Early Winter Range Time

[Jonesy814]

Well, it was supposed to hit 42 degrees here in NW Pennsylvania when we planned to go shooting Sunday afternoon, but it ended up only making it to 35 or 36. For December in PA that's not bad so, 2 friends and I packed or rangebags. Still had snow left from the 4 inches we got on Thursday

We had a big variety of handguns between the 3 of us. One friend brought an LC9, Glock 22 and a Heritage 22. The other brought his XD Mod2 subcompact 45 and a 4 inch S&W model 28. I brought 3 S&W revolvers, a 686, 617 and a model 15

Had a good time for about 2 hours ringing steel & punching holes in paper

Here you can see the right hand orange plate swinging back & up after a 357 magnum hit

I had just altered the grips on my 686 and wanted to see how they worked. Had no problem with recoil and offhand double action accuracy at 30 feet wasn't too bad either

Had a good time and I hope real winter holds off so we can get out again

 

[Mn Fats]

Well, it was supposed to hit 42 degrees here in NW Pennsylvania when we planned to go shooting Sunday afternoon, but it ended up only making it to 35 or 36. For December in PA that's not bad so, 2 friends and I packed or rangebags. Still had snow left from the 4 inches we got on Thursday
View attachment 877063
We had a big variety of handguns between the 3 of us. One friend brought an LC9, Glock 22 and a Heritage 22. The other brought his XD Mod2 subcompact 45 and a 4 inch S&W model 28. I brought 3 S&W revolvers, a 686, 617 and a model 15
View attachment 877064
Had a good time for about 2 hours ringing steel & punching holes in paper
View attachment 877067
Here you can see the right hand orange plate swinging back & up after a 357 magnum hit
View attachment 877073
I had just altered the grips on my 686 and wanted to see how they worked. Had no problem with recoil and offhand double action accuracy at 30 feet wasn't too bad either
View attachment 877076
Had a good time and I hope real winter holds off so we can get out again

Looks like a blast! 42° is prime. Not too cold. No mosquitos. No sweat.

I'll be picking up a new handgun tomorrow, and I'll obviously have to shoot it asap. High? 2° with a windchill in the -30's. Real winter seems to be coming...

 

[BullRunBear]

Low to mid 40s aren't bad, especially if you can keep your hands warm. Glad you guys had a good time. Now that we're retired the wife and I can hit the range even in Feb. whenever there's a break in the weather. For some reason I like shooting my muzzleloaders when the colder weather comes in. (My wife prefers her Ruger Mk II, especially if I load the magazines for her.) Like Mn Fats said, no mosquitoes and no sweat. And a cup of hot coffee or tea out of the thermos tastes extra good when it's cold.

Jeff

 

[bannockburn]

Jonesy814

I'd settle for mid 30*s anytime! Me and a buddy of mine went out one time (I think it was President's Day), when the high that day was around 20* and I didn't even want to know what the wind chill was with a steady wind out of the northwest! Of course we had the range to ourselves as no other reasonably sane person would go out shooting in that weather! Even the range owner didn't want to come out of his house; we left our drivers license on the back porch and paid on our way out. There was about a foot or more of snow on the ground so we didn't make many trips downrange to set targets. Shot mostly our ARs at 100 yards (had the foresight to load all my magazines a couple of days before), and had a great time in spite of the weather.

 

[22250Rem]

I hit my club's range year round...... Some days longer than others depending on the temperatures. Looks as though the OP had a real good time. Years ago I left ammo out in my truck overnight in the cold before going to the range next morning. Then let the gun cool off also before firing it to chronograph velocity at mid winter temps compared to doing that in mid summer. Also to check point of impact cold vs. hot. I've shot hunting rifles at 100 yards at 10 degrees F. just out of curiosity, and point of impact hardly changed. One time I was gonna do 200 yards but it would have been a 400 yard round trip walk to set up a target and the snow was pretty deep, ( should have brought the snow shoes). Mid thirties ain't too bad temperature wise as long as the wind isn't whipping. That wind chill factor can really get to you sometimes.

 

[bannockburn]

22250Rem

One time I was gonna do 200 yards but it would have been a 400 yard round trip walk to set up a target and the snow was pretty deep, ( should have brought the snow shoes).

Yeah we thought about 200 yards but the snow was kind of deep and drifted in spots and we didn't feel like trudging down there every time to reset targets so we went with 100 yards.

 

[Jonesy814]

Went out one time in about 6 inches of snow with the forecast calling for 27 degrees. I just had bought an SP101 and had to try it out. Turns out it only hit about 23 degrees with a nice breeze the whole time

 

[0ne3]

I, very rarely shoot June, July , Aug. to hot. I, will take coll weather every time.

 

[kmw1954]

The picture of that pit sure did bring back memories. Long ago we had a pit like that, that the farmer would let us shoot in. Deep enough and well protected. Farmer sold off and now there is a subdivision in that spot. To this day I haven't been able to find another pit like that. During the winter we would fill old paint cans with water and freeze them and then hang them for targets.

 

[Jonesy814]

The picture of that pit sure did bring back memories. Long ago we had a pit like that, that the farmer would let us shoot in. Deep enough and well protected. Farmer sold off and now there is a subdivision in that spot. To this day I haven't been able to find another pit like that. During the winter we would fill old paint cans with water and freeze them and then hang them for targets.

This spot is on land that's owned by a large logging/sawmill company. The road leading in is gated and locked except in hunting season. I did some work for both the company and the owner a few years back and they were nice enough to give me the combination to the gate lock with permission to shoot whenever

 

[PO2Hammer]

I'll be out there tomorrow, it's only supposed to be 20 degrees, but I need to get OUT OF THE HOUSE!

 

[kmw1954]

Yes, the pit we were allowed to use was also private property on a neighbors farm. Very select few they would let in. We would always clean up after ourselves.

 

[JR24]

Had to skip range day last week due to a blizzard but I'm hoping to go tomorrow, supposed to get all the way up to 16 and might have some sun so it'll be nice.

 

[GarrettJ]

Yeah, early winter usually isn’t too bad.

And then there is late winter. You can see the next bench over, where there is still 18” of snow piled up. But at least it was cold enough that the snow just brushed off and didn’t stick to the bench.

 

[<*(((><]

I love the sound of gunfire over deep snow and cold temperatures, anyone else?

 

[bannockburn]

Luke

I love the sound of gunfire over deep snow and cold temperatures, anyone else?

Not if I can help it! Much prefer a gentle breeze on a summer morn, though I do appreciate having a lot fewer shooters around in the winter months!

 

[Jonesy814]

I love the sound of gunfire over deep snow and cold temperatures, anyone else?

Deep snow always makes the shots seem somewhat muffled and with less echo

 

[<*(((><]

Deep snow always makes the shots seem somewhat muffled and with less echo

That’s what I love about it.

 

[whughett]

I spent 30 years working telephone utilities, out doors, all year round. Dang if I’m going out to play in the cold also. My club has an indoor range, any hand gun, hand gun caliber only. November and December it’s indoor only. Then come January it’s time for Florida and outdoor black powder shooting.

 

[Jonesy814]

Supposed to be 44 and sunny tomorrow afternoon. Still snow on the ground but I might try to get out again

 

[entropy]

I got out and shot Trap Sunday, it was really nice out!