Saturday was a range day. First, to try out the range I joined, second, it was the Boy’s birthday, so we had a father/son “shoot then steaks” day, and third? I have new shootin’ irons to test out.
Let’s start with the range.
I joined RangeUSA in Arlington. It’s about the only one around that doesn’t require recommendation by a blood relative. It also has the benefit of being a chain, so I can shoot a number of different ranges close to where my friends live. It’s a decent place. Not as big or upscale as Mission Ridge in Plano (maybe three miles from my old place). Not as old and frumpy as Bullet Stop (in plano). A lot like Eagle range in Addison.
That’s the one thing I noticed when I moved. I had maybe five choices of ranges up in Plano/Frisco. Here? The one, mostly. Still, price is right. Even though I got the basic membership, which doesn’t include weekend shooting, the had some sort of special so I shot for free, my son for $12.
The Guns:
First up, my new carry pistole – a S&W M&P Shield in .45. First shot, smack dead in the enter of the target, putting a hole through the -0 print. Right where I aimed it. All the next shots clustered around it. Made my day. Divemedic was right, it’s a great gun. Feels like a smaller, lighter 1911 in my hands. Small and light to carry, shoots amazing. Glad I got it. While my normal carry is a Charter Arms bulldog, this one is lighter and easier to carry.
Next, my Tisa 1911. What can I say? It’s a 1911. Great price point. The gun is tight and well built as any other I’ve seen. Shoots well. It feels heavy compared to the S&W. A 1911 is about my favorite gun. I’ve had a Browning High Power, and a Smith 5906. I like this one better.
Last, my Browning Buck Mark. Great gun. Accurate. Less recoil than some BB guns I’ve shot. Super pleasure to shoot. I got it to round an hours shooting. An hour of .45 ACP can be pricey.
The Boy brought his Sig and a Bushmaster. A P320 was something I was looking at for a carry piece. It’s a bit more pricey than the S&W, and since I already owned the 1911 when I went for a new carry gun, I stuck with .45.
Didn’t keep the early targets. Not one flyer on any of our targets.
Here’s the ending one:
Before you mock – That’s with a Bushmaster at 25 yards, open sites, and not real precise ones. Also, I wasn’t concentrating super hard. More like, dudes at 25 yards, make it go boom, hit body cavity. By the time we got to the AR, my shoulder (from a repaired rotator cuff) was screaming, and I had trouble keeping the gun up. Notice the pattern goes downward. I couldn’t finish the last clip.
To give some contrast, to the left was a young dude with his girl shooting rental guns. They were all over the target. She was reprimanded for shooting the ceiling and reminded that she’d have to pay to fix the cable if she broke it.
To the right was another couple. I’ve seen these types before. Dude was shooting what appeared to be a Glock, and had an AR with a scope. Neither were rentals (you can tell from the tray you are given with them)
That’s at ten yards. He shot a clip, then she did. Some hits on the target’s left jaw, ear, grazed a shoulder, and a few flyers. After that, they used the AR – with the scope – same range. Couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn. This is why when ‘someone’ is busting caps they usually miss and hit some hapless bystander.
I’m just thankful they didn’t hit my target. Had that happen before.
Things will be different when I go myself during the week. The times I’ve been in there shopping, the range has been super light. I need to practice one handed and leave my wasted left arm out of it. I also need to figure out how to compensate for my crummy eyes.
One final thing – cleanup. I think that’s one of the things I like best about these three guns; simple as a butter churn to strip and clean. Especially the M&P.
Inspected By Pat 