Whaddya think, not political

[solo1]

Some years ago I was the range officer for our club's .22rf silhouette match.  It was a lot of fun, especially the pistol competition.  (It's No longer part of our matches), high power and action pistol now.

Metal targets:  Chickens at 25 yards, pigs at 50 , turkeys at 75, and rams at 100 yards. Any .22RF pistol, open sights only, any position, one handed and pistol could not touch the ground.  The rams, for example were about the size. of a 16 ox water bottle. The chickens were about the size of the Valk's tail light.  !0 targets at each distance, shooting at five targets at a time with pause for reloading. 2 1/2 minutes per five.

One day, I thought that I had a good sight picture.  Holding lots of front sight (Elmer Keith style)I managed to knock down four rams in  a  row using my trusty Browning Medalist. I attracted attention and proceeded to miss the next six, couldn't stand the pressure

This picture shows the typical unusual supine style that many used to steady the pistol. This shooter is coming very close to his leg. He has missed the first chicken but downed the second. Out of sequence hits counted as misses.  Today it would be real challenging for those who have never acquired a sight picture and a feel for calling their shots. My sight picture discipline is now real shitty as I've gotten older.

[bentwrench]

Looks like big fun.I need to start shooting matches again.

[Jess from VA]

I tried that shooting position (once) with a big 44 mag revolver.  I seem to recall it being called the Creedmore shooting position.

Did pretty well too, until the cylinder gap resulted in a small fire on my jeans (oweee).

I later learned with revolvers, you're supposed to use a piece of leather or something.

Now you tell me.  


If I got in that position today, it would probably result in a short nap. 

[solo1]

If I got in that position now it would result in a call for 'Hook" service.

[Gryphon Rider]

"I'll betcha a hundred bucks that later today I'll have 20 grown men making loud noises while lying on their backs with their knees in the air."

[The emperor has no clothes]

"I'll betcha a hundred bucks that later today I'll have 20 grown men making loud noises while lying on their backs with their knees in the air."

[Pappy!]

I frequent the range with a long time buddy of mine for nothing more than the simple pleasures of shooting .22LR in whatever feeds and shoots it. Relaxing and a ton of fun.
Last time we went we were in the pistol area and at 15 yards. We made an agreement that the entire 10 ring had to be shot out before leaving. Those little "Hanging chads" were a witch with a capitol B to hit.

[solo1]

I frequent the range with a long time buddy of mine for nothing more than the simple pleasures of shooting .22LR in whatever feeds and shoots it. Relaxing and a ton of fun. Quote by Pappy.

I agree. Most of us, including me, seem to be caught up in center fire with the bigger the better, when .22rf is cheaper and fun to shoot.

When my three sons were young I brought them to the range to shoot .22's in my Winchester model 75 bolt action.  it has a 4x air rifle scope with parallax adjustment.  We shot from the bench at Necco candy wafers hanging them by a string (masking tape) The Necco's explode just like clay birds when hit.
The kids were taking turns at shooting at 25 yards and were hitting the Necco's every time. They were getting cocky. Their old man thought that he would take them down a notch and declared that he could shoot the string.

I thought what have I got myself into.  However, on the first shot I fired and the Necco fell with the string broken.  My oldest son said, ""Dad, i bet that you can't do that again"  To which I said, "I don't have to!"   

[Wizzard]

My fav handgun to plink with to this day is my 35 yr old Ruger blackhawk 22/22mag convertible. Love that revolver. 

[old2soon]

Along the same lines BUT Ross-da prez-had still has a Sheridan 5MM pellet rifle. We took to knocking out the bottoms of beer bottles-through the neck at about 30'. I was telling a friend of ours about this BUT I neglected to mention the through the neck part til we had the range setup!  Doubt I could make the same shot now. RIDE SAFE.

[Serk]

Very interesting, I'll hafta look into it.

I've never done any formal competitions, just buddies sitting out at my land popping targets, it'd take some work to get over one of my cardinal rules of no body parts forward of the muzzle...

Thanks for sharing! (Not being critical, genuinely curious...)

[The emperor has no clothes]

Very interesting, I'll hafta look into it.

I've never done any formal competitions, just buddies sitting out at my land popping targets, it'd take some work to get over one of my cardinal rules of no body parts forward of the muzzle...

Thanks for sharing! (Not being critical, genuinely curious...)

Yeah, that first pic looks like he's going to shoot part of his calf off.

[solo1]

There were no accidents during the matches but I do remember asking some shooters to modify their stance for safety.  This might have been one of them.

All in all, one helluva lot of fun. a satisfying clang (shortly after firing)  when knocked down. Easy scoring , only knockdown counted.  The spotters (on the right) would set up the targets for the next relay.

The same targets were used for the .22 rifles.  Off hand only, no slings, no palm rests, no target rifles, scopes were allowed.

One competitor ,used to formal target, set up his spotting scope, (useless) and took his time but ran out of minutes with an 'incomplete' score. Found out quickly that 2 1/2 minutes didn't give him
enough time.

[Wizzard]

Back in the early 80's I had a business associate and his wife who belonged to a range club and they had an outdoor range where they shot exclusively 22 rimfire. They both were shooting one day beside each other at a 25yd target and his rifle jammed. Somehow a shell lodged crossways in the chamber and it slammed shut and  exploded and the bullet went into her temple and killed her. Very tragic as I knew them both very well.

[Crackerborn]

The Ruger Mark II with a bull barrel has long been my favorite plinking gun. It was the second firearm I owned and the first gun I bought for myself (the first, a 20 gauge double barrel was a Christmas gift). That pistol was a great squirrel gun and I still shoot all rounds in the bull out to 35 yards with it (iron sights). The range I frequent has a plinking area for .22 that many youth use as well as those that still feel the need to just hear the dong of lead on steel. When I was a member of another club, there was a league for silhouette shooting that always looked like fun on the rare occasions I was at the range at the same time one of the teams was shooting. I don't remember any range officer allowing a body part in front of a muzzle at that club and I can't speak to what the rules were for sights or grip.

O2S, I can attest the accuracy of some pellet rifles. I have a .22 Walther spring pellet rifle that some powder rifles can't compare too. Just ask the neighborhood trash can raiding raccoons and garden eating rabbits. They never return for seconds. Now I have to try the bottle shot. I believe 10 meters, appx. 33 ft, is the Olympic range for air guns but most good ones can be accurate way beyond that.

[Serk]

The Ruger Mark II with a bull barrel has long been my favorite plinking gun.

Yup, I agree... No matter what else I'm taking to the land, my MK II almost always ends up coming along as well, it's just so much fun to shoot! (Other than disassembly and reassembly for cleaning, that's no fun on the MKII and MKIII's!)

The MKII on top is my gun, Ruger came out with the MKIV JUST after I finished outfitting each of the kids with their own MKIII (22/45 Lite).

[fudgie]

Why the shooting position like that?

[Jess from VA]

My favorite .22 pistol. (the trigger is adjustable, and sits at about 2lbs or a little less) High Standard Military Supermatic Citation.

I have both barrels (they're interchangeable to the pistol): (5.5" bull)


(7.25" fluted)


I started with a Ruger Mk bull barrel, but the disassembly pissed me off, so I traded it for this.

Browning Buckmark Plus (5.5")



Fugie, the Creedmoor shooting position for pistols is a very stable reverse prone position (laying down, resting gun on leg).  Traditional prone with a pistol, with both arms extended in front of you while laying down is not comfortable, and is hard to breath.  My problem with the Creedmoor is not shooting my leg (which should be avoided), it is trying to hold my head up to see; my neck hates it.  I can use my left hand to help hold my head up, but then shooting is one handed.  I don't do it anymore after starting a fire on my jeans.  I'll kneel and find a tree or something for stability.

Here's another unconventional shooting position.  I don't have any friends I like this much. And I'm sure they all feel the same about it.


What's your MOS (military occupational specialty)?   Don't even ask.  You farted again, didn't you?

[The emperor has no clothes]

Man, I'm sure glad I went into the Navy instead of Army. 

[Jess from VA]

Those are not US Military BDUs.

[Serk]

Man, I'm sure glad I went into the Navy instead of Army. 

I think I'd prefer... that.... whatever it is.... to having "Your Day in the Barrel!" as is Navy tradition!

[MAD6Gun]

 I helped my dad run that match. Was fun. I really enjoyed shooting in it with my ruger 1022. My first rifle was that 1022. Dad gave it to me when I turned 14. I still have it at 53. It still shoots great. I also have a 1022T that is accurate as all get out. I have two Mark II. One is a 50th anniversary edition. The other is a Mark II target,slab side. That gun is a tack driver. The previously mentioned Browning Medalist by my dad is now mine. He gave it to me a couple of years ago. I love that gun. Beautiful workmanship.

On another note. Yes the Mark IIs are a big pain to disassemble. They are even worse to reassemble. BUT I have done it so many times it's no big deal. My father has one. Older brother has one. Chris has two and I have two. So I have plenty of experience taking themy apart. Chris bought a Mark III target. That gun came with a loaded chamber indicator, magazine disconnect and a lousy trigger. Chris bought parts to fix it. I disassembled it. Removed the mag disconnect. Replaced the trigger sear and hammer and replaced that STUPID loaded chamber indicator with a block. Now that gun is as good as my Mark II target.

Chris and I both have 50 anniversary Marl II. We also both have 50 anniversary single six 22 pistols. What's cool about those is they are one serial number off of each other. Matched pair. You can say we are a Ruger family.

[DirtyDan]

Those are not US Military BDUs.

Agreed. Looks British to me close to woodland but not

I'm a camo guy

Dan

[solo1]

As Mark said, I now have a Ruger MKII (which he recently cleaned for me)and a Smith 22A1 which has a Millett red dot scope on it. I like the Ruger and the Smith but don't care for the polymer buffer in the Smith, shouldn't be necessary.

In the past, I've owned two Colt Woodsman (wish i still had), a Smith model 41  (really wish that I still had) two Hi Standards, one of them the 'Buck Rodgers" Trophy model with the weird muzzle brake, and, best of all, a left handed Browning Medalist, Belgian made, with fitted case.  Mark has it now. That was the best.22 target pistol for me, and the only target pistol with a schnable foreend.

I have had many more desirable guns but sold or traded, I should've been like Serk, and I do regret that.

[Serk]

I should've been like Serk, and I do regret that.

With the life you've led, the experiences you'd been through, the things you have and are passing down to your kids (Both physical and metaphysical) you should not be living with any regrets, if I may say so...

[solo1]

Thank you, Serk.

Wayne