Yesterday dawned cool and wet, misting on and off. Planned to shoot in a pistol match over at the police dept. at 10 a.m., fund raiser for United Way. Got there and was told I could not use my six inch 686 as barrel lengths were five inches and under.... so, I got out my four inch 28-2. The rub was I one have one speed loader for it. Because I was early they allowed me to check the zero on my revolver. All went fine using Win. Super-X 148 gr. HBWC factory load.
A gentleman walked over and offered to let me borrow some speed loaders, but as they were for an L-frame, they of course would not fit my revolver. So... he offered to loan me a four inch L-frame and some ammo! How cool is that! I shot the revolver enough that we could adjust the sights for my use. Then it was off to the races.
First... that revolver was slick. It had a very light DA pull making it easy to get good hits. The problem was that it would occasionally fail to fire a primer. He said he was sure it would not work so hot w/ the primer in the Winchester factory loads, so I took the handloaded ammo he offered and loaded the speed loaders.
Those speed loaders were cool. You insert the rounds as normal into the cylinder of the revolver and then push a button. The rounds drop in the gun and you can drop the speed loader and go to shooting. Very quick. Occasionally a round was a little bit tight in one of the charge holes so I'd have to push it in with my finger before closing the cylinder.
Rolled along real good. Got to chopping a nice hole in the x-ring and then kept cutting it a little bigger as we moved out. At the 12 yd. line two rounds didn't go bang. Repeated attempts were unsuccessful which cost me 20 points ... Ouch! Had a couple of rounds at 25 yds. that were a little more bucked up a little bit more than normal... kinda make you smile but also aggravating b/c is doesn't do nice things for where the rounds land on the target.
Did poorly w/ my left hand at 25 yds., ended up w/ a couple of 8's and one 7, the rest were either 9's or 10's. Put six into the 9 ring at 12 O'clock w/ right hand kneeling... just simply didn't know where to hold. Wish I'd had a chance to shoot that revolver at 25 yds. before the match... think it'd have made a real difference.
Ended up with a 442/480... not real pleased. Sitting now on the couch resting getting ready for a Christmas Cantata tonight at church, about half-way sick w/ a cold. Looking at the target. Those two dud rounds really cost me, that and the six I stuck in the 9 ring at 12 O'clock. Got to learn to shoot left handed or I'll always be loosing points at 25 yds.
I have made up my mind about some things. First, I will not again use a borrowed revolver in a match unless I can see how it hits at 25 yds. The rest of the stages are not a problem but 18 rounds are fired at 25 yds., that's to many points to fool around with.
Second, I will not again use borrowed ammunition in a borrowed revolver unless I know for sure that that revolver will actually light up the primers in the loads 100% of the time. I've never had such problems with handloaded ammunition, most assuredly not with ammunition to be used in a match. Those two duds yesterday were very disconcerting. I almost was able to load fresh ammo and get off two good rounds... but almost is just not good enough.
Third, I don't know why a six inch revolver is not allowed. I don't know anything about the rules the ranger officer cited. But, it would have been poor form to argue with him. So, I will work myself up some nice mild mid-range loads for my four inch 28-2, and then we'll just see what we see. A little dab of Whiteout on the front sight along with a little bit more Whiteout on the rear makes it a lot easier to see the sights and get good hits on that black B-27.
Fourth, I think I may just have to accept that my six inch 686 will not be allowed in these matches. That being the case, and given that I'm not inclined to take a hacksaw to the barrel, it looks like I'll have to suck it up and try to find a four inch 686. Oh the suffering and sacrifices we have to make in life!
A gentleman walked over and offered to let me borrow some speed loaders, but as they were for an L-frame, they of course would not fit my revolver. So... he offered to loan me a four inch L-frame and some ammo! How cool is that! I shot the revolver enough that we could adjust the sights for my use. Then it was off to the races.
First... that revolver was slick. It had a very light DA pull making it easy to get good hits. The problem was that it would occasionally fail to fire a primer. He said he was sure it would not work so hot w/ the primer in the Winchester factory loads, so I took the handloaded ammo he offered and loaded the speed loaders.
Those speed loaders were cool. You insert the rounds as normal into the cylinder of the revolver and then push a button. The rounds drop in the gun and you can drop the speed loader and go to shooting. Very quick. Occasionally a round was a little bit tight in one of the charge holes so I'd have to push it in with my finger before closing the cylinder.
Rolled along real good. Got to chopping a nice hole in the x-ring and then kept cutting it a little bigger as we moved out. At the 12 yd. line two rounds didn't go bang. Repeated attempts were unsuccessful which cost me 20 points ... Ouch! Had a couple of rounds at 25 yds. that were a little more bucked up a little bit more than normal... kinda make you smile but also aggravating b/c is doesn't do nice things for where the rounds land on the target.
Did poorly w/ my left hand at 25 yds., ended up w/ a couple of 8's and one 7, the rest were either 9's or 10's. Put six into the 9 ring at 12 O'clock w/ right hand kneeling... just simply didn't know where to hold. Wish I'd had a chance to shoot that revolver at 25 yds. before the match... think it'd have made a real difference.
Ended up with a 442/480... not real pleased. Sitting now on the couch resting getting ready for a Christmas Cantata tonight at church, about half-way sick w/ a cold. Looking at the target. Those two dud rounds really cost me, that and the six I stuck in the 9 ring at 12 O'clock. Got to learn to shoot left handed or I'll always be loosing points at 25 yds.
I have made up my mind about some things. First, I will not again use a borrowed revolver in a match unless I can see how it hits at 25 yds. The rest of the stages are not a problem but 18 rounds are fired at 25 yds., that's to many points to fool around with.
Second, I will not again use borrowed ammunition in a borrowed revolver unless I know for sure that that revolver will actually light up the primers in the loads 100% of the time. I've never had such problems with handloaded ammunition, most assuredly not with ammunition to be used in a match. Those two duds yesterday were very disconcerting. I almost was able to load fresh ammo and get off two good rounds... but almost is just not good enough.
Third, I don't know why a six inch revolver is not allowed. I don't know anything about the rules the ranger officer cited. But, it would have been poor form to argue with him. So, I will work myself up some nice mild mid-range loads for my four inch 28-2, and then we'll just see what we see. A little dab of Whiteout on the front sight along with a little bit more Whiteout on the rear makes it a lot easier to see the sights and get good hits on that black B-27.
Fourth, I think I may just have to accept that my six inch 686 will not be allowed in these matches. That being the case, and given that I'm not inclined to take a hacksaw to the barrel, it looks like I'll have to suck it up and try to find a four inch 686. Oh the suffering and sacrifices we have to make in life!
