Spring has sprung. Get out and shoot your Henry
New Gun to the Range
- BrokenolMarine
- Ranch Foreman
- Posts: 5852
- Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 8:28 am
- Location: South Central Oklahoma in the mountains
New Gun to the Range
I took a new gun that just showed up for my collection down to the Range today, which was also my first trip to the range in a good while. Health, Weather, Farm Commitments... you name it, seems like something was always stopping my trips to shoot. It's been nearly a year. The last time I was on the range was to teach, and the student fired 100 rounds, I fired seven.
Today, I took my new Colt SAA down to test, bought from a friend reducing his collection. New unfired from the back of his safe. It was one of my Bucket List Guns. Low round counts will be my norm for each gun. I plan to shoot often, but low round counts to build my skills back up. I used to be a VERY good shot, I don't know yet if I still am. This isn't a fair test, new gun, arthritis acting up. I only brought 18 rounds to the range today. 45 long colt ammo is pricey.
Here it is, Colt Single Action Army... even Miss T said "Ohhh" when I pulled it out of the gun bag.
All today's shooting was done at 7 yards since it was a new gun and I had no idea how it would shoot... (Or I would shoot since it had been a while.) Loaded up six rounds and shot 3 rounds shooting one handed at seven yards, aiming center mass on the black dot. Not too bad for an old guy.
Hmmm, let's try two hands... Two hands, three shots, still at seven yards. Um... I forgot that Single Actions are best fired one handed, letting the gun roll in the hand to dissipate some of that recoil. The two handed grip increased the felt recoil and caused me to shoot low to the left. Won't do that again.
I shot six more rounds one handed and was happier with the result. If you look at the pic below, the three shots left of the bull marked with the number 7 are the two handed shots. Those circled in red are those next six fired one handed.
I brought 18 rounds to the range so I fired the last six carefully, one handed, at the head. Yup, six shots in the head. I was happy. Eighteen fired, eighteen on the target. The six in the head ARE a group. The first two shots, aimed center mass, were high. For the last four I used a six o'clock hold on the head, aiming at the throat and got a better group.
Overall I'm happy. With practice I'll learn to shoot this gun well and enjoy it. Especially in the summer when arthur is on vacation. The gun shot high, but this was seven yards, I'm betting when I move back to fifteen and twenty five I see it more at point of aim / point of impact.
I really enjoyed the first session back on the range, and look forward to many more. Happy to scratch another item off the Bucket List.
Today, I took my new Colt SAA down to test, bought from a friend reducing his collection. New unfired from the back of his safe. It was one of my Bucket List Guns. Low round counts will be my norm for each gun. I plan to shoot often, but low round counts to build my skills back up. I used to be a VERY good shot, I don't know yet if I still am. This isn't a fair test, new gun, arthritis acting up. I only brought 18 rounds to the range today. 45 long colt ammo is pricey.
Here it is, Colt Single Action Army... even Miss T said "Ohhh" when I pulled it out of the gun bag.
All today's shooting was done at 7 yards since it was a new gun and I had no idea how it would shoot... (Or I would shoot since it had been a while.) Loaded up six rounds and shot 3 rounds shooting one handed at seven yards, aiming center mass on the black dot. Not too bad for an old guy.
Hmmm, let's try two hands... Two hands, three shots, still at seven yards. Um... I forgot that Single Actions are best fired one handed, letting the gun roll in the hand to dissipate some of that recoil. The two handed grip increased the felt recoil and caused me to shoot low to the left. Won't do that again.
I shot six more rounds one handed and was happier with the result. If you look at the pic below, the three shots left of the bull marked with the number 7 are the two handed shots. Those circled in red are those next six fired one handed.
I brought 18 rounds to the range so I fired the last six carefully, one handed, at the head. Yup, six shots in the head. I was happy. Eighteen fired, eighteen on the target. The six in the head ARE a group. The first two shots, aimed center mass, were high. For the last four I used a six o'clock hold on the head, aiming at the throat and got a better group.
Overall I'm happy. With practice I'll learn to shoot this gun well and enjoy it. Especially in the summer when arthur is on vacation. The gun shot high, but this was seven yards, I'm betting when I move back to fifteen and twenty five I see it more at point of aim / point of impact.
I really enjoyed the first session back on the range, and look forward to many more. Happy to scratch another item off the Bucket List.
6 x
You can tell a lot about the character of a man...
by the way he treats those who can do nothing for him.
by the way he treats those who can do nothing for him.
- BrokenolMarine
- Ranch Foreman
- Posts: 5852
- Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 8:28 am
- Location: South Central Oklahoma in the mountains
Re: New Gun to the Range
I also got two additional pairs of grips with the Colt. A pair of factory checkered grips with the Eagle at the bottom and a pair of Colt Buffalo Horn grips. Sweet huh?
0 x
You can tell a lot about the character of a man...
by the way he treats those who can do nothing for him.
by the way he treats those who can do nothing for him.
- North Country Gal
- Firearms Advisor
- Posts: 6205
- Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2016 12:46 pm
- Location: northern Wisconsin
Re: New Gun to the Range
I'm saying "Ohhh". too. Wow! That's the real deal Colt. I'm in awe.
Great job with the Colt, my friend. Doesn't get much better than that. You really have some fine, fine guns in your collection. Glad you're getting out and enjoying them.
Great job with the Colt, my friend. Doesn't get much better than that. You really have some fine, fine guns in your collection. Glad you're getting out and enjoying them.
0 x
- RetiredSeabee
- Administrator
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- Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2016 5:04 pm
- Location: Harrisburg, North Carolina
Re: New Gun to the Range
That is one purty firearm. It would look right at home with you dressed in your Sunday best.
0 x
Load on Sunday and Shoot all Week.......okay it's a Mare's Leg I will reload on Wednesday.
- daytime dave
- Administrator / Owner
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- Location: Upstate NY
Re: New Gun to the Range
Beautiful gun marine. I'd say you haven't lost your touch either. Nice shooting with the Colt.
0 x
Some days I'm Andy, most days I'm Barney........
Eaglescout, NRA Life Endowment member, BCCI Life Member
Eaglescout, NRA Life Endowment member, BCCI Life Member
Re: New Gun to the Range
Nice shooting for not shooting for a while. I like the gun to very nice
0 x
Don't worry about getting older and still doing stupid stuff. You'll do the stupid stuff as always, only much slower. Hold my beer and watch this.......
H001T .22LR
H001T .22LR MONUMENT VALLEY
H003T PUMP .22LR
BBS .41 MAG
SS .357
SIDE GATE 38-55
H001T .22LR
H001T .22LR MONUMENT VALLEY
H003T PUMP .22LR
BBS .41 MAG
SS .357
SIDE GATE 38-55
- markiver54
- Deputy Marshal
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- fortyshooter
- Ranch Foreman
- Posts: 6407
- Joined: Sat Dec 09, 2017 10:37 am
- Location: Va.
Re: New Gun to the Range
A BIG WOW for that nickel plated Colt 45!!!! Man that is a beauty and good shootin' too!!! Was that factory ammo you shot? 255 gr. lead with 6 gr. Red Dot is a great plinking load that has given nice groups. Enjoy the learning curve BM!
0 x
- BrokenolMarine
- Ranch Foreman
- Posts: 5852
- Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 8:28 am
- Location: South Central Oklahoma in the mountains
Re: New Gun to the Range
45 long colt factory ammo from www.ammunitiondepot.comfortyshooter wrote: ↑Wed Feb 21, 2024 5:28 pmA BIG WOW for that nickel plated Colt 45!!!! Man that is a beauty and good shootin' too!!! Was that factory ammo you shot? 255 gr. lead with 6 gr. Red Dot is a great plinking load that has given nice groups. Enjoy the learning curve BM!
https://www.ammunitiondepot.com/us-cart ... t_type=598
I have had really good luck buying from them.
0 x
You can tell a lot about the character of a man...
by the way he treats those who can do nothing for him.
by the way he treats those who can do nothing for him.