Cowgirl Corner: Single shots at 100

[North Country Gal]

Nice day, yesterday, so Bill and decided it would be a single shot, only kind of range session and, to make things even more interesting, we decided to play the shooting game at 100 yards, instead of our more usual 50 yards.

We'll start with Bill. He prefers to do his rifle shooting from the bench in a casual, relaxed way, with the rifle forearm resting on his support hand and the hand resting on a bag or sometimes he'll just brace his elbows on the bench and start shooting. He's not a group size weenie, like yours, truly, though. He's a happy camper when he keeps them all in the black. For 100 yards and a scope, shooting from the bench, that means a 3" bull. His guns, yesterday, were our two scoped 1885 Low Walls, one in 17 HMR and one in 22 LR.


Some very nice targets.




Me, as usual, I prefer to shoot standing, so after checking zero on my two rifles, went to work. The first gun was my Ruger No. 1S in 44 mag which wears a Leupold VX R 1.5-6x.


At 100 yards for offhand work, I like a 6" bull. I don't often manage to keep them all in the black, but had a "mostly" in the black day, yesterday. Love this rifle. Can't ask for an easier to shoot, nicer balanced offhand 44 mag rifle. Recoil is certainly, there, but not an issue with this Ruger No. 1.


After all that 44 mag work, switching to the beautiful 1885 Low Wall in 22 LR with the tang peep was a real pleasure. Almost caught me off guard without the recoil for the first few shots.


At 100 yards, though, the front bead on the rifle actually covered up the 6" bull, but still managed to score another "mostly" in the black. May just have to switch out that bead front sight to a globe or blade sight and see if I can do a bit better, next time.


Just something about these single shooting guns that keeps Bill and I coming back for more.

[CT_Shooter]

You continue to amaze me, NCG. Thanks for sharing your outstanding targets.

[ditto1958]

Excellent report, and good shooting by both of you!

[RanchRoper]

Nicely done....in the black works for me!

[PT7]

Like other good Henry Folk, I also enjoy looking at those excellent targets, NCG (and to Bill, too!). Again this time, 'twas fun to check out (and enjoy) both yours and Bill's targets. It's cool that you described the differences in your shooting styles, stances, goals, etc. Your almost opposite, but are complimentary since you enjoy shooting together. Neat to have a great partner like that.

The one picture I selected to re-post with your quote speaks to what is more fun for me in your Range Reports. I simply stare at the wood on the "beautiful 1885 Low Walls" you two shoot. Beautiful wood is something I'll never get weary of looking at.....can't exactly describe it, other than maybe astonishment at the Creator's work in growing those beautiful grain lines and colors, followed closely by the great appreciation I have for the skilled wood smiths that make and add such fantastic stocks and forarms to rifles. If I had the 1885 in this attached picture, it would be hanging out on a special gun rack for everyone to see --- especially me. Thanks for the enjoyable Range Report.

~~~Nice day, yesterday, so Bill and decided it would be a single shot, only kind of range session and, to make things even more interesting, we decided to play the shooting game at 100 yards, instead of our more usual 50 yards.

~~~We'll start with Bill. He prefers to do his rifle shooting from the bench in a casual, relaxed way, with the rifle forearm resting on his support hand and the hand resting on a bag or sometimes he'll just brace his elbows on the bench and start shooting. He's not a group size weenie, like yours, truly, though. He's a happy camper when he keeps them all in the black.

~~~Me, as usual, I prefer to shoot standing, so after checking zero on my two rifles, went to work. I don't often manage to keep them all in the black, but had a "mostly" in the black day, yesterday. Love this rifle.

~~~After all that 44 mag work, switching to the beautiful 1885 Low Wall in 22 LR with the tang peep was a real pleasure. Almost caught me off guard without the recoil for the first few shots. .....still managed to score another "mostly" in the black. May just have to switch out that bead front sight to a globe or blade sight and see if I can do a bit better, next time.

~~~Just something about these single shooting guns that keeps Bill and I coming back for more.

[steelersfan97]

Nice rifles and nice shooting.

[JEBar]

The one picture I selected to re-post with your quote speaks to what is more fun for me in your Range Reports. I simply stare at the wood on the "beautiful 1885 Low Walls" you two shoot. Beautiful wood is something I'll never get weary of looking at.....can't exactly describe it, other than maybe astonishment at the Creator's work in growing those beautiful grain lines and colors, followed closely by the great appreciation I have for the skilled wood smiths that make and add such fantastic stocks and forarms to rifles. If I had the 1885 in this attached picture, it would be hanging out on a special gun rack for everyone to see --- especially me. Thanks for the enjoyable Range Report.

indeed .... whether or not I happen to be interested in the firearm, I enjoy learning about them .... I kid my sons about the generation of AR rifles that I'm not interested in a rifle that looks like it was built in a high school welding shop .. .. from my old school prospective, the single shots shown in this thread are beautiful .... thanks for the info and pictures

[BigAl52]

NCG
That Ruger number one is really nice. Ive always liked there number ones and have owned one or two. But Like some others I let get away those went to. Its been so long ago I dont even remember the calibers they were in. Al

[North Country Gal]

Thanks, everyone. Glad you enjoy the reports on our shooting.

I, too, am a sucker for a beautiful piece of walnut, PT. Just something about a beautiful piece of wood that draws me in like a fine piece of art. Oh, yeah, I've been known to buy a gun for its wood, even though I was only mildly interested in the gun, otherwise.

Speaking of wood, the wood on that Ruger No. 1 is also wonderful lots of subtle tiger striping, but it's only visible when the angle of light is just right. Very hard to capture in a pic, though. As I mentioned, the gun is also beautiful to me for its handling. It's a special limited run of only a couple hundred - not a typical No. 1A. Most of that series have at least a 22" barrel, but this one has a 20", which is no penalty at all, of course, for the 44 mag ballistics. It's also the only No. 1 to have ever been chambered in 44 mag. That, too, is another reason we paid the crazy expensive price to get it.

At some point, will be going peep sight on this gun, too. That fabulous Leupold scope, though, is a perfect match for this rifle and cartridge. Should have mentioned that before going offhand, I did bench the No. 1 to sight in for 100 yards and also to accuracy check, since this was the first time for the rifle at 100 yards. Very pleased to report that with standard 240 grain factory ammo like American Eagle or Mag-tech, it will do inch to inch and a half for 5 shots without much effort on my part. The fancy factory stuff, such as the Barnes X 225s, did do even better at just under an inch. Really can't ask for much better than that in a 44 mag rifle at 100 yards. This one is a keeper.

[Yornoc3]

I'd say it's a keeper! And I'd take the hundred yard offhand group, too. My Ruger #1 in 7mm Mauser is fussy about what it likes. Privi Partison Grom (thunder) 158 gr, of all things, will do 1" 3 shot groups. Other ammo, not so much. Yours seems to be really happy with what you're feeding it .

[North Country Gal]

Yeah, that maybe, maybe not accuracy has also been my experience with the Ruger single shots. Had a very nice 1B in 223 and it was pretty bad for accuracy. My TC Encore 223 put it to shame. On the other hand, still have a 1B in 243 that is an excellent shooter. My only gripe is that is too darn heavy for offhand work for little old me.

[Yornoc3]

John Barsness has written quite a bit on Ruger #1 accuracy tweaking, and says they can be made to shoot better. Me, if I find an ammo preference, I just stock up on that . All I did was tighten up the forend screw a bit, and it seems to have made it better.

[BrokenolMarine]

Nice shooting for both of you. One tip, or trick for your 22. When you sight it in for 100 yards, since the bead covers the bull, try adusting the sights for a six o'clock hold that floats the bullseye on top of the bead, giving you 10x hits. Just note your 50 and 100 yard settings for elevation so you can switch back and forth. Might work.

In state level pistol competition we shot at 3, 7, 15, 25, & 50 yards. Preset sights made the changes easier, but different points of aim were required for me at the longer distances. Old eyes.

[North Country Gal]

Thanks. A six o'clock is usually what I use, but just didn't feel like changing the sight, which was set for 50 with a six o'clock. Little lazy, I guess. Just that kind of day. Really thinking about changing to a blade front on this one, which I much prefer for a six o'clock. Not a big fan of bead sights. LOVE the tang peep, though.

[BrokenolMarine]

Sweet. I love a peep sight, like the skinner, or the sights on the ARs...

[tx gunrunner]

Here is a # 3 Ruger I built in 32-40 to shoot offhand or bench at 100 and 200 yds with cast bullet only , with scope or peeps in about 1980 and shot it in matches for over 25 yrs and the guy I sold it to is still wins match even today .