Happy New Year!
Solly I aint been around- been busy, and shooting, and busy, and gotta cold, then the holidaze, more damn fires, yad yada yada....
The 'cartoon gun' has finally gotta chance to stretch it's legs. And since my pard' just hadda baby, the hog hunt is off.... meh. Shootin' is shootin, and steel piggy's don't need to be dressed! - yeh, I know ya caint eat 'em.
Here's a lil write up:
Took 'Boomer' up to Angeles Ranges Friday.
Finally!
I've been dying to get the thing up to a long range since I got it in September. But due to holidays, the flu etc- and fires....
Nice day ,but, windy. Very windy. 20 mph gusty, quartering head-wind.
Since my barrel is over 10" I get to sit in on the high-power rifle line. Nice "T" shaped concrete shooting benches, chairs etc... I likey.
Warmed up with a 50 yard shoot. Then out to 100 yards. Some of the gents were a little 'what the heck is this pistol doing on the rifle line'. But they knew I was OK to be there and we all made friends fast.
The wind was a factor. It was swirling and predominately a quartering head wind and very gusty. The target frames were waiving badly and anything not nailed down was quickly blown to the back fence. Including my rest and shooting pad. So my elbow is nice and bruised now....such is the price for having fun and I got tired of chasing things down.
After a few sessions the wind became steady. The frames were being blown out of their stands and some stands were knocked over if not tethered down. So I and many gave up on the paper and went long at 200 yards (and beyond) for the steel targets.
I thought I was going to be out-ranged but tried a few none the less. I was surprised to see my 100 yard setting coming up just a tad short under the belly of the steel pig I was trying to clang.
My neighbor saw what I was doing and him and his father started spotting for me as I went up on the rear sight one click and shot atta time, hoping I had enough clicks (took 4 in the end). It was really nice having a spotter so all I had to do was fire and adjust the rear sight. I did not adjust for windage as it was too stiff, swirling and gusting. I just shot when it felt lulled.
I didn't know it but others started taking interest in this escapade and gathered behind me and my spotter. More of an exercise in futility really, but I was now on a mission with my little revolver and a tiny steel pig 200 yards away. It was truly tiny, way less than 3/4's the width of my rear sight blade when in the sight-picture.
After two cylinder's I was pretty zeroed elevation-wise at 200 yards. I was painting this thing into a corner and clanged the post it was on, winged the ear and was just missing it. The range master called the 1 minute warning for a session break and I had one shot left in my cylinder. I took my time, got it lined up and waited for the lull. It came, I fired, and after what seemed like forever- *ping!*
I got it.
And just then, I got a big slap on the back from my spotter, and, the folks behind me started cheering and clapping!
It kind of scared the beans out of me, but it was pretty cool once I knew what was going on...funny really as I'd have never made that shot if I knew that many people were watching. My hands shake bad enough as it is!
After the break, my spotter shot my revolver and pinged it first try. He missed the rest but was close as it could be. The Rangermaster even got in some shooting was having some fun as well. Guess the point is the results are duplicatable. Very cool. And from a box-stock revolver with factory ammo. For bench shooting the trigger is a tad heavy. It is coming along and gets better with use as the gun is still fairly new. It's pretty good for off-hand stuff. And a total hoot in the gallery on all sorts of swingers, It's stupid accurate and I spent 50 rounds of full-house in there alone.
It was fun being the only pistol on the high-power line, especially when you walk by and see all the MOA hunting and match shooters with all their goodies and ton's of gear, then get to my bench and there's a box of shells and a revolver on a red towel.
Angeles Ranges is a wonderful place to shoot. I've been going there since I can't remember when. I recommend it, and their re-loading store, very highly!
Here's some unimpressive paper I brought home, they wouldn't let me cut down the steel piggy and take it with me so, oh well.
50yd shots on the left, 100yd shots on the right, then things just got too windy for paper with the target frames flapping around wildly- they are not whimpy by any stretch either.
Sure was a fun shoot, I'd never hunt at that range with this, but it is fun reaching out and touching something in adverse conditions with a naked revolver. I'ma little bummed I used up all the rest of my vintage S&W 240gr factory stuff. But now I got 300rds of brass, a fresh batch of Nosler 240gr HP and a Tub of H-110 to keep me busy this week.
One pistol, a tiny steel pig and 200 yards. Darn good day at the Range.
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Also- got me a lil' brother fer 'Boomer'. This here is 'Junior'. Nice indoor range nuisance.
Got some +P 180gr loads that launch flame from the front like you would not belive. It WILL catch a paper target in the next lane to you on fire if it's too close. I don't shoot them light-bullet loads anymore though. Just too much too-much.
This lil' thing is deadly at 30'......and beyond as well! A cylinder fulla Grizzly Punch bronze-nuggits should bring about anything down around here that gets to close fer my liking. This is the first target I shot at, at 10yd....yeh, I jerked it a bunch. But each one was a kill. This lil hunny is a blast to shoot- literally. I freakin' LOVE it. And it has a Simply Rugged Pancake coming soon... the buckle is a 1983 commemorative, 1500/2000 in solid pewter and is so deeply relived you would not believe it! It was a gift from my Pop many moons ago, and now, has a home holding up the snubby.
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I've also been experimenting with a Merit optical decive- it makes a HUGE difference and no more of those weak "reader's"! Now I gots Bomber's shooting glasses and man, are they nice, polarized and CHEAP.
Lyman also makes a non-adjustable device for 20$. Gettum at Champion Shooters/Hebard's
Hope ya'll's freezers if full and yer belly's is fat and happy...
All this flappin's made me thirsty- where's Vince's cooler!
-kevin.