Went to the range this past week...

[BiggJawn]

FINALLY got a day off with nothing on the dance card, so we drove an obscene distance to the closest public range (110 miles) and spent the day busting caps.

First, I want to say to all the young men who post Yoo-Toob videos pissing and moaning about how "bad" the 7.62X54R kicks: "Go back to your Daisy Red Ryders, pussies".

Pick up an M1 Garand. You'll BELIEVE something can kick!

Got used to both rifles after about 50 rounds, really enjoyed the Mosin/Nagant. I like it a lot. I like the M1, too, even if it did double and scare the shit out of me once...

Went to the other end of the range and limbered up the M1911 and the TCP .380. Yes, the mouse gun hurts the hand after a while, but was surprisingly accurate at 10 yards, much farther away that I ever intend to use it.

The 1911 is a very nice pistol, I put 100 rounds through it, only stopped because I wanted to have some ammo left at home. Still have much to learn about the sight picture on this one.

Lessons learned: Checklist. It sucks realizing 40 miles from home that you left the .30-06 can on the kitchen table. sucks even more to realize at the range that you left the .22 can at home, and the tripod for the spotting scope, too.
Document. I saved all the targets, and the only one I can place is the one with the 4" group high and right from the Garand at 50 yards. Get a journal, and write down each relay as you shoot it.
Rest. I was winded after schlepping everything 50 yards from the parking lot to the line (yes, I'm THAT out of shape). Oh, well, I told myself I needed to get to know how to load, lock, and fire everybody before I started working on sighting anyway... Groups started to tighten as I got my wind back.
Take an empty can for the empties (I don't know why, I don't handload) maybe I can trade the brass for something?

Need to find a closer range...

[oneshooter]

1. My pistol range(40yds) is 50yds from the house.

I have a 200yd range just past that and am building berms for a 500yd range. Berms should be 30' tall, and thats a a LOT of dirt!.
Learn to handload, it's easy, fun, and economical. Learn to cast and lube your own pistol bullets and you are shooting for about $.05 a shot!.

You can start handloading for as little as $50. A Lee hand kit, some cast bullets, powder and primers. Start slow and learn, get a good manual first, get a press later.

Oneshooter

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

2. One bozo's perception of "kick"

7.62x54r, .30-'06, .308, 8mm Mauser, all seem to kick about the same.

In a bolt-action rifle, the kick is most severe. In the M1 Garand, the recoil is reduced by the energy siphoned off to work the reloading mechanism, so it doesn't kick as much.

Try the M1 Garand, then run some of the same ammunition through a '03 Springfield. I think the Springfield kicks a lot more. Without all the extra moving parts, the Springfield also seems to shoot tighter groups.

Saving the brass is a good idea. Maybe someday you'll start loading them.

Agree, it sucks to leave stuff on the kitchen table that you need at the range. If you have a checklist, then you can also forget the checklist you left in the kitchen.

[oneshooter]

3. The perceived recoil of the M1 Garand is because of both

the gas action extending the recoil and the extra 1 to 1 1/4 pounds of additional weight. I have a M1 that I built as a Master Class Highpower rifle. It is in .308Win. and with my handloads will shoot 1 1/2" at 200 yds, benchrested, if I do my part! I also have a 2 groove Springfield, 1938 serial# with a 1944 barrel, that will outshoot most all of the rest of my military rifles.

WW1
The Germans brought a hunting rifle

The Americans brought a target rifle

The British brought a battle rifle

Oneshooter
Armed and Livin in Texas

[BiggJawn]

4. After about 50 rounds I got used to both of them.

I wasn't expecting the M1. After all the guff I had heard about the M-G being so brutal and not experiencing my arm ripped from the socket, I was expecting a lot less from the M-1.
They do recoil about the same.

I'm looking forward to getting back out with them soon.

[era veteran]

5. That is too far from a range.

I have another problem, too close to a range. I can get to Bud's Warehouse range in about 3 min.
Costs way to much to shoot inside. I don't like it much either.
I grew up able to 'go out back' and shoot. Oneshooter has the right idea and place for shooting.

[BiggJawn]

6. There's a range within 5 minutes of me.

It's a club range, not public, and I keep putting off going over there yet to check them out and see if I want to join up. There's an indoor range at near here, too.

I grew up on a farm, too. Go out behind the barn and have at it.

[ileus]

7. I have a public range 15 minutes away (by interstate)

But I hardly go there because it's a 50/50 crap shoot on the kind of people you'll be shooting beside. Normally I'll park and watch a few minutes and decide what to do.


A few years ago a neighbor built a new house that really messed up my "pistol/22" range in my back yard. I miss living on a farm like the good ole days...that is until I get up and watch people go feed cattle in sub zero temps, or putting up fence and hay. LOL