First Range Report of 2019 from Central VA Marine

[BrokenolMarine]

As I stated in an earlier post, I have been dying to get out on the range, and Miss T needed to shoot the new gun she was going to carry due to a purse change. The range finally dried up a bit and this afternoon was beautiful. I took the Sig P220, the Smith 340, and the baby Glock 26 out and we prepared to break in the Spring. It wasn't a long drive, just across the back yard to the Range house and small deck on the Ranger UTV.

Back yard:

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-- The hutch on the left, straight ahead is Miss Tina's soap shop, and my wood shop on the right.

Ranger UTV and Range House and Deck.

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Once I got out there, I opened up the range house, got eyes and ears, a target frame put together and set out about twelve yards down range.

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I laid out the guns and got ready to shoot.

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-- Smith 340 357 scandium frame, Glock 26 9mm, and the SIG P220 45

I fired my first group with the SIG, it's been nearly a year, but that group at 12 yards offhand, wasn't bad. It signaled Miss T that I was ready as well, and she wandered over from the bunny hutches where she had been working.

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-- one round a tad low, and six rounds touching, from twelve yards. Not bad for an old guy.

I put aside my practice and got her started with the Glock 26. That didn't go as planned. She was putting some into the black, but flinching and pulling some out into the white around the bullseyes. Something was "biting her." I looked over the gun to see if the grip had been gouged somehow but the gun was like new. She showed me her pinky and sure enough, there was a pinch mark. I had an idea then what the issue was. The extended mag was moving a bit and pinching her finger. That wasn't going to work, so I rode back up to the house and pulled her "Old Companion" from the safe... the Smith 642 Airweight. Her first group from the Airweight, reminded her why she used to love the gun. Fired at about 7 yards, as quickly as she could obtain a sight picture, proved she still had the touch.

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She fired a ten shot group, then eyed the SIG 45.
Her groups at ten yards, first round double action and following rounds single action were sweet.
That belly button hole was a double action shot where she let the heavy double action pull drag the barrel down. Once she knew what she had done, she only made that mistake once.

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-- multiple strings with the 38 and two seven round strings with the SIG, I was impressed. The 38 groups at about seven yards, the SIG Groups at 10. Since she isn't a regular shooter, NOT bad at all.

This really turned into a Tina range day, but I did practice with the SIG.. firing about 21 rounds, using her belly button shot as my aiming point at 12 yards. Not a bad group for a Broken Ol' Marine. NOT rapid fire, but not target style slow fire or bench rested either. Smooth Double action, fire two or three single action, decock and repeat. All my shots fired with a two handed unsupported hold, standing.

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So, I'll clean all the guns, the 26 will go back in the safe, and Tina will carry the 642 for warm weather, or until she goes back to a larger purse, then she'll go back to the Compensated Glock 23C. I will carry the Smith 340, or the SIG P220 when clothing allows for it. WE have been partners for a long time, more than two decades. Can't wait to get back out on the range and shoot a bit more.

Next visit? More SIG, and the Model 64 38.

[RanchRoper]

Remind not to sneak up on your place in the dark. Nice shooting for both of you.

[ESquared]

Nice job by both of you sharpshooters! My Sig collection has shrunk, but I still have a 220 SSE "Carry" that was a bucket list item. Haven't shot it in a while, but your report has given me the itch!
Thanks for sharing!

[BrokenolMarine]

Then there is the other side of the coin, for us Marines, at least. You shoot it, you clean it, even if it's one or two rounds.
Some folks hate the cleaning. I love the smell of Hoppes solvent, the breakdown and reassembly of the guns, and use my optivisor to inspect the nooks and crannies while I have the chance. Just in case. Who knows, might need to replace a pin, find something cracked, or there may be some carbon buildup thinking it's being slick. You know those chunks like to hide in revolvers, then jump out and gum up the works at just the worst time.

So... Turn on some background music... Country, of course... Josh Turner this evening, and got'er done. Four guns, one back to the safe, three back to their duty rides.

[North Country Gal]

Wonderful report! Congrats to both of you on some nice shooting. Loved it.

[fortyshooter]

Very nice job on your range report B' Marine and great shooting! This was a good day to bring the guns out.

[JEBar]

nicely done .... nicely done indeed

[markiver54]

Good reporting Jim. Ya'll done GREAT!!!

[BigAl52]

Im jealous Marine of the entire report. Range in the backyard is a dream. Not to mention the surroundings. Nice country and nice shooting.

[Henry88]

That first target, there's basically just two holes.