Range Report: daily plinking

[fortyshooter]

Yep I started with a used Ruger NM Vaquero 45 Colt back in 2009 and then the bug bit!

[North Country Gal]

I started with 22s in 8th grade in Junior rifle club and I'm still shooting mostly 22s. Of course, along the way I became something of a recoil junkie with the big stuff, though not so much these days. Still love the 44 mag, though. It was my first centerfire handgun cartridge.

[Sir Henry]

Another day of plinking. This time the Charger Mare’s Leg at the spinners within the traps. I hit 2 out of five at 35 and 4 out of 5 at 15 yards.

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It may be an odd firearm but it’s fun to shoot and is fairly accurate offhand.

[Hatchdog]

Bet you’re appreciating that white background for your black and orange targets.

[Sir Henry]

Bet you’re appreciating that white background for your black and orange targets.

I was going to mention that. The targets are so much easier to see. Especially with my cataracts.

[Sir Henry]

Todays plinker is this low five-digit serial number 10/22. It belonged to my father-in-law and I inherited it. When he bought it in 1965 he didn’t tell his wife Alice and one day the neighbor came over and asked him how he liked his new rifle. He said Alice just glared at him and he knew he was in trouble. Later when I bought a firearm my wife, his daughter just expected it. I always thanked him for setting the precedent. It might be why I have it and not his son.

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[fortyshooter]

Fine shooting in the cold Gene and that .22 Charger is just plain cool looking!

[Vaquero]

I owned a pair of SS 10/22's, but I gave one to the son and the other to his sister.
I do have a pair of Marlin SA's now, a model 89c and a model 60.
The 89c will out shoot the 60 with me behind the trigger.

RP

[Sir Henry]

Fine shooting in the cold Gene and that .22 Charger is just plain cool looking!

It’s really a fun and accurate plinker out to 35 yards. It’s squirrel accurate out to 25. After that distance I’m not sure it would be a humane harvester.

[Sir Henry]

Todays shooter is my very first Henry. It’s a low three-digit serial number H001 made in Brooklyn, NY.

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It’s the only Henry I’ve not modified except for a sling which can easily be removed. It still has the original plastic sight/hanger. I know a lot of people didn’t like the plastic and received a free metal replacement from Henry.

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It’s snowing hard and I could barely see the bullet traps so I shot one tube and put it away.

[Vaquero]

Nice looking little H001.
Mine looks nothing like it did originally.
I did replace the plastic band and front sight.
I also stripped the receiver cover and rear barrel band, let those tarnish a bit then clear coated them.
Then added a Winchester saddle ring and also stripped the stock and forearm and applied an oil finish.
It was my first Henry, purchased in the late 90's. No telling of the round count on it and never a hiccup.

RP

[Sir Henry]

Nice looking little H001.
Mine looks nothing like it did originally.
I did replace the plastic band and front sight.
I also stripped the receiver cover and rear barrel band, let those tarnish a bit then clear coated them.
Then added a Winchester saddle ring and also stripped the stock and forearm and applied an oil finish.
It was my first Henry, purchased in the late 90's. No telling of the round count on it and never a hiccup.

RP

Mine was a jamamatic and problem was it’s middle name. I posted about it on the Ruger Forum and people told me to send it back to Henry and stop complaining. I did and was impressed with their service and soon bought another, then another, then another and the rest is history.

Im a southpaw and bolt actions didn’t like me. I’ve learned to shoot equally bad right and left since then. I usually shoot levers left and now switch to right with a bolt.

[North Country Gal]

Gene, have you ever tried a left handed bolt gun?

[Sir Henry]

Gene, have you ever tried a left handed bolt gun?

No. When I was collecting mil-surps I liked Enfields and 03’s because you can shoot them easily left by reaching your left hand over the top. Others like Mausers and Mosin Nagants were almost impossible.

I’ve always wanted to cut down a right handed bolt to make a Mares Leg because I think it would be a natural. I would shoot it left handed and keep my left hand and cheek in the same spot and work the bolt with the right. Shooting a right handed bolt right handed requires you to remove your trigger hand to work the bolt which requires you to reposition hand and cheek.

I think Oswald was able to get the rounds off so quickly because he shot left handed and used the window sill as a brace. This allowed him to keep his left hand in place along with his cheek and work the bolt with his right hand. Shooting offhand doesn’t work like this as it’s difficult to hold the rifle in place.

If it was legal to cut down a bolt I would. It’s not so I won’t.

[Sir Henry]

I dug out another Henry I haven’t shot in awhile. I store most of my firearms upstairs in my bedroom. Little Girl guards them.

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This is a SGC with a Nikon scope and a Rio Bravo lever.

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I’ve aged it to look old.

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I call this my namesake rifle.

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I plinked a tube of rounds trying to get my fill of shooting before cataract surgery.

[North Country Gal]

Gene, have you ever tried a left handed bolt gun?

No. When I was collecting mil-surps I liked Enfields and 03’s because you can shoot them easily left by reaching your left hand over the top. Others like Mausers and Mosin Nagants were almost impossible.

I’ve always wanted to cut down a right handed bolt to make a Mares Leg because I think it would be a natural. I would shoot it left handed and keep my left hand and cheek in the same spot and work the bolt with the right. Shooting a right handed bolt right handed requires you to remove your trigger hand to work the bolt which requires you to reposition hand and cheek.

I think Oswald was able to get the rounds off so quickly because he shot left handed and used the window sill as a brace. This allowed him to keep his left hand in place along with his cheek and work the bolt with his right hand. Shooting offhand doesn’t work like this as it’s difficult to hold the rifle in place.

If it was legal to cut down a bolt I would. It’s not so I won’t.

Gene, that's the idea with a bolt pistol like the Anschutz Exemplar. I have two of these.


The bolt is on the left side, but it's actually a right handed action. This 22 LR bolt pistol is held in the right hand to shoot and the bolt operated with the left hand. This is very important for the purposes of competition because you don't have to break your hold for every shot. The Exemplar was the premier rimfire silhouette pistol in its day. The Exemplar was introduced in 1987, it dethroned the TC Contender as the top rimfire pistol. Not to get your hopes up, but I've heard reports that there were a few Exemplars made left handed, meaning the bolt was on the right side. Exemplars are now very expensive and hard to find.

The later Anshutz 64P with a synthetic stock replaced the Exemplar in the late 90s and most of these had the bolt on the right hand side and they were less pricey. I have seen a few of these around. The 64P Target-Varmint is every bit as accurate as the Exemplar, which is to say, as accurate as a fine 22 LR bolt rifle.

[Vaquero]

Nice collection there Gene, who made the butt cuff for ya?

RP

[Sir Henry]

Gene, have you ever tried a left handed bolt gun?

No. When I was collecting mil-surps I liked Enfields and 03’s because you can shoot them easily left by reaching your left hand over the top. Others like Mausers and Mosin Nagants were almost impossible.

I’ve always wanted to cut down a right handed bolt to make a Mares Leg because I think it would be a natural. I would shoot it left handed and keep my left hand and cheek in the same spot and work the bolt with the right. Shooting a right handed bolt right handed requires you to remove your trigger hand to work the bolt which requires you to reposition hand and cheek.

I think Oswald was able to get the rounds off so quickly because he shot left handed and used the window sill as a brace. This allowed him to keep his left hand in place along with his cheek and work the bolt with his right hand. Shooting offhand doesn’t work like this as it’s difficult to hold the rifle in place.

If it was legal to cut down a bolt I would. It’s not so I won’t.

Gene, that's the idea with a bolt pistol like the Anschutz Exemplar. I have two of these.


The bolt is on the left side, but it's actually a right handed action. This 22 LR bolt pistol is held in the right hand to shoot and the bolt operated with the left hand. This is very important for the purposes of competition because you don't have to break your hold for every shot. The Exemplar was the premier rimfire silhouette pistol in its day. The Exemplar was introduced in 1987, it dethroned the TC Contender as the top rimfire pistol. Not to get your hopes up, but I've heard reports that there were a few Exemplars made left handed, meaning the bolt was on the right side. Exemplars are now very expensive and hard to find.

The later Anshutz 64P with a synthetic stock replaced the Exemplar in the late 90s and most of these had the bolt on the right hand side and they were less pricey. I have seen a few of these around. The 64P Target-Varmint is every bit as accurate as the Exemplar, which is to say, as accurate as a fine 22 LR bolt rifle.

I’ve thought of getting one but haven’t crossed paths with one. I CAN shoot left or right so it wouldn’t be that big a deal. Right now I’m focused on building a garage and want to add turbine and solar panels.

[Sir Henry]

Nice collection there Gene, who made the butt cuff for ya?

RP

I can’t remember. I purchased it off Etsy about ten years ago.

[Sir Henry]

The wind isn’t blowing today and it’s 28F so I plinked for a half hour instead of five minutes. Todays firearm was a Cimarron Birdshead with the 3.5” barrel. It’s chambered in 38 only. The frame can’t take the pressures of a 357.

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My bullet traps are rated for rimfire so I only shot at 35 yards. Out of the 36 rounds I hit it zero times. Matter of fact I wasn’t even close. I could see my hits in the snow and I was all over the place sometimes missing by several feet.

I don’t feel too bad as it’s meant for close quarters.