Last shoot at the hatchdog range

[Hatchdog]

Yesterday we visited our range for the last time as the property has been sold and is closing in the next couple of days. My son and his girlfriend came up to enjoy some shooting too. His girlfriend has done some shooting in the past but not recently. Could have fooled me with how well she did.

First up was Mrs hatchdog with her Ruger American compact 22lr. She went 10 for 10 on the orange spinner targets in the picture below. She shot all the sizes including the 1”. Shooting at 25 yards from a bench.

Next up was my son’s girlfriend. First she tried my wife’s compact Ruger but it was too short for her. (My wife is 5.0”). So she gave my Ruger 10/22 a run and went 9 for 10 on both the spinners and the bowling pins. No problem with her. Funny side story, I’ve never attempted to shoot the pins with a rimfire assuming it wouldn’t knock them over. Wrong, she went 4 for 4 on the pins knocking every one down.

My son and I did some rimfire shooting next but our focus was to have the ladies shoot as much as possible. So next up was the S&W M/63 22lr revolver. Mrs hatchdog tried it but she’s not a handgun shooter and doesn’t really enjoy shooting handguns. My son’s girlfriend gave it a try with about the same results.

Next I brought out the Henry 327 Fed Mag shooting my 32 H&R 85 grain XTP hand loads. This rifle is very accurate with this load. We stayed at 25 yards to make sure everybody had fun hitting targets. Both ladies mowed down the pins with the Henry like a PBA bowler. The neighbor whose sister is buying the property stopped by and he gave the Henry a workout too.

Sadly at this time we have to start packing up. My son and his girlfriend had to pick up her kids and we had to pick up our dogs. Both pickups were 1.5-2 hours away. While I was packing up some gear my son brought out his AR 15. We had intended to sight in the scope but as mentioned ran out of time to get set up to do that. He did want to give his girlfriend the opportunity to shoot an AR even without it being sighted in. So they did but didn’t hit targets like earlier.

All in all it was a very fun day but sad too. We said goodbye to the property we have used since 2008.

We didn’t get to the CZ 75 or the SP101 in the pic.

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[Sir Henry]

Someone is getting a good range.

[DsGrouse]

Sounds like it was a good day.

[daytime dave]

Sounds like a good last session there.

[HenryFan]

Do you have a range to replace hatchdog range?

[Hatchdog]

Do you have a range to replace hatchdog range?

Not really, all the DNR parcels around the area have been closed to shooting due to the expansion of homes being built nearby. There is an outdoor long distance range about 50 miles from me I can use. The local rifle club increased the dues to $250 per year from $125 so I let my membership expire. I may have to rethink that. It’s only paper punching and I really have enjoyed shooting reactive targets for the last few years.

I live on a 10 acre parcel but we have rules against shooting. I scouted it a few days ago and found the perfect location for a rimfire range to 25 yards. But my wife is a paranoid person and doesn’t want me to do it. I’ll keep working on her. My 10/22 is threaded so what a perfect reason to go suppressed.

[HenryFan]

Watchdog -

$250/year may not be that unreasonable these days. I am a member of a club which has both an indoor range and an outdoor range and early this year my annual dues was $175. Neither the indoor range nor the outdoor range are worId class facilities but the outdoor range is acceptable. I never use the indoor range, only the outdoor range and it is worth $175/year to me to avoid the two somewhat close public ranges (both operated by the U. S. Forest Service) because of boneheads who don't know a thing about range safety.

Any U. S. Forest Service ranges reasonably close?

[BrokenolMarine]

I shot on public ranges once in a while while on active duty, only when the base ranges didn't offer open range days for personal weapons. Even way back then, was never really happy with the safety on most.

I made it a point every time I bought homes after I left the Corps to insure I could shoot on the property. As I began to earn better, the home range became better.
The more expensive shooting clubs ARE usually safer, but this usually made them much more restricted.

No drawing from the holster and firing.
No rapid fire strings. (I can understand if shooters don't have the skillset, but if my 12 shots in 20 seconds make one ragged hole in the 10 ring?)

No tactical pairs / aka double taps. (Some of us were actually training)

No speed reloads. Really?

So... Home range. I was very strict about who shot there, and controlled every action on the range.

[daytime dave]

but this usually made them much more restricted.

No drawing from the holster and firing.
No rapid fire strings. (I can understand if shooters don't have the skillset, but if my 12 shots in 20 seconds make one ragged hole in the 10 ring?)

No tactical pairs / aka double taps. (Some of us were actually training)

No speed reloads. Really?

So... Home range. I was very strict about who shot there, and controlled every action on the range.

I have found the open to the public ranges around me have the same rules as above. Also no silhouette or human shaped targets. I stopped my membership at the two I had been a member of for a long time.
Turns out there is one very close to me that I joined. Under 40.00 a year. I've been a continuous member ever since. The above listed rules are not in effect there. Funny thing, I have yet to fire a shot on their range but pay every year to support them.
I go to my range that will be improved soon with the new tractor.

[BrokenolMarine]

I forgot to add how sorry I am you decided you needed to sell. I'm sure you shared your reasons earlier. I hope you do find a nice place to shoot soon.

[Hatchdog]

I forgot to add how sorry I am you decided you needed to sell. I'm sure you shared your reasons earlier. I hope you do find a nice place to shoot soon.

Yeah me too. Between last years wildfire that nearly wiped the place out and our lack of using it we thought right now is a good time to sell. Plus we had a ready buyer in the guy next door so we made it happen. I do have options for shooting just not the freedom to shoot as I want.