Hows your range time spent?

[tactics]

If your like me, its a treat when the planets align and I get to make it up to put some lead downrange...

What do you typically like to get done while at the range? With the cost of ammo, Im curious on what drills you like to hammer through to keep your skills sharp.

At least twice a year, I like to get in 2 box drills per scope I own to validate my zero and ensure one click means one click.

With handguns, I do alot of holster work. This depends alot on summer vs winter carry rigs, and how I plan to implement those.

Regarding 22lr, I seldom go to the range without bringing up the walmart brick of 550...and have actually really tried to get a 22 "clone" of each of my full calibers...IE, I have a GSG 1911 in 22 to match my 3 1911s I have in 45...point being to match the safety, drawing, holstering, etc...I have same with my ARs and Glocks. Hard to beat plinking and its always good to incorporate some good work while at play.

So Im curious what others enjoy doing while at the range...

OH, and BTW, I found a cheaper, lighter, easier set up (and biodegradable) alternative that steel...I have found some clay-pigeon target hangers that clip onto a 3/16 inch dowel rod or rope...instant gratification of busting a clay, and I get 90 shots for $5.99. Although, I do like the sound of hitting steel.

 

[tacxted]

Practice, practice, practice...

i took my handgun out with 150 rounds and some bright orange paper plates from the dollar store. 5 rounds in each mag to slow myself down, reloading mags takes time that i use to evaluate and refect on my shots. i went shooting close to evening so i could get some low light/no light training in. worked on different flashlight holding techniques.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

95% is spent shooting gongs and swingers offhand.

 

[Old Dog]

To begin with, ammo prices have zero bearing on how often I shoot. Although I'm a government employee, I use my discretionary income to buy ammo on a regular basis -- I regard buying ammo the same as I view buying gas for the cars or groceries -- a necessity.

Consequently, when I -- and the wife -- go to the range (at least twice a month), we'll burn through whatever we need to, typically a few hundred rounds of 5.56mm/.223, 9mm, a couple hundred rounds of .45 ACP and maybe a box or two of .357 Magnum, .38 SPL and .380 ACP.

Every range session, I try to work in at least one or two repetitions of my work pistol quals -- 50 rounds with stages at 5, 7, 10, 15 and 25 yards. My wife fires at least 50 rounds at 5, 7 and 10 yards and calls it a day.

If we're on the outdoor range, we check the zeros of the iron sights on our M-4s, the EOTechs and the Aimpoint. We then usually shoot at least three or four twenty-round magazines each at 25, 50, 75, 100 and 200 yards.

Four hours is a normal range session for us. Occasionally, we're accompanied by one of our adult daughters, or one of my or her friends.

Those clay pigeon target hangers are neat -- I've used the little stands/holders for them. Unfortunately, the gun club and the base range I frequent don't permit working from the holster -- I only get to do that at work, not often enough ...

Of course, I am also fortunate in that I get actually get paid to instruct weapons qualification (three gun: service pistol, carbine and shotgun) classes for my employer on a regular basis, and to go out and shoot guns periodically to maintain qualification.

Beats working!

 

[Sky]

I try to plan on going at least once a month but when I go it is usually with others who have invited me. I have noticed that the round count for the .22s is way up but everything else not so much. I doubt I will ever use the ammo I have but most of my stuff is used for popping pigs. A big night around here used to be a total of 6 rounds fired. These last few months pigs have really thinned out due to a Cougar who has developed a taste for pork in our hunting areas.?

When I do go and use a pistol I usually just try and hit the knock down 4" targets at 15 yards, which, sometimes I am impressed and other times I could do better. I have always been a rifle kinda guy simply because most of the stuff I have used fire arms for (by mutual agreement) did not want to get close and personal. I can not remember the last pig that got away if I took the shot?

I get a bigger kick out of watching kids and women learning and developing their skill set than actually shooting anymore, but I am old.

I carry because it is prudent and responsible "in my mind". Maybe I should train harder but it never has been something I felt I needed for the last 30 years or so..I may change my mind one day but for now I am complacent while being fat, dumb, and happy where I am.

 

[merrill]

I spend most of my time making excuses for my lousy shooting.

 

[ZGunner]

I don't have a good range in my area. But last time I was up visiting my folks I went to the range with my dad.

We went to sight in a Bushmaster he had picked up. We also brough along my Savage Mark II and Mosin. 15 minutes shooting the Bushmaster, and maybe 5 with the Mosin.

The next 2 hours was spent blowin threw a 550 pack of 22 with that Savage. Seeing who could shoot a smaller hole in a piece of paper, who could make a better smiley face on the siloettes, and how many shotgun husks we could take oof a board with a 5 rnd mag. Good times!

 

[Fred Fuller]

Moved to GGD...

 

[josiewales]

I have my own range so I can do as I please!
Most of my range time is practicing for SASS event with my Henry H001 and my single six.

 

[MtnCreek]

I shoot more often, but for less time than most of ya'll. I try to spend 45 min to an hr every other day; sometimes less often, sometimes more often. Main focus right now is trigger control and follow through. By the time I drive to the target, paint it, and run off any stock that’s in the danger zone, that only leaves enough time to get a hand full of rds downrange. Trying to get the few needed items out of the truck and setup in a time efficient manner, knowing I’ve got chicken to fry or porkchops to grill, adds a little stress that can break me if I let it (sounds stupid, but it can and has).

When time allows, I’ll do a little pistol dry firing in the evening. I should focus a little more on that; it makes a big difference for my shooting (trigger control/follow through is my weak point if I don’t stay on top of it).

Weekends are hit and miss (pun). This is a time when I’m more likely to shoot with some friends and training is not really what I’d call it, more like just shooting…

 

[mdauben]

Whether I'm working on long guns or handguns that day, I usually start out with some .22s. Obviously they are cheap so I can shoot quite a few of them to get myself "in the grove" and work on things like sight picture, breath control, trigger control, etc.

Once I've burned through enough rimfire, I'lll jump to my centerfire flavor of the day. Its often really tempting to bring a whole arm full of guns (espeically if I have not been to the range in a while) but I normally like to limit myself to two centerfires per range visit, so I can give each a worthwhile workout. Here I deal with recoil control, follow up, double-taps, etc.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I spend most of my time making excuses for my lousy shooting.

We need a like button for that one. My favorite line is, "Well, it was windy as hell today, so that group would have been 1" tighter on a calm day."

I like to shoot a couple mags at various distances, 10, 15 and 25 yds. Usually there's a new load or two for me to try out as well for rifles. I don't overthink my range visits. I have fun shooting. Some days I shoot 50 rounds and am ready to go home. Other days, I'll stay for a couple of hours and shoot a few hundred rounds. It's stress relief at it's finest. If I get a little better because of it, that's a bonus.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Assuming I have enough ammo:
Slow fire two-handed, rapid fire with double-, triple- or even more "taps," (still two-handed), one-handed, a little bit "weak"-handed (my weak being my left hand). I vary the ranges, especially for the one-handed work, from 5-15 yards. The indoor range would no doubt frown on drawing from the holster, so I do this at home with an empty gun, pointed at something I can afford to replace.

 

[HDCamel]

I run some basic defensive drills with my carry gun, but otherwise I just try to hit small things from far away.

 

[303tom]

Jawing & Shooting.....................

 

[Sharps-shooter]

If i'm alone, i mostly practice with one or more rifles, shooting from know distances at a bullseye type target.

If i'm with my wife and girls, i spend most of my time showing them different techniques and we take turns shooting 5-shot groups and comparing our results.

If i'm with my brother(s), brother in law, or cousins, we usually try to do something interesting like shooting at a can on a string or putting a scarecrow under medium cover/concealment and trying to shoot it. Also talking a lot.

 

[SlowFuse]

It all depends.

If I have guests, I seem to spend most of my time reloading mags and replacing targets!

If I have it all to myself I usually start with the smaller caliber and work up. If I have a mix of pistols and rifles I always shoot pistols first. I usually limit it to two or three firearms at a time.

At times, I will bring only one centerfire rifle. Most of my time will be spent taking notes on my loads and measuring groups.

 

[gbeecher]

Slingin Lead!

I just shoot until the ammo runs out! I don't get terribly hung up on accuracy or my skill level - I just enjoy it and have fun. I shoot a Mosin-Nagant 1891/30 and I love the power of it. I also enjoy occasionally trying out different handguns for rent at the gun shop/range.

 

[herkyguy]

Yesterday was two 30rd mags of .223 out of my AR15 anywhere from 15 to 50 yards. I checked my groups after every 5 shots or so. Then, I moved on to a box of speer gold dot .380 (to check reliability out of my new Sig P238), then 37 rounds of .380 FMJ for proficiency.....had to keep that last 13 rounds for filling my two P238 mags. All in all, that took me about 45 minutes.

 

[cologuy]

I haven't been doing as much actual shooting lately, mostly teaching newbies like my future daughter in law and working as RSO at the local range. Last weekend, I helped teach a Women on Target clinic for 48 women, had a blast but only managed to work in about 50 rounds between sessions.

When I get to go and actually shoot, it varies. I'm mainly into shooting just to relax - someone here called it "recoil therapy". Lots of times I'll just take the .22 pistols and shoot steel for a couple of hours, or I'll take a couple of centerfire rifles and put a few rounds through them at 100-200 yards. Mostly I just go and sit on a picnic table, enjoy the fresh air, and talk to whoever happens to walk by.

 

[Hangingrock]

It appears that I spend more time looking for and picking up spent cartridge cases than shooting. I could go back to just shooting revolvers but that’s so yesterday.

 

[danweasel]

I spend a lot of time lately doping the wind.

AKA: Missing.

 

[HOWARD J]

I enjoy my time at the range & comparing notes with other people.
I don't enjoy picking up spent cartridges from people too lazy to pick them up & range people too afraid that they will not be politically correct if they ask these people to pick up their cases.

 

[ATLDave]

95% of my shooting is at an indoor square range with no drawing or movement permitted. I don't have a set routine, but a typical session goes like this:

Between 10 and 100 .22lr from a pistol, directed at 1" orange dot sticker. I will generally shoot until the orange dot is gone and/or until I am happy with my trigger pull, sight tracking, grip, etc. Sometimes as close as 15', with the goal of having nothing outside the sticker, usually at 25' or 30'.

20-50 rounds each of .38, .357, 9mm, and/or 10mm. With each gun, usually some group shooting to see if a flinch, bad trigger pull, etc., is at issue for the day, then on to faster shooting. Usually at a USPSA paper/practice target, sometimes with more orange dots for specific aim points. Usually at 30', but I try not to always shoot the same distance. Sometimes, I'll put a couple of dots on far ends of the paper and transition back and forth between them. If bad misses start showing up, back to the .22! Typically, I'll get through 100-150 centerfire pistol rounds, though I can do more or less depending on my whims.

If I've brought some new handloads to try out, I'll shoot those slowly and separately, trying to gauge accuracy and reliability carefully, and making sure to "see the hole" before pulling the trigger again. Often towards the end, but sometimes earlier if I'm anxious to try them out.

If I bring a .223 rifle, that goes to the end of the range (only 75' or so), and that usually gets a mix of group-shooting and going fast while trying to keep all the hits in the A zone(s), or the like. 1-2 magazines is about the most I'll do of that.

If I'm outdoors at my dad's "farm," I'll basically shoot until the people I'm with get bored. I'm never tired of shooting first.

 

[mokin]

Saturday I spent time with some family members who are interested in purchasing some firearms letting them shoot different guns I have.

Tuesday I spent a little time with the Ruger MkII and sent 50 rounds downrange at paper -- 50 feet.

Wednesday I tried out a new shotgun and set up a (short) three gun course for a little practice.

Today, similar to Tuesday but I also practiced with a 10/22, 50 rounds, offhand at 50 yards.

Not a typical week but I do try to make it out to the range several times a week and I do mix it up. It mostly depends on which guns I have with me in the truck, whether I brought my timer, and how much time/ammunition I have with me.

I usually try for short sessions where I can focus on one aspect of shooting.