Musing About What Range Report

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I went out Monday morning, beautiful mid 70's sunny day. First went out to the rifle range, only 1 full box +8 loose rds of surplus 41 y/o Portuguese "brass case, mild steel copper jacketed ball" ammo. That stuff will loosen the fillings in your teeth. Flattened all the primers but the Ruger 77 bolt opened effortlessly. Very mediocre shooting at 100 yds on an 18" target. 27 rds in at least the 9 ring and 1 all the way to the right. Lesson: Don't change position with finger on the trigger. I don't feel so bad, guy next to me had no hits on target with 3 different guns. I did better on the pistol range with Ruger .22 (120 rds) and the most excellent CZ P07 (65 rds). I've been carrying it for over a month, even put the 6906 in the safe (still loaded for now).
Some observations:
1) Ammo don't go bad. Old stuff is way more stout than today's factory loads, of which I am out of (Well, I have a full case of 500 Denel S.A. soft point ammo made during apartheid. Somebody else will have to shoot it).
2) The few folks on both the rifle and pistol ranges shot more **** than guns, sometimes not firing a round during entire "hot range" intervals. They were when I got there and still there when I left 2 hours later.
3) Seems like 9mm and .22's are the only pistol calibers getting used looking in the "spent brass buckets." They brought back the "magnet roller" to pick up the steel case many folks are using.
4) When pasting/repairing targets on the 100 yd range, giant "booms!" almost got me in the dirt when I realized there was no cold range on the 200 yard adjacent range, separated by a 20+ ft tall berm. The pucker factor was pegged.
5) Shooting has great health effects, evidenced by actual readings after cleaning the guns. Joe
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7.62x51 NATO generally has faster powder than most commercial .308 Winchester loads leading to a rather sharp recoil impulse in a bolt gun. 7.62 NATO is optimized for semi and full auto operation where the gas system will take some of the sting out.
 
.... 7.62 NATO is optimized for semi and full auto operation where the gas system will take some of the sting out.

This stuff ain't much better out of my HK91, the empties fly 30 yds, and28 rds will fill one 30 rd mag and be gone in a minute. Joe
 
2) The few folks on both the rifle and pistol ranges shot more **** than guns, sometimes not firing a round during entire "hot range" intervals. They were when I got there and still there when I left 2 hours later.

I prefer to shoot at the club outdoor ranges where I take a variety of guns and can spend most of the day there even though I'm generally the only one there so no BSing going on.

But in the winter I often go to a local indoor range for some pistol practice and on those days I take only one 9mm and one .45, shooting 2 mags through each. It never fails that when I check out the counter guy will say "You sure weren't back there long." Just how long is it supposed to take to fire 50 rounds?
 
Some observations:

2) The few folks on both the rifle and pistol ranges shot more **** than guns, sometimes not firing a round during entire "hot range" intervals. They were when I got there and still there when I left 2 hours later.

I hate that. I'm not particularly social by nature. I shoot alone and I like it that way. But for some reason certain individuals feel the need to engage me in conversation and proceed to tell me all sorts of things I already know.
 
This stuff ain't much better out of my HK91, the empties fly 30 yds, and28 rds will fill one 30 rd mag and be gone in a minute. Joe

Ah well, that's what you get owning the roughest recoiling full power semi of them all. :D That roller delay system is not as good as a gas system for softening recoil. Shoot that ammo from a properly adjusted FAL, AR-10 or M1A and you would find it much less nasty.

To be fair, there are gas guns where they get it wrong. I owned a Saiga in 7.62x39 with a 20" barrel. It was drastically over gassed, throwing empties 20-30' at two o'clock with the bolt clearly slamming the end stops. I traded it to a guy who wanted to build an RPK look alike.
 
I hate that. I'm not particularly social by nature. I shoot alone and I like it that way.

I agree except I never neglect anew shooter. I try to bring only one at a time and shoot to demonstrate firearm operations. My anxiety level quadruples when I do though. Joe
 
I agree except I never neglect anew shooter. I try to bring only one at a time and shoot to demonstrate firearm operations. My anxiety level quadruples when I do though. Joe

New shooters are a different situation I agree.

The guys I'm talking about proceed to tell you about every gun they've ever owned, why it's better than what you have, and proceed to pompously pontificate on popular points regarding firearms. Then they eventually retire to their firing position when you stop responding and proceed to miss a paper plate at 7 yards.

If you ask me a question or ask for help I have zero issues with that. If you want to demonstrate the depth of your knowledge well....just shut up and go away. Humility is in short supply.
 
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