Cowgirl Corner: some rifle, some revolver

[North Country Gal]

Mixed bag, today. with some 100 yard work with a couple of 223 rifles at 100 yards and as always, some time out for a little close up revolver shooting.

First the rifles. Today was just checking the scopes for zero, since it's been awhile for 100 yard work. Not a great day for serious accuracy work, what with a 15 -20 mph tailwind, but good enough for our recreational shooting - and all our 223 shooting is recreational shooting with bulk ammo. Bulk 223 ammo gives acceptable accuracy at 100 yards for our strictly for fun shooting and, of course, bulk 223 is as affordable as it gets for centerfire rifle ammo. That's important since we no longer reload.

The rifles were our Winchester 1885 Low Wall single shot and our ever dependable CZ 527 American. The Low Wall wanted to fight me, today, though. It's a better offhand gun than a bench gun. It is bag fussy. Nor does it like premium 223 ammo, either, but it does fine with bulk. That's fine, though. Average group size today with AE 50 grain varmint tip was 1.5 to 2" for five shots. Not the best with this gun or with me, but some days are just like that.

The CZ527, though, is anything but fussy about hold or rest and that amazing set trigger is a joy to use. Have shot it enough, now, that the mini-mauiser action is butter smooth.


Bill and I both were getting 1.5" for five shots with the CZ and found it much easier to work with than the Winchester. Here's the best group of the day, which is about as good as we have done with the AE bulk 55 grain FMJ. I'll take that, any day, with bulk ammo.
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One last word on the CZ527. You can certainly spend a lot more on a fancy bolt gun, but doubt it will be more user friendly and easier or pleasant to shoot. And if you love that old traditional mauser claw action, you'll love any CZ 527.
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And, as always, what range session would be complete without some revolver work? Bill shot a very nice DA target with his 617, but forgot to pull the target before we left. (He did remember to bring home the 617, though. )


My project was to see if changing out my Model 17 Classic grips to full target grips would help my shooting. Sure helped the looks.


Did nicely in single action out at 25 yards. Really getting to like this gun. Hard to put down.


I think those big target grips are a great upgrade for DA shooting. Moved in a little closer for this work.
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Looks like great summer of shooting shaping up for us. Better get more ammo, especially for our revolvers.

[RanchRoper]

Good report and expert shooting as always. Revolver looks really sharp with those grips.

[PT7]

Right-on POIs once again! Great shooting, NCG. Glad you mixed 'em up today and got in some revolver time, too.

You know, I've never shot any rifle solely for small groups and accuracy on paper. Never seem to get the hang of it. But those CZs particularly shoot very accurately. It would be fun to try one someday.

The grips on that Model 17 are very sharp-looking....that wood carries beautiful colors, grains, and checkering. Definitely helped the looks of your revolver. And it's easy to see the larger size lending itself to a good hand hold. Yes, I can imagine it would be "Hard to put down."

I'm glad Bill remembered to bring home the 617! I haven't left a gun behind yet, but one never knows as the years move along.

Thanks for your interesting Range Report and good pictures. Keep 'em revolving!!
PT7

[Sir Henry]

My CZ's are my most accurate rifles I have. I haven't shot the Long Ranger yet but now I have a benchmark to shoot for if I ever make it to the range.

[North Country Gal]

Thanks, guys.

Speaking of losing revolvers, I actually did, last week. We finished up our range trip and as I was lugging a bag full of several revolvers, one fell out of the bag without me knowing it. Worse yet, it happened to be one of my husband's favorites, "his" S&W 28-2 Highway Patrolman in 357. Got home that night and started to clean the guns and no 28-2 to clean! You can imagine our panic.

Rushed out to the range the next morning after several frantic calls to our club president, but all we got were voicemails. Got to the range and started asking about our lost Smith. Fortunately, our local sheriff's department had just finished up a training day and by some miracle, it was a sheriff's department employee who had found our Smith the previous day as he was preparing the range for his department training day to follow! Told us just to head into the department office in town to retrieve our lost pistol. We did.

The lesson to be learned, here, is for me to not pack too many pistols in one bag. It also reaffirms what I've always know about our folks, up here. They really are good, honest folks. It's why we retired, up here.

[North Country Gal]

My CZ's are my most accurate rifles I have. I haven't shot the Long Ranger yet but now I have a benchmark to shoot for if I ever make it to the range.

Our CZs are our benchmark guns for shooting small groups as far as conventional guns go. They match up very well with our Contenders, which really are specialty guns. These days, though, I've become more and more shoot for fun kind of shooter. (Bill has always been one. He could care less about measuring groups.) Our CZs are also fun to shoot guns. Their great accuracy is a bonus. Not to mention bolt guns aren't exactly ammo hogs. .

Speaking of accuracy shooting, I only occasionally measure groups, anymore, and when I do it's just for accuracy testing and for the sake of my shooting notes. Once I've got a gun sighted in and checked for accuracy, I just shoot it and forget about tenths of an inch differences in group size. It's really put more fun into my shooting.

Really, when you think about it, what real world difference does it make for most of us whether our gun shoots even a half inch difference in group size, one way or the other at 100 yards or even at 50 yards, for that matter?

I personally think this internet forum protocol about having to post targets and report on accuracy for every range report is getting a little carried, away. Yes, I'm as guilty as anyone about doing it, but I really would like to see more range reports about the shooters, themselves, the guns they use and why they shoot those guns and so on. In fact, a range report where someone just went out to have a good time is fine with me. I enjoy those, too. I think it would also encourage more folks to do reports.

Okay, rant,over.

[Sir Henry]

I've been plinking in my back yard with the Red Ryder almost every day for a few minutes but what is there to report when all I do is hit metal objects bought from the Goodwill. Maybe I'll make a report anyway. Thanks Joanie.

[BigAl52]

NCG
I couldn't agree more about the group size comments. I for one am totally bored shooting paper. I dont go to an established range. Theres no backstops and benches. There is only prairie and mounds of good ole dirt. If I shoot paper it means hauling out a bench to shoot off of, a target stand to hang a target on and the sand bags with a rest. I get tired of hauling all that around and throwing a box of clay targets in the back of my pickup is so much easier and way more fun. If I can stand 50 yards away break those clays with whatever I am shooting its all good to me.

[PT7]

One of the best "rants" I've read! I seriously try to have FUN ever time I go shooting. I've often wondered if you good Henry Folk ever get weary of reading my Range Reports with the word "fun" bolded most every time I write it!!

Without the fun, it would sure be a sad ride heading home into the sunset.

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.......Once I've got a gun sighted in and checked for accuracy, I just shoot it and forget about tenths of an inch differences in group size. It's really put more fun into my shooting.

Really, when you think about it, what real world difference does it make for most of us whether our gun shoots even a half inch difference in group size, one way or the other at 100 yards or even at 50 yards, for that matter?

I personally think this internet forum protocol about having to post targets and report on accuracy for every range report is getting a little carried, away. Yes, I'm as guilty as anyone about doing it, but I really would like to see more range reports about the shooters, themselves, the guns they use and why they shoot those guns and so on. In fact, a range report where someone just went out to have a good time is fine with me. I enjoy those, too. I think it would also encourage more folks to do reports.

Okay, rant,over.

[RanchRoper]

I try to just enjoy the outing, and step back into time with my rifle or revolver. Tight groups are a bonus, but really? If I can put 50 rounds inside an 8" circle at 50 yds, that's a pretty darn good day. Who cares if they all touch? Whatever that critter was, it's toast.

I just love old cowboy guns and the experience of owning & shooting them.

[220]

Really, when you think about it, what real world difference does it make for most of us whether our gun shoots even a half inch difference in group size, one way or the other at 100 yards or even at 50 yards, for that matter?

In the real world none but the internet demands the smallest groups possible.
I reassessed how I develop my load a while back, like most shooter I was always after the smallest group possible. Now before I load anything I look at what it will be used for, what accuracy I really need and once I have found a load that is fit for my purpose I'm done.

Still bragging size groups are fun and when you find a rifle that does this at 500y with factory ammo

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[North Country Gal]

I try to just enjoy the outing, and step back into time with my rifle or revolver. Tight groups are a bonus, but really? If I can put 50 rounds inside an 8" circle at 50 yds, that's a pretty darn good day. Who cares if they all touch? Whatever that critter was, it's toast.

I just love old cowboy guns and the experience of owning & shooting them.

Well said, RR. That love of shooting and stepping back in time really comes out in your posts. As good as it gets in reports, as far as I'm concerned.

[North Country Gal]

220, yeah, I would be doing one of my famous/infamous happy dances if I could shoot a group like that. Those are the ones that help keep us coming back to try for more. Outstanding!

[PT7]

500y = a good point for "bragging."
Definitely some cool shooting!

[220]

Son actually shot that group, only 12x scope on the rifle so he couldn't see his shots. I was watching through spotting scope and he called the 3rd shot high. It was but I wouldn't say it was a bad shot.
Rifle is stock standard Vanguard in 240wby, it has really surprised us with how well it shoots. While no doubt there was a bit of luck in that group it consistently shoots less than 1" @ 100y and often half that.

[Sir Henry]

When you have a rifle that can give you small groups it is fun to shoot for small groups. Only on a few occasions have I been able to get a tight group with my Henry, relative to a CZ, and just plinking away is more fun.

[BrokenolMarine]

Now that I don't shoot competition any more, some of you might remember pics of my range with the steel targets. I'll use cardboard to sight in, but steel is much more fun. The wife was going to toss her old frying pans... they ended up swinging from an old real estate sign frame on the berm.
They ring when you hit them.