Henry Rifle Forums

Last week I got a call from a friend of mine who is the head of LE at a local State Park. The county range was flooded and he needed to get a new officer on the range for some practice before he headed to the Academy next week. He wondered if he might bring him here to the farm and use my range for a couple hours. Of course he could. Anything I can do to support the Boys in Blue. (Well, Khaki and Green in this case, but you get my drift.)

They came by for a couple hours and although I left most of the training to my friend, I did offer some suggestions here and there when asked. By the end of the two hour period, the young man was doing much better, especially since he had NEVER shot before in his life until he got a one day class just after he was hired a couple weeks before. He had spent the last couple weeks "observing" while waiting for his academy slot to open. I didn't shoot, or even bring anything down to the range, since it wasn't about me.

My buddy called again this morning and said that they would come by this afternoon if that was cool, one more session ought to do him. Fine by me. This time I went down to the range and set up a Q target and got out my carry gun and put a 100 rounds down range before they showed up, to make sure I hadn't lost it. I wasn't target shooting, I wanted to shoot as I would if I had to. I shot pairs and "body armor drills," until the ammo was gone. I pushed the speed and was very happy with the results.

Here is my Classic P220, a gift from Miss Tina for Father's Day more than 20 years ago. The Range Master replaced all the springs twice while I was working patrol since I was using the gun for Duty Auto matches for PPC, and then my Gunsmith Buddy has continued to check the gun and replace springs as needed over the years. She is old, and showing her age, but does the job well. I carry the SIG most of the time unless the environment demands something smaller. We just work well together.



As you can see, even shooting fast pairs and the three shot groups in body armor drills, the gun did really well. The target shows 100 rounds.
Not bad for a Broken Ol' Marine. I put up a new target and let my buddy shoot the SIG once all was over, and he really liked it. WE didn't let the recruit shoot the SIG, not allowed until he gets out of the academy and has been qualified with the duty weapon. WE did let him pick up BOTH the 45 and 40 caliber brass from the range. What are recruits for?


Not having shot in nearly a year, it's easy to see what decades of heavy shooting does for you.

Carry? If I'm not carrying the P220 .45, I'll have one of the two Glocks, a 40 caliber mid size model 23; or the smaller model 26 in 9mm. I let my old patrol partner talk me out of the model 27 in 40 caliber. I also have the Smith Military and Police 340; a 357 snub Scandium that is so lightweight you forget you are carrying it. When you fire it, you realize later that it is a true hand cannon. Fire 357s in practice and your hand and wrist file an OSHA complaint. You can fire 38+Ps and control them pretty well.

It was nice to shoot again. In the next couple days I plan to fire the Match 45 and the Henry 357 Carbine.
Sweet.

I have to add, that it was very nice to work with a young officer again. I have really missed it. To see the change after just two sessions, and know that I had something to do with it, was very nice. He walked on the range nervous and all tied in knots. He walked off the range the second session relaxed and much more confident, knowing that after going thru the firearms training sessions at the academy he will have NO problems passing and should do well.

Excellent! Glad you got some range time in. That "Old" Sig looks fantastic. Not showing any gray hair at all.
I do have a question about the Glock 27 that your partner talked you out of. What was the deciding factor or factors that led you away from it?
I have shot the 23 in .40 and really liked it.
I already have a pocket size 9mm and have been considering the 27.

I know how you feel about working with a youngster and seeing the light come on for them.
Teaching has always been a passion for me.

I really enjoyed your report. You have such a nice way of mixing shooting and wonderful memories in your reports. Lots of fun to read.

I'm more of a traditional 1911 gal, but have shot a few Sigs in my time and I have a ton of respect for them, especially the venerable P220. As for Glocks, well, have never taken the plunge. Have friends that shoot them, though, so who knows?

CB...

Nothing led me away from the Model 27, I loved it, and it was a perfect mate for the 23, you could use the 23 and 22 mags in the 27. What let him talk me out of it was that I felt he needed it more than I did at the time and he made me an offer I couldn't refuse. You see... my old partner was a stubborn old Irishman, and with his diabetes he was supposed to do certain things. He did very few of them. He wasn't supposed to do certain things. He did MOST of them. Working on a deck in his back yard, he banged the side of his calf very hard, and got a huge bruise. His wife nagged him for two weeks to see the doc. HE wouldn't ... when he finally did it was too late and they amputated just below the knee... he had a heart attack during that surgery. They didn't get all the gangrene the first go round, and had to go back in and amputate ABOVE the knee. It was a high risk surgery due to the cardiac risks, 70/30 he would arrest. But, but if they didn't do it, he was sure to pass.

So, he called after surgery and asked if I still had the Model 27, he needed something small that would work in the wheel chair, he could carry around the house, and while they were out.
I told him to go buy one, yah weiner.
Can't afford to, the medical bills are killing me.
Fine, I'll loan it to you.
Nope, trade yah for it. I want to keep it. Always liked your set up.
I had the Big Dot Express front sight and extended slide release and the 3.5 pound trigger on the Model 27, and it shot like a dream. He was right, it was sweet.

Trade you MY PPC gun, after all, you got your guy to build it for me. Got me a heck of a price on the work.


OMG... done deal. I got him a sweet deal on the build, and he shot one match and stuck the gun in his safe. It sleeps in mine now and I carry the 26 when I carry the mini Glock. I usually just carry the 23. Or... if I want Mini, I carry the S&W 340.


I try to stick to those few guns for carry, that way I know what I have. The rest I just shoot for fun. Plinking, target practice, or taking care of bidness on the farm.

If I came across someone willing to trade a 27 for the 26; and they had a half dozen mags like I do, I'd trade in a heartbeat. I prefer the 40 caliber.
I already had the 9mm in the safe to go with the Glock 19. I thought the wife was going to be a 9mm gal, but she is EVIL with her Glock 23C.
If she needs something smaller, she carries the Airweight Smith 642.

Thanks for filling in the blanks. So he sweet talked you out of the one you had.
That PPC gun is incredible.
Glad you were willing to help out a friend who really did have a need for the 27.
I have seen a few folks who have to rely on a wheelchair to get around. And are smart enough to carry a firearm to protect themselves.
There are too many animals who prey on the vulnerable.

You notice the shoulder holster, it works great in my wheelchair...
A draw from a hip holster is difficult due to the wheels blocking the draw if you are ah... ... stocky?
Not much room between my hips and the wheels.

Great range report, Marine! And especially so as NCG noted when mixed with all the history/memories/stories that sprung up with your just-happened range time.

Also that's a cool-looking SIG. And what I really like is your shoulder rig. The leather looks quality, and shows very nice in that color. I have a plain-Jane black Blackhawk shoulder rig, none of it leather, only consists of nylon fabric. Much prefer that rig you use.

Glad you got to do some shooting. Keep on keeping on, and please do report your range times to everyone. It is appreciated and enjoyed!

The shoulder holster is the Galco Miami Classic. I have the holster to fit the P220 and another to fit the bulk of the Glock models. I can swap them out on the shoulder harness instead of having to buy a complete rig. The cool thing about this rig is the double mag pouch has two snaps on the flaps, so it works with single stack or staggered mags. I prefer Galco holsters... good quality, look great, last a long time, and fit the guns well.

Excellent range report, and that's a nice SIG.

Great shooting! That is a very nice firearm for sure. I agree, your range report is a good read.