Range time with Mrs. Hatchdog

[Hatchdog]

Yesterday due to the weather we took a break from lake activities and drove the 20 miles to our place where we have a little shooting range. Tools brought along were her Ruger American 22lr youth, my Henry Big Boy in .327, Ruger Ar-556 in 300 Blackout, Ruger Wrangler, Ruger Mk IV 22/45, and Ruger Single Seven in .327.

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First up Lady Hatchdog shot her 22lr. She started at 25 yards and went 8 for 10 on the spinners hitting all three sizes. (2”, 1.5”, 1”). It’s been a while since she has done any shooting and we were very pleased with her success.

While still set up at 25 yards I sighted in my Single Seven with my newly created hand loads. Wow what a disappointment that was. When I developed the load I shot at 15 yards and was getting respectable groups. Yesterday at 25 was awful. Next time I’ll shoot at 15 and see if I get back to the groups I expected or if I just had a crappy day.

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Then we moved back to 50 yards and again Mrs. Hatchdog shot her Ruger. Not quite as consistent as at 25 but she did hit all three sizes of the spinners. Still good shooting and she has a lot to be proud of hitting a 1” spinner at 50 yards. (Note, she has a Nikon Rimfire 3-9x40 mounted on her rifle)

I had recently re-scoped my AR 300BO and needed to sight it in. First shot was very low and right and after a bit I walked it up to the bullseye. Then we moved back to 75 yards (max for our range) to finish up sighting in. First shot was 1” high as one might expect and after adjusting the scope I put a nice five shot group in the bull. (Forgot to take a picture of course)

Next we HAD planned to go up to about 15 and shoot the rimfire handguns for some fun plinking. We decided it was getting late and started to pack up. All along I had been watching the sky as threatening clouds had moved in and out. Got the guns and scope put away and the skies let go. The bench, target stand and card table got soaked but that’s not a problem, they’ll dry out.

Out place is at 2700 ft in elevation and camp is probably around 1700. Got back to camp and it was sunny and people were walking around in shorts and tee shirts. It was 51 and raining at the range and I was wearing a sweatshirt and long pants.

[North Country Gal]

Great report. Thank-you. So nice to see a couple shooting like this.

Some nice guns, there. Hope you get the 327 to shoot up to par. I had a Single Seven, but mostly just shot 32 H&R in it. One of those guns I wish I had back. Oh, well.

Like that Ruger American with the Nikon Rimfire. She soots it well.

Yeah, what a difference elevation makes in the weather. Always amazed me when I lived in mountain country.

[Hatchdog]

Great report. Thank-you. So nice to see a couple shooting like this.

Some nice guns, there. Hope you get the 327 to shoot up to par. I had a Single Seven, but mostly just shot 32 H&R in it. One of those guns I wish I had back. Oh, well.

Like that Ruger American with the Nikon Rimfire. She soots it well.

Yeah, what a difference elevation makes in the weather. Always amazed me when I lived in mountain country.

My hand loads were 32 H&R, forgot to mention that. Man they sure are a little “pop” when going off. A whole lot of fun to shoot and other than doing the load development this is the first I’ve shot the H&R’s. The Single Seven really barks with the full power Federal 100 grain factory loads. I was planning on shooting the H&R’s with the Henry but didn’t get to it. We’re heading back up to the property in mid September for several days for some casual grouse hunting and I’ll do more shooting then.

[North Country Gal]

I get that about the 32 H&R. It's one of the most pleasant cartridges you can shoot. Been a long time favorite of mine.

[Sir Henry]

Can’t beat range time together. My favorites are both Rugers.

[BigAl52]

Nice job Hatch I envy your shooting range on your own property. I can tell you from experience those crappy shooting days are more often now that Im in the senior part of life.

[Hatchdog]

A funny side note. I have always been a S&W and Marlin fan yet in that picture are five Rugers and one Henry.

[fortyshooter]

A very nice shooin' iron selection Hatch and a great day when you can get your wife to enjoy it also!

[BrokenolMarine]

Good to see you guys out shooting. Have been trying to get to the range to do some shooting, really miss it. But the temps here have been triple digits, and the few cooler days... High 80s, low 90s, we have had other commitments. I'll get there.

[daytime dave]

That is some nice togetherness time. Great variety of firearms too.