9-22-16 Range Report H006M & SmokeWagon

[CT_Shooter]

I got to the range today and was the only shooter there for the forty minutes it took to work my way through 100 rounds of .357 magnum handloads. The bullets I used finished off a box of 1000 130 grain FMJs made by ZERO.

This was a milestone for me in my reloading experience. It puts me a few hundred rounds over the 3000 round mark. So, I've been reloading for a few weeks shy of 2 years; I've reloaded and fired more than 3000 rounds; and I continue to think of myself as a newbie. I guess I really am just a beginner, but after 3000 reloads, some folks might consider me to be an old hand. And, that I am. I'm nearly 66 years old, but in my mind I'm only 30, though my body reminds me all too often just how delusional I really am. It's all in the eye (or perception) of the beholder... like most things.

As usual, I shoot at a six inch target, indoors and standing; shooting five rounds from the rifle, then five from the pistol until they're all gone. My rifle's target is at 75 feet and my revolver's target is at 25 feet. My Henry has a Skinner Express Peep sight and a factory front sight. The revolver is an unmodified Taylor's & Company Uberti SmokeWagon.

I need so much more time with the revolver. I just can't seem to shoot it very well. I expect with practice I will improve, but for now it is satisfying enough for me just to shoot it and occasionally hit the target (I don't know how or why I hit or miss). It's pure fun. Hitting the target more often would kick the fun factor up a lot, though.

I think I may also tap that front sight on the Henry a bit more to the right in order to move my hits a bit closer to the center.

So, here they are. Fifty rounds each. On the revolver target, several rounds missed the paper altogether.

Henry Brass Big Boy .357 at 75 Feet

Uberti SmokeWagon .357 at 25 Feet

[PT7]

CT, congrats on your "3000 milestone!"

Yup, that is definitely consistent, good results with your .357 BBB. I had the same Henry rifle, shot off hand as you do, but I wasn't as always right on with my POIs as you have maintained. I know the heavier weight of the 20" octagon barrel was one of my challenges; your results say you have conquered that hurdle.

Ah, the revolver was where my I had my significant challenges in accurate shooting --- and that went on for a long time! I bought my Ruger SP101 .357 Magnum in May 2014, and just mastered the DA trigger this past spring! During those almost two years, there were too many POIs that were NOT! I left a lot of target paper intact. During that uphill battle, I made two modifications to my revolver, with the good help of two different gunsmiths. One removed the dovetail front fiber optic sight and replaced it with a pinned black ramp. A great improvement in sight acquisition for my elder eyes. The second gunsmith did a trigger job and relieved the heavy-duty 12.2lbs DA trigger pull to a much more manageable 9lbs. I know those two adjusts helped me move along. And I spent a lot of time "attacking" that DA trigger --- much practice! Today I handle and shoot it quite well, and really enjoy it. You already stated what will happen with your revolver after future practice: " I expect with practice I will improve." Agreed.

Thanks for the Range Report. Always fun to "read" your shot-up targets!

I got to the range today and was the only shooter there for the forty minutes it took to work my way through 100 rounds of .357 magnum handloads. The bullets I used finished off a box of 1000 130 grain FMJs made by ZERO.

This was a milestone for me in my reloading experience. It puts me a few hundred rounds over the 3000 round mark. So, I've been reloading for a few weeks shy of 2 years; I've reloaded and fired more than 3000 rounds; and I continue to think of myself as a newbie. I guess I really am just a beginner, but after 3000 reloads, some folks might consider me to be an old hand. And, that I am. I'm nearly 66 years old, but in my mind I'm only 30, though my body reminds me all too often just how delusional I really am. It's all in the eye (or perception) of the beholder... like most things.

As usual, I shoot at a six inch target, indoors and standing; shooting five rounds from the rifle, then five from the pistol until they're all gone. My rifle's target is at 75 feet and my revolver's target is at 25 feet. My Henry has a Skinner Express Peep sight and a factory front sight. The revolver is an unmodified Taylor's & Company Uberti SmokeWagon.

I need so much more time with the revolver. I just can't seem to shoot it very well. I expect with practice I will improve, but for now it is satisfying enough for me just to shoot it and occasionally and hit the target (I don't know how or why I hit or miss). It's pure fun. Hitting the target more often would kick the fun factor up a lot, though.

I think I may also tap that front sight on the Henry a bit more to the right in order to move my hits a bit closer to the center.

So, here they are. Fifty rounds each. On the revolver target, several rounds missed the paper altogether.

Henry H006M Zero 130 FMJ_20160922_0001.jpg

Uberti SmokeWagon Zero 130 FMJ_20160922_0001.jpg

[RanchRoper]

That's great shooting with the Big Boy, and I wouldn't stand in front of you with that Smoke Wagon either. Good job and sounds like you had FUN too!

[DWD445]

FUN is the key there !! Just curious, being new here, how about a pic of the Smoke Wagon ? Does it have single action too ?

[JEBar]

nicely done .... from looking at your Henry target, my bet is yours would produce some really tight groups .... for rifles, we shoot mostly from a seated position at a bench .... for big game we still hunt which usually provides us with some type of rifle rest .... with pistols, we do much more offhand practice and hunting ....

[CT_Shooter]

... how about a pic of the Smoke Wagon ? Does it have single action too ?

Happy to oblige, DWD. It is a single-action Colt 1873 reproduction made by Uberti and imported by Taylors & Company of Virginia. It has a case hardened frame and is a LOT of fun to shoot.

Uberti SmokeWagon .357 5.5"

[ace73]

That's still nice shooting CT!!
I don't have any wheel guns.....but that does look good!

[DWD445]

... how about a pic of the Smoke Wagon ? Does it have single action too ?

Happy to oblige, DWD. It is a single-action Colt 1873 reproduction made by Uberti and imported by Taylors & Company of Virginia. It has a case hardened frame and is a LOT of fun to shoot.

SmokeWagon.jpg

SWEET, looks like FUN
Still a Dan Wesson junky myself and looking at a 4" 357 on GB now, a big maybe Wife, again said It sells at 9:30 something in AM