45 on the range

[BrokenolMarine]

I finally dragged my broken butt to the range... and it turned out better than expected, although I didn't last long.
I loaded up the range box and drove down to the range house, set up a target and for the first time in nearly a year, put rounds downrange with my competition 45.

range trip.jpg (277.91 KiB) Viewed 1980 times

I shot the first twelve rounds at fifteen yards to establish a group and adjust the sights. I was happy to find that I actually had a group.

first 12 rounds.jpg (257.97 KiB) Viewed 1980 times

I found I needed to come down and left. After making the changes, I moved the target out to twenty five yards, and shot a few more rounds downrange. I optimistically brought 100 rounds with me to the range, but after about six mags, the pain in my back and knees let me know I shouldn't push it. There is always tomorrow. I had started to tighten up the groups, but the last three shots were falling out the bottom and rather than waste ammo, I called it a day.

last 12 rounds.jpg (272.59 KiB) Viewed 1980 times

I left the extra ammo in the range box and I hope to be back on the range tomorrow. I'll work the 45 again and see how the groups look when I'm fresh.
It was good to put the gun thru it's paces again.

[RetiredSeabee]

Good shooting, I would not want to be downrange of a grizzled old marine with a 45.

[JEBar]

Good shooting, I would not want to be downrange of a grizzled old marine with a 45.

AMEN .... I respect anyone who can fire that many 45 rounds

[BrokenolMarine]

Sheesh guys...
I only fired thirty some rounds...
Back in competition days, I would shoot a couple hundred 45, a couple hundred 38 from the bull comp gun, and another hundred or so 38s from the 4" model 64 duty gun... in every practice session. That's why I had the range out back.

I'm hoping that if I get out and shoot, I can reduce the lower back pain. I want to get the Big Boy 357 back on the range again.
I loaded a couple hundred rounds for it just before I fell last year, and never got to shoot them.

[North Country Gal]

Nice groups and glad you got out. Would love to hear a bit more about your 45. What gun?

[BrokenolMarine]

The 45 started life as a springfield armory 1911. When I needed a competition 45 I turned it over to Jerry Kieffer who at the time, was building most of the PPC Bull barrel guns here and had about a six month back up. He was still a full time police sergeant, running the range and firearms training program for a major department here in VA.

Jerry tightened the slide to frame fit. Added bomar match sights, kart national match barrel fitted to a briely barrel bushing. You must use a bushing wrench AND a brass hammer to disassemble the slide. He also fitted a match grade trigger and hammer.

Before he set the trigger weight, he asked if this was going to be a match only gun, or if I EVER planned to carry the gun on duty or as an off duty personal weapon. MATCH ONLY. The trigger on this gun is set at 2.5 pounds and breaks like a glass rod. The gun is capable of much better groups than I am.

[BigAl52]

Nice shooting for sure. Oh I like the range wagon to. Al

[North Country Gal]

Not surprised to hear it's a Springfield. This brand has been widely used to build custom guns from what I've heard. Builders like those forged SA frames and slides.

We have a couple of SAs and really enjoy them. Been great guns and we didn't pay an arm and a leg for them, either.

[BrokenolMarine]

NCG, you are exactly right about the quality of the SA product. Many of the custom smiths will listbthe SA as one of the few base guns they WILL build on... usually it's a short list.

This morning. First thing after setup, I put the 45 on the bag and tweeked the sights a tad, then went back to offhand. The rest must have paid off as my first six shots downrange were pleasantly surprising. I pulled a few wide, but I put three in the ten and X-ring.

25 yard targets.jpg (291.26 KiB) Viewed 1941 times

Sweet offhand group.jpg (318.36 KiB) Viewed 1941 times

I settled in to do some shooting, and tried my best to concentrate on Sight Alignment and Trigger pull. I shot another thirty or forty rounds today, before I started dropping rounds out... and called it a day. The final target had twenty four rounds with a decent group for an old guy... I guess "Marines Never Die... Their Groups Just Open Up."

24 rounds 25 yards.jpg (280.04 KiB) Viewed 1941 times

I think I might shoot the Kimber Tactical Tomorrow, or the Model 64 Revolver ... depending on how I'm feeling.
I need to start shooting as often as I can. Shooting, and working in the shop are a couple of things I CAN still do.

[JEBar]

once again, nicely done indeed

[Sir Henry]

Great range report. I judge all semi pistols against the 1911.

[North Country Gal]

I agree. That's some fine 1911 work.

No matter what else we may shoot, we'll always make room for 1911s in our collection.

[RanchRoper]

That's some real fine target work. Nicely done.

[BrokenolMarine]

Thanks all...
Anyone who has followed my shooting posts, knows my fondness for the 45.
My favorite carry piece is my two decade old SIG P220.
She's old, but she's reliable, accurate, and we know one another well.