Inherited gun, and What is a fun target to shoot with a 30-30 ?

[Hellbore]

My nephew Brian is the luckiest SOB...

He is 16 and he loves guns but his parents said absolutely you will never have a gun while you live in our house.

However, a few months ago my uncle passed away and as he was on his death bed, just before he died, he asked for Brian to come see him. He says "I want you to have this" and pulls out of a box, a beautiful 1950 or so Winchester 30-30 saddle gun, like new out of the box, never been fired.

His parents couldn't say no because it was a deathbed wish and all... so Brian, against all odds, is now a gun owner!

We are taking him shooting tomorrow morning to try out his new gun. What is a good thing to shoot at that would be fun for him and illustrate to him the power of a 30-30 compared to small stuff like .22LR? He has only ever shot .22LR and I think it woudl be fun for him to shoot something and see it get destroyed by a more powerful gun. I was thinking maybe cinder blocks. Any ideas?

 

[ojibweindian]

A watermellon, ala R Lee Emory.

 

[Soap]

Watermelons are good, any size plastic soda bottle filled with water, or milk jugs will work.

 

[ID_shooting]

I second milk jugs full of water. 30-30 bounces em good!

 

[foghornl]

Any of the melons are good targets, as are things like pumpkins, etc.

2-liter or larger soda/water/milk PLASTIC jugs......Don't ask, but a certain kid I knew blasted a 1/2-gallon GLASS milk jug with a .30-06

5-gallon paint buckets, water-filled of course.

Or some thick steel plate to make a gong.

 

[bad LT]

Deer (in season of course)

 

[brian roberts]

targets...

pick out where you're going to have the demo, if its a gun club, explain the context of what you're going to be doing, & ask if they'll allow it(they probably will, as there's no mess to clean up). on THE DAY, go to a local ice-house, get one of those solid 30-40 Lb. blocks(need some tongs) put it out at about 50 yds, on a chair seat(make sure, weeks in advance the rifle is sighted in, of course) place the block edge-on, & hit it w/a 150grnr about mid-way up. its sure to make an impression NO young person ever forgets. that shot is best taken w/him standing to one side, so he gets an unobstucted view. then, he can shoot to his heart's content, after the safety lecture.

 

[DnPRK]

First, explain to your nephew about the value of a pre-64 Winchester 94 in like-new condition. There are collectors out there who would sell their souls for one in that condition. It is a prize to be cherished and taken care of.

Second, show him how to clean it. Explain that lack of attention after shooting leads to rust and will ruin the value and accuracy of the rifle.

Third, use gallon water jugs as targets. Another good target is balloons. Yet another target is clay birds (shooting those offhand at 100 yds can be a humbling experience for "expert shots").

Model 94s are light in weight and shooting 150 or 170 gr cartridges will give quite a bit of recoil. In other words, he may enjoy shooting a couple boxes per session, but more than that can leave you with a bruised shoulder and bad flinch.

 

[Gunnutz13]

My choice...

...for a good blow-up target is a 1/2 gallon milk jug filled and frozen ( weather permitting ) overnight outside ( instead of using the freezer and causing problems with the wife )...shatters like a cinder block and easier to clean up !

 

[mustanger98]

Now this is just me, but somebody mentioned clay birds at 100yds. I've found those good for walking my shots onto the target while making sight adjustments. I like to shoot those from the bench with Ultramax's 165gr LFP cowboy load. They don't kick as much as a hunting load. A plastic milk jug or 2liter Coke bottle filled slap full and capped is good. Best shot with 150gr SP hunting load. One shot, one kill, move on to next target.

Be sure he's wearing hearing protection. I remember my first time to fire a .30-30- I was 15. About three rounds and the muzzle blast was all over my nerves like green on collards. I got over it though. Just takes getting used to. Recoil goes to stock fit and how much jacket are you wearing. I've found I don't have a problem with my '94 and hunting loads, but then I'm 6' and 200lbs and Brian may or may not be the same size. So be sure and have a good quilted jacket he can wear for padding if he needs it. It may not even phaze him.

Sounds like he's got a good rifle. May he enjoy it, both for shootability and for the greatness that is a Winchester.

 

[EghtySx]

Bricks. I shot some recently when sighting in my 30-30. They pretty much explode into a cloud of dust.

 

[Redneck Revolver]

go to a pawn shop and see if they have any junk tv's for a really cheap. thats what i usually do when i want to see the power of differant loads. or when im feeling bored.

 

[airbornekyle1]

There is a flea mraket in southern missouri that sells nitro filled targets, that will give him some exitement.

 

[mustanger98]

Okay, with regards to explosive targets, get a bunch of empty spray paint cans. Empty to us and empty to a spraypainter is two different things. You might could use empty shaving cream cans too. Anything under pressure like that.

 

[Richard.Howe]

looters

 

[Dave R]

I like to shoot EMPTY propane tanks. The ones that hold 5 gals? 10 gals?

You can set up out at 100 yards, 200 yards, or more, and still see them well enough to hit them. And when you hit, it makes a nice sound.

 

[DSRUPTV]

I love shooting capped 2 liter bottles full of water with my marlin 1895. Any high power rifle round and most magnum handgun rounds are pretty fun and impressive. The .45/70 really does a great job. As stated before some sort of sp bullet is best.