Shooters

[badval]

Names Like 38Super & pics like Terminator's make me wonder how many shooters we have here?

I love it, but haven't been able to get to the range nearly as often since I moved from TN to NC last year.  I have a decent firearms collection & some of my favorites are:

* 2 AR-15's that I built from stripped lower recievers.  Both are great shooters & I'm especially proud of them since I built them  One is a standard 20" A2 configuration & the other is a 16" M4 profile.

* 2 SIG P229's.  One is in .357SIG & the other is in .40S&W & has a .357SIG barrel & spring so both can be in .357SIG if wanted.

* Beretta 92FS.  I had the trigger on this done by Ernie Langdon a few years back.  Too bad he's not doing them anymore.  Made this the sweetest shooting M9 I've ever handled.

* HK USP40

* Kimber Compact Stainless II (pictured below).  Very comfortable carry gun & probably my favorite overall.  Came very well-tuned right out of the box.  People argue that Wilson, SA, Les Baer, et. al. are the "best" 1911's, but Kimber gets my vote.

I have several others, but these are my favorites!

[cedris]

Hi badval,

My wife, Tricia, and I shoot competitively in several disciplines.  I also coach a High School Rifle Team (believe it or not) in the People's Republic of Massachusetts.

My favorites are my pistols:  a S&W model 41 and model 52, and two Les Baer .45 wadcutters (consecutive serial #s for my wife and me).  And Tricia used a Hammerli for .22 and center fire competitions.

My son owns a locker full of Kimbers, and I agree with you that they are arguably the best "out of the box" pistols you can get.  I intend to replace my full-frame colt with a Kimber carry gun.  But even he will tell you they don't come close to the custom Baers.  

For rifle hunting we use a Savage .380.  Tricia and I took it to S Africa this summer and it worked great!  You can see a few pictures of our trip at http://members.aol.com/wsa1933/galleries/edrisafrica/edrisafrica.htm.  We were only hunting plains game so it was plenty of rifle with one exception.  Tricia took the Kudu at 360 yards and used a .300 Win Mag for that.

For Trap we both use Remington 1100s.

For Archery Tricia shoots a Matthews Ultra Max and I shoot an old PSE Carrera.  For indoor competition we both use Hoyts.

Man, I JUST LOVE SHOOTING!

Chris

[badval]

[jealous]...owns a locker full of Kimbers...[/jealous]  

I'm at work & firewall won't let me see your site.  Will check it out from home later!  

That's great that you coach a rifle team!  I think the best way we can protect our 2nd Amendment rights is to teach the next generation of voters the positive aspects of shooting.

[cedris]

OK, a locker full is a bit of an exaggeration.  At last check he had a Desert Warrior, a Raptor, and an Ultra Carry.  But he's always adding something to his kit.

Amen on teaching safe gun handling to the next generation.  

We're very fortunate because the HS principal, community and local paper support us.  In fact, last year we had a front page spread in the Northwest edition of the Lifestyles section of the Boston Globe (I was sweating that one out hoping they wouldn't spin it against us).  They did a very nice article emphasizing the control and discipline required by the sport.

The kids love it!  I've had several of them tell me their grades increase during rifle season because they're more disciplined and can focus better.

At the end of the year when we have our awards night, I run a family shoot-off where the parents and siblings of the team members compete against each other.  It's great to see Mom and Dad get up on the line and have fun trying to win for the family.

[Brewman]

My favorite pistol is my .45acp Springfield Armory Trophy Match Long Slide.  It's a 1911 factory tweaked with a few bells and whistles (nice beaver tail, match barrel, hand fitted slide to barrel, trigger breaks like a glass rod, adjustable sights).
 This gun is a tack driver, and is fun to shoot.

My carry gun is a Springfield XD-45.  Prior to that I had an XD-40, because they hadn't released an XD done in .45acp.  But when I found out they were available, I sold my .40 and bought the .45.  I reload, and want to get to just one caliber.

Another fun gun, and cheap to shoot, is my Ruger MKII target pistol in .22LR.

I also have a cheap Rossi .357mag revolver that I'd love to sell.

I don't have any long guns, no place around here to shoot them, and I don't hunt.

[drewstar]

Also from the PROM (people's republic of MA).

I used to love to shoot.  Work and the house and my wife do take a up most of my time, but lately I've been thinking on getting back into it. (espically since down the road from me is a nice range).  I never had a desire to hunt. But target shooting and plinking I enjoyed quite a bit. A trumatic eye injury had signifcantly hindered my aim.  

I shot mostly .22 for target.   I have a ruger 22 long rifile. I sold my bull nose 22. pistol.  I also have a Springfield arms .22  revolver (12" barrell, and some really nice blueing) I bought more as a collectors piece and a piece of local history. (made in MA). It can also shoot 22 mags. (change in a different chamber ).  My favorite gun was an el-cheapo marlin tube fed .22 . My first gun.  I learned on that gun and was never so accurate just using steel sights than on that gun.

I did some skeet, and that's fun.  I always wanted to pick up a thompson 45 with a drum magazine and violon case.    Just for fun. Something I always wanted.  

More and more I'm thinking now, that I'm getting more done on the house, I might find some free time to hit the range.  Term's and Lt Dan's post make me long for the old days  when I had time, and perfect eyes.  Maybe the doctor can help me get set up with a better pair of specs. ?

[Brewman]

Try a consult with an eye doctor- you never know what's possible if you're willing to spend a few dollars on special glasses, or whatever the solution might be.
 There are devices that attach to standard glasses that act as the f-stop on a camera lens- essentially increasing the field of view to allow a wider range of focus.  

Could be worth looking into.

 Ironic that the states (MA for one) who were central to the US independence are now so anti gun.  But all that gun control (like in D.C.) sadly doesn't influence crime rates at all in a good way.

[drewstar]

Don't get me going on gun laws.......argggggh!  I have a constitutional right to bear arms, but yet, I need permision from the local police to purchase one? They will deny me a permit if they so desire? I wish someone would take this to the SJC.

I am due for an eye exam. I should explore what the options would be for me.

Cedris, where in MA are you located (if you don't mind).  I'm in Central MA.  (Boylston).

[badval]

You might find you can start shooting with your weak side if that eye is ok.  I'm left handed but am right eye dominant.  I started shooting left handed because that is what felt natural, but switched to right in the Army (because M16 brass ejection isn't necessarily kind to southpaws).  Anyway, it didn't take long to adjust & now can shoot equally well using either hand/eye.

I've gotta dig the camera out & get some pictures posted.  I stated in a different post that I'd get some pictures & a condensed review of my spa up soon becasue there's not a lot of info out there about them.  Need to get a "family shot" of the guns as well

One of the things I really liked about living in TN was that there were so many places to shoot.  Now that I'm in NC, the choices are very limited.  There are a few indoor private ranges (pistols only) that are very expensive & nowhere really close by for long guns.  I prefer private land because its more fun to plink around & you don't have to worry about some unknown yahoo a few lanes down, but I don't have any family here or know anybody with a suitable tract.  Been looking into buying some recreational land, but even out in "the sticks" land here is very expensive (compared to TN at least - probably dirt cheap compared to you guys in New England).

[cedris]

Cedris, where in MA are you located (if you don't mind).  I'm in Central MA.  (Boylston).

I'm in Bedford M-F during the school year and in Hillsboro, NH the rest of the time.

[dkersten]

I enjoy shooting.  I am up here in Montana, and sometimes it is hard to find a spot at the public ranges.  

I own a beretta 92fs 9mm, and just bought a beretta Px4 Storm .40.  I am very happy with the px4, and after about 300 rounds so far I can group 14 rounds in about 15 inches from 60 feet with it.  

I have an SKS for plinking rifle.. super cheap ammo and not a bad rifle..  I dont hunt, so I have not bothered to buy any rifles bigger than that..

The friend that I shoot most often with ran out of room in his 36" wide safe about a year ago.  He and his father have been buying guns from around 1900, and have quite a collection going.. about 40 various rifles.  My favorites would have to be the Garand first, then probably the 4570 shilo sharps.. AR15 is fun but a bitch to clean, so we dont shoot it often, plus the spring makes it sound like a toy when it shoots.. He has a hundred year old craig that he took down to Texas to go boar hunting with his father, and he was the only one in the group to get a boar.. open sights at about 80 yards..

I used to keep my 92fs at his house in his safe since I have kids at home and no safe yet, but a few months ago I went shooting and brought it home, figuring it was safe to store at home since I didnt have a single round of 9mm anywhere in the house.  One night about 2 months ago my 13 year old son came down to our room at 2 am and said that someone just climbed in his window and was in the house.  I jumped out of bed and grabbed my gun, thinking that working the slide would be a good deterrent to anyone upstairs.  As I went upstairs, I saw shadows moving on the wall coming from the hallway.  When I got to the top of the stairs, I realized that if the intruder was drugged up, an empty gun wouldnt help much.  I ended up finding the intruder passed out in the spare room, half hiding under the bed.  The next day I bought a small electronic keypad safe and I keep that 92fs with a full clip of hollow points and the new px4 storm in it.  Next time, I wont have to wonder if I should throw the gun or use it as a club..

Up here in Montana, almost everyone I am friends with has at least one gun, and most have multiple.. I worked with a couple guys at one time that not only had more than 50 guns each, but stockpiled ammo and alcohol as well.  (alcohol would be like money if the sh*t hit the fan, and whatever you couldnt trade with alcohol, you could get with the guns).  I dont quite see things the same way these fellas do, but, this is Montana, and some people think that way around here.  The last gun I shot of theirs was the barret .50cal.  Fun to shoot but it feels like you get punched in the nose every time you shoot.. from the concussion.. doesnt kick much either..

Dave

[Brewman]

Glad to hear that you and your family came thru this ok.  As you found out, about the only thing an empty gun is good for is a club or paperweight.  
 Sounds like you found a good way to keep those guns secure yet handy in for self defense.  Hopefully, it never happens again, but if it does, you'll be in a better position to defend your family and home.

[badval]

Ok, these are some of my favorites in group shots.

First pic top to bottom:  

AR-15 (5.56mm) 20" A2 w/ "postban" compensator & bayo lug neutered
AR-15 (5.56mm) 16" M4 w/ Aimpoint Comp M2
Beretta CX4 Storm (9mm)

Second pic top to bottom & left to right:

Sig P229 (.40S&W)
Sig P229 (.357SIG)
HK USP40 (.40S&W)
Beretta 92FS (9mm)
Bersa Thunder 380 (.380ACP)
Walther P22 (.22LR)
Kimber Compact Stainless II (.45ACP)

I keep most everything loaded when stored.  The really old guns, .22's, & other "plinkers" like the CX4 stay unloaded because I'd never grab those for things that go bump in the night.  Otherwise, they stay hot - I simply have no use for an unloaded firearm.  They stay locked up except what I'm carrying that day & what stays in the nightstand.  

We don't allow children into the house other than our own & he knows what his boundaries are.  I take him shooting often & he has his own Chipmunk .22 rifle.  There's no curiosity about guns with him & he has great respect for them.  Since guns aren't those "mysterious secrets that stay locked away", he doesn't want to go mess with them to see what the big deal is all about.  We've taken all the mystery & secrecy away from day one while teaching him safe handling & respect, so I don't worry much about leaving a holstered hot weapon in the nightstand drawer.  He's almost 8 so is never at home alone.  Once he gets older & starts staying home alone sometimes, I'll use trigger or cable locks on everything.

Dkersten - glad your situation worked out safely.  Thank you for sharing what you learned from that experience.

[cedris]

Wow, badval

OK, don't take this post to be a judgement on anything you're doing.  You know you own situation and are responsible for yourself and family.  But as a shooting coach and firearms instructor, I need everyone who reads this topic to understand how we teach firearm safety.

The National Rifle Association, the Civilian Marksmanship Program and USA Shooting (Olympic Team) have very specific rules for how firearms should be handled and stored.  They are all similar and can be condensed into three main rules:

1. ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
2. ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
3. ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.

Every firearm instructor and coach I know follows these rules as if someone's life depends on them--it does!

Personal defense is slightly different in that you need to keep a firearm hot to be useful, but we teach it should always be under your direct control or maintained in a way that prohibits access by unauthorized people.

Again, I mean no offense, but I want to make sure the "official" position get's told.

Respectfully,
Chris

[drewstar]

Cedris,

What does the NRA say about keeping a fire arm for personal protection? Or do they deal only with sporting situations?


/suporter of the NRA.