Haven’t seen a thread like this here. I had a very fun range trip yesterday. I went to test some heavy 223 hand loads in one rifle and some 55 grain loads in another and to sight them both in for their respective loads. Both loads worked as expected, barring operator errors, and the 55 gr load potentially works in either rifle. I have hope for my goal of hitting a playing card at 200 yards with iron sights based on that load. I also spent some time on the pistol range and successfully shot the end off a q-tip for the first time and got 2 edge on hits on a playing card, though I failed to cut it completely. Finally I got to talk to a couple of nice and knowledgeable shooters and assist some first time visitors to this particular range. I stopped short of offering them my target stand, as I’ve grown weary of rebuilding it after it gets shot. It’s just a pvc affair, so I may build a spare for such occasions.
Most Entertaining Range Trip in a While
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JCooperfan1911
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Sound extremely exciting, thank you so much for sharing.
jag1954
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wiscoaster
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My best range trips are the ones where I accomplish my shooting goals and where I've interacted socially with other shooters: making new friends and meeting old ones. I must say, recently I've experienced more of these good range trips lately. I think people in general, and maybe gun people in particular, are just overjoyed to finally being able to get out and about and do their favorite stuff and be normal persons living their normal lives again.
I do not actually shoot that many rounds during my more fun trips but when they go where I want I don’t need to. 4 magazines through my SW22 (40 rounds) and about 12 rounds of each 223 recipe was all I shot. It was partly because of the crowd and partly because I finished what I wanted to do. Even before the ammo shortage, I still shot this way.
garandsrus
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How do you plan to see the playing card at 200 yds? I shoot High Power, which is 200 yds for the reduced course. The black circle of the target is about 12” in diameter and looks like a pin head on top of an AR front sight post. If you staple the card in the center of the target, you have a good chance of hitting it at some point. The X ring is about 2” in diameter and some slow prone scores have a good number of X’s, which would hit the card.
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DustyGmt
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Sometimes it sucks when someone else shows up at the range, totally dependent on who they are of course, sometimes it's an eye roll because it's a couple of pukes who just want to mag dump and act stupid and say stupid stuff and "show off", it would appear some people think pulling the trigger fast with lil to no mind payed to precision or skill is fun, most assuredly not for me or others at the range. I'll often head out on that note.
Most times even though it's nice to have the place to yourself, some good people will show up and often they are very experienced and generous with information and alot of tines offer to use their guns and it can be alot of fun.
Most times even though it's nice to have the place to yourself, some good people will show up and often they are very experienced and generous with information and alot of tines offer to use their guns and it can be alot of fun.
swg1
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I used to spend most Sundays during the winter at the range. I'd show up around ten and stay until they closed at four. Damn I miss that. Ranges around me are either closed due to covid or county commissioners wanting the land. And the ones not under attack from the county aren't conducive to old rifle experiments. Long story short, they suck. Been ages since I've enjoyed a good day at the range with good folk.
Why just the winter months?
Motorcycles.
Why just the winter months?
Motorcycles.
Glad you had a good time, and met some new folks. Some of my "range" buddies are around pretty much every trip now, and its always really nice to hang out and talk or shoot their new toys.
Range days are always fun lately, I go hang out with friends, make noise, and "clean" up the random berm debris......
99% of the time if its load development, or testing a new gun I want to be alone and left alone so I can concentrate. I haven't done serious load development in a year or two at this point, and my "testing" has been lackadaisical at best.....some times I get frustrated with myself, most of the time I just dont care that much anymore lol.
Ill get back into it more seriously tho, Ive got some projects I cant screw around with like I have been if i want to get anywhere......
Range days are always fun lately, I go hang out with friends, make noise, and "clean" up the random berm debris......
99% of the time if its load development, or testing a new gun I want to be alone and left alone so I can concentrate. I haven't done serious load development in a year or two at this point, and my "testing" has been lackadaisical at best.....some times I get frustrated with myself, most of the time I just dont care that much anymore lol.
Ill get back into it more seriously tho, Ive got some projects I cant screw around with like I have been if i want to get anywhere......
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swg1
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Sometimes it is nice to have the range alone, sometimes nice to have company, sometimes nice to talk to others; it is never nice to have one of these conditions all of the time - other people can make or break a range visit, some people know that and some people just don’t care. Some people have good awareness of others and some people only care about themselves. A good range day is sometimes rare but hard to beat for peace of mind - some do not know what that means.
I’m not sure I can see it. I’m leaning toward probably not being able to after seeing how small my 6” sighting target was at 150. If I can’t I’ll just move up in size or place it on a bigger target. The smallest I’ve tried was a 3” orange bullseye on a 12” shoot n see target at 150, but that’s overall bigger with about ideal contrast. I’ll probably start at 12” and move down until I can’t see them.
GooseGestapo
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We called these folks “masterblasters”.
I watched two shoot up two cases of Chinese 7.62x39 through two AKs and an SKS. Four people who were already present left after they got started. They got really rambunctious after witnesses left, shooting up range markers and most any thing else present on the range. Left all the spent steel cases.
After they had exhausted their ammo supply and loaded up preparing to leave. I approached them. Neither had signed in (State WMA range on U.S.Army Corp of Eng. property). Neither had ID or DL. Ended up taking both to jail for criminal trespass on WMA. One had outstanding warrants, and one of AK’s was reported stolen.. impounded vehicle, expired tag...
To top it off, I got the entire episode on video tape! As I was working a stakeout for littering and dope deals in parking area.
They had a BAD day at the range!
@GooseGestapo that needs to go in a "what made you smile today" thread. 
Barbaroja
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Good story thanks for sharing!
orionengnr
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OP--
What caliber were you using to shoot the head off a Q-Tip and get an edge-on hit on playing cards?
And what distance? Sounds like some pretty good shooting, regardless.
GG--
I love a happy ending. Good job.
What caliber were you using to shoot the head off a Q-Tip and get an edge-on hit on playing cards?
And what distance? Sounds like some pretty good shooting, regardless.
GG--
I love a happy ending. Good job.
It was my S&W SW22 Victory in 22LR. I tried some one handed bullseye at 25 yards but the trick shooting was at 10 yards. If you saw my bullseye target you’d know why I moved closer. One of the people I talked to said he always like to end with a couple trick shots to keep things interesting so I thought I’d try it too.
jag1954
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Another good sunny Sunday morning at the local range. Had the place all to myself and began sighting in the 10/22 at 50 and 100yds. There wasn't a soul around for miles.
jag1954
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It's the factory mounted Viridian® EON 3-9x40 scope on my model 31143.
jonnyc
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I had a great one today, and I hardly fired anything!
My son moved back from CA a few months back and I finally got him to the range. The new Glock 43X I got him was a bit of an incentive. His friend from Sacramento was visiting and we shot the 43X, Beretta M71, a Yugo AK, my IDF-clone AR, and an "Israeli" Mauser in 7.62. I shot each gun once and watched the boys play. Made a dent in my ammo supply, but a good time was had by all.
My son moved back from CA a few months back and I finally got him to the range. The new Glock 43X I got him was a bit of an incentive. His friend from Sacramento was visiting and we shot the 43X, Beretta M71, a Yugo AK, my IDF-clone AR, and an "Israeli" Mauser in 7.62. I shot each gun once and watched the boys play. Made a dent in my ammo supply, but a good time was had by all.
Those are the stories I wanted to hear. A lot of people seem like they’re doing work when they go. I decided I would stop being bothered if I didn’t get everything down I wanted to do, and I decided I’d stop trying to get so much done. There were times when I’d want to test three or four different batches of hand loads. That’s too much for one trip at a public range. Now it’s one batch and last time I didn’t even get that far. Just the first three of six loads were all I got to try. After looking at the target I decided I met my accuracy goal on the second test charge and all I need to do is verify that load one more time then hit production which will involve pulling and recharging the other test loads. Now my trips are much more about getting out for a bit and are lots more fun.
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