Range Report: bloomin’ and boomin’

[Sir Henry]

Okay so not so much of a boom. More like a poof with the CB shorts. They are so quiet Little Girl was inside six feet away watching me out the window and the noise didn’t scare her.

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I limit the front range to sub-sonic for the time. It’s possible to get richochets and there are a few houses over the hill.

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The upper range is still under construction so I set a rimfire spinner out.

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This is where I shoot pellets from the front patio. Yellow is pellets and orange is rimfire.

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My shooting was really terrible.

[Vaquero]

Gene, I have noticed also that I take an extent hiatus from shooting that it usually takes a few rounds to get back some decent groups.
Some firearms a little more than others.
But hey, at the end of the session, it's still an enjoyable experience or all.
Sure beats werkin...

RP

[BigAl52]

Hey Gene. Ive seen all the posts with your pictures and the place really looks nice.

[fortyshooter]

Great way to spend an afternoon shooting the 22 CB's or Quiets! That range view showing the distant hills is beautiful!

[markiver54]

Hey Gene. Ive seen all the posts with your pictures and the place really looks nice.

My thoughts exactly! Lookn great Gene!

[Cofisher]

He really got lucky in that purchase. A beautiful area. WITH WINTER!

[RanchRoper]

Great pics, thanks.

[markiver54]

He really got lucky in that purchase. A beautiful area. WITH WINTER!

lucky, for sure!, especially if you love Winter. It is beautiful right now though and Gene is working wonders on it!

[North Country Gal]

That's great, Gene.

In my testing at 30 yards, I actually found CBs to be more consistent in their accuracy than the Quiets. With the Quiets, I had to shoot a lot of groups to get 5 shots all shooting to the same POI. I'd typically get 3 or sometimes 4 close enough to make a group, but one or two shots would open the group way beyond what the gun could do with better ammo. I think 30 yards is pushing it for anyone using Quiets for pest control.

CBs, by contrast, I could use for 30 yard for target practice. Definitely not 50 yard ammo or match ammo, but definitely useable 30 yard practice ammo. Also, in terms of loudness out of a rifle, the CBs were quieter than almost all of my airguns.

[Sir Henry]

That's great, Gene.

In my testing at 30 yards, I actually found CBs to be more consistent in their accuracy than the Quiets. With the Quiets, I had to shoot a lot of groups to get 5 shots all shooting to the same POI. I'd typically get 3 or sometimes 4 close enough to make a group, but one or two shots would open the group way beyond what the gun could do with better ammo. I think 30 yards is pushing it for anyone using Quiets for pest control.

CBs, by contrast, I could use for 30 yard for target practice. Definitely not 50 yard ammo or match ammo, but definitely useable 30 yard practice ammo. Also, in terms of loudness out of a rifle, the CBs were quieter than almost all of my airguns.

My biggest problem is sending the round down the barrel when I’m on target. My timing is all off right now. I’ve found it takes me several days of shooting to get back in the groove and a few more days to get back to my best. My gong is the same size as your target and I only hit it three times at 25 yards.

[North Country Gal]

Not to worry, just a matter of practice. You'll get there.

[graywolf]

I like seeing everyones pictures. Gene, that is a pretty place you got. I'm new on here but I been seeing all the work you putting in. With open sights, I can't see good enough to shoot past 25-30 yds or so. Y'all don't seem to have a problem. That's partly why I shoot the 410 more these days.

[Sir Henry]

I like seeing everyones pictures. Gene, that is a pretty place you got. I'm new on here but I been seeing all the work you putting in. With open sights, I can't see good enough to shoot past 25-30 yds or so. Y'all don't seem to have a problem. That's partly why I shoot the 410 more these days.

Thanks. I can see good enough usually. Sometimes I have floaters. I build myself up with high expectations and then choke up. I shoot my best when I care less. For example I shot again in the afternoon and accepted the fact I wasn’t going to do very well and then surprised myself. Not spectacular shooting but tons better.

[North Country Gal]

Shooting is one of the best examples of a "just do it" sport.

The only "thinking" I do when taking a shot is 110% focus on the sight/target. Clear the mind of everything else and just concentrate on the sight picture. That concentration continues as the gun fires; it continues through the recoil and doesn't stop till the pellet/bullet hits the target. Nothing interrupts this, not even a conscious thought to pull the trigger. Breaking your concentration with a mental command to pull the trigger is not good trigger control. In fact, thinking "trigger" when you need to be focused on the sight/target is a good way to develop a flinch or other bad shooting habits.

This trigger control is hard to believe/explain but it comes with practice. With all my concentration on the sight picture, just before the shot, I then give my brain permission to pull the trigger when the time comes. I then go right back to 110% focus on the sight/reticle. With practice, I can focus entirely on the sight/target and and the actual trigger pull takes care of itself when needed. I have faith that this will happen because I've practiced it enough and done it enough. Nothing breaks my concentration, not the trigger pull, not the recoil, not the noise of the shot, not the bullet hitting the target. Nothing. I'm holding that focus through it all. (The shot is NOT over when the gun fires. Recoil and bullet impact on target are part of the shot, not aftereffects.)

This sounds like some kind of magic to a beginner, but it's learnable. When taking a shot, If you are thinking about pulling the trigger or your grip or your placement of the stock on your shoulder or your breathing or any other aspect of shooting technique or outside thoughts about your grocery shopping or even how the shot will go, you've broken your concentration on the sight/target. That concentration IS the shot. Everything else is just technique.

Just do it. Easy, right?

[graywolf]

You do make it sound easy, but you couldn't explain it any better. I do shoot better if I been shooting same gun for a while. Maybe without realizing it, Im more comfortable with it and don't think as much about other things. I remember when as a kid I went squirrel hunting with an uncle. He had a bolt action .22 and when he was ready to shoot, he would put gun to shoulder, aim and fire in one motion. Almost soon as gun touched shoulder he shot. I don't remember him ever missing one. All of you that post your pictures of targets make me wonder whether to post mine.

[markiver54]

You do make it sound easy, but you couldn't explain it any better. I do shoot better if I been shooting same gun for a while. Maybe without realizing it, Im more comfortable with it and don't think as much about other things. I remember when as a kid I went squirrel hunting with an uncle. He had a bolt action .22 and when he was ready to shoot, he would put gun to shoulder, aim and fire in one motion. Almost soon as gun touched shoulder he shot. I don't remember him ever missing one. All of you that post your pictures of targets make me wonder whether to post mine.

The fact that you put holes in paper is a credit to you. Post away...no shame here, only helpful advise if you want it. ☺

[North Country Gal]

Plus one, do post pics. We're friends here.

That snap the gun to your shoulder and shot was a common way of shooting back in the old days. I can see where it would be very useful for putting meat on the table.

[BigAl52]

Yup post away with pictures we like pictures. Nobody here is going to tear you apart about your targets.

[graywolf]

I was hoping to have a picture or two of a target today, but after putting a plywood floor in utility trailer, and my A/C in shop stopped cooling, I decided to come inside and cool off.

[Sir Henry]

You do make it sound easy, but you couldn't explain it any better. I do shoot better if I been shooting same gun for a while. Maybe without realizing it, Im more comfortable with it and don't think as much about other things. I remember when as a kid I went squirrel hunting with an uncle. He had a bolt action .22 and when he was ready to shoot, he would put gun to shoulder, aim and fire in one motion. Almost soon as gun touched shoulder he shot. I don't remember him ever missing one. All of you that post your pictures of targets make me wonder whether to post mine.

Feel free to post away. It’s also common and accepted to post on someone else’s post. We are friends and family here and not territorial like some forums.