Range Report: My first time out with the 22/45

[Glenn]

I took some time off of work this afternoon to enjoy the really nice fall weather.

I went to a local public range in Wallingford, CT: http://www.bluetrailrange.com/

For $18 on a weekday, you can shoot from 9-5. I was there from 2 to 4:30. They give you a target board; you supply the targets. I brought along a $15 spinner target I picked up at Wal-Mart.

It was actually kinda busy there! I'd say about 8-10 people when I arrived. Two other guys were shooting pistols, the rest, rifles.

The 22/45 is a lot of fun to shoot. It's also very easy to shoot; as I'm sure you all know. No issues with the "smaller" 22/45 grips. I was surprised with how light the gun feels. A guy a few lanes down let me shoot his S&W .22...it was a nice gun.

I ended up putting about 500 rounds through the Ruger. I used mainly Federal .22 rounds I picked up at Wal-Mart...550 bulk pack, hollow points. I also tried a few Aguila's they gave me when I bought the gun. Just for kicks, I picked up a few CCI's when I was at Wal-Mart buying the Federals. I only had two failure to fires with the Federals...not bad IMHO.

After the two guys next to me left, I focused on sighting in the gun. They had a telescope thing next to one of the roof supports. I'd shoot 10 rounds, then check my paper targets, adjust, shoot 10 more. I found the gun was firing high and to the left. I ended up turning the rear sight down as far as it would go. I'm still working on the left adjustment, but I have it dialed in pretty well.

The spinner target was a lot of fun! I enjoyed the instant gratification of knowing if I hit the target or not. For $15...totally worth it! I also picked up a Adco Sales Super Thumb Junior at the range store. $3.95 well spent! It made reloading a breeze and I have no thumb pain as I type this.

Link to the "Junior": http://www.impactguns.com/store/733315010111.html

Here's some pics!

A pic of my lane. It's hard to see, but the spinner is that red thing in the grass:


My table. If you look closely to the upper right, you can see I have the instruction manual open and a set of small screw drivers to adjust the sights. Note to self, that smaller screw on the top of the rear sight is not to adjust left to right...that screw is on the side of the rear sight. Oops!


Here's how the spinner looked when I brought it home. The stickers supplied with the target lasted about two shots each. You'll notice how most of my shots are to the upper left...hence my sight adjustments.


I have two shot vids I'll upload. I set my digital camera up on my table while I unloaded two clips at the spinner. I'll get those up tomorrow.

All in all..AWESOME time. I'm happy I got back into this. Thanks for all the help you guys have provided me over the past few weeks!

[recumbent]

Sounds like you had a good afternoon.

22 pistols are a blast!!!!

[toyfj40]

nice report. thanks.
glad your "day at the range" turned out well...

[Bullseye]

A day at the range is always better than a day at work!

R,
Bullseye

[Song Dawg]

Glenn, Congrats on the outing and your shooter!
I'm learning just how much of a blast rimfire pistols are as well.
Thanks for the pics too!

SD

[greener]

Looks like a good day and good shooting.

[Glenn]

Thanks guys!

The cost of ammo for the .22's helps a lot. The guy next to me was shooting a 9mm. He certainly wasn't shooting as much as I was. He was taking his time loading and shooting. At about $16 per 100 rounds, I can see why. I spent $9 and change for 550 rounds.

Here are the vids. Right click and save as. You'll see the spinner target move every so often.

http://www.northeastatvers.com/uploads/ ... V03460.MPG

http://www.northeastatvers.com/uploads/ ... V03461.MPG

[toyfj40]

Here are the vids.

this must be the "Britney Smears" of Range-Videos...
the Flipper didn't flip in-sync with the audio...

next time, try sitting the camera Down-Range close to the flipper
and get some CloseUp shots...

[Glenn]

Here are the vids.

this must be the "Britney Smears" of Range-Videos...
the Flipper didn't flip in-sync with the audio...

next time, try sitting the camera Down-Range close to the flipper
and get some CloseUp shots...

LMAO! I'm sure they would have "loved" that!

"Why are you on the range when it's NOT the cease fire?"

"Uh, vids for a forum I belong to!"

That camera has an optical zoom; I didn't even think to do that.

[greener]

It's hard for me to judge the distances you were shooting.

[Glenn]

It's hard for me to judge the distances you were shooting.

Don't feel bad, I'm a clueless noob! What do they usually set targets at at a pistol range? That's where the paper targets were; they had slots to hold them up. I ended up putting the metal target about 10-12' closer than the paper target.

[greener]

No biggie. Looks like you had the spinner over 15 yards out. Good shooting for a first timer.

[toyfj40]

For $18 on a weekday, you can shoot from 9-5.

Ah recon I outta be a bit 'mor appreshative of my range
which charges us $40/year and we get the Gate-Lock-Combo
to go shootin whenever we want to.
But we are limited to the days that end in "-ay"...

[greener]

Probably lucky to find a place to shoot in CT.

Toy, yours sounds like the range my son uses in Kalamazoo. A bit over $50, but with magnetic gate lock, indoor range. several pistol, shot gun and rifle ranges. He keeps reminding me that on a bad day he has to drive over 5 minutes to get there.

The one I use here is $100/year, 9A to sunset MTWTFS and 1 to sunset on Sunday. Only have to drive 30 miles. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has a nice range in a wildlife management area about 60 miles east of Richmond. Without any notice I can find, they elected to close the pistol range because it was too popular.

[Glenn]

There's actually a decent amount of ranges within 15 minutes from my house. Off the top of my head, I'd say there's about 4 or 5. Within a 1/2 hour, that number probably almost doubles. Problem is, most are pretty pricey to join. A few that I've looked into are $200 a year...and first year dues are $300+.

However, there's a place litterally 3/4 of a mile from where I live that's $75 a year....locked gates and they give you a key. I have to wait until January to join up though. The place I went Tuesday is the closest public range to my house. I'll probably go there a few more times and hit a few plate matches that are only a few bucks to participate in. I can't wait to try a plate shoot. I've done one with my buddy's Sig 9MM and it was a lot of fun.