Northern Virginia Shoot?

I ended up getting there at 7:30 after meeting mtnbkr at guns and ammo warehouse and getting a brief turotial in reloading equipment - and holding a gorgeous S&W 500.

There was about a less than 5 minute wait when I showed up - and by 8:30 the range was half empty. When I left at 9:15 there were only 4 other shooters on the range - the older asian/philipino guy who is always there and is the fastest and most accurate .45 shooter I have ever seen as well as another dam impressive white guy on the lane next to him who was simply deadly with a 9mm Beretta (no recoil at all) - plus some kids with AR15s.

Anyway, I had a long conversation with the woman with braces about the waits at the range recently and will be composing a draft letter to the NRA about it. I'll post something about it on my blog and herre in the next couple of days, but I promised her and internet groundswell seeking to revise the current rules and limit range usage to NRA members (its only $15 to join the NRA and you can do it there) and giving annual members priority).

She seemed to indicate that earlier on saturday there was again a 2 hour wait and it was even worse Friday night.

 

A friend is on the verge of getting the 4" 500. Funny thing this is, in his write-up in American Hangunner, Clint Smith didn't dare shoot the Cor-bon ammo!

Hmm ... that is not what I expected but good to know for the future. My new rule is ... don't even bother heading over there the week following a Dulles gunshow as everyone will be there to shoot their new toys.

You mean $25, right? Or am I missing some secret discount deal??

 

They don't tell you about it because it hurts on the income they receive from advertising dollars - but you can join the NRA without receiving a magazine and and pay only $15.

Thats the membership category my wife is in because we already get all the magazines we want/need from them. She had to join at least at that level to be eligible to use our family membership to the NRA range (something we don't do anymore because she hates the wait).

 

Oh ok, well that makes sense. Never stop learning in this place.

 

You guys know of a place where I can get my sights installed? I know you can pretty much take it to any gun shop but I dont want them to mess up. I tried to adjust my sights myself a while back and they wouldnt budge no matter what I did even after putting it in the freezer for about 30 minutes. I just dont want them to scratch the slide. Thanks!

 

XD40,

I am sure the folks at Virginia Arms could help you out. Plus, they're in your neck of the woods.

 

If a sight pusher won't do the trick (and it didn't on mine as you know) just do the freezer trick, get a strong drift, put a piece of leather on the tip and whack away with a big hammer in a vise. The new sight goes in a lot easier with a touch of penetrating oil BTW.

Don't do like I did and use a metal file as the drift.

And Luke, they only charged my friend and I $15 each for the range membership. Something about a 'special deal' going on.

 

Hey, something just crossed my mind. You guys know of any place 'out in the country' where we can shoot real stuff instead of paper? If so we should all hit it soon, perhaps when I get my carbine back.

 

Well, don't know how they missed my "Hey, I'm poor!" look. Oh well, I guess the extra ten bucks for the magazine is worth it. I chose American Rifleman as I heard its a decent rag.

Chris, someone asked this a while back and no one knew of such a place that was open to the public. I think the Fairfax Rod & Gun Club has this type of place but it costs lots of $ (in the thousands, IIRC) to get membership and I think they are booked!

What happened with your carbine? You send it in?

 

During hunting season, you can get away with some "target" shooting in the national forest. However, you won't be real popular if you choose to do this during deer season.

Chris

 

Yeah I was thinking of checking out VA Arms. That place is nice and really clean and has a really good atmosphere to it. When I was trying to adjust my sights I too used a metal file to move the sights. I put a whole bunch of masking tape on the metal end though as soon as I saw that some rust marks were being left on the sights. I did the freezer trick too but I didnt have a vise and was trying to hold the slide still with just one hand. Lets just say it wasnt a well organized project and I gave up before I ended up breaking something. One last question... anyone in a militia? lol

 

Agreed! They always seem willing to help folks out.

LoL ... nope but I am originally from NYC so when I go back I always get asked if I have joined one.

 

Heh ok. If anyone knows about www.awrm.org let me know and we'll talk.

 

BRA suicide

here's a link to the only article i could find about the b.r.a. suicide where countertop (although I didn't know him back then) and i witnessed.

http://www.citizenet.com/news/articles/021005/law-order3.shtml

 

Hey guys, I did some searching around and found a public outdoor shooting range where you can shoot more than just paper. Somewhat of a drive up by Berkeley Springs WV, but might be worth the trip.

 

I think there is also one outside of Harrisonburg .

 

Cool. How long to get there by car, from say the NRA range? ... message edited due to wrong quote.

 

Uh... wrong quote? Ive been looking for an outdoor range or somewhere I can unload a few rounds without getting into trouble.

 

I'm not really sure to be honest. I'll try and get more info shortly.

Is the friday night shoot still on at BR? My friend Angela is itching to shoot my CZ again.

 

Id love to go this Friday but Im getting my new sights in on Friday and I'll probably be in training since I just got a new job. Its part time though so we'll definitely get together once I get some dough rollin.

 

Chris,

Yup, Friday night shoot @ 6:30PM is still on. However, I don't think I will be there tomorrow due to work-stuff. However, I will most likely attend the Piedmont training course with you the next day.

If you decide to go to BRA tomorrow, I'll tell my friend Dave to keep an eye out for you. I'll also let Rudy & Bert (instructors you met last time) know as they are usually around on Friday. Hope you continue your hot-streak with the CZ!

XD40,

Congrats! Some ammo money is always a nice thing!

 

So you're going to the class...fantastic.

Hey, I just had a major breakthrough with my CZ. You know it had been having bad FTE problems. I was at SP today and looked closely at a jam and found out the ejecting case was getting hung up on the incoming round's case edge. Even with the extra power extractor spring it just couldn't get it past the lip.

So, all I had to do was bend the mag lips in some so the round sits lower in the receiver...voila, no FTE in 4 boxes of CCI. God I hope this does the trick. Now when people shoot it I'll feel more confident they won't have to clear a jam.

 

Oh yeah! I was thinking of waiting til the next class but I think its in June and my summer looks like it'll be hectic so I don't want to put it off.

Wow, it's amazing what a little tweaking will do. I actually need to go to Virginia Arms and see if they have a P-01 there. I don't recall seeing one but I want to fondle one. Don't currently know anyone that owns one so that puts it high on my list to acquire ... so if any of my buddys tell me they got one, I'll just have to end our friendship to justify the purchase!

 

They had one yesterday. I think they carry more CZ's than any other shop I've been to so far. Another 75BD is already sitting in the case replacing the one I bought. Give them a call first though, they sell quick.

 

Cool. Just gotta get myself into the "I'm just looking" mindset before I go.