Shooting sports, not Valk related

[solo1]

I sure can't comment on riding anymore but I still can shoot.  I try to do what I can for old geezers and their problems.  Recently, I sent a letter to the editor of Shooting illustrated about aging and shooting. As an Army vet I'm slowing down.  If I were a Marine, probably not.

Anyway, here is the letter. Just food for thought to you young 'whippersnappers" 

Finally there is some relief for geezers like me, an old Korea War vet, a longtime NRA instructor and Endowment Life member. I note that the Heckler and Koch VP9B has one important feature for arthritic thumb codgers like me, two small tabs on the back of the slide for better grip. My carry gun is a Kimber 9mm Micro Raptor bought for the extra nice serrations on the slide to help grip.
 
I note ,with some grinning, that Shooting Illustrated seems to have shooters of a younger age with decent muscles and somewhat unshaven faces who delight in unusual contortions,  quick draw, excellent gun handling, and impeccable accuracy.  With the exception of accuracy, all of that seems to be the antithesis of what I’ve become at age 90.
 
Seriously, the very ones who need the most help in knowing how to handle problems in self defense, the aged, cannot perform most of the recommended activities that appear between the pages of Shooting illustrated . It was actually amusing to me to read, for example, the article on knife fighting . To me, an article on “Disparity of Force’ would have been more useful.
 
I don’t know about others but that leaves me with only the knowledge that I’ve accumulated over the years and with the more important OODA to keep me out of trouble.  Defending oneself when limited by age related physical infirmities, is a rare subject in the shooting sports. 
 

[Sorcerer]

Our IDPA club has 18 to 75+ years age span. Some have recent military backgrounds other none. Many have been involved in the shooting sports of some sort for years/ decades. Others were late bloomers like my self. I’d shot at range benches off and on from the early 80s. In 2004 I bought my first real hand gun, a Taurus PT 1911. Up until that time my only hand gun was a 10/22. I inherited a 16gage and a 30-06 from my grandfather in 1965 but never fired the shotgun until the early 70s. The 30-06 not until the late 90s. Again at gun ranges. I don’t consider shooting off a bench “a shooting sport”. I found and joined IDPA in 2007 at the age of 52 shooting a Spring Field XD 45 and the 1911. At age 63 the knees are becoming a problem along with my eyes. Very early in IDPA I learned that for me the trick is not beating myself. I’m competing with only myself. I feel that if I come home with the blood I left home with, I didn’t let any one else’s out, it was a great match. Going down to low cover these days isn’t to bad getting up is becoming slower. Thankfully the low cover is generally the last shooting point.

[9Ball]

Our IDPA club has 18 to 75+ years age span. Some have recent military backgrounds other none. Many have been involved in the shooting sports of some sort for years/ decades. Others were late bloomers like my self. I’d shot at range benches off and on from the early 80s. In 2004 I bought my first real hand gun, a Taurus PT 1911. Up until that time my only hand gun was a 10/22. I inherited a 16gage and a 30-06 from my grandfather in 1965 but never fired the shotgun until the early 70s. The 30-06 not until the late 90s. Again at gun ranges. I don’t consider shooting off a bench “a shooting sport”. I found and joined IDPA in 2007 at the age of 52 shooting a Spring Field XD 45 and the 1911. At age 63 the knees are becoming a problem along with my eyes. Very early in IDPA I learned that for me the trick is not beating myself. I’m competing with only myself. I feel that if I come home with the blood I left home with, I didn’t let any one else’s out, it was a great match. Going down to low cover these days isn’t to bad getting up is becoming slower. Thankfully the low cover is generally the last shooting point.

The 10/22 is a rifle...probably mean either a 22/45 or maybe a Mark II target?

The 1911 is a great handgun...enjoy!

[Sorcerer]

Your correct on the 10/22. Although many people call them 10/22 Mark 1,2,3,4. Mine is a Mark 1 that I bought used around 1980. It was made in 1967. I’m still shooting it to this day.

[solo1]

I started my shooting in 1938 with a model 59 Winchester single shot .22 rifle, along with an Iver Johnson .22 revolver break open. Later a Colt Woodsman, a model 75 Winchester .22 rifle, and various other handguns, including a series 70 Colt 1911. Brownings,  Glocks, Smiths, Rugers, Bersas, Sigs, Charter Arms, and NAAs.

A Savage Anschutz .22 target rifle worked for the NRA prone, sitting, off hand, etc matches. Somewhere along the way, the Army taught me how to shoot the M1 Garand. Lots of other activities, hunting, etc.

I could do all of the formal shooting positions until about 75 years of age.  Now at 90, nope!  Replacing my cataracts gave me good eyesight but now no means to take advantage of it in competition.

I still shoot, mostly pistol using a Kimber Micro 9, a Mark II Ruger, and Sig 320 .40., Ruger LCR 9mm, and a NAA. 22 mag. plus two Henry's lever actions in .22 and .22 mag

[Jess from VA]

I also have a nice selection of firearms with the right tool for the right job mentality (and old collectibles that are probably not a good choice for any job, but which were dirt cheap back in the day and fun to work on, fix up, refinish, and shoot.... I will not own a non shooter).

But I am pretty sure I have fired my 10/22 Ruger rifle more than all others, combined (over the decades).
30.06 on squirrels is a bit of overkill (and would probably upset the neighbors).

Here's my oldest; an 1888 Mauser Commission rifle (for Turkey)(8MM). (131yo)

[solo1]

While I don't have really old guns, I did load and shoot a flintlock that belonged to a friend of mine.

Interesting. Loading's easy, shooting not so much. Squeeze the trigger, the hammer falls. opens up the frizzen and scrapes the flint to put sparks into the pan of fine black powder, which ignites (hopefully), producing orange fire and smoke in front of your eyes, maybe distracting you from the sights. A pause then whomp! The target disappears in smoke.  Neat!

[9Ball]

I also have a nice selection of firearms with the right tool for the right job mentality (and old collectibles that are probably not a good choice for any job, but which were dirt cheap back in the day and fun to work on, fix up, refinish, and shoot.... I will not own a non shooter).

But I am pretty sure I have fired my 10/22 Ruger rifle more than all others, combined (over the decades).
30.06 on squirrels is a bit of overkill (and would probably upset the neighbors).

Here's my oldest; an 1888 Mauser Commission rifle (for Turkey)(8MM). (131yo)

I’ve shot an 8 mm Mauser...what a beast.  A great friend that has passed way too early had one and we used to take it out to the sand pits to shoot.  His dad also had a WW II vintage USGI 1911 that we would shoot down at the Delaware river.  I’m pretty sure that I lost some hearing shooting it without ear protection...dumb 19 year old kid.

Two of my favorite guns that I own are a Ruger 10/22 and a MkII target with 6-7/8” tapered barrel.  I had millet adjustable target sights put on the MkII and it is amazingly accurate.  They were cheap to shoot back in the day when you could get a case of 5000 for under a hundred bucks.  It’s nice to see the supply has returned and the prices are down from 10-15 cents per round to back less than 5 cents per round.  The last 5k case that I bought was $143 shipped.

[Jess from VA]

Yeah, I have a number of old 8mm Mausers, and with the military steel butt plates, they are all shoulder busters.

Even though you look like a pansy, you can get one of those rubber slip on pads that helps quite a bit.

[DGS65]

I have a nice collection of both hand guns as well as riffles.  I too carry a Kimber 9mm however I have a Solo, yes I know I have heard the issues in fact I have had issues!  I sent it but for some fine tuning and I runs well now.  I shoot often I like to compete in local matches I use my favor gun for matches, Wilson Combat 1911 in 9mm.  I reload my own ammo and have spent a good deal of time at the range but less these days for various reasons. 

[solo1]

My Savage model 10P, SR in .308 is most certainly the most accurate rifle that I own. I installed a Boyd's wood laminated stock and worked on opening up the stock's barrel groove for free floating. The heavy 18 inch barrel is threaded for a suppressor .  A  Redfield 3x9x32 scope, made by Leupold, and a Accutrigger completes the setup.  Using match 168 HPBT ammo from Federal,  my sons and I  shot three consecutive three shot groups of 3/4', .80, and .50 inch at 100 yards.  I no longer handload but groups would probably improve with custom loads.

Not bad for about for about $575.00 invested in everything. Yeah, I know, in this day and age, there are many out there with much better bragging rights.  I don't care.  I like Savage rifles.

I get two magazines from the NRA. It is amazing to me to see the BIG variety of guns on the AR platform.  The same goes for handguns, what a variety.  All excellent.  Also the new calibers that keep coming out.  I'll stick with what I have though. I don't need bigger, better, faster, farther.