, and offer a money-back guarantee on their used guns.

It's a small shop, and may not look like much from the street... you may have even driven past it and not noticed it. Nor do they do heavy radio advertising like the large store/range just down the road. But their large, unique selection and great personable service make it the perfect destination on a Saturday morning.

BEST INDOOR RANGE:
Shooter's Supply
3450 Richardson Rd, Independence KY


Shooter's is relatively new to the scene, and I'll admit a bit of trepidation in revealing their location... they almost seem like a well-kept secret; a place that real gun owners go to shoot with others of their kind, instead of having to deal with long lines and the occasional questionable customers at the range a few miles north of Petersons. ;)

To be fair, I've done a lot of shooting at TargetWorld. The staff is very friendly, and I'll quickly admit they've always treated me more than fairly - both when I've used their range or purchased guns. But as with many things, popularity tends to bring population - and on many weekends, waiting 30-60 mins for a lane is not unheard of. Also unfortunate is the condition of the range. It's not uncommon for multiple lanes to be "down", and the customers range from older gentlemen with excellent skills, to college kids perfecting their spray-and-pray technique.

Such is not the case at Shooter's.

The range has excellent lighting and plenty of room behind the firing line. It's kept cleaner than your basement, and I've yet to see a lane out-of-service. You'll find your fellow shooters will be a bit more mature in their attitude and safety practices, as well quite friendly should a conversation arise.

Extra bonus: if you reload, you'll have no problem sweeping up your brass as there's nothing cluttering up the range and most customers I've seen are very good about policing their own brass. Finally - if you enjoy shooting rifles larger than rimfire, Shooter's may be just your ticket. While they don't allow higher-velocity rounds such as 22-250, feel free to bring your .223 AR15.

While the store doesn't have the the wealth of inventory ala TargetWorld, you'll find that their range is worth the drive.

BEST SUSHI:
Wild Ginger Asian Bistro
3655 Edwards Road, Cincinnati


For years, I had a rule about eating seafood in the Midwest: I didn't. Growing up 30 minutes away from the Gulf of Mexico gives one a different opinion of "fresh seafood" compared to the fare in Ohio. But every rule has an exception, and in this case it's in Norwood.

It's fresh, it's tasty, and the prices are - well, strangely affordable. It's fairly packed around lunchtime, so if you're hoping for some quiet conversation over a Spicy Tuna Roll - prepare to hear quite a few conversations in addition to your own. However, once the food arrives you'll have little time to talk... the flavors will win the contest of talk vs eat.

If you happen to have a lunch partner that doesn't enjoy the perfection that is raw seafood - not to worry, as there's also an extensive menu of noodle and rice dishes. I highly recommend the Thai Garlic Chicken. PF Chang's does have its merits, and Bangkok Bistro does have a loyal following... but if you truly want the best Asian food, you'll be at Wild Ginger.

BEST LIVE ENTERTAINMENT:
Shadowbox Cabaret
Newport on the Levee, Newport


Shadowbox isn't a bar with live entertainment; more accurately, it's a theatre that happens to serve drinks. While I could type a couple of paragraphs describing the stellar entertainment value, I really wouldn't be able to do it justice. It may be the best live music and sketch comedy presentation you'll ever see in Cincinnati.

If you're hoping to impress your date/girlfriend/boyfriend/spouse (and don't mind more adult-oriented humor) Shadowbox is hands-down going to earn you some Cool Points. But consider yourself warned... if you're anything like me, don't be surprised when you go from being a "first timer" to nearly an "all the damned timer".

Note: this list is Bethy-approved.

7 MONTHS, 7 YARDS

In June of last year, I decided it was time to sell my Glock 19 and acquire a handgun I felt better suited me... I wrote about it here. While the G19 is a fine gun, I could never get any consistent accuracy. Some shots would be good, while others flew to the left with annoying regularity.

When I first fired the P99, I knew I had found something better for me. While I don't consider myself to be a great shooter by any means, I've steadily improved over the months... getting my stance more consistent, raising the gun to the same height every time, and forcing myself to focus more on the front sight and less on the target.

Normally I place targets around 3-5 yards, but today I decided to push out to 7 yards. I was doing well at the shorter distances, and decided to see how it would translate a few feet further. I raised the gun up, got a good sight picture, and started pulling the trigger.

The results basically shocked me.

In the recent past, I've usually managed 3-4" groups at 5 yards, and around 5-7" groups at 7 yards. But today, everything really came together. I fired 10 rounds into a 2.5" group. I looked up a bit amazed, and reloaded. On the second pass, I popped a flyer on the 6th shot. After silently cursing myself for rushing it, I raised the gun back up and put the last 4 through the red.

I retrieved the target and smiled.

I shot about 40 rounds after that, most within 3-4" at that distance. Finally my hour was up - I packed up, collected all my brass and headed home. It was a good day for shooting.

THE GIRL AND A GUN

The Bethy flew up to Cincinnati to celebrate the New Year, and on Sunday we went on her second trip to the range. Her first time ever was nearly a year ago, and she was eager to punch some more holes in paper.

Before we left home, I quickly gave her a refresher course on how the guns worked. It had been a long time since she'd held one, and I wanted to make sure she was comfortable. I handed her the Walther P99, and was impressed; she immediately remembered her trigger and muzzle discipline, indexing her finger on the slide and keeping it pointed in a safe direction.

We stopped by Walmart and picked up 200rds of WWB, some extra .22 for the Ruger MkII, and a pack of reactive targets. Normally I use regular paper targets, but I thought seeing the holes brightly pop out would make it easier for her to track her shots.

Her shooting was impressive. She hadn't fired a gun in nearly a year, yet her form was good and her groups respectable for someone so new to the sport. Her first few shots were always very close to the center. She did have a tendency to drop her aim near the end of the magazine, but her lack of an obvious flinch is indeed a strength.

I'm fairly sure she shot more that day than I did, but for me it wasn't about trigger time... it was just about spending time with my girl. She's without a doubt my favorite range partner, and I can't wait for our next trip.