Home, Home on the Range

NICE report ! ! !

Any shooting is FUN shooting. The weather just helps make some range trips better than others.....................

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SubGunFan wrote:NICE report ! ! !

Any shooting is FUN shooting. The weather just helps make some range trips better than others.....................

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Thank you.

It makes it all worthwhile when you know someone has enjoyed what you've written.

Went out to the range this morning with the express purpose of doing a little sampling of some drills and, in the process, try and get some filming (digitizing?) done. It wasn’t exactly a resounding success.

First of all, I want to thank Jane for her patience and perseverance.

We set up a selection of targeting options. For some information on what we were messing with you can scan the posts in this topic, “Home, Home on the Range”.

Our main purpose was the filming (it’s not filming any more is it).

Well, for some reason we failed to get what we were after. We got one decent video. I’ve pasted a few stills from it below. I’m happy with those stills, at least as a starting point. I thought you might like to share in my misery over the remaining non-achievement.

Oh, and by the way. Note that target down range. That’s my Cannery Row, 60 feet.

Here’s a Hint From Heloise – Planning on making the shoot at Da Shed on 10/2? You might want to practice on that.

Looks like another good day at Whitetail!

looks like day of fun to me

LINKS:
For the M&G at Da Shed 10/2, see the topic “jus a lil peak”, at:
http://www.msgunowners.com/general-off-topic-f20/jus-a-lil-peak-t8519.htm

LINKS
See the posting 9/19/10 at:
http://www.msgunowners.com/general-off-topic-f20/jus-a-lil-peak-t8519.htm

For you new readers of my scribblings (by now, most experienced MS-G-O’ers, when recognizing this author’s name will generally click over the posting) it might be helpful to get a little background on this subject. Take a look at my posts in this thread dated 4/2/10 and 10/5/10. Then to get up to date you might want to quickly jump over to http://www.msgunowners.com/general-off-topic-f20/jus-a-lil-peak-t8519.htm, to my posting dated 9/19/10.

When I started this thread over 6 months ago I wrote that I think it helps to share the things we do at the range to make it more fun, to increase interest, and even perhaps to hone our skills. It’s not my intention to get into a can-you-top-this contest. Rather I’m looking to share ideas, things that you might do that I might want to adapt in whole or in part.

And to try to keep this alive, to make this thread sort of float to the top and get noticed, I make these(what some may call ‘insipid’) posts. And, as I’ve written before, I realize fully that for you more accomplished shooters this probably is a bore, mere child’s play. But for us aging neophytes (is that a contradiction in terms?), it can be something of a challenge, even fun, and perhaps even a learning exercise.

(You can click on these Thumbnails for an expanded picture. Works pretty nicely)The set up this time was basically the same as before except that I have added an 11 yard line. And I mixed the “pan” settings to spots 2, 7, & 9. The grid graphic hints that from the 5 yd line, the #9 pan may appear right next to the #2 pan potentially challenging the speed and precision mix (red dotted line). As it turned out, and as you’ll see, the relative heights of the # 2 and # 9 pans really changes that picture.

I used the usual stuff - .22, 9mm, & 45

So I was out this past Tuesday and got set up. As you can see this was less a Tin Pan Alley and more a Foam Plate Array (Speaking of “arrays”, has anyone ever toured the “The Very Large Array” west of Socorro, NM? A little off topic, I know.) Hadn’t gotten really started when I had a severe stoppage in the STI 9mm (that’s a story for another time). Severe enough that I packed everything up and went home.

Cleared the stoppage and while I was at it ran all the handguns through the every-60-day disassemble/clean/reassemble, whether-they-need-it-or-not, routine.

Went back out on Friday and reset the grid – tin pans this time. As the stobs are of different heights, each set up can change the picture. You can see the #9 pan appears very clear of the #2 pan; it’s all relative.

Everything went fine this time. Keep in mind that the firing position (line) and the order of pan-shooting are randomly selected. This time I even mixed the shots, running 6 rds as 1,1,1 & 1,1,1 or 2,2,2 (double tapping).

As I wrote, it‘s fun. Maybe I learned something. And maybe one day I’ll get to the point I can play with the big boys.

If you do try this out I’d like to know how it worked for you.

(*I’m considering my post of 10/16 as “Grid 1”) I know this is really basic stuff but I’m enjoying these minor challenges to speed and precision. Simple stuff for some, I’m sure.

Again, this is more Foam Plate Array rather than a Tin Pan Alley. I guess that will be the rule for awhile.

If you’re new to this thread you might want to get a little background. Take a look at my posts in this thread dated 4/2/10, 10/5/10 and 10/16/10. Then to get up to date you might want to quickly jump over to http://www.msgunowners.com/general-off-topic-f20/jus-a-lil-peak-t8519.htm, to my posting dated 9/19/10.

OK, we’ve got that all out of the way. So, if you’re still with me and have not yet clicked on to the next topic, let’s get started.

For today’s shoot we set up our Grid #2. (You can open these thumbnails by simply clicking on them. You can keep them in memory, for quick reference, by not closing the picture but rather returning directly to this page) When we drew this one out we noticed that from the 11 yd C firing position, the bullet path to target position 7 would come very close to target position 4 (dotted red line). For duffers like me, a real speed/precision challenge.

However, as you can see, looking from the 11 yd C position, it wasn’t as bad as we first thought. Even I might not hit the forward plate.

This time I had a little different mix in “stuff”. Had the ever-present 9mm and 45. This time I added the Bersa 380 and had the Walther P22 pressed upon me to use, as doubtful as that may seem (there’s a story here but will leave that for another time – think I’ve ordered a new .22 – no, not the Walther – more on that later).

Well, no sense in dragging this out. Had a bunch of fun. Will continue to run these different grids and will continue to bore you to tears with my reports. May get the Poker Crew out later this week.

If you should happen to try any of this stuff post your reactions here. I’d enjoy reading them.

Stoppage? Yea, well it’s the only way I guess I can justify another of my innocuous posts; however, I’ll defer that until I get to the end of this post. Might hold on to my readership (such as it is) that way.

We were back out to Whitetail Ridge Outdoors this morning. Didn’t invite any of the other Poker Crew as guests as we had some business to conduct – paying our dues for 2011.

We did get in about an hour’s worth of shooting.

The arsenal this time included a Browning Buckmaster (You can open these thumbnails by simply clicking on them) and a Ruger P85 Mk II 9mm

Of course I had my usual array

While we had set up the “bad guy” silhouette and a couple of bulls eyes, we spent all our time on Cannery Row. Surely he’s not using black powder in his reloads - cough, cough!

Was a lot of fun and some worthwhile fellowship at the range.

Now, regarding ‘Stoppage!’. Take a look at this. This was on display at the clubhouse. This was a .270. Ouch!

This is just a continuation of the past two or three weeks (you can check out the earlier postings in this thread) if for no other reason than maybe someone else out there is interested in trying to play this game. I call it a game but it still can be a challenge to precision and speed for some of us.

Went out to the range yesterday and set up what amounts to Grid 3. (Again, as a reminder, you can click these thumbnails for a full picture.)

The grid graphic hints that from the 11 yd line, the #1 plate may appear right next to the #4 plate potentially challenging the speed and precision mix (red dotted line). In actual practice, depending upon the relative heights of the respective stobs, this may not be as tight as it first appears.

This time it developed that the stobs used were of such a height that from the 11yd line the foam plates in stations 1 and 4 were, in fact, close in line, as you can see in the picture, a speed/precision challenge for the likes of me.
As you’ve read in earlier posting the firing position (line) and the order of plate-shooting are randomly selected and I try to mix the shots, running 6 rds as 1,1,1 & 1,1,1 or 2,2,2 (double tapping).

It was pretty windy that morning so I quit a bit early. Good thing that I did. After a couple trips (at least) to get all my stuff back in the SUV the sky opened up. Didn’t get too wet.

Oh yes, before I forget, I wrote last week, “...think I’ve ordered a new .22”. Well it develops I did and I picked it up yesterday. Will write about it in the next few days. Plans are to get out early Friday morning and see how the new .22 goes.

11/2/10



I’m just continuing this series in case any one is staying with me on this. There may be one, or maybe even two. You never know.

Was back out to the range this morning. As I posted somewhere else today, I watched the radar last evening and again this morning and figured I’d have enough time to get out to the range and back before it rained (which I did). Down side? Was windy – hard to keep those foam plates from flopping around.

I guess anyone who’s reading this understands from prior postings just what I’m up to. And, just click on the thumbnails for a full picture.

Grid 4 was sort of interesting.


As you can see from the actual array, things could get a little tight. This was the view from the 11 yd line. Fortunately I never did clip that lead plate. Will miracles never cease?

My “usual stuff” was a little different today, substituting the FS22LR (see this at: http://www.msgunowners.com/handguns-f15/firestorm-fs22lr-t9504.htm) for the Ruger 22/45.



And, we continue randomly selecting the firing position (line) and the order of pan-shooting, mixing the shots - running 6 rds as 1,1,1 & 1,1,1 or 2,2,2 (double tapping). I find it a fun challenge to precision and speed. (A confession – did get out of sequence today; the order of shooting the pans)

May try to get some of the Poker Crew out later this week.

11/05/10




I wrote this past Tuesday in another thread, “May try to get some of the Poker Crew out later this week”. The Crew talked about it that evening across the table and set it up for today, Friday.

Well, as it developed, a couple of the Crew had “honey-do” things that they daren’t ignore (if you get my drift). So it was pretty slim pickings this morning.

Here are a couple of pic’s (you know how to open them).


As you can tell from the coats it was pretty chilly (i.e., cold!) this morning. By the way, most of the smoke is from behind the berm. The burn ban was off and they were getting caught up. Fortunately we were not downwind.

Here are some of the tools we had with us. Going around the clock: Charter Arms snubbie .38, RIA 45, STI 9mm, and the new FS22LR.



“So what’s the point of all this”, you ask. Besides airing out the Poker Crew (believe me, that’s needed every once in awhile), it’s to let you know that this collection of geezers is getting out to the range fairly regularly (I'm sure you really care about that).

11/10/10




Probably to many this seems to be a folly. And, I can appreciate that. But from my point of view, it’s a lot of fun besides being something of a challenge (to me?) in precision and speed.

Okay, having said all that, let’s get down to it.

Was out to the range yesterday (Tuesday, 11/9) and, among other things, set up what I call my Grid 5 (click on the thumbnails for a full picture if you’re interested).



The dotted blue lines are just potential lines of sight from a couple of the shooting positions. When the array was actually set up there was more clearance than the grid indicated.



Just as a reminder, this is shot randomly, selecting the firing position (line) and the order of pan-shooting “by chance”, mixing the shots - running 6 rds as 1,1,1 & 1,1,1 or 2,2,2 (double tapping).

And to round this it out, here again is the usual stuff.



Am continuing to run the FS22LR in lieu of the 22/45, at least for the time being. I’m running a commentary on that FS22LR in another post (see at: http://www.msgunowners.com/handguns-f15/firestorm-fs22lr-t9504.htm).

Had fun with the array and may even have worked a tad on my relative precision and speed skills.

Fun (there is a serious side) - that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?

This is just a quickie, sort of a lead-in to the next step that I hope to have here next week. Pictures are poor and I apologize for that.

Was out to the range Wednesday morning, early – sunny and 39 degrees, that’s sort of chilly!

Since early in October (see postings above) I’ve been writing about this “Tin Pan Alley” array and I hope it has been of some interest. I’ve found the randomness of the shoot (e.g., order of targets and varying shooting distances), coupled with what precision and speed I can generate, a personal challenge (perhaps not for the more accomplished shooters) and maybe even a bit of learning improved skills.

What we have been doing is shooting nominal 9 inch pie pans/foam plates. Decided to take the next step and introduce IDPA-styled silhouettes into the mix. (You can click on the thumbnails to view)


If you care to scroll up to for the posting, “IDPA-Styled and –Dimensioned Target”, dated Apr 21, 2010, I have written about constructing these targets.

You can see that these are pretty well shop worn. Using replacement cardboard 6 inch circles and 8 inch squares does extend the life. I don’t know who has been hitting outside those designated aiming points. Surely not me!

Of course to accommodate these different targets I’ve had to expand the array laterally from 3 to 5 yards. Everything else remains the same.



For this drill I stuck to the 9mm and 45.



There’s not much to tell beyond this. If you’re interested, and if you can make them out, the blue dots are the 9mm hits and the orange are the 45. At least I hit the aiming points.



As I wrote at the beginning, this is a lead-in to the next step (I hope). I’ll let you know how it goes.