Big Boy & SmokeWagon 12/2/16

[CT_Shooter]

Here are the latest targets from shooting my Brass Big Boy .357 and my Uberti SmokeWagon .357.

I know they're mediocre at best and that they are far from the standard set by sharpshooters like Bandit, but they are evidence of the great enjoyment I have while in pursuit of improvement. Also, for me, shooting my own handloads is a double dip of pleasure. Anyway, here they are, such as they are. I'm just posting the second set of targets for each gun to limit the space used and to prevent boredom. They are all very similar, anyway.

I shoot indoors; the rifle at 75 feet, standing and off-hand; the revolver at 25 feet, standing and one-handed; alternating five rounds between each gun. This time, unfortunately, all of the overhead lighting at the far end of the range had been "shot out by ricocheting shrapnel", as the owner told me (kind of like the forum Christmas lights); so it was very dim and hard for these aged eyes to see through my Skinner peep's .125 aperture. I don't have any excuses for the SmokeWagon.

Henry Big Boy H006M at 75 feet

Uberti SmokeWagon .357 at 25 feet

[PT7]

Reminds me of the one indoor range I go to in very bad weather --- at 25 yards the targets are almost totally always in the dark!! That makes a huge difference for target shooting. I go to the indoor place seldom....might have to soon again as winter is approaching too rapidly.

Still "great enjoyment" and a "double dip of pleasure" are where it's all at.
Thanks for the Range Report, CT. You've got the best of it in the fun you're having.

[RanchRoper]

I'd be happy with your targets. Looks like a fun time!

[CT_Shooter]

RanchRoper,
In my opinion, you are on your way to shooting as well as TGR! Thank you for your encouragement! I don't expect that I will never be quite that good, but I'm going to enjoy every minute of trying.

[North Country Gal]

You're post reminds me that I can get way too obsessive about group size, sometimes, and I really do, to the point of fretting and getting upset and grouchy. Then I watch my husband walk up and shoot targets like yours and turn around with big smile on his face. The I remember that's it's supposed to be fun and I smile, too. No matter what anyone else tells you, if you had fun, the rest of it will fall in place over time. Good for you. Decent targets considering the light, too, and all the more so for shooting offhand. Love the one-handed pistol work.

[Henry88]

They are better than I can do, CT.
I was wondering why you mention shooting the pistol one handed, though?

I ask because "sometimes" I do that just for the heck of it; to look cool. I shoot better utilizing that second hand to steady, however.

I think probably everyone does, even Hickok45.

Maybe there are some competitions that you have to shoot that way?

Or maybe it's just the way you shoot

[CT_Shooter]

I was wondering why you mention shooting the pistol one handed, though?

Well, I don't have an especially good reason; certainly not a practical one.

You're right that using two hands helps to steady the gun, and whenever I shoot my Colt OP .38, I do use both hands. But, the SmokeWagon is a "cowboy gun" and in my odd way, I think it should be shot one-handed simply to honor the cowboy myth. No one ever watches me shooting, so I don't do it for the attention, but it does feel pretty cool.

[RanchRoper]

RanchRoper,
In my opinion, you are on your way to shooting as well as TGR! Thank you for your encouragement! I don't expect that I will never be quite that good, but I'm going to enjoy every minute of trying.

Well you couldn't pay me enough to meet TGR in the street at high noon for a showdown, EVER, but thanks so much for the nice words. Your shooting looks pretty darn good to me, and like I said, I'd he happy to show the targets to anybody.

[RanchRoper]

I was wondering why you mention shooting the pistol one handed, though?

Well, I don't have an especially good reason; certainly not a practical one.

You're right that using two hands helps to steady the gun, and whenever I shoot my Colt OP .38, I do use both hands. But, the SmokeWagon is a "cowboy gun" and in my odd way, I think it should be shot one-handed to simply to honor the cowboy myth. No one ever watches me shooting, so I don't do it for the attention, but it does feel pretty cool.

If one hand was good enough for the Lone Ranger, it's good enough for me.

[DWD445]

I shoot one handed occasionally, tried it with the Dan Wesson 445 once....2 rounds was enough for me
Looks like a good time.

[RetiredSeabee]

Looks good to me, especially with bad lighting. I shoot at an indoor range and am amazed at how badly many people shoot judging by the damage to the walls, ceiling, floors and even the shooting benches.

I also tend to shoot my single action revolver one handed. It just feels more natural that way.

[Gregorsway]

Good looking groups! Keep it up!