At Last!! Made it to the range for some quality time at 25/50/100 yards

[Joe L]

It was 95F and not too humid (70%?) so not terrible conditions.  I took the Kadet and MTR because I only wanted to shoot .22 while getting my Mojo back after 4 months off for 9 weeks of prostate cancer radiation treatment and the associated drug therapy. 

I shot the Kadet with Norma Tac22 at 25 yards from a rest first, to see how the gun was zeroed and to get some remedial practice at hand/eye/trigger coordination.  That went well, 1.5" groups from the start, but a little low.  Next was 50 yards from a rest, and the lack of practice showed up, but the trigger control felt 100% natural and the eyes weren't bothering me, so I was happy with the result.  Happy enough to put up a target and hold point at 100 yards and just try it, even though I don't normally shoot the Kadet at 100. 

Apparently, I had last zeroed the gun in New Mexico at 25 yards and 6000 ft elevation and I needed to go 4 clicks up for the muggy conditions at 800 ft.  But I held off making any changes and just raised the aim point a few inches and blasted away.  I got most of the shots on paper but the groups were large.  Now a .22 pistol with non-match ammo isn't optimum for 100 yard target shooting, to say the least.  But I knew the groups were not going to be P-09 size, what I needed was to see the red dot against the aim point at 100 yards again and pull the trigger without moving the pistol.  And that is what I was able to do fairly well.  It felt good.  Normal.  My natural state.  I was happy.  And the Kadet operated flawlessly, as usual. 

So, with 150 rounds downrange with the Kadet, it was time to bag it and get out the MTR and a box of SK Rifle Match.  There was one unblemished corner on an existing 100 yard target frame, so I put 30 rounds through the MTR, observed a 2" group, smiled and packed up to go home.  I was happy, but whipped.  While I was gathering up my stuff, the range owner stopped by and said, "Joe, you need to get in your truck and turn on the AC!  Enough for today."  I looked around and no one else was at the range, I guess the heat+humidity was too much for most people, at least the ones that hadn't been as anxious to go to the range as I was.  The range owner confirmed that summer afternoons were pretty lonely.  I smiled and told him, I'm doing fine, the two firearms are fine, I found my targets, staplers, staples, rests, bags, towels, water bottles, hearing and eye protection, guns, spotting scope, and ammo after the self-imposed time off...and I will be back tomorrow with my grand nephew for a little firearms training, followed by lunch and some quality gun cleaning time in the shade.  He laughed and waved me on.

This is fun.  This is not easy. 

Joe

[Sulpgnir]

Glad to hear that you are back on track Joe.  Many people with radiation and treatment would've been happy with just taking it easy 

Keep on shooting!

[Joe L]

Thanks Sulpgnir. 

Here are the targets...

   

[Rmach]

Outstanding!!

[Sulpgnir]

Nice groupings Joe!

It's interesting to note that at 100 yards, the grouping went low and right.  You did mention to change the hold point for the next target.

My groupings tend to be low and left.  When I dry fire, I can see the front sight dipping low and left, especially in DAs 

[Joe L]

Nice groupings Joe!

It's interesting to note that at 100 yards, the grouping went low and right.  You did mention to change the hold point for the next target.

My groupings tend to be low and left.  When I dry fire, I can see the front sight dipping low and left, especially in DAs 

What you might try if you see the gun sights moving low left in SA is a little less trigger insertion on your trigger and then try to move the trigger using movement at the middle joint of your finger only.  You might need some thicker grips to move your finger out a little from the trigger also.  I had to do a lot of adjustments and grip modifications to get my trigger finger position and movement good enough to eliminate most of the gun movement when pulling the trigger.  A few humbling years of bullseye matches helps also.  I had heck learning to shoot DA/SA, especially with the DA 1st shot in an IDPA match.  I got pretty good at it, but gave up DA when I switched to bullseye, which can be all SA.  And I never tried a revolver in a bullseye match.  I know my limits.

Back to my targets.  If the gun is zeroed at 25 yards, then at 50 I hold 12 o'clock 9-10 ring above the center to hit the x ring.  Then at 100 yards, there is a second target above the record target that I use as an aim point since the drop is roughly 8-10" for 1100 fps ammo and 100 yard distance.  Since the 25 yard zero was a little low, I guessed at where to place the aim point when I went to 100. With a little wind, it can be off a little.  The only way to find out is to try it.  And at 100 yards, it isn't easy to see exactly where the dot is when the shot is released.  That is the challenge at 100 yards.  So I made a correction for the next target, moving the aim point target to the left and up 2" to try to get all the shots on the paper.  I shot 40 rounds on the last target of the day, but it looked like a shotgun blast, so I didn't keep the target.  But I got in the trigger time and, more importantly,  the eye sight time, so I didn't worry too much about the grouping, as I was getting a little weary by then. 

I went four clicks up when I got home on the red dot sight on the Kadet, so that it would be close to a 25 yard zero today while my grand nephew is shooting it.  My 9mm and .45 pistols are zeroed at 100 now, so I don't have to move the aim point target, and I can still just hold a little right or left for wind and a little up or down for air density changes.  I have to go back to the hold point target above the record target at 200 yards, starting out around 4 feet above.  And wind is really a factor at 200 with a slow 9mm or even slower .45 cal bullet.  I may get to try 200 next week, if I can get some good results at 100 first.

It will take me a few hundred more rounds, but even this Kadet is good for 1" groups at 25, 2" at 50, and around 6" at 100 on a calm day.  The groups from my first day back are a start, not as good as I expect to be able to do after a little more practice.  But I will probably just move on to the 9mm and .45 rather than spend enough time with the Kadet to get the groups sizes down to what I know I can do--under 6" at 100 on an average day, under 4" at 100 on a "good" shooter day.   

Thanks for taking a look at yesterday's targets and commenting. 

Joe

[solidmatter]

It is an amazing thing you are back at the range, buddy. Great thread and I had a great read, thanks for sharing your comeback to the range with us.

[Joe L]

Thanks, Solidmatter for the note. 

Yesterday was just prep for today--take the 13 year old soon to be 8th grader to the range for the first time in 11 months.  And yes, he wanted to shoot the Kadet again, not the MTR.  So I gave him a box of Norma Tac 22 and the pistol and let the instructors have a go at two-handed, standing, at 7 and eventually 15 yards.  At this range, there is only one pistol bay and it has 14 target stands, and it gets crowded even on week days between 9 and noon, when it is somewhat cooler than after lunch.  Everyone has to agree on which yard line we are going to shoot from, and most folks want to shoot at 7 yards, with an occasional call for 15 yards. 

Here is the bottom line.  He shot 5 rounds at a time, 40 total at 7 yards, and then 10 at 15 yards.  He got 32 of 40 rounds in the 10 ring at 7 yards, and only had one flier high.  I don't interfere with the instructors.  I don't "help".  I stay 5 yards back and observe, especially since I've forgotten how to do a proper two-handed grip and to square up and push out with a pistol in a traditional self defense stance.

This pistol is zeroed at 25 yards, so it hits a little low at 7 and 15.  But the boy can put the dot in the x ring and not move the gun much when he is pulling the Kadet's SAO trigger.  His instructors were very happy with his progress.  Here is the target, 50 rounds total, 40 at 7 yards, and 10 at 15. 



I am going to rest now.  I'm whipped.  But I was able to do what I set out to do--help the grand nephew make some progress on his pistol shooting learning curve.  The plan is to work up to  a .45 at 25 yards by the end of the summer, over maybe 5 trips to the range.   I hope to shoot the 9's and the .45 myself next week. 

Joe

[bikeridertim]

Glad you are back!  I enjoy your videos and the distance you shoot a handgun! 

[Fuzzy Sights]

Outstanding shooting in any conditions.  I'm happy with 8ring at 50yds on a B-27.  JoeL is my hero. 

Sir, may you have a full and complete recovery.  Peace and Grace.

JW

[warriorgeez]

Thanks Sulpgnir. 

Here are the targets...

   

That's fantastic!

Keep up the great work.

[newageroman]

Great shooting! I especially like how you stayed when all of the heat wusses baked away. That is a common theme for me as well, having the range to yourself is kinda fun sometimes.
My 22s really like SK ammo as well!