Hey, folks--
So I shot up the propane tank.
For those of you who might be in San Diego County, the USFS IS allowing shooting back at the Orosco Ridge area.
I went to the Ranger's office, today, and laid down my $30 for a full-year "adventure" pass. I was hoping the area would be well-suited to the shooter's needs... and it turned out my hope was fulfilled.
I saw lots of hawks, nice vistas, and the roads were well-enough graded that I could get back there with my poor old SAAB.
Accompanying me on the trip were my 1925 Ishevsk Mosin Nagant 91/30, and my 5.8 million M1 Garand. Unfortunately, I didn't bring enough ammo (how much IS enough?). Just 88 rounds of Lake City '69 M2 ball for the Garand, and 50 rounds of Albanian brass-cased 7.62x54r.
I also brought along the empty 5 gal. propane tank, so I could sacrifice it to the greater good.
At a bend in the road that overlooked an arroyo, I found a good parking spot. Apparently others had found it before me, as it was nearly paved with darkened, spent brass in cartridges ranging from pistol to 7.62x39 to NATO-looking .308 to lots & lots of .22. Shot-shells and pieces of broken clay pigeon, too. Why don't people police their damn brass? Or pick up the pieces of computer once they're done shooting it to shards?
Anyway.
I positioned the propane tank across the arroyo, at a distance I judged to be 100 yards, give or take. Then I returned to the car, whipped out the rifles, and the fun began.
Some of you may have read earlier posts about the smoothbore Garand the CMP (cheerfully, no questions asked, Great Service) had sent me, then exchanged for the 5.8 mil I now have. The smoothbore shot like sh1t, but the replacement is a dream.
I had no misfeeds or FTFs whatsoever. In a sitting position (on a rock, with my left foot braced on a burnt stump left over from the October wildfires), I was able to get repeated hits. I'd started with the aperture sight raised to 8 clicks, but found I was hitting high. When I racked the second clip, I backed it off to 7 clicks, and was perfectly zeroed in.
Wow! The Garand gets really hot when you put 3 quick clips through it.
So I switched to the M91/30. This one has beautifully crisp lands and grooves in its bore. With the rear sight adjusted to 300 meters, I was getting consistent hits. In fact, the first round through the rifle was dead on.
This rifle was pretty clean when I bought it from the Big 5 in El Cajon. I've given it several good scrubbings. But after running 15 rounds through it fairly quickly, it was oozing some cosmoline from the handguards.
No problems ejecting the Albanian ammo... NOT like with the Czech silvertip.
It turns out the propane tank makes a great target. There's a clearly audible metallic sound when you hit, and I could hear it easily through earplugs. Both the 30-06 and the 7.62x54r punch nice, clean entry holes, with bigger, peeling exit holes.
All too soon, my ammo ran out. I'm planning to return next Wednesday for some more action, with plenty more ammo.
Cleaning the Garand was a breeze. I'm using Hoppe's Benchrest. Unfortunately, it still seems like the M91/30 has layers of copper fouling left over from some war. Guess I'll just have to keep shooting it until it blows out.
I picked up all of my brass that I could find. Looking through it, I've not seen any split or swollen cases.
Great weather, great location and great shooting. What a day!
So I shot up the propane tank.
For those of you who might be in San Diego County, the USFS IS allowing shooting back at the Orosco Ridge area.
I went to the Ranger's office, today, and laid down my $30 for a full-year "adventure" pass. I was hoping the area would be well-suited to the shooter's needs... and it turned out my hope was fulfilled.
I saw lots of hawks, nice vistas, and the roads were well-enough graded that I could get back there with my poor old SAAB.
Accompanying me on the trip were my 1925 Ishevsk Mosin Nagant 91/30, and my 5.8 million M1 Garand. Unfortunately, I didn't bring enough ammo (how much IS enough?). Just 88 rounds of Lake City '69 M2 ball for the Garand, and 50 rounds of Albanian brass-cased 7.62x54r.
I also brought along the empty 5 gal. propane tank, so I could sacrifice it to the greater good.
At a bend in the road that overlooked an arroyo, I found a good parking spot. Apparently others had found it before me, as it was nearly paved with darkened, spent brass in cartridges ranging from pistol to 7.62x39 to NATO-looking .308 to lots & lots of .22. Shot-shells and pieces of broken clay pigeon, too. Why don't people police their damn brass? Or pick up the pieces of computer once they're done shooting it to shards?
Anyway.
I positioned the propane tank across the arroyo, at a distance I judged to be 100 yards, give or take. Then I returned to the car, whipped out the rifles, and the fun began.
Some of you may have read earlier posts about the smoothbore Garand the CMP (cheerfully, no questions asked, Great Service) had sent me, then exchanged for the 5.8 mil I now have. The smoothbore shot like sh1t, but the replacement is a dream.
I had no misfeeds or FTFs whatsoever. In a sitting position (on a rock, with my left foot braced on a burnt stump left over from the October wildfires), I was able to get repeated hits. I'd started with the aperture sight raised to 8 clicks, but found I was hitting high. When I racked the second clip, I backed it off to 7 clicks, and was perfectly zeroed in.
Wow! The Garand gets really hot when you put 3 quick clips through it.
So I switched to the M91/30. This one has beautifully crisp lands and grooves in its bore. With the rear sight adjusted to 300 meters, I was getting consistent hits. In fact, the first round through the rifle was dead on.
This rifle was pretty clean when I bought it from the Big 5 in El Cajon. I've given it several good scrubbings. But after running 15 rounds through it fairly quickly, it was oozing some cosmoline from the handguards.
No problems ejecting the Albanian ammo... NOT like with the Czech silvertip.
It turns out the propane tank makes a great target. There's a clearly audible metallic sound when you hit, and I could hear it easily through earplugs. Both the 30-06 and the 7.62x54r punch nice, clean entry holes, with bigger, peeling exit holes.
All too soon, my ammo ran out. I'm planning to return next Wednesday for some more action, with plenty more ammo.
Cleaning the Garand was a breeze. I'm using Hoppe's Benchrest. Unfortunately, it still seems like the M91/30 has layers of copper fouling left over from some war. Guess I'll just have to keep shooting it until it blows out.
I picked up all of my brass that I could find. Looking through it, I've not seen any split or swollen cases.
Great weather, great location and great shooting. What a day!
