Stars & Stripes, my bullseye team, had range duty tonight, so I got there early and put 40 rounds through my 617 to get warmed up, then jumped on the second relay...and shot a 526! holy smokes! All of my worries about my fatigue and mood negatively affecting my scores this week? Out the window! Then I jumped on the 4th relay and shot my 41...and shot a 550! Sweetness! (too bad the second score doesn't count, but the first is quite respectable, being another near-40 point increase from the previous week).
I also stuck around to learn how to officiate the meeting, with the caller in the booth and watching for alibies on the line, as well as learning more of the nuances of the game (like if you have an alibi and have to reshoot, only your bottom 20 shots count, or what situations actually count for an alibi). Now if I had a good radio/announcer voice, I might actually feel confident enough to perform booth duties, too...
Anyways...happy day =) (makes up for the crappiness, at least, so it evens out)
Monday, March 31, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Range report
(does anyone read these anyways?) after loafing around work today (blech), getting the phones and network and printers better set-up than yesterday (and I just know that I'm going to get a ton of calls tomorrow, and I'll bet I know just who I'll be getting them from, too), I went to the range...
I think I'm just so tired I can't hold a gun steady enough; somehow I managed to put 19 shots on-paper...once. The rest of them were in the 14-15 range. Teh Suck. And now I've started keeping track of how many were actually in the black, and not just on-paper. Even worse: they were floating around 10 shots out of 20 in the black. That's 80 points (black scoring rings start at 8, the 9, 10, and X which also counts as 10) at least, but that just means that the shots inside the black will "make up for" the shots outside the black. Dammit.
Tomorrow I might not do so well in our MPL meeting.
--
Addendum: Wow...in just 1 year I've put over 4000 rounds through my S&W 617. Nearly half of them have been in the past six weeks. Damn. I think at 10,000 rounds I'll send it to S&W for re-timing and probably a good trigger job/internal parts replacement.
I think I'm just so tired I can't hold a gun steady enough; somehow I managed to put 19 shots on-paper...once. The rest of them were in the 14-15 range. Teh Suck. And now I've started keeping track of how many were actually in the black, and not just on-paper. Even worse: they were floating around 10 shots out of 20 in the black. That's 80 points (black scoring rings start at 8, the 9, 10, and X which also counts as 10) at least, but that just means that the shots inside the black will "make up for" the shots outside the black. Dammit.
Tomorrow I might not do so well in our MPL meeting.
--
Addendum: Wow...in just 1 year I've put over 4000 rounds through my S&W 617. Nearly half of them have been in the past six weeks. Damn. I think at 10,000 rounds I'll send it to S&W for re-timing and probably a good trigger job/internal parts replacement.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
range report
went to work (yay, new office...), went to paintball (Eric F.'s Bachelor Party, kinda like Remy's Bachelor Party, and "David"'s Bachelor Party, apparently; I sense a theme), went to dinner (TGIFriday's), went to the range...
My 50-yard bullseye is jamming on the suck-button hard...but then I probably need to get used to the new trigger pull (milled a touch more sear into the hammer; now the trigger pull's about double what it was before). 4 out of 6 of my targets were < 15 hits, while the other two were 18 and 17 hits. Bah.
What made my day, however, was looking at the Metro Pistol League standings--Stars & Stripes (my team) won last week and--get this--I made the top 4 shooters for handicap score on my team! I actually helped out! W00t!
My 50-yard bullseye is jamming on the suck-button hard...but then I probably need to get used to the new trigger pull (milled a touch more sear into the hammer; now the trigger pull's about double what it was before). 4 out of 6 of my targets were < 15 hits, while the other two were 18 and 17 hits. Bah.
What made my day, however, was looking at the Metro Pistol League standings--Stars & Stripes (my team) won last week and--get this--I made the top 4 shooters for handicap score on my team! I actually helped out! W00t!
Thursday, March 27, 2008
range report
my brother met up with me at the range and we took two lanes side by side, putting lead downrange, over 600 rounds of .22 and 9mm. Good times.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Range Report: Bullseye #3
Big improvement!!! Better darn well be, I tell you, if I've put 800 rounds downrange in pursuit of improvement this week.
Shot my 617 with the wally-world federal bulk ammo, and got 158 on the slowfire, 162 on the timed fire, and 168 on the rapid fire! w00t! That's a 46-point improvement over last week, 39 points up from two weeks ago, and gave me a handicap score of 289-and-change. Not bad!
Practice pays off!
Just received three S&W 41 magazines today, so now I have 5 magazines for it. Hmm. What to use next week? S&W 41? S&W 617? Ruger Mk.II? I should get one of those Pardini target pistols...but, somehow, I can't justify dropping $2K on a gun unless I was extremely serious about it, and right now it's just my latest hobby. Knowing me, I'll plateau somewhere in the 520s, call it "good enough", and move onto something else like IDPA or something. And no amount of money or quality equipment will get me any better... Archery sounds like fun =)
Shot my 617 with the wally-world federal bulk ammo, and got 158 on the slowfire, 162 on the timed fire, and 168 on the rapid fire! w00t! That's a 46-point improvement over last week, 39 points up from two weeks ago, and gave me a handicap score of 289-and-change. Not bad!
Practice pays off!
Just received three S&W 41 magazines today, so now I have 5 magazines for it. Hmm. What to use next week? S&W 41? S&W 617? Ruger Mk.II? I should get one of those Pardini target pistols...but, somehow, I can't justify dropping $2K on a gun unless I was extremely serious about it, and right now it's just my latest hobby. Knowing me, I'll plateau somewhere in the 520s, call it "good enough", and move onto something else like IDPA or something. And no amount of money or quality equipment will get me any better... Archery sounds like fun =)
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Range Report
After today's ride, yesterweek's suckitude, and since the range is closed tomorrow for Easter Sunday, I decided that going to the range to put down 500 rounds was in order, so I went and got my name on the list. While waiting, I loaded magazines and watched the other shooters from the lounge area. Across the lounge, a couple guys sat down and started talking loudly:
Guy 1: "Hey, you know that 'kle' guy from OCDO?" (my ears perked up--I'm kle from OCDO)
Guy 2: "Yeah, what about him?"
Guy 1: "He can't shoot worth crap!" I chimed in at this point, with a knowing-grin.
Me: "Oh yeah? Well I'll tell him next time I see him!" I raised my hand in greeting. "Hi, I'm kle from OCDO."
Guy 1: "Yeah, we know--just wanted to see if we could get your attention!"
And I scooted over and joined in on their conversation. Guy 2 turned out to be the user 'unrequited' from OCDO (I forget who Guy 1 was). We then encountered a guy who, apparently, was a Patent Attorney and a Patent Officer who had also spoken at the last VCDL meeting (which was apparently a media circus regarding several 2nd Amendment current issues). We shot the shit about the USPTO and how it sucks until my name came up.
I got out on the range and loaded up my P7M10 and put 30 satisfying rounds through it. Either my hands and arms had been toughened up from the ride this morning (with its incessant road vibration from the rough roads while gripping a curved tube that approximates a firearms grip), or I'm getting less and less recoil sensitive, but the recoil from the P7M10 felt a lot softer than before. Good deal.
Then I put 50 rounds through my 10/22 at 150 feet--good times; I managed to keep all the shots in the 8" black center. Not too bad (in my opinion) from a standing, scoped rifle...
Finally, I got to the real reason I was there: to put more rounds through my '617, shooting the Metro Pistol League bullseye course of fire (20 rounds slowfire at 50 yards, 20 rounds timed fire at 25 yards, 20 rounds rapid fire at 25 yards).
I got the "time's up" and packed up and...headed over to Unrequited's lane, where they were showing a new guy how to shoot (rifles and pistols). I shot his XD45 (not bad--I like the trigger better than Glock, and the grip angle works better for me, but it's still a plastic pistol), and he shot my P7M10. Then we all left...and I put my name back on the list, as the waiting list had been whittled down to just two names. I went back out and did more bullseye practice, topping out at 4 hours today at the range, and 500 rounds (450 of .22LR, 50 .40S&W).
My slowfire scores aren't much to write home about, but I'm hoping to make up for that with my timed and rapid fire scores. In double-action, I can actually keep 85% of the shots in the black, with the other 15% in the next ring out. I also practiced single-action timed and rapid fire, and I was able to get up to similar accuracy. Cool beans--I should be a bit better at next week's MPL shoot.
Guy 1: "Hey, you know that 'kle' guy from OCDO?" (my ears perked up--I'm kle from OCDO)
Guy 2: "Yeah, what about him?"
Guy 1: "He can't shoot worth crap!" I chimed in at this point, with a knowing-grin.
Me: "Oh yeah? Well I'll tell him next time I see him!" I raised my hand in greeting. "Hi, I'm kle from OCDO."
Guy 1: "Yeah, we know--just wanted to see if we could get your attention!"
And I scooted over and joined in on their conversation. Guy 2 turned out to be the user 'unrequited' from OCDO (I forget who Guy 1 was). We then encountered a guy who, apparently, was a Patent Attorney and a Patent Officer who had also spoken at the last VCDL meeting (which was apparently a media circus regarding several 2nd Amendment current issues). We shot the shit about the USPTO and how it sucks until my name came up.
I got out on the range and loaded up my P7M10 and put 30 satisfying rounds through it. Either my hands and arms had been toughened up from the ride this morning (with its incessant road vibration from the rough roads while gripping a curved tube that approximates a firearms grip), or I'm getting less and less recoil sensitive, but the recoil from the P7M10 felt a lot softer than before. Good deal.
Then I put 50 rounds through my 10/22 at 150 feet--good times; I managed to keep all the shots in the 8" black center. Not too bad (in my opinion) from a standing, scoped rifle...
Finally, I got to the real reason I was there: to put more rounds through my '617, shooting the Metro Pistol League bullseye course of fire (20 rounds slowfire at 50 yards, 20 rounds timed fire at 25 yards, 20 rounds rapid fire at 25 yards).
I got the "time's up" and packed up and...headed over to Unrequited's lane, where they were showing a new guy how to shoot (rifles and pistols). I shot his XD45 (not bad--I like the trigger better than Glock, and the grip angle works better for me, but it's still a plastic pistol), and he shot my P7M10. Then we all left...and I put my name back on the list, as the waiting list had been whittled down to just two names. I went back out and did more bullseye practice, topping out at 4 hours today at the range, and 500 rounds (450 of .22LR, 50 .40S&W).
My slowfire scores aren't much to write home about, but I'm hoping to make up for that with my timed and rapid fire scores. In double-action, I can actually keep 85% of the shots in the black, with the other 15% in the next ring out. I also practiced single-action timed and rapid fire, and I was able to get up to similar accuracy. Cool beans--I should be a bit better at next week's MPL shoot.
Range Report
After today's ride, yesterweek's suckitude, and since the range is closed tomorrow for Easter Sunday, I decided that going to the range to put down 500 rounds was in order, so I went and got my name on the list. While waiting, I loaded magazines and watched the other shooters from the lounge area. Across the lounge, a couple guys sat down and started talking loudly:
Guy 1: "Hey, you know that 'kle' guy from OCDO?" (my ears perked up--I'm kle from OCDO)
Guy 2: "Yeah, what about him?"
Guy 1: "He can't shoot worth crap!" I chimed in at this point, with a knowing-grin.
Me: "Oh yeah? Well I'll tell him next time I see him!" I raised my hand in greeting. "Hi, I'm kle from OCDO."
Guy 1: "Yeah, we know--just wanted to see if we could get your attention!"
And I scooted over and joined in on their conversation. Guy 2 turned out to be the user 'unrequited' from OCDO (I forget who Guy 1 was). We then encountered a guy who, apparently, was a Patent Attorney and a Patent Officer who had also spoken at the last VCDL meeting (which was apparently a media circus regarding several 2nd Amendment current issues). We shot the shit about the USPTO and how it sucks until my name came up.
I got out on the range and loaded up my P7M10 and put 30 satisfying rounds through it. Either my hands and arms had been toughened up from the ride this morning (with its incessant road vibration from the rough roads while gripping a curved tube that approximates a firearms grip), or I'm getting less and less recoil sensitive, but the recoil from the P7M10 felt a lot softer than before. Good deal.
Then I put 50 rounds through my 10/22 at 150 feet--good times; I managed to keep all the shots in the 8" black center. Not too bad (in my opinion) from a standing, scoped rifle...
Finally, I got to the real reason I was there: to put more rounds through my '617, shooting the Metro Pistol League bullseye course of fire (20 rounds slowfire at 50 yards, 20 rounds timed fire at 25 yards, 20 rounds rapid fire at 25 yards).
I got the "time's up" and packed up and...headed over to Unrequited's lane, where they were showing a new guy how to shoot (rifles and pistols). I shot his XD45 (not bad--I like the trigger better than Glock, and the grip angle works better for me, but it's still a plastic pistol), and he shot my P7M10. Then we all left...and I put my name back on the list, as the waiting list had been whittled down to just two names. I went back out and did more bullseye practice, topping out at 4 hours today at the range, and 500 rounds (450 of .22LR, 50 .40S&W).
My slowfire scores aren't much to write home about, but I'm hoping to make up for that with my timed and rapid fire scores. In double-action, I can actually keep 85% of the shots in the black, with the other 15% in the next ring out. I also practiced single-action timed and rapid fire, and I was able to get up to similar accuracy. Cool beans--I should be a bit better at next week's MPL shoot.
Guy 1: "Hey, you know that 'kle' guy from OCDO?" (my ears perked up--I'm kle from OCDO)
Guy 2: "Yeah, what about him?"
Guy 1: "He can't shoot worth crap!" I chimed in at this point, with a knowing-grin.
Me: "Oh yeah? Well I'll tell him next time I see him!" I raised my hand in greeting. "Hi, I'm kle from OCDO."
Guy 1: "Yeah, we know--just wanted to see if we could get your attention!"
And I scooted over and joined in on their conversation. Guy 2 turned out to be the user 'unrequited' from OCDO (I forget who Guy 1 was). We then encountered a guy who, apparently, was a Patent Attorney and a Patent Officer who had also spoken at the last VCDL meeting (which was apparently a media circus regarding several 2nd Amendment current issues). We shot the shit about the USPTO and how it sucks until my name came up.
I got out on the range and loaded up my P7M10 and put 30 satisfying rounds through it. Either my hands and arms had been toughened up from the ride this morning (with its incessant road vibration from the rough roads while gripping a curved tube that approximates a firearms grip), or I'm getting less and less recoil sensitive, but the recoil from the P7M10 felt a lot softer than before. Good deal.
Then I put 50 rounds through my 10/22 at 150 feet--good times; I managed to keep all the shots in the 8" black center. Not too bad (in my opinion) from a standing, scoped rifle...
Finally, I got to the real reason I was there: to put more rounds through my '617, shooting the Metro Pistol League bullseye course of fire (20 rounds slowfire at 50 yards, 20 rounds timed fire at 25 yards, 20 rounds rapid fire at 25 yards).
I got the "time's up" and packed up and...headed over to Unrequited's lane, where they were showing a new guy how to shoot (rifles and pistols). I shot his XD45 (not bad--I like the trigger better than Glock, and the grip angle works better for me, but it's still a plastic pistol), and he shot my P7M10. Then we all left...and I put my name back on the list, as the waiting list had been whittled down to just two names. I went back out and did more bullseye practice, topping out at 4 hours today at the range, and 500 rounds (450 of .22LR, 50 .40S&W).
My slowfire scores aren't much to write home about, but I'm hoping to make up for that with my timed and rapid fire scores. In double-action, I can actually keep 85% of the shots in the black, with the other 15% in the next ring out. I also practiced single-action timed and rapid fire, and I was able to get up to similar accuracy. Cool beans--I should be a bit better at next week's MPL shoot.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Range Report
(00:04:59) Eric: how was shooting today?
(00:11:06) Me: it was good...therapeutic
(00:12:51) Me: 100 rounds through my rifle, after re-zeroing the sights (I had removed and re-attached the barrel, and attempted a poor-man's bedding-job on the barrel and receiver to reduce flex and movement to increase accuracy, so the sights needed to be re-adjusted)...
(00:13:43) Me: then I put 100 rounds through my '617, practicing for the slowfire portion of the Metro Pistol League's bullseye thing...
(00:14:06) Me: that was at 150 feet
(00:14:22) Me: I was able to keep up to 18 out of 20 shots on-paper
(00:14:55) Me: and then put 20 shots through the '617 at 75 feet in rapid-fire, to practice for the rapid-fire portion of the MPL bullseye
(00:15:07) Me: then I got the "time's up" from the range officers
(00:15:21) Me: so I packed up and cleared out, and put my name back on the waiting list
(00:15:38) Me: and, after a 10-minute break, I got back onto the range
(00:15:56) Me: put another 180 rounds through the '617 in rapid-fire at 75 feet
(00:16:09) Me: and then finished up with 100 more rounds through the rifle
(00:16:24) Me: 500 rounds total
(00:16:50) Me: 200 of it was the remington crap, and all of that was through the rifle
(00:17:14) Me: the rest was the better federal stuff
(00:17:26) Me: and that 300 was through the '617
(00:17:56) Me: that's probably the most rounds I've ever put through the '617 in one sitting...
(00:18:08) Me: and the ammo was good enough not to bind up the action on it
(00:18:24) Me: even though it was a bit dirtier than the remington
(00:18:46) Me: left more deposits and crap in the '617...
(00:18:55) Me: but oddly it works better in it
(00:18:57) Me: go figure
(00:19:07) Me: tomorrow...more shooting? Probably...
(00:25:03) Me: I think for bullseye pistol I'll rotate my, uh, equipment every few matches...
(00:25:15) Eric: lol
(00:25:23) Me: stick with my revolver next week
(00:26:06) Me: I think next week I'll do much better with it
(00:26:14) Me: 442/600 is pretty darn good
(00:26:23) Me: I'm certain I can do better
(00:26:43) Eric: yeah
(00:11:06) Me: it was good...therapeutic
(00:12:51) Me: 100 rounds through my rifle, after re-zeroing the sights (I had removed and re-attached the barrel, and attempted a poor-man's bedding-job on the barrel and receiver to reduce flex and movement to increase accuracy, so the sights needed to be re-adjusted)...
(00:13:43) Me: then I put 100 rounds through my '617, practicing for the slowfire portion of the Metro Pistol League's bullseye thing...
(00:14:06) Me: that was at 150 feet
(00:14:22) Me: I was able to keep up to 18 out of 20 shots on-paper
(00:14:55) Me: and then put 20 shots through the '617 at 75 feet in rapid-fire, to practice for the rapid-fire portion of the MPL bullseye
(00:15:07) Me: then I got the "time's up" from the range officers
(00:15:21) Me: so I packed up and cleared out, and put my name back on the waiting list
(00:15:38) Me: and, after a 10-minute break, I got back onto the range
(00:15:56) Me: put another 180 rounds through the '617 in rapid-fire at 75 feet
(00:16:09) Me: and then finished up with 100 more rounds through the rifle
(00:16:24) Me: 500 rounds total
(00:16:50) Me: 200 of it was the remington crap, and all of that was through the rifle
(00:17:14) Me: the rest was the better federal stuff
(00:17:26) Me: and that 300 was through the '617
(00:17:56) Me: that's probably the most rounds I've ever put through the '617 in one sitting...
(00:18:08) Me: and the ammo was good enough not to bind up the action on it
(00:18:24) Me: even though it was a bit dirtier than the remington
(00:18:46) Me: left more deposits and crap in the '617...
(00:18:55) Me: but oddly it works better in it
(00:18:57) Me: go figure
(00:19:07) Me: tomorrow...more shooting? Probably...
(00:25:03) Me: I think for bullseye pistol I'll rotate my, uh, equipment every few matches...
(00:25:15) Eric: lol
(00:25:23) Me: stick with my revolver next week
(00:26:06) Me: I think next week I'll do much better with it
(00:26:14) Me: 442/600 is pretty darn good
(00:26:23) Me: I'm certain I can do better
(00:26:43) Eric: yeah
Monday, March 17, 2008
Range Report: Bullseye #2
I decided to be a little adventurous today and try Bullseye with my S&W 617 double-action, 10-shot, 6"-barrel, .22LR-chambered revolver. I didn't do as badly as I thought I would--scored 442 points out of a possible 600, only 7 fewer points than last week. Not bad at all!
Still gotta figure out how to record my score, though...they take a 3-week average and compute that along with the week's half-score and figure out the handicap-score (how that works I have no idea--everyone just looks it up in a table in a book).
Gotta get out and practice more. I'm certain I can do much better with my '617! I'm also determined to do this using only open sights; I've got young eyes, and I can still focus on the front sight post...everyone else on my team's using red-dot or glass to help them aim--nuh uh, not for me. Open sights, all the way. 50 yards isn't that far.
Still gotta figure out how to record my score, though...they take a 3-week average and compute that along with the week's half-score and figure out the handicap-score (how that works I have no idea--everyone just looks it up in a table in a book).
Gotta get out and practice more. I'm certain I can do much better with my '617! I'm also determined to do this using only open sights; I've got young eyes, and I can still focus on the front sight post...everyone else on my team's using red-dot or glass to help them aim--nuh uh, not for me. Open sights, all the way. 50 yards isn't that far.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Range Report
Got home from the TNT ride and visiting the gun stores in Manassas (man, that place was giving off Blacksburg vibes with its small-town-wants-to-be-big-town feel). Showered, crashed for a few hours on the couch, and then woke up at 8PM with the idea to actually do something else with my day.
So I loaded up my not-often-shot guns (my P7M10, my '617, and my '41, and of course my '905) into the car and went out to the range. Luckily, when I got there it was pretty quiet, so I was able to get in some quality trigger time.
Started off with the P7M10--20 rounds (of Independence ammo) at 30 feet, and then 30 rounds at 75 feet. Still as accurate as ever! Man, what a sweet shooter, but it's expensive to feed! $18 for a box of 50 rounds (the Walmart price is $14). Yeah, no wonder I don't shoot it all that often. But I did get a comment on it from the guy shooting in the next lane (as I expected, since the P7M10 is more rare than the P7M8 or the P7PSP). I looked over and they were shooting a CZ75B...could've been nickel-plated, though, since the controls were black.
Followed that up with 50 rounds (of Federal blue box) through my '617, two-handed, single-handed, double-action and single-action. Extremely accurate--I might even use it in the next bullseye league match on Monday!
Then I popped off another box of that crappy Remington through my 10/22, with one round hanging up in the magazine, causing the bolt to actually dent the case sidewall. Yeah--Eff this stuff. Ruger-fodder; I wouldn't shoot it in any other gun now.
50 rounds of Winchester White Box through my '905 with some self-defense practice (yay for the edge/foe electronic target carriers!).
Rounded it off with 50 rounds of the Federal blue box through the '41 in bullseye conditions (75 feet, single handed).
I feel like Rally Vincent in the first few pages of the Bonnie and Clyde arc. Well, minus the whole sexual arousal part from shooting a bunch of different guns in one sitting, but just that bit where she sets down her CZ75 and breathes a sigh of contentment. Today was a little bit like that.
Tomorrow...clean everything!
So I loaded up my not-often-shot guns (my P7M10, my '617, and my '41, and of course my '905) into the car and went out to the range. Luckily, when I got there it was pretty quiet, so I was able to get in some quality trigger time.
Started off with the P7M10--20 rounds (of Independence ammo) at 30 feet, and then 30 rounds at 75 feet. Still as accurate as ever! Man, what a sweet shooter, but it's expensive to feed! $18 for a box of 50 rounds (the Walmart price is $14). Yeah, no wonder I don't shoot it all that often. But I did get a comment on it from the guy shooting in the next lane (as I expected, since the P7M10 is more rare than the P7M8 or the P7PSP). I looked over and they were shooting a CZ75B...could've been nickel-plated, though, since the controls were black.
Followed that up with 50 rounds (of Federal blue box) through my '617, two-handed, single-handed, double-action and single-action. Extremely accurate--I might even use it in the next bullseye league match on Monday!
Then I popped off another box of that crappy Remington through my 10/22, with one round hanging up in the magazine, causing the bolt to actually dent the case sidewall. Yeah--Eff this stuff. Ruger-fodder; I wouldn't shoot it in any other gun now.
50 rounds of Winchester White Box through my '905 with some self-defense practice (yay for the edge/foe electronic target carriers!).
Rounded it off with 50 rounds of the Federal blue box through the '41 in bullseye conditions (75 feet, single handed).
I feel like Rally Vincent in the first few pages of the Bonnie and Clyde arc. Well, minus the whole sexual arousal part from shooting a bunch of different guns in one sitting, but just that bit where she sets down her CZ75 and breathes a sigh of contentment. Today was a little bit like that.
Tomorrow...clean everything!
Range Report (one day late)
After a whole day of suck at work, I decided that I needed to put lots of holes through paper. Well, really I decided this before I stepped out of the house, but the day of suck justified it. I frakkin' hate babysitting people, and the new I.T. guy (I don't really know why we hired him--liked him as a person, but his technical skills are almost non-existent) is so far failing to live up to my high standards...
Picked up my brother at his place and, after transacting a deal on a bicycle messenger bag and adding some food to our stomaches, headed to the NRA range. Today [Friday], for me, was about function-checking all of the new magazines I just recently got. We zeroed the 10/22 with some benchrest and agreed after 50 rounds of the Federal Bulk Pack that the 100 rounds of Remington we'd shot before the Federal was absolute crap.
I went ahead and shot off the remaining 40 rounds of the Federal blue-box ammo I had from Monday's Bullseye League, while my brother's fiancee, who just showed up, was getting processed. Then we set to work relearning her how to shoot (3-weeks between range visits does not tend to make the basics stick) on my Mk.II. We even introduced her to the art of the rifle (as she wants to qualify in rifles too), although she found the six-pound 10/22 a bit heavy. Funny, since when she was in ROTC or whatever it was in school, she would march around with an eleven-pound M1 Garand. But then again, she wasn't shooting it, just shouldering it.
While we were working on her pistol and rifle basics, my brother took my 92FS to the next lane (it was near closing time, and things were quieting down by then) and enjoyed 70 rounds of it. I stepped over and enjoyed 20, my brother took 10 more, and his fiancee took the remaining 20 to loosen up before going back to the Mk.II and finishing the last 20 rounds.
In total, we shot about 460 rounds tonight [Friday]. One of which resulted in an ejected case bouncing off the divider and getting caught between my glasses and the skin just south of my right eye. Buuurrrrrnnnn!!!
Picked up my brother at his place and, after transacting a deal on a bicycle messenger bag and adding some food to our stomaches, headed to the NRA range. Today [Friday], for me, was about function-checking all of the new magazines I just recently got. We zeroed the 10/22 with some benchrest and agreed after 50 rounds of the Federal Bulk Pack that the 100 rounds of Remington we'd shot before the Federal was absolute crap.
I went ahead and shot off the remaining 40 rounds of the Federal blue-box ammo I had from Monday's Bullseye League, while my brother's fiancee, who just showed up, was getting processed. Then we set to work relearning her how to shoot (3-weeks between range visits does not tend to make the basics stick) on my Mk.II. We even introduced her to the art of the rifle (as she wants to qualify in rifles too), although she found the six-pound 10/22 a bit heavy. Funny, since when she was in ROTC or whatever it was in school, she would march around with an eleven-pound M1 Garand. But then again, she wasn't shooting it, just shouldering it.
While we were working on her pistol and rifle basics, my brother took my 92FS to the next lane (it was near closing time, and things were quieting down by then) and enjoyed 70 rounds of it. I stepped over and enjoyed 20, my brother took 10 more, and his fiancee took the remaining 20 to loosen up before going back to the Mk.II and finishing the last 20 rounds.
In total, we shot about 460 rounds tonight [Friday]. One of which resulted in an ejected case bouncing off the divider and getting caught between my glasses and the skin just south of my right eye. Buuurrrrrnnnn!!!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Range Report: First Bullseye Pistol
got off work early (got in early, so it evens out), and headed out to the range to see what this Metropolitan Pistol League thing is all about...and was immediately recruited onto the Stars And Stripes team. We went through all the basics, how the league is structured, what the commands are, some of the finer points (like only loading five shots per magazine at a time). One thing I noticed: it's all old people. Not just older people--old people. With gray or white hair. Like, Bruce Furr is on my team--he's an old guy, probably mid-to-late 60's. The guy who talked me through the basics is a retired Marine of 20 years ago...
So I sign up for the 4th relay, and my relay comes up. Me and three other S&S people go out to our adjacent lanes and I look over at their equipment. The (old) guy to my right is using a High-Standard ($$), and the husband and wife to my left are shooting matching Pardinis ($$$$$). Holy cow! These guys are serious! Other people down the line have fancy boxes that hold all of their stuff, plus the lid flips up and has a place to mount a spotting scope! Hardcore! I'm feeling a little outclassed. Or atleast, I'm feeling my equipment is a little outclassed--all I'm using is a basic Ruger Mk. II Standard with the tapered, 4.75" barrel, non-adjustable sights, and the non-anatomic grips.
We load up and shoot: first the slowfire (20 minutes to put 20 rounds into a target at 50 yards), then the timed-fire (four 5-shot strings at 25 yards, 20 seconds to shoot each string), and finally, the rapid fire (four 5-shot strings at 25 yards, 10 seconds to shoot each string). 60 rounds in all.
When it's all said and done, I scored 155 on the slowfire, 142 on the timed fire, and 152 for the rapid fire (I shot the rapid fire the same way I shot the timed fire, so I had figured out how and where to aim for that). A total of 449 points out of a possible 600--pretty good, according to my teammates, since I needed a 320 for it to count. Unfortunately, scoring so high means my handicap is low (it's kinda like bowling in this regard).
It was definitely an interesting activity, and a good way to focus my shooting sessions--I'd definitely do it again.
I think I definitely want to try IDPA/IPSC next...
So I sign up for the 4th relay, and my relay comes up. Me and three other S&S people go out to our adjacent lanes and I look over at their equipment. The (old) guy to my right is using a High-Standard ($$), and the husband and wife to my left are shooting matching Pardinis ($$$$$). Holy cow! These guys are serious! Other people down the line have fancy boxes that hold all of their stuff, plus the lid flips up and has a place to mount a spotting scope! Hardcore! I'm feeling a little outclassed. Or atleast, I'm feeling my equipment is a little outclassed--all I'm using is a basic Ruger Mk. II Standard with the tapered, 4.75" barrel, non-adjustable sights, and the non-anatomic grips.
We load up and shoot: first the slowfire (20 minutes to put 20 rounds into a target at 50 yards), then the timed-fire (four 5-shot strings at 25 yards, 20 seconds to shoot each string), and finally, the rapid fire (four 5-shot strings at 25 yards, 10 seconds to shoot each string). 60 rounds in all.
When it's all said and done, I scored 155 on the slowfire, 142 on the timed fire, and 152 for the rapid fire (I shot the rapid fire the same way I shot the timed fire, so I had figured out how and where to aim for that). A total of 449 points out of a possible 600--pretty good, according to my teammates, since I needed a 320 for it to count. Unfortunately, scoring so high means my handicap is low (it's kinda like bowling in this regard).
It was definitely an interesting activity, and a good way to focus my shooting sessions--I'd definitely do it again.
I think I definitely want to try IDPA/IPSC next...
Range Report (belated)
Totally forgot to post a range report from yesterday's visit. After riding yesterday, I went to the range. Got there at 5:30, didn't get on the range until 6:00. Knowing the range closed at 7PM, I only had an hour to shoot. So I felt a little rushed.
I set to work, putting 90 rounds of that crappy Remington ammo through my 10/22 (with one dud round). I need to get some quality time to properly zero the scope and the iron sights. Lately, I've been going to the range and only getting about an hour each trip (whereas on earlier trips I'd get about two hours to do as I pleased). So I don't feel like I get any quality time...just get in, put lead downrange, and get out. That place is way too busy...
Then I put 100 rounds of the Remington through my Mk.II--it's reasonably accurate stuff: at 75 feet, I scored 6/10 in the 2" bullseye and the other 4 shots in the 9-ring around it, which is a score of 96--pretty good. Unfortunately, for the other 40 rounds I did at 75 feet, they weren't so good.
My '617 also got 100 rounds of the better, cleaner Federal ammo. Both single action and double action felt a lot nicer since I got in there. No sticky/rough/heavy spots, and let off was crisp and positive. Exactly what I wanted. There's still the "stacking" that comes when the various parts come into and leave contact, but it doesn't affect the sights staying on-target so much anymore. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem as accurate as my Mk. II, no matter what ammo I put through it. I'm looking for 3" groupings at 75 feet, and so far, with whatever ammo I've tried, no dice. Maybe I oughtta try some CCI Minimags through it, just to see...
Finally, I fed 50 rounds through my '92, and it was flawless, as expected.
340 rounds in 1 hour. I'd have liked it to have been over 2 hours, but them's the breaks. Also, my various speed-loaders helped immensely: my Ultimate Cliploader helped to load both the Mk. II and the '617 (using the Mk. II's magazines), and my newly-acquired UpLULA helped to load all 5 '92 mags in less than a minute. Maybe I should pick up the DS-10-Speed speedloader for my '617. Now if there's a good speed-loader for the stock 10/22 '41 magazines, I'd be in business...
I set to work, putting 90 rounds of that crappy Remington ammo through my 10/22 (with one dud round). I need to get some quality time to properly zero the scope and the iron sights. Lately, I've been going to the range and only getting about an hour each trip (whereas on earlier trips I'd get about two hours to do as I pleased). So I don't feel like I get any quality time...just get in, put lead downrange, and get out. That place is way too busy...
Then I put 100 rounds of the Remington through my Mk.II--it's reasonably accurate stuff: at 75 feet, I scored 6/10 in the 2" bullseye and the other 4 shots in the 9-ring around it, which is a score of 96--pretty good. Unfortunately, for the other 40 rounds I did at 75 feet, they weren't so good.
My '617 also got 100 rounds of the better, cleaner Federal ammo. Both single action and double action felt a lot nicer since I got in there. No sticky/rough/heavy spots, and let off was crisp and positive. Exactly what I wanted. There's still the "stacking" that comes when the various parts come into and leave contact, but it doesn't affect the sights staying on-target so much anymore. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem as accurate as my Mk. II, no matter what ammo I put through it. I'm looking for 3" groupings at 75 feet, and so far, with whatever ammo I've tried, no dice. Maybe I oughtta try some CCI Minimags through it, just to see...
Finally, I fed 50 rounds through my '92, and it was flawless, as expected.
340 rounds in 1 hour. I'd have liked it to have been over 2 hours, but them's the breaks. Also, my various speed-loaders helped immensely: my Ultimate Cliploader helped to load both the Mk. II and the '617 (using the Mk. II's magazines), and my newly-acquired UpLULA helped to load all 5 '92 mags in less than a minute. Maybe I should pick up the DS-10-Speed speedloader for my '617. Now if there's a good speed-loader for the stock 10/22 '41 magazines, I'd be in business...
Friday, March 7, 2008
Range Report
I seriously need to get a set of stones if I want to do my own 'smithing on my '617--the DA pull was "chunky" because the mating faces of the trigger/hammer/sear have a lot of friction due to the angles with which they interact...took out the lockwork and touched them with a file, and dropped in a 12lb rebound spring (down from 14, which was down from 18) for good measure. It's a bit smoother now, and SA let-off is crisp to boot. Need to get back out to the range to try it out, though.
I also need to bring along a screwdriver next time--the '617's sights were set so that shots were hitting low...it could've just been me, since I haven't dicked with the sights in months. Oh well. 100 rounds through the 617, plus 20 more when I offered to let my neighbor shoot it. I must remember to stop using Remington ammo in it, though--on the last 10 rounds, it was binding up a bunch, and it was loaded with 10 Remington Golden rounds. Last time it bound-up this badly, I was working through a brick of Remington Thunderbolt .22s. Coincidence? Maybe, but I'm just going to put the 1000 rounds I have of this Golden Remington crap through my two Rugers and never buy it again.
Before that, I put 100 through my Mk. II, which was flawless this time, too. Seems like that my instincts were on the money--replacing the extractor indeed solved the problem. Plus, from what I've read, this one is made out of better steel, so it should last far longer (the last one only had about 2500 rounds before it started going south).
And finally (or firstly, since I'm going in reverse chronological order), I put 10 through my 10/22 before I decided to subtly show off to my neighbors, who were using a S&W 41, aiming at a target only about 50 feet away (mine was at 75) and using a Shoot'n'C target (that makes it easy to see where hits are landing, even at a distance) and not getting good groupings. This was mainly prompted, however, by the older fellow's rather loud comment that the younger guy try the '41 to "see what more expensive equipment will get". Horsepucky--my Mk.II was about $250, compared with the '41 which can go upwards of $800 (more, probably, because the guy had both the 7" and 5" barrel for it, and had optics ("glass") on the 5" barrel, as well as having what looked like 10 magazines--easily another $300 for the mags alone), and my Mk.II was doing far better. In this case, it's more the shooter's steadiness that wins the day.
Okay, so I fibbed a little: before my 10/22, I put 5 rounds through my friend's Nagant. That's a fun rifle, but I'm definitely feeling it in my shoulder. Felt like my dad's 12-gauge (single shot, no recoil-reducing butt-pad). Plenty accurate, too, putting all 5 shots in a nice tight group at 75 feet with open sights with a guy (me) who's never shot one before.
Good times.
---
I now have a hard case for my 10/22--no more transporting it wrapped up in an old towel. I need a hard case for my pistols. I can stuff only so many in my range bag...
I also need to bring along a screwdriver next time--the '617's sights were set so that shots were hitting low...it could've just been me, since I haven't dicked with the sights in months. Oh well. 100 rounds through the 617, plus 20 more when I offered to let my neighbor shoot it. I must remember to stop using Remington ammo in it, though--on the last 10 rounds, it was binding up a bunch, and it was loaded with 10 Remington Golden rounds. Last time it bound-up this badly, I was working through a brick of Remington Thunderbolt .22s. Coincidence? Maybe, but I'm just going to put the 1000 rounds I have of this Golden Remington crap through my two Rugers and never buy it again.
Before that, I put 100 through my Mk. II, which was flawless this time, too. Seems like that my instincts were on the money--replacing the extractor indeed solved the problem. Plus, from what I've read, this one is made out of better steel, so it should last far longer (the last one only had about 2500 rounds before it started going south).
And finally (or firstly, since I'm going in reverse chronological order), I put 10 through my 10/22 before I decided to subtly show off to my neighbors, who were using a S&W 41, aiming at a target only about 50 feet away (mine was at 75) and using a Shoot'n'C target (that makes it easy to see where hits are landing, even at a distance) and not getting good groupings. This was mainly prompted, however, by the older fellow's rather loud comment that the younger guy try the '41 to "see what more expensive equipment will get". Horsepucky--my Mk.II was about $250, compared with the '41 which can go upwards of $800 (more, probably, because the guy had both the 7" and 5" barrel for it, and had optics ("glass") on the 5" barrel, as well as having what looked like 10 magazines--easily another $300 for the mags alone), and my Mk.II was doing far better. In this case, it's more the shooter's steadiness that wins the day.
Okay, so I fibbed a little: before my 10/22, I put 5 rounds through my friend's Nagant. That's a fun rifle, but I'm definitely feeling it in my shoulder. Felt like my dad's 12-gauge (single shot, no recoil-reducing butt-pad). Plenty accurate, too, putting all 5 shots in a nice tight group at 75 feet with open sights with a guy (me) who's never shot one before.
Good times.
---
I now have a hard case for my 10/22--no more transporting it wrapped up in an old towel. I need a hard case for my pistols. I can stuff only so many in my range bag...
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Range Report
Took my '41, Mk. II, and 10/22 to the NRA range. I'm extremely pleased to report that replacing the extractor in my Mk. II with the Volquartsen Exact Edge Extractor has cleared up the extraction/ejection problems I've been experiencing lately--from the first shot to the last (150 rounds in all), extraction was positive and consistent, throwing brass in the same direction and with the same force after every shot. I didn't have a single failure of any kind. Yes!
Then I tried some Bullseye with my '41--10 rounds, one-handed, at 75 feet. I know, not exactly the Bullseye Pistol format, but I wanted to get used to one handing-it. I'm also thankful for the adjustable sights. They were set a little high...probably zeroed for 100 or 50 yards. I didn't do so well, regardless--my groups were 4" or more at 75 feet with my one-handed hold, while with the 2-handed hold on the Mk. II were barely larger than 2.5 inches at 75 feet. Just gotta practice...good thing it's .22LR, which is an extremely cheap round (compared with anything else, except for reloading).
Finally, I had a little time to put some rounds through the 10/22. The first 10 shots were familiarzation, getting more used to the heavy trigger (feels like a 5lb trigger pull) and the sights and remaining stable. The next 10 were checking the scope's alignment...off to the right a bit. So I set up a rest and sat down to re-zero the scope, doing the "shoot three, adjust, shoot three more" method (yay for the scope!). I got the 5-minute warning, did a few last-minute tweaks, and emptied the magazine. The last four shots were put into the 2" bullseye at 75 feet--good enough.
When I set up, my neighbors were shooting some sort of bullpup rifle. When I looked more closely, it was an AK-47 action (semi-auto, of course) set up in a bullpup configuration--interesting. And they had a P7PSP pistol. Then they left, and the next guy set up...and put a P7M8 on the table. Interesting. I should seriously get ammo for my P7M10 so I can show off, too =) The P7 isn't as rare as it's made out to be, at least, not in my experience. The P7M10, maybe, but I see P7PSPs and P7M8s all the time. Can't wait for someone to show up with a P7K3 in any of its calibers (.22LR, .32, or .380). Maybe I should get a P7M13...but then I'd be seriously broke =)
Then I tried some Bullseye with my '41--10 rounds, one-handed, at 75 feet. I know, not exactly the Bullseye Pistol format, but I wanted to get used to one handing-it. I'm also thankful for the adjustable sights. They were set a little high...probably zeroed for 100 or 50 yards. I didn't do so well, regardless--my groups were 4" or more at 75 feet with my one-handed hold, while with the 2-handed hold on the Mk. II were barely larger than 2.5 inches at 75 feet. Just gotta practice...good thing it's .22LR, which is an extremely cheap round (compared with anything else, except for reloading).
Finally, I had a little time to put some rounds through the 10/22. The first 10 shots were familiarzation, getting more used to the heavy trigger (feels like a 5lb trigger pull) and the sights and remaining stable. The next 10 were checking the scope's alignment...off to the right a bit. So I set up a rest and sat down to re-zero the scope, doing the "shoot three, adjust, shoot three more" method (yay for the scope!). I got the 5-minute warning, did a few last-minute tweaks, and emptied the magazine. The last four shots were put into the 2" bullseye at 75 feet--good enough.
When I set up, my neighbors were shooting some sort of bullpup rifle. When I looked more closely, it was an AK-47 action (semi-auto, of course) set up in a bullpup configuration--interesting. And they had a P7PSP pistol. Then they left, and the next guy set up...and put a P7M8 on the table. Interesting. I should seriously get ammo for my P7M10 so I can show off, too =) The P7 isn't as rare as it's made out to be, at least, not in my experience. The P7M10, maybe, but I see P7PSPs and P7M8s all the time. Can't wait for someone to show up with a P7K3 in any of its calibers (.22LR, .32, or .380). Maybe I should get a P7M13...but then I'd be seriously broke =)
Monday, March 3, 2008
Range Report: My First Rifle, my old stomping grounds
So I finally got around to going to the DMV to change my address and get a new license and re-register to vote, spurred by the impetus that I can't legally be transferred a firearm without the correct address...
Went down to Gilbert Small Arms and picked up my first rifle: a Ruger 10/22 Standard. Nothing fancy, no match triggers or bull barrels...or even a bolt-hold-open-on-last-round feature. But mine came with a scope (I bought it used for a pretty good price).
Then I decided, since I had already missed shooting at the NRA (the range is open to the public from 10AM-5PM on Mondays, and it was 7PM by the time I left work), I'll just shoot at Gilbert's. It's been a year since I shot there last, and man, I've forgotten how different it is in Gilbert's compared to the NRA range: it's quieter in there (gunfire is more muffled thanks to the sound absorption), but the capabilities are not as good as the NRA range (analog target carriers, no timed friend-foe-edge capability, only 25 yards), and adjustable lighting. It was a welcome change of pace.
My first 200 rounds were defensive shooting with my '905 and my 92FS--drawing from the holster, shooting, double-taps, Mozambique, emptying the gun, reloads, reholster...I even incorporated some dramatic movement--crouching--for the first time (defensive situations won't always be me and him, standing upright, square to each other 10 yards apart--in fact, I'd guess that it rarely happens that way). That was interesting.
Then it was time to try out the 10/22...the range isn't long enough to really put it through its paces, but I put 50 rounds through it anyways and decided that I'm better shooting lefty--must be all of that training with the marshmallow guns--my right arm steadies the rifle better than my left. But the trigger was what I expected it to be (heavy, having shot my friend's stock 10/22 a month ago) and the sights were pretty much spot-on, so I'm a happy camper.
And then, to finish up, I put 50 through the Mark II. I'm convinced that it's the extractor that is bring a big heap of suck to the table now...I'm still getting stove pipes and trapped cases, no matter how clean I've gotten it. Definitely not ready to compete in the Metro Pistol League...well, I do have a '41 I can use (and that is much better suited to it). And a '617 that could work, too. I think I'll try it next week...
I left the range just as the firearms safety class was starting the shooting portion of their instruction--I smiled, having done that very class over a year ago. The first time I shot .38 Specials, the first time I ever shot reloads, the first time I ever shot on command, the first (and only) time I ever shot a '10. Then I came out and paid the non-Walmart price for a case of 9mm and two bricks of .22LR--about $150. Damn. I've been spoiled by Walmart, whose prices are about three-quarters as expensive.
I also got a look at their range fees: it's $200 for an annual membership which would work about as well as that of the NRA range: go often enough (twice a month is about right) and it 'pays for itself' (I dislike that phrase, since I haven't gotten any money back from things that 'pay for themselves'). I like the NRA range for its capabilities, but I like Gilbert's for its other qualities (i.e. it's a gun shop as well as a range, it has rentals, the range is different (and the place where I shot a gun for the first time ever)). Plus it's open when the NRA range isn't...
Went down to Gilbert Small Arms and picked up my first rifle: a Ruger 10/22 Standard. Nothing fancy, no match triggers or bull barrels...or even a bolt-hold-open-on-last-round feature. But mine came with a scope (I bought it used for a pretty good price).
Then I decided, since I had already missed shooting at the NRA (the range is open to the public from 10AM-5PM on Mondays, and it was 7PM by the time I left work), I'll just shoot at Gilbert's. It's been a year since I shot there last, and man, I've forgotten how different it is in Gilbert's compared to the NRA range: it's quieter in there (gunfire is more muffled thanks to the sound absorption), but the capabilities are not as good as the NRA range (analog target carriers, no timed friend-foe-edge capability, only 25 yards), and adjustable lighting. It was a welcome change of pace.
My first 200 rounds were defensive shooting with my '905 and my 92FS--drawing from the holster, shooting, double-taps, Mozambique, emptying the gun, reloads, reholster...I even incorporated some dramatic movement--crouching--for the first time (defensive situations won't always be me and him, standing upright, square to each other 10 yards apart--in fact, I'd guess that it rarely happens that way). That was interesting.
Then it was time to try out the 10/22...the range isn't long enough to really put it through its paces, but I put 50 rounds through it anyways and decided that I'm better shooting lefty--must be all of that training with the marshmallow guns--my right arm steadies the rifle better than my left. But the trigger was what I expected it to be (heavy, having shot my friend's stock 10/22 a month ago) and the sights were pretty much spot-on, so I'm a happy camper.
And then, to finish up, I put 50 through the Mark II. I'm convinced that it's the extractor that is bring a big heap of suck to the table now...I'm still getting stove pipes and trapped cases, no matter how clean I've gotten it. Definitely not ready to compete in the Metro Pistol League...well, I do have a '41 I can use (and that is much better suited to it). And a '617 that could work, too. I think I'll try it next week...
I left the range just as the firearms safety class was starting the shooting portion of their instruction--I smiled, having done that very class over a year ago. The first time I shot .38 Specials, the first time I ever shot reloads, the first time I ever shot on command, the first (and only) time I ever shot a '10. Then I came out and paid the non-Walmart price for a case of 9mm and two bricks of .22LR--about $150. Damn. I've been spoiled by Walmart, whose prices are about three-quarters as expensive.
I also got a look at their range fees: it's $200 for an annual membership which would work about as well as that of the NRA range: go often enough (twice a month is about right) and it 'pays for itself' (I dislike that phrase, since I haven't gotten any money back from things that 'pay for themselves'). I like the NRA range for its capabilities, but I like Gilbert's for its other qualities (i.e. it's a gun shop as well as a range, it has rentals, the range is different (and the place where I shot a gun for the first time ever)). Plus it's open when the NRA range isn't...
I Like Guns
http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2008/03/03/1340637-2-dead-5-injured-in-wendys-shooting
Brady bunch: "Ban the guns!"
Pro-gunners: "Right to keep and bear arms!"
Anti-gun people: "see? If only he didn't have one..."
Gun-Rights people: "see? If only someone else had one..."
*sigh*. This is stupid--fuck it all. I like guns--I don't like what some people do with them. Proactive (bans, background checks, laws) vs. Reactive (if/when it happens, hopefully someone will be able to end it prematurely).
I happen to be on the reactive side--I've accepted that there can never be enough proactive action to prevent it from happening again, and so I take steps to be able deal with it, if I ever have to. That's the only reason the gun is in a holster on my hip--I will never 'clear leather' for any other reason than practice, defense, and maintenance. Never offense.
Brady bunch: "Ban the guns!"
Pro-gunners: "Right to keep and bear arms!"
Anti-gun people: "see? If only he didn't have one..."
Gun-Rights people: "see? If only someone else had one..."
*sigh*. This is stupid--fuck it all. I like guns--I don't like what some people do with them. Proactive (bans, background checks, laws) vs. Reactive (if/when it happens, hopefully someone will be able to end it prematurely).
I happen to be on the reactive side--I've accepted that there can never be enough proactive action to prevent it from happening again, and so I take steps to be able deal with it, if I ever have to. That's the only reason the gun is in a holster on my hip--I will never 'clear leather' for any other reason than practice, defense, and maintenance. Never offense.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
(non) Range Report
So I went home and flipped on LiveJournal and saw Aciel's posts (yes, we're afraid, but then so are you; and I've "increased the reactivity" in both my household and my parents' household--actually my father started it--and we haven't had a...reaction...yet--or ever), which galvanized me into action: I would go to the range, and instead of concentrating on marksmanship (as I have been doing for the past week or so), I would concentrate on defense--drawing from concealment (or otherwise), aiming, and shooting. I even went so far as to put on an OWB holster and fill it with my Beretta 92FS (though it was unloaded). I drove to the range and I actually openly carried for a while--and this was blatant open-carry, too, not just uncovering when I enter an alcohol-serving restaurant; it was a full on, can't-miss-seeing-it-even-if-you-tried open-carry...at the range, where stuff like that is normal. Oh well.
So then I get inside and find that it's full of people! I should know this by now, but everyone shoots on the weekends. Everyone and their mothers. Literally. I put my name on the list, and then I got a call from Chia--wanna go guitar shopping now? I looked at the list: there were about ten people ahead of me, and the rule of thumb is that it's about 5 minutes per name, so I could've been waiting for almost an hour to shoot. So I took my name off the list and went and looked at guitars instead. Good times--the range'll always be there (unless the Anti-Gunners get to it first), the ammo won't shoot itself, and I'm a pretty decent shot when it comes to defensive work (at least, when the target is a piece of paper and not moving). I just need more practice.
So then I get inside and find that it's full of people! I should know this by now, but everyone shoots on the weekends. Everyone and their mothers. Literally. I put my name on the list, and then I got a call from Chia--wanna go guitar shopping now? I looked at the list: there were about ten people ahead of me, and the rule of thumb is that it's about 5 minutes per name, so I could've been waiting for almost an hour to shoot. So I took my name off the list and went and looked at guitars instead. Good times--the range'll always be there (unless the Anti-Gunners get to it first), the ammo won't shoot itself, and I'm a pretty decent shot when it comes to defensive work (at least, when the target is a piece of paper and not moving). I just need more practice.
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