Finally warm enough to shoot

[e rex]

When you get old and don't shoot very well the quick fix is a bigger target. This winter my Grandson built me a new swing plate. This one is 8X8 and that is a little large for 25 yards. It was nice this morning and the sun was bright so I set the thing up at 25 yards. One shot and I knew it wasn't much fun that close so I moved it out to 55 yards. I had spent the cold days loading a 358477 150 grainer over 4 grains Bullseye in .38 cases. I shoot a 4" 686 but stout loads aren't that much fun anymore. Missed the first two shots at 55 then realized I was shooting just under. Next two struck about 4-5 inches below the 25 yard shot and a bit to the right.
Now I freely admit to cheating! I parked the pickup sideways to my target and stood with my back against the cab to keep from shaking too bad. I don't feel bad about that at all, I figure at 79 going on 80 I can fudge a bit if I want. I sure like that little .38 special load!
Don't tell me you get too old to shoot, those candles on your cake are just numbers.

 

[barnfrog]

When you get old and don't shoot very well the quick fix is a bigger target. This winter my Grandson built me a new swing plate. This one is 8X8 and that is a little large for 25 yards. It was nice this morning and the sun was bright so I set the thing up at 25 yards. One shot and I knew it wasn't much fun that close so I moved it out to 55 yards. I had spent the cold days loading a 358477 150 grainer over 4 grains Bullseye in .38 cases. I shoot a 4" 686 but stout loads aren't that much fun anymore. Missed the first two shots at 55 then realized I was shooting just under. Next two struck about 4-5 inches below the 25 yard shot and a bit to the right.
Now I freely admit to cheating! I parked the pickup sideways to my target and stood with my back against the cab to keep from shaking too bad. I don't feel bad about that at all, I figure at 79 going on 80 I can fudge a bit if I want. I sure like that little .38 special load!
Don't tell me you get too old to shoot, those candles on your cake are just numbers.

When I was young my friends and I looked down on anyone who would use any sort of rest or aid for shooting. Off-hand only. Now most of my practice involves some sort of rest because when I'm hunting I carry shooting sticks or find something to steady my aim. And in actuality it's consistent with what I remember being taught when I took hunter safety as a kid: respect for your quarry means you do whatever it takes to increase your chances of a quick, clean kill.

Besides, it's more fun when you hit the target.

 

[Highland Lofts]

My shooting really slows down when I starting taking my grandson out. When shooting any longer distances I like to have something solid to stabilize the shot.

At your age enjoy your reloading and then enjoy the shooting.

 

[film495]

I find shooting an 8" steel plate to be just fine. I can hit the 6" ones, for the most part, but I'm not really a great shot at 25 yards with a handgun. The group I've been shooting with none of us are good enough to even seriously try 50+ yards. 25 is challenging enough, I would have been very impressed to see you hit an 8" gong at that distance and offered to buy you a beer.

 

[Blue68f100]

I routinely shoot at a 8" steel target with my hand guns. At least 1-2 mags when I'm practicing. I have a rack with 4 - 4" and 1 - 8" at 25 yrds. And a 8" and 4" at 100 yrds. I do need to at least sit down to steady my self to hit the 100 yrd gongs with any consistency. I've misses the 8" and hit the 4" a couple of times. They are spaced 4" apart. My handguns have dot sights which make it hard to see the target and where the misses are at. But at times I can hit the 8" 5 out of 7 times from my 1911's. I actually find it easier to hit with my Ruger MKIII pistol. It also is equipped with a dot sight. If I put the 2x pistol scope on it it's a lot easier.

I had a neighbor asked me what I was doing one time because it was hearing the gun go off then 2-3 sec later hear the hit. When I told him he just shook his head. He had never tried it at that distance.