Shooting Skill = Not Bad At All

 

 

The boy (actually well into manhood but still "my boy") sent me a picture of one of his latest targets. He said it was either 3 or 5 yards with him shooting his Glock 43 as fast as he could pull the trigger. Note that is not a full sized silhouette target - it is only 12"x16". 

Looks like he paid attention somewhat when being taught how to shoot - wouldn't you say!  Could it do with a tiny bit of improvement - sure it could but it is not bad at all as I see it. (As for that one above the head, do not know if that was a hole from a round or a mark on the target.)

He told me he has been going to the range once a week lately and shooting 100 rounds through his two 9mm pistols. I like it - practice is good when doing it right. I suggested he ought to shoot at least 300 rounds per range trip and maybe only go every other week. Yet, he prefers going more often and shooting less ammo because he cannot afford much more of the ammo. So, what was a responsible loving pop to do but order him a case of 9mm to help him along.

I ordered him a case of Sellier & Bellot, 115 grain, FMJ ammo from TargetSportsUSA.com. I have shot it before and like it, one of the better things about it, as far as I am concerned, is that it runs hotter than most other practice ammo. TargetSportsUSA has a great price when you consider it includes shipping for a case. Now if he shoots the 300 rounds per range trip as I recommended, he will have 100 rounds left over after three trips. Damn, this could get expensive.

All the best,
Glenn B

 

Ballseye's Firearms Accessories Tournament 3

I went to the range yesterday to get in some practice with the Glock 19. It may have been the last time I do so, since at my next range qualification I'll be turning it in and I will be issued a new Sig to replace it. Then again, maybe I'll shoot it a few more times for old time's sake - I have a month or so before I qualify. I did okay shooting it, but not as good as I can do - I seemed off a bit for some reason. The target pictured had a good number of shots fired at it from 7 yards slow fire and I would like to have seen a tighter group. Oh well, with the Sig it may never be this good. As I understand it the double action only trigger of the Sig leaves something to be desired and that something amounts to a lot to be desired. From what I have heard I would never buy one for myself, but I'll shoot it first before I make up my mind for certain.

As for the contest: Guess how many shots I fired at this target (yes all of the shots hit the target in the area shown) and the person who comes closest to the correct number will win the prize pictured below. The rules are fairly simple: look at the pic of the target in this post, guess how many shots I fired at it (all shots either hit the target or went through the holes in it), then send me an email with your guess. A link to my email address can be found by clicking on my profile link to the right side of the blog. Please limit yourself to one guess and entry per person. In case of ties I will pick winner from among tied entrants by random drawing. You must be 18 years old or older to participate in this, and will be required to prove to my satisfaction that you are 18 years old or older. I can only offer the prize to people living within the lower 48 states of the United States of America ; and I only knowingly allow U.S. citizens or U.S. legal resident aliens to participate. By entering the tournament you are agreeing that you will abide by all of the rules including the general contest/tournament rules found in the link on the right side of my blog page. Note this contest begins today, January 11, 2009 and will end on January 30, 2009 at 11:59 PM. I should announce the winner on January 31st or shortly thereafter.

Here is the prize you might win: The holster is an Uncle Mike's black nylon holster in as new condition. It has never been used, and has been hanging in my basement in its package for several years now. The box is pretty scuffed up but the holster itself is in excellent condition as can be seen in the pics. It is good for a nice sized double action revolver with 5 to 6 1/2" barrels, so if you win this and don't have that type of a revolver you just may need to buy one. At least you will have some justification for your significant other when you spend the money on a new revolver. As for me, I have a revolver to fit this holster, have no money to buy another right now, and I also have another holster exactly like it. So I have no need for this one; and I am not a holster hoarder! The prize comes with free shipping too, and note I can only ship to a winner within the lower 48 or the USA. I don't know how long I can keep up the free shipping thing, but this time around shipping is still just that for the winner - free.

All the best,

Glenn B

Ballseye's Boomers: Ruger MKII...

...pistols amount to a lot of fun to shoot, but one heck of a pain in the butt to disassemble and reassemble for cleaning. Still though, this is one of the most fun pistols I have ever owned. Mine is a MKII Target model with 5 1/2" heavy target barrel, adjustable rear sights, and fixed front sight. The magazine holds 10 rounds. I probably have had this one since about the mid 1980's, and if it could talk, it could tell you it has eaten and spit out an awful lot of .22LR ammunition, and killed lots of cans at that.


One of the better things about this pistol is that it likes to eat just about any type of ammo I feed to it. That is always a plus with any pistol that shoots .22LR ammo. Of course being chambered in .22LR it is not expensive to shoot. Another good thing is that it is, or at least was, a relatively inexpensive pistol to purchase. Although I have not looked recently, my guess is that you could get a new one like mine with the 5 1/2" heavy barrel, for about $250 or less, but that is a guess. Used ones are readily available and should much less expensive than a new one. I would not be surprised to find a decent used one for $150.

Curiosity has already gotten the better of me, and I left the blog for a moment or two to do some checking on prices. My guesstimate, at least on the new ones in my area where guns are more expensive than in many other parts of the country, was very close to on the money. A new one, just like the one pictured, goes for $260 cash at The Long Island Shooting Center; and that price is supposedly current as of today. As for the asking price of used ones, I went to GunBroker.com where I was shocked to see the starting price/bid for one at $295.00, and while that was with a slightly longer barrel at 6 7/8", it was not shown with the heavy target barrel. I wonder, who is kidding whom here? The same pistol new, is listed at Long Island Shooting Center for $260, same as the 5 1/2" model. If you can get it new for $260, why in the world would you buy it used through the Internet for at least $295.00, and then have to add on an FFL transfer fee! Oh well, someone will probably buy it; but not me.

Back to the pistol itself. I already pointed out the good things about it above, now let me harp on the bad. This pistol has got to be one of the most difficult pistols to reassemble correctly after having disassembled it for cleaning. It is just a royal pain in the butt with the lever in the backstrap that has to engage just so before it will fold back into place. I have assembled mine a few times where it did not work properly, and then had to be taken apart and reassembled again, and sometimes again before i got it right. As a matter of fact, pulling the disassembly lever out of the backstrap can also be kind of a pain in the posterior too, but this bit is not as bad as when putting it back together.

Despite the disassembly/reassembly thing, I find the Ruger MKII to be a really good to excellent pistol for amateurish target shooting, for plinking, and for small game hunting. If it was the only pistol I had, I would also use it for home defense, but then again, there are much better choices out there than a pistol shooting .22LR rounds. In short, it is well worth the cost, and one heck of a fun gun to shoot. It will last a long time without problems if cared for properly, and if you buy one and care for it, chances are you will pass it on to your children or grandchildren in years to come.

All the best,
Glenn B