Then and Now

[carolinarider09]

So,,,,,  my wife is sitting there this morning (yes I will blame her for this) and is not a happy camper.  Her football team lost yesterday (see is an avid fan of a school I went to in the 60's.).  And for some reason the subject of firearms confiscation comes up (and no I did not bring it up).

It sort of got me to thinking of something I started 10 or so years ago, but there is some history....

I grew up in Myrtle Beach, SC (this was the late 50's early 60's).  Use to ride our bikes all over the place but one place was of interest. I think it was 36 Ave North.  If you followed it all the way west to the end, you ended up on the banks of the Intercostal Waterway.   Also there was a police target range there.  I don't remember if they had target holders but...

We would fish from the banks.  As we got older we would come down (since we could drive) and do some target practice. I think one day a Policeman was there and we talked about using the range. 

Fast forward to living in a small urban area in SC.  The only target ranges that were reasonably easy to get to where in the Sporting Goods shops.  But, when we decided to move to the "country" and we did some exploring, I found a target range in the local National Forest, about 15 miles away.  It's open to anyone, has a covered area with benches. It does have a gate they can closed if needed.  

The problem was that there were not target panels. I mean they had the required backstop (large pile of dirt) but no place to put targets (except on the backstop and that was fairly distant (don't know never measured it but not good for small arms practice).  

So, I looked around to see about building my own target stand and found the PVC Target Stand.  Its really cool because it breaks down so it can fit into a small bag (except for the target holder, and that hangs on the wall easily).  

The bag has resided in the garage for some time, gathering dust so today I opened it up to verify it still would work.  Everything I needed was there, except for the targets.  The targets are kept inside the house.  

I am impressed that it went together as well as it does after so many years laying there.   

Its pretty cool. 

[Jess from VA]

Nice work Bill.  

Back in CA, although I could use the USAF range all the time, and drive over to a big San Bernardino  rifle range (for distance), I used to go out in the SoCA low desert badlands and shoot all the time. And out in those badlands you could sit down and shoot at a half mile (with a spotter) but just at big rocks since you were not going to spend all day hiking over there to change targets.  

My target holder was just cobbled together scrap lumber (not take apart-able, and wobbly but good enough).  

It all went well until the shotguns came out.  

It's also fun to stick a steel plate out at some farther distance (but safe place), where you don't shoot for groups, but just try to ring the bell for grins. (and any hit is a win)

At the San Bernardino rifle range, my favorite pastime was the 100 yard hanging steel plates, standing (but slung) on the M1 Garand. 

[cookiedough]

we used for years a nail hammered in 2x2's stakes about 5 ft long in back and 4 feet long in front that could move back to stand up with cardboard tacked/nailed/whatever to the sides of the 2x2's.  It stood up fine until a 12 gauge would hit the 2x2 if bad shot - LOL     Our targets nothing fancy 8x11 pieces of paper taped on cardboard with black marker drawing our own + targets with squares, rings drawn in them.  Worked fine for our needs. 

[Jess from VA]

Also, a good substitute for expensive targets is a juice can, a can of black spray paint (flat) and a pack of paper plates.  Cut the bottom from the can and use as template, center on the paper plate and shoot the paint in the can.  Instant white targets with black bullseyes.  And a staple gun. 

Computers have lots of targets to choose from, but you still waste paper, toner and electricity.

[Willow]

...
At the San Bernardino rifle range, my favorite pastime was the 100 yard hanging steel plates, standing (but slung) on the M1 Garand. 

100 yards??  Why didn't yo just throw rocks at it at that range?   

[Jess from VA]

...
At the San Bernardino rifle range, my favorite pastime was the 100 yard hanging steel plates, standing (but slung) on the M1 Garand.  

100 yards??  Why didn't yo just throw rocks at it at that range?  

Standing, offhand (slung or not), iron sights, at small steel plates at 100 yards is not as easy as prone or off a bench at full size targets at far greater distances.  And I enjoyed more rapid fire, not taking time on each shot.  Ring the gong every 2-3 seconds for eight shots.   

[Willow]

...
At the San Bernardino rifle range, my favorite pastime was the 100 yard hanging steel plates, standing (but slung) on the M1 Garand.  

100 yards??  Why didn't yo just throw rocks at it at that range?  

Standing, offhand (slung or not), iron sights, at small steel plates at 100 yards is not as easy as prone or off a bench at full size targets at far greater distances.  And I enjoyed more rapid fire, not taking time on each shot.  Ring the gong every 2-3 seconds for eight shots.   

In qualification the closest we got was 200 yards standing offhand.  Our prone shooting was done at 500.   

[Jess from VA]

...
At the San Bernardino rifle range, my favorite pastime was the 100 yard hanging steel plates, standing (but slung) on the M1 Garand.  

100 yards??  Why didn't yo just throw rocks at it at that range?  

Standing, offhand (slung or not), iron sights, at small steel plates at 100 yards is not as easy as prone or off a bench at full size targets at far greater distances.  And I enjoyed more rapid fire, not taking time on each shot.  Ring the gong every 2-3 seconds for eight shots.  

In qualification the closest we got was 200 yards standing offhand.  Our prone shooting was done at 500.  

Oh for youthful eyes again. (esp with rifle iron sights)

And I'm betting you were standing at 200 using a 6.5lb M16 with 20" bbl, and not a 9.5-10lb Garand with a 24" bbl.  That thing gets heavy quickly, standing.

[The emperor has no clothes]

...
At the San Bernardino rifle range, my favorite pastime was the 100 yard hanging steel plates, standing (but slung) on the M1 Garand.  

100 yards??  Why didn't yo just throw rocks at it at that range?  

Standing, offhand (slung or not), iron sights, at small steel plates at 100 yards is not as easy as prone or off a bench at full size targets at far greater distances.  And I enjoyed more rapid fire, not taking time on each shot.  Ring the gong every 2-3 seconds for eight shots.   

In qualification the closest we got was 200 yards standing offhand.  Our prone shooting was done at 500.   

I'm glad I didn't join the Marine Corps. I'd have had a hard time at 500 yards with open sights. (There's a few other reasons too)

[Willow]

Oh for youthful eyes again. (esp with rifle iron sights)

And I'm betting you were standing at 200 using a 6.5lb M16 with 20" bbl, and not a 9.5-10lb Garand with a 24" bbl.  That thing gets heavy quickly, standing.

I spent eleven years.  Over that time I qualified with M14, M16 and M1.  My best qualifications were during the years we used M1s on the range.

I too would like to have youthful eyes again but what I have at 69 are functional.   

[carolinarider09]

Well, just for the record, I think, when I was in Navy Boot Camp at Great Lakes, we "qualified" with a 1903 A3 rifle.  I know it was bolt action and it was chamber in 30.06.  I think all our firing was in the prone position. 

Since I was a Nuke, we did not get/have to stand topside watches on the boat when we were in port.  Those guys carried .45ACP chambered pistols.  I think we had a few "rifles" on board but I don't know where they were stored. 

But I could easily go into the Forward Torpedo Room and put my hands on a Mark 45. 

[Jess from VA]

Oh for youthful eyes again. (esp with rifle iron sights)

And I'm betting you were standing at 200 using a 6.5lb M16 with 20" bbl, and not a 9.5-10lb Garand with a 24" bbl.  That thing gets heavy quickly, standing.

I spent eleven years.  Over that time I qualified with M14, M16 and M1.  My best qualifications were during the years we used M1s on the range.

I too would like to have youthful eyes again but what I have at 69 are functional.   

Well, I did just under 9 years.  I was only ever required to pass a single 4"bbl Model 15 Smith revolver course for an overseas assignment.  But I wrangled my way into multiple pistol and rifle courses (all M16) over the years and qualified expert in every course.  Though I'm pretty sure it's harder to shoot rifle expert in the Marines than the Air Force. 

In my first pistol course, SSgt Jim Bob the range master noticed I was using the full amount of time allotted for each position, so he took to using his bullhorn calling me Jesse James trying to rattle me.  It didn't work.  The rest of the class was a motley crew of medical, administrative and other non-cops, and they just blazed away, occasionally hitting targets. 

[lakehunter]

So,,,,,  my wife is sitting there this morning (yes I will blame her for this) and is not a happy camper.  Her football team lost yesterday (see is an avid fan of a school I went to in the 60's.).  And for some reason the subject of firearms confiscation comes up (and no I did not bring it up).

It sort of got me to thinking of something I started 10 or so years ago, but there is some history....

I grew up in Myrtle Beach, SC (this was the late 50's early 60's).  Use to ride our bikes all over the place but one place was of interest. I think it was 36 Ave North.  If you followed it all the way west to the end, you ended up on the banks of the Intercostal Waterway.   Also there was a police target range there.  I don't remember if they had target holders but...

We would fish from the banks.  As we got older we would come down (since we could drive) and do some target practice. I think one day a Policeman was there and we talked about using the range. 

Fast forward to living in a small urban area in SC.  The only target ranges that were reasonably easy to get to where in the Sporting Goods shops.  But, when we decided to move to the "country" and we did some exploring, I found a target range in the local National Forest, about 15 miles away.  It's open to anyone, has a covered area with benches. It does have a gate they can closed if needed.  

The problem was that there were not target panels. I mean they had the required backstop (large pile of dirt) but no place to put targets (except on the backstop and that was fairly distant (don't know never measured it but not good for small arms practice).  

So, I looked around to see about building my own target stand and found the PVC Target Stand.  Its really cool because it breaks down so it can fit into a small bag (except for the target holder, and that hangs on the wall easily).  

The bag has resided in the garage for some time, gathering dust so today I opened it up to verify it still would work.  Everything I needed was there, except for the targets.  The targets are kept inside the house.  

I am impressed that it went together as well as it does after so many years laying there.   

Its pretty cool. 

That Indian Creek public range run by department of Natural Resources is ok but can get really crowded sometimes. I live just south of you below Little Mountain, wife and I used to shoot with the Newberry pistol club, great group with a indoor range and a outdoor range, both private for members only so you can enjoy practice without inconsiderate / unsafe shooters. Look them up and check their Monday evening shoots. Happy hunting, Mike

[carolinarider09]

Hi Mike, and thanks.

I shall do that.  And yes, you are just down the road. 

If you are interested, the wife and I do go on several rides a year.  I have been posting the videos on the Goldwing Forum. 

https://www.gl1800riders.com/forums/south-carolina-sc.27/

If you would like to join us I can let you know when we have something planned.

Jim

[Timbo1]

Not to hijack your thread but I had thought of starting one titled "Then and Now" but didn't get around to it.

Anyway about 13 yrs ago I took some pictures of my youngest son and daughter with Big Blue.  Earlier this year I thought it would be fun to have them pose for some more pictures in similar stance as back then and they agreed.  Haven't been able to get any taken with my son yet but I have with daughter.  Now while Big Blue has sat and gathered some dust in the garage over the years my daughter has not.  Big Blue is still in about the same condition it was so many years ago however my daughter doesn't dress like Dora the explorer any longer.

ETA: Having hard time figuring out posting images.

[carolinarider09]

Nice pictures. 

I use the website

https://postimages.org

Seems to work fairly easily.  Just upload your image and then select the hotlink for forums. 

I will try and find a couple of "then and now" images. 

[The emperor has no clothes]

Not to hijack your thread but I had thought of starting one titled "Then and Now" but didn't get around to it.

Anyway about 13 yrs ago I took some pictures of my youngest son and daughter with Big Blue.  Earlier this year I thought it would be fun to have them pose for some more pictures in similar stance as back then and they agreed.  Haven't been able to get any taken with my son yet but I have with daughter.  Now while Big Blue has sat and gathered some dust in the garage over the years my daughter has not.  Big Blue is still in about the same condition it was so many years ago however my daughter doesn't dress like Dora the explorer any longer.

ETA: Having hard time figuring out posting images.

Cool pics  if you guys live in the same place, you should get a pic in front of the fence and neighbors house like the original. 

[carolinarider09]

I know, not a motorcycle picture but.....

Spring 1969


Spring 2009

[Timbo1]

Nice pictures. 

I use the website

https://postimages.org

Seems to work fairly easily.  Just upload your image and then select the hotlink for forums. 

I will try and find a couple of "then and now" images. 

Thanks, I figured out how I wanted it. I just had to do trial and error since postimage provides about 6 different types of links and on the forum I was trying to insert Img]"with url"[Img and that was messing things up.    Hotlink and not using forum image insert was the way to go.

[carolinarider09]

When I was 16 or so, not sure of the actual age, I got real interested in bow hunting.  Maybe it was all the Robin Hood movies, maybe it was something to do with the Boy Scouts.  Anyway, sometime around that age I purchased a Browning Nomad fully recurved bow, about 54 pounds pull.

I kept it for many years, but finally the bow's lamination failed.  Some years later I replaced it with a Browning Nomad 1 shown below.  The bow is almost identical to the original but just newer. 



About 10 or so years, my grandson was interested in archery so I deiced it was time to upgrade so I got a new "Bear". 



A big change for me from a fully recurved bow to a compound bow.  Big difference.

What brought this up, (the then and now) was I was cleaning off the target I used.  It was gathering dust and it seems now is a good time to check it out and get things set up again. 

Its sort of easy.  All you need is a backstop and a target that can take the impact and your are ready to go. 



Now time like the present to do some practice.

[Jess from VA]

My first exposure to bows was also in the Boy Scouts (age 11).

We got some basic and safety training, and it was emphasized that we were responsible for finding our own arrows (all 3 at a time).  Anyone who's shot across grass knows the arrows (target heads) can really get buried under the sod and be the devil to find.

So after shooting my 3, we all went downrange to retrieve our arrows, and one of mine had sailed high, and I was still out crawling around on my hands and knees behind the target line looking for it when they almost called OK for everyone to start shooting again.  Someone pointed out the (small) idiot still out there, so the instructors decided I was a danger to myself and others and kicked me off the range.

My strong protest was fruitless.  

I got to try again the next day, but they were really keeping a close (evil) eye on me.

I took to firearms about the same time, and they seemed far easier to master than bows (or tomahawks either, but that's another sad Boy Scout story).  

Hey Danial Boone, who told you it was OK to be heaving your tomahawk all over the place out here.  Knock that off right now!!    

[carolinarider09]

Ahhh yes I seem to remember how hard it was to keep track of those target arrows. 

The camp I went to, for several summers, was Camp Coker, near Society Hill, SC. 

At 16, I think, I got to go to Philmont Boy Scout Ranch never Cimarron, NM. 

My first time away from home for three or so weeks (I forget how long).  Travel out was by charter bus. 

We stopped for the evenings at military bases, Army, Navy, and Air Force.  This experience is what convinced me that the best service was the Navy.  Their food was good and plentiful, the accommodations we got were good.    Rode my first horse at Philmont.  Saw the crash site of a  B-26 (Liberator 41-1133). 

Liberator 41-1133

I don't remember who was with us when we climbed the mountain but I remember the wreckage.  On a tree was a stainless steel cylinder.  We were told it contained the ashes of some of those who died. 

Almost 60 years ago.  ...  And yes I can still see the wreckage, and the horse I was ridding and some of the memories of the camp sites.  Strange how that all works.

[Jess from VA]

Oh the memories.  (never made it to Philmont)

My first horse ride was also in the scouts.

His name was Trigger.  A small horse with a really huge trigger.   

And he kept trying to rub me off on trees and fence posts.

[scooperhsd]

Ahhh yes I seem to remember how hard it was to keep track of those target arrows. 

The camp I went to, for several summers, was Camp Coker, near Society Hill, SC. 

At 16, I think, I got to go to Philmont Boy Scout Ranch never Cimarron, NM. 

My first time away from home for three or so weeks (I forget how long).  Travel out was by charter bus. 

We stopped for the evenings at military bases, Army, Navy, and Air Force.  This experience is what convinced me that the best service was the Navy.  Their food was good and plentiful, the accommodations we got were good.    Rode my first horse at Philmont.  Saw the crash site of a  B-26 (Liberator 41-1133). 

Liberator 41-1133

I don't remember who was with us when we climbed the mountain but I remember the wreckage.  On a tree was a stainless steel cylinder.  We were told it contained the ashes of some of those who died. 

Almost 60 years ago.  ...  And yes I can still see the wreckage, and the horse I was ridding and some of the memories of the camp sites.  Strange how that all works.

This is probably as true today as it was when I was on Active Duty -

Best chow among the services  - Navy
Best Quarters - AF

[The emperor has no clothes]

Ahhh yes I seem to remember how hard it was to keep track of those target arrows. 

The camp I went to, for several summers, was Camp Coker, near Society Hill, SC. 

At 16, I think, I got to go to Philmont Boy Scout Ranch never Cimarron, NM. 

My first time away from home for three or so weeks (I forget how long).  Travel out was by charter bus. 

We stopped for the evenings at military bases, Army, Navy, and Air Force.  This experience is what convinced me that the best service was the Navy.  Their food was good and plentiful, the accommodations we got were good.    Rode my first horse at Philmont.  Saw the crash site of a  B-26 (Liberator 41-1133). 

Liberator 41-1133

I don't remember who was with us when we climbed the mountain but I remember the wreckage.  On a tree was a stainless steel cylinder.  We were told it contained the ashes of some of those who died. 

Almost 60 years ago.  ...  And yes I can still see the wreckage, and the horse I was ridding and some of the memories of the camp sites.  Strange how that all works.

This is probably as true today as it was when I was on Active Duty -

Best chow among the services  - Navy
Best Quarters - AF

Mare Island was by far the best I ever had. There were times I cut a motorcycle ride short just to get back in time. 

[Serk]

I know ya'll are probably tired of hearing about Kali, but.....

Then:



And now:



...her on the same bike......

[carolinarider09]

 

[Willow]

I know ya'll are probably tired of hearing about Kali, but.....

Then:

And now:

...her on the same bike......

 

[scooperhsd]

I get a big POSITIVE kick about you bragging about your kids.