April 15th, 1860

[RanchRoper]

Spring weather!!!!!

Range day with my trusty 1860 Henry in 45 Colt. Wind was heading straight down range today at about 10 mph. Temperature at 50F. MUD and lots of it. But finally a nice shooting day.

Picked up some Remington 250 gr LRNFP yesterday in Calgary, and that's what I shot today. Only took 36 rounds with me. 3 mag tubes full. No warm up today, went straight to the 100 yd range, then put the last 12 rounds on the 200 yd board just for the heck of it.

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First up, 100 yds off hand on 1 knee, open ladder sight up and at the lowest setting. Got all 24 on paper but shooting low mostly. 12" splash targets. Been trying to work on keeping rifle perfectly still while pulling trigger. Sometimes I spend a lot of time aiming, but move the rifle as I gently squeeze the trigger so all the time invested in aiming was useless. But you folks know all that anyway. Anyhow, not bad for 60 yr old eye(s) at 100 yds. 24 rounds in the black, some near the center where I was trying to put them.

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Next up is not a target to write home about exactly, but for 12 rounds at 200 yds? 9 on the paper sort of if you count the one at very bottom left...This was shot on 1 knee again, and with the ladder sight on second notch. It's a tough read at that distance. That 12" target is a dot. So you hope for the best. I could here the lead smack the wooden board but until I take a walk and have a look, it's a crap shoot. But my rifle performs very well. I watched a guy on youtube shooting an 1860 out to 300 yds and cannot imagine how he was able to hit steel targets with it. 200 is a real stretch for me. I cleaned the rifle this morning before I went so it was as accurate as I could make it.

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And of course my 1860 target board destroyer....

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[JEBar]

my compliments for your shooting sir .. .. in addition, even stronger compliments on being able to get down on one knee for as long as it took and then be able to get back up .. .. if you ever see me down on a knee at a range or anywhere else, please take out your phone and dial 9-1 .... then just standby ..

[Mistered]

The 100 yard target looks great and with a little more practice the 200 yard will have more holes it it ! Don't know if YOU do it but I always take a deep breath and hold it on the longer, more challenging distances. I am a 'one knee' shooter myself so our groups may not be as tight as off the bench but then benches are hard to carry while out hunting or woods shooting!

[RanchRoper]

Yes I do hold my breath but not sure if that's helping or hurting. I become very aware of my breathing while aiming, and try to just breathe normal but the more you think about it the more it seems to get in the way.

[RetiredSeabee]

Thanks for taking us along. Looks like you finally have spring up yonder.

[PT7]

Ranch Roper,

I'll try to pull the reins in here on my overly chatty tongue (I hope!). Can't make a promise, as I could write a bunch about your range report. I thought it was excellent in a variety of ways.

Your first target was very, very good, but I thought the second one at 200 yards to be even more impressive. And especially so because, as you said, "It's a tough read at that distance. That 12" target is a dot. 200 is a real stretch for me." Agree totally on all three comments you made. The best is that you went for it, even though it was a "real stretch."

Here is my bottom line, RR. If you enjoyed this long-distance shooting, I'm certain your results at a 200 yard target will much improve after this summer spent practicing at that distance. You handle your 1860 with much good skill as these two targets display. I'd be right there (if I could) shouting support for every bullet you send down range.

Lastly, I must admit that my excitement ramped up when your Range Report so easily reminded me of the two summers I spent learning and shooting long distance with my 12-ga Benelli smooth-bore pump shotgun (1-oz. slugs). Nothing but an enjoyable challenge, and very much fun the better I got at it. My keeper photo is of a 10"-square black steel target. (If you'd like to see that, I'd be glad to post it within your thread here --- don't want to just steel your thunder). I only placed one slug out of five on target (barely so) at 200 yards, and it was an exciting range time for me. Without a doubt, I know you are a better shooter than I am. I'd simply hope you would experience the same if you keep on. I'd say "go for it." Yippee!

Finally, my advice is to wait on the 300-yard target board for a while; first wipe out the 200-yard board; I know you can do it!

Have much fun --- enjoy.
PT7

[North Country Gal]

Send some of that spring weather our way. Over a foot of snow for us, last night and today, on top of the two feet or so we still had on the ground. April, so far, has been all winter for us.

Anyway, great shooting, as always. Been a long time since I've tried a kneeling position, but like JEBar, with my creaky old joints I may get stuck in that position. Sitting, though, is almost as good as shooting from a rest for me, at least when I don't have to sit in a couple feet of snow. Remarkable shooting at 200 yards with those 60 year old eyes, too. Way better than I could do, back when I was 60. 200 yards without a scope for me, these days, is mostly a waste of ammo.

[RanchRoper]

Thanks folks, appreciate the comments. PT7 feel free to post your steel; all targets and discussion welcome. The walk to the long range targets will be a little better when the mud isn't a foot deep.....but hey, at least it's spring!

[RanchRoper]

Send some of that spring weather our way. Over a foot of snow for us, last night and today, on top of the two feet or so we still had on the ground. April, so far, has been all winter for us.

Anyway, great shooting, as always. Been a long time since I've tried a kneeling position, but like JEBar, with my creaky old joints I may get stuck in that position. Sitting, though, is almost as good as shooting from a rest for me, at least when I don't have to sit in a couple feet of snow. Remarkable shooting at 200 yards with those 60 year old eyes, too. Way better than I could do, back when I was 60. 200 yards without a scope for me, these days, is mostly a waste of ammo.

Thank you. We still have some 8 or 10 foot drifts frozen solid in the bush behind the house, but there is lots of mud and grass showing other places. However, I have seen snow in all months of the year here so we don't get too freaked out if we wake up to another good dump of snow between now and June. There's a couple of weeks in July when I am not wearing long-johns....and I always pack inclement weather gear when doing cattle work in the high country....

[PT7]

Thanks for letting me post my photo...fun to do. Here ya go!

I've never used a step ladder sight like you have on your 1860...that would be cool to try out. My 12-ga pump had an iron ghost-ring rear sight and blade front sight. I "crept up" the 4"x4" target post just estimating slug drop, and actually blocked the steel target out of my sight. I think my POA was around 2" to 2-1/2" above the plate. POI results were better than zip, with 1/5 in the target at 200 yards. With the naked eye, I recall the target looked smaller than a postage stamp at that distance!

To hear the STEEL CLANG was pure music

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Thanks folks, appreciate the comments. PT7 feel free to post your steel; all targets and discussion welcome. The walk to the long range targets will be a little better when the mud isn't a foot deep.....but hey, at least it's spring!

[BigAl52]

Nice Job RR and I tip my hat to your shooting its always first class. Either one of those targets would put Buffalo Steaks on the grill and thats just first class eatin in my book.

[RanchRoper]

Thank you! That long distance stuff is a challenge. Very much fun with a historic frontier Henry rifle.

[Shakey Jake]

Good shootin' for any age!

[RanchRoper]

Good shootin' for any age!

Thanks pard!