Maryland THR Shoot After Action Report

[PAshooter]

Norton:

Don't know what my Garand was rated "condition-wise" by the CMP but I thought it looked quite nice when I received it:

The wood shows a few dings and the front handguard is a mite dark, but mechanically the gun was perfect with essentially all of the original finish intact. I've had the gun for just a little over a year and have only had it to the range once (mainly because of the logistical problems of getting to a rifle range). It's a shooter- 100% reliable out of the box and a blast to shoot... delightful trigger pull for a military rifle, and due to it's gas-operated mechanism much less punishing than a .30-06 bolt gun. Definitely a "man's gun" though (with absolutely no disrespect to the women folk who enjoy shooting them) and a load to tote around. Shouldn't be a problem however - even for a little fellow like you Shooting 'em is all a part of the fun of owning a classic like this. I wouldn't dream of turning this proud old girl into a safe queen... seems almost sinful to me.

BTW - there's definitely a carbine on my "wish list" as well - just haven't made it that far down yet. That'd be a great way of paying homage to your grandad.

 

[Trumpet]

Norton,
If you can't find a CMP affiliated club, you can join the Garand Collector's Association www.garandcollector.org for $25. They are a national club that fulfills your club membership requirements. DO NOT get a new commercial Garand. The receivers are cast and they will not appreciate in value like a USGI.

Rich

 

[anapex]

Well Norton if you don't want to go the CMP route you can do what I've done and start touring the gun shops monthly. Picked up a .308 rebarreled Garand and a mostly GI Erma built carbine that way.

 

[chaim]

Sorry about the cost guys. I haven't been shooting enough lately, and I haven't been to Continental in some time so I forgot how expensive they are. Fine for shorter trips but not so good for a long afternoon.

I knew that Hap Baker's was going to add a pistol range, I didn't know they were going to finish in early Spring. Hoo hoo, $10 a day for unlimited time and $60 for the year (or is it $80 now), during the Spring and Autumn I won't shoot anywhere else, and only on the hottest summer days and coldest winter days will I go to the indoor ranges after that. Well, also when I just feel lazy since it is so far from me and I also have to be more prepared since I can't buy any of my ammo at the range (I'm not sure, but I think they may sell targets). Maybe we can have several shoots there in the future at those prices.

Or free for "Congressional Members" which is $225 per year. With that you get 10% off any purchase (including safes) and 3 untra sonic gun cleanings.

JeepDriver, I always forget about the 10% off. I really need to get around to buying that membership. Do you know if you can use the discount over at White Marsh Arms as well? If so that would bring their prices to pretty much what they should have already been.

I bought a CZ75B after the last shoot and don't want any more temptation for a fine/pricey 9mm.

Hee hee, they do have that effect on people after they fire them don't they? Most people who shoot a CZ 75 don't really have a choice but to buy one, and then CZs tend to multiply.




Norton...

Almost forgot...Get the 1911 for your wife, then it is still your turn to buy a gun and you can get your Garand . Seriously, if it is one or the other right now, I'd say go with the 1911 since it is too cold to do much outside shooting right now (and everyone should have at least one 1911), then this summer get the Garand when the weather is warmer.


Slimjim...

I have 3 S&W .357s right now so if you want to try a few (S&W 65LS, a 3" K-frame, a S&W 19 that you tried a cylinder out of Sunday, a 4" K-frame, and a S&W 586, a 6" L-frame). The L-frame is closest to the Ruger in size and strength.

 

[PAshooter]

Don't apologize about the cost, chaim. I think everybody had a great time - that's what's important - and we can chalk it up to experience... and find a different venue for future MD shoots. Hap Baker sounds great for warm weather get-togethers and perhaps On Target is a better choice when it's cold. There are certainly no hard feelings here - just gratitude for calling us all together once again

And I'll ditto chaim's advice Norton: go for the 1911 now and keep your eyes open for an M1 deal when it comes along. Definitely one of the "unwritten rules" that every true American should own at least one 1911

Hmmm... these things are more expensive than they might at first seem... Right now I've got a 4" GP100 (really sweet gun) and a 3" model 60 (which might as well be a .38 - 'cause that's all I care to put through such a light gun). I really need to beef up my collection of .357 wheelguns. Loved that model 27... a 686 sounds nice...

 

[Norton]

Chaim,

Again, don't feel that you need to apologize for the cost....I knew it was more expensive than On Target, but things cost what they cost...right? Anyway, it was a small price to pay for a good time

mdshooter:

I'm only going to be able to do one firearm between now and the end of the year in all likelihood....with warm weather just around the corner I'm leaning towards the M1 rathe than the 1911. OTOH....if the military raise that's being promised comes through, then the wife will have enough to buy the 1911 on her own

AFAIK.....Hap Baker is still $60 for the year for out-of county

 

[LeadPumper]

Snow Bound...

Well, I'm finally home from my business trip to VA. Dang that was a lot of ice! Just now getting to read up on the shoot.

Glad everyone had a good time at the shoot. With better planning, we could have spread the cost around more. Being on a lane with a member costs less than if you're on with a non-member.

Oh, well, better luck next time with the 5 P's- Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance.

For those that made it: great to see everybody again, and meet some of you for the first time.

For those that didnt make it: they'll be more shoots, we'll make sure of it

Norton- you know you want both, we know you'll buy both. Who do you think you're fooling?

Spot77- glad you liked the Kel-Tec, I don't use it much since I got an M1-carbine. If you want it, PM me.

P95Carry- Wow, what an impressive looking bunch of first-rate professionals you have a picture of, I almost don't recognize us

-LeadPumper

 

[PAshooter]

Norton:

Seems like sound logic to me... once the warm weather arrives you will find yourself shooting that Garand frequently. I'd hang around the "for sale" pages of this and other boards (and the auction sites) in case one shows up. Mine came from a gentleman in Alaska who had three listed - the deal went very smoothly and I'm quite pleased with the results.

You might also want to pop over to ammoman.com and pick up some of the Danish surplus '06 eric has. It's beautiful stuff - in bandoleers in en-bloc clips already. Great ammo and a way to pick up a few clips and bandos in the process.

edited to add: I don't have any experience with the Korean stuff he has - but the price on that looks even better.

 

[Norton]

mdshooter:

Check PM

 

[Norton]

LeadPumper,

LOL....I'll eventually get both, that's for sure.....it's all a matter of priorities. We've got a lot of house renovations going on and are also buying new furniture....oh, the joys of a new house!


mdshooter,

I got my rifles fairly late last year so I only got to Hap Baker a couple of times.....this year will be a different story. One of the few fringe benefits to being a teacher is the month of July

Add to that my trap outings to PG and this summer will be a veritable feast of gun powder

 

[PAshooter]

One of the few fringe benefits to being a teacher is the month of July

:banghead: <--attempt at finding assortment of smilies to convey insane jealousy

 

[sturmruger]

Here is a little Advise from the recent MN THR Shoot. Someone stop at the local office supply place and pick up some name tags. Yes they look kind of dorky, but they really make it easier to figure who is who. We wrote everyone's first name and THR user name. At least we all looked dorky together!!!

 

[PAshooter]

We thought about doing that sturmruger, but unfortunately never got past the "thinking about it" stage

Does sound like a good idea... if I can make it to the next scheduled shoot I'll take the lead on making sure this happens.

Oh, and who's gonna call a bunch of guys who are armed to the teeth "dorky"? Then again - I take it you saw our group photo above - who needs nametags? (to look dorky, that is)

 

[Norton]

If I can get off of my butt for the next shoot...I can make up some spiffy little stickers on my computer.....then we'll be dorky with matching tags

 

[PAshooter]

Norton:

...and another thing - regarding Garands, that is. Before you do anything else pick up a copy of Scott Duff's M1 Garand Owner's Guide. Lots of info in one place: history, serial number listings (who made which rifles when), operating, cleaning, maintaining, lubing, and accurizing instructions. Lots of other good stuff. Indispensable IMHO.

go here: http://www.scott-duff.com/

BTW - did you get my PM?