After Action Report
(Note: I'm really bad with faces and names. As such, I apologize if I don't remember yours. In fact, I've forgotten nearly everyone's except that Bandicoot and Heath from the LiveJournal Guns Community)
Plans were disrupted this morning, as my friend with a pickup was a no-show and my big BBQ broke (welds fell apart). I had my car loaded for bear with the trunk and backseat filled with guns, ammo cans, two coolers, hot dogs, buns, ice, sodas, condiments, and other goodies. Realizing that everyone was counting on us for a BBQ, we stopped at Orchard Supply Hardware and picked up a little Weber "hibachi"-sized grill and my buddy Devin (who was carpooling over with me) brought a bunch of charcoal.
Arriving around 10:45, we met some folks from the last SF Bay Area shoot (which was in Los Altos) who a few of us had introduced to The High Road. Introductions were made, and we spent about ten minutes unloading the car (again, lots of stuff). Already, there was a light drizzle, but nothing I was worried about. It was cold, but not that bad.
After about 45 minutes, the rain started in earnest, the temperatures dropped, and a bit of a wind picked up. More folks arrived, introductions were made, and we all consolidated around lanes 19-25 on the 100yd rifle line. The M1919 got a fair bit of attention, both from folks from here and THR, but also from the RSO ("That is, of course, the semi-auto version...right?", "NO HIP-FIRING ON THE PUBLIC LINE!", and "NO RAPID FIRE ON THE PUBLIC LINE!" were a few of the more prominent [yet never repeated, as we were obedient] quotations from the RSO...oh, and "Oooh! Can I try?") and passers-by. Other weapons presents were an M1A, a few .223 and .308 bolt action rifles, a Mini-14, a variety from my collection (Yugo SKS, Kel-Tec SU-16B, Mosin 91/30, M1 Garand, etc.), a couple 10/22s, and several others. Much gun-promiscuity was had by all, as we all tried out everyone else's guns.
Around 1:00pm, we all were cold, wet, and hungry, so we left all the guns open and unloaded for the RSO, assemebed (incorrectly a few times, finally getting it right) the mini-grill, and moved all the cooking stuff over to the gazeebo they have for smokers (which was thankfully empty of smokers). After several failed attempts to ignite the charcoal, it was finally started, warmth was generated, and after sufficient time elapsed we cooked brockwurst, Ballpark hot dogs, and hamburgers. Chips, soda, and other tasty stuff were consumed in abundance. Much socializing, chatting, and so forth occured during this time period as well, as we were far enough from the firing line to stand comfortably about without hearing protection.
After lunch, we all went back to the lines, shot for another hour or so, and finally called it quits around 4:00pm when it just got too cold and wet for the us to stand anymore. We packed everything up, and came back home.
It was a very fun and productive day, but evidently driving rain can start rusting guns VERY quickly. I sprayed down a few of the guns with RemOil in an aerosol can (sadly, the Mosin was shooting corrosive ammo that day), but there were still small rust spots on the Mosin, M1 Garand, and SKS by the time I got them home. Devin (and later my friend Ross, who came to the house to hang out) and I then spent the next hour or two wiping dry all the ammo cans, gun cases, guns, and other supplies as well as disassembling, cleaning, oiling, and reassembling all the guns. Even ones that were barely fired like the 10/22, SKS, and M1 Garand needed to be totally stripped and oiled inside and out due to the driving rain getting all over things. I didn't want any of them to rust, so we took the prudent precaution of cleaning and lightly oiling everything.
Below the cut are pictures and some movies. It seems I brought the only camera, and I was keen on getting pictures of the M1919, so most of them are of it. Sorry...my camera, my rules.
Also note how the range is in a bit of a valley formed by trees on both sides of it...very Jurassic Park-ish. A few of us were speculating on the odds of a T-Rex stomping down the valley towards us, and wondering if they'd let us rapid-fire on him if it occured. (Yes, we're <I>that</I> geeky.) Note how nearly everyone is demonstrating some example of "It's freakin' cold!" -- the weatherman suggested we'd get rain and cold weather in the evening, not in the morning and afternoon, so few of us brought waterproof clothes, gloves, etc. Also note the delicious food...and me with a hot-dog, both with poking and non-poking action!
Movies:
Bandicoot shooting the M1919
Heath hip-firing the M1919 (the voice at the end is the RSO starting to yell over the loudspeaker not to hip-fire).
Heath on the Kel-Tec while Bandicoot shoots the M1919.
All in all, it was a fun day, much fun was had, and it was a success, even with the rain. Next time we have a get-together, I'll bring the BBQ again (this time with lighter fluid!). I shall designate it the Official Shooty Outing BBQ for all such events around here.
?). I punished my shoulder with a .30-06, then frighten'ed the target with my mini 14. Wiped everything down as soon as I got home. Looking forward to the next get together, just hope its a little warmer.
