I'm glad you get to practice when your off work. Hopefully the work issue will change soon.Got to go shooting again, (finally) and I did fairly well. I kept most shots from my Mosin in an 8" group at 50yds. Iron sights and that I don't practice with it much meant that was fairly good for me.
The real fun stuff was on the .22-250, .22 LR, and my 7mm-08. I kept all the .22-250 rounds to a 1.5" group at 100yds, and I found my 7mm-08 will shoot 2" groups all day long. Not amazing for most rifles, but good enough for southern deer country. Too many trees to get a much longer shot than 100yds. And the .22LR we all got 6" groups iron sights at 50yds.
I was really excited though, because that's the tightest groups I've ever shot. Considering I've only put maybe 200 rounds through a rifle tops in my life, that was pretty good. (I'm not counting mounted machine guns. I was a beast on the M240B and the .50 caliber mounted machine gun. You use tracer rounds on those though and ignore the sights generally.)
I'm mostly a shotgun and pistol guy. The family wanted to shoot pistols yesterday as well, and I blew a hole in the center of the target at 15 yards with only 22 rounds in 60 seconds with 2 mag swaps. Carrying a pistol for self defense (I truly hope the only thing I ever shoot at is paper), I make it a point to practice. And I shoot about 90% in singles and doubles for clays with the shotgun. I'm somewhere around 80% for triples.
And it bugs my father-in-law to no end that I close my eyes every time I shoot clays. He shoots competition clays and competes at the regional level. I outshoot him all the time. He had a new Benelli that he couldn't hit anything with. Swore up and down the gun was busted. I tried it, loaded 8 rounds and shot 10/10 with it in doubles and triples. First time I heard him cuss, actually. But I guess I just jerk the trigger the same way every time, so when I aim, close my eyes and jerk, it dusts the clays almost every time.
My favorite shot ever was when my father-in-law threw two clays low and fast. I dusted the first one and put the gun down because I thought I couldn't hit it. "You can't hit the second one" my father in law said. So I reshouldered, and took the shot and dusted the far one. It was pushing 100yds for that clay.
That's the day I learned that shot doesn't really spread out all that much actually. My FIL had to explain that one to me. He likes shooting with me, but he has to bring lots of beer so he doesn't get too mad. He hates my "natural eye", he calls it.
Anyway, any other shooters on here with good stories? Or hunting/shooting plans?
For people in the Jacksonville area, Gateway Rifle and Pistol Club (GPRC) is hosting an open entry level IDPA match. Cost is $15 for non-members plus the cost of ammo. Should be a 250 round match and registration starts at 0800. I'm going this weekend.
IDPA (Internation Defensive Pistol Association) does practial pistol competitions all over the world. A practial pistol course is a course designed to simulate real-life defensive senarios. IDPA matches require a defensive handgun, mildy modified (if at all) and a consealable holster you would use for an all day carry. They also require a power factor of over 120,000, but to simplify, any 9mm or up should be fine.
So bring your pea shooter and come on out this Sat! And share stories!
Personally I haven't shot anything for over 10 years (when the UK Gov banned everything).
I started shooting in Army cadets at 14. The best shot I did was hitting a POLO mint at 25 yards with a .22 (WWII converted lee enfield 303). What made it a good shot was because there were six other cadets who were going for it as well.
The drill Sgt had us strip the magazines, trigger and bolts. We then had to run the barrel through and clean it. To His satisfaction and re-assemble it. Once this was done the D'S gave you one round to hit the target.
I really enjoyed those days and I learned so much about range safety and respect for others. I am amazingly envious of people who have the freedom to practice this brilliant craft.
My goal is to join the National Rifle Center here in Ireland.
Nelly