Range Report

I need help.

I try to go shooting a few times a month. If I go once, I’ve made my membership fee back. It doesn’t take long to bust off $50 worth of ammo. Lately, I’ve gone in the early afternoon on my days off. I really can’t stand the doofus that does check in. The more competent ones separate pistol shooters from rifles, if not by range (there are two) than by distance. For whatever reason, he just lines up shooters one end to another, most often putting you next to an IP shooting a rented AR. Dude this time was three lanes away, but his muzzle blast was shaking my target.

Seriously.

It’s unpleasant and super irritating.

This time, the genius gave me lane 13. The guy they assigned 12 was in it. There was someone else in 12. So I got 11, against the wall. I need to figure out when that clown isn’t at the check in station and go then, or do a Karen and see the manager. This is a big deal, because the timer on the wall is running your time.

After I shoot, I peruse the inventory, especially the used stuff. This is bad. I nearly always find something that I decide I need in my life. Like this:

That there is a S&W Bodyguard revolver in .38 +P. It’s mostly polymer, and came with a laser. I’d been idly looking for concealed hammer revolver. I picked this up for like $349 or so. To be fair, I saw it. Looked it over, then left. When I got home, I surfed a bit and found that it was $540 or so, as equipped. So I ran back to the range and picked it up.

Last week, I finally got a chance to take it for a spin. I brought the .380 Bodyguard as well.

It cleaned up nice.

It’s a 5 shot, .38 +p. I was shooting .38. It’s super light, but shoots really well. They had a target with it when I bought it where I guess they tested it. All the shots were low left. That worried me. Turns out, that fear was unfounded.

That’s at 7+ yards. The target is hobbit sized. I was shooting Blazer .380, and Winchester (or some generic whitebox) .38.

Both guns are short barreled, with the revolver at 1.875″. The flyers there are me shooting off hand and not paying attention. When I concentrate the rounds hit dead center. The head shots are the .380 Bodyguard 2. The chest is the revolver. I tried the sites, then the laser. I was having weirdness with my old eyes and caffeine shakes, so the laser shots were better. It’s not something I’m used to, but in a carry piece I kind of like it. I thought it would be hard to activate the laser and shoot, but it isn’t.

I do a combination of two handed with concentration, and one hand pull-it-up-and-bust-a-cap.

I’m pleased with both these guns. Both are halitosis range guns, which is what I prepare for. If I have to worry about combat, I’ll start having a truck gun. Either round will get the job done at that distance, and both are very concealable.

I’m a fan of revolvers. I like the grab it and shoot, not having a surprise that you didn’t rack the slide. This one is a keeper. My only criticism would be that the cylinder release is a bit stiff. It isn’t as fluid as my .357 or .44. It has a tab on the top of the gun, rather than on the side where I have muscle memory and I’m used to.