When I got to the range, I got set up. Of course, the pink range / gun towel made it. Since it's a range report, coffee was also brought along. I was going to be there for several hours.
The spotting scope was a good accessory for the Pachmyr shooting box. I haven't shot much since getting bifocals. Seeing the holes in the targets isn't what it used to be. Optics are a must for me now. I also had to adjust my head to see the front sight clearly. That took some time to get used to. I could see the results of not doing it. I really wanted to get the 686 plus and the 327 going. Well, that was going to be a well remembered day for sure. The Altamont grips that accompany those two guns from the Performance Center are beautiful. They fill the hand, but the curve of the backstraps on both guns just hit the right spot in my palm. I found the grips to be thin and the backstrap exposed. This caused an uncomfortable ache after a cylinder full of .357 in each gun. I had a spare set of Pachmyrs that covered the backstrap I brought for the 327, just in case. They sure tamed the recoil on those magnums. I didn't like how they looked on the gun, but they sure made it a joy, actual joy, to shoot. I think my favorite round out of it was the Remington 125 grain semi jacketed hollow points at +P. I got several boxes of them at Walmart when I was teaching a friend to shoot a revolver a few years ago.
I really like the moon clips, although getting 7 or 8 .38 caliber sized points to align is a bit tougher than getting six .45 caliber points to align. I was able to get a lot of practice in. The empties were easy enough to locate. I had a tool to get the brass out of the clip, but I found it tough to get the clips loaded with the last few rounds. (I came home and ordered the TK aluminum clip loader. What a great product. I also got the de-mooning tool they make. What a great set.)
I brought several guns to shoot. They were, S&W 686plus, 327, 25, 638 and a pre-10. From Ruger, I brought a GP100 with three inch barrel. I brought a Beretta 21a, but forgot the magazines at home (lol). For long guns, I brought a Marlin 989 m1 .22, a .223/5.56 pump action Remington, my BigBoy in .45lc and my smith and wesson AR. I had to sight in a couple of guns, mostly the AR. I put a red dot on it. I was very surprised that I had to really move the sight on the 686 so much. I know it wasn't fired except at the factory, but it was way off. It is now zoned in. After a few hours and hundreds of rounds downrange, it was time to head home.
Once I got home, it was time to evaluate lessons learned. It had been way to long to get to the range in earnest. I had a lot of holsters and speed loader pouches with me to see if any of them could be used. New holsters for the new Smiths are on order from Triple K and Kramer leather. One of the speed loader holders is capable of holding two moon clips, one on top of each other. That will be tested more when the holsters arrive. The glasses issue was by far the biggest hurdle to overcome. Once I got a good stance and remembered to tilt my head, things went pretty smoothly. New Pachmyr compacs are also on order for the two Smiths. I am hoping the fully covered backstrap would be the answer. As pretty as the Altamont grips are, the open backstrap on either one was not magnum friendly to my hand. It just hit the right spot and made it ache. For comparison, the GP100, with it's fully rubber grip, was very easy to run magnums through. The 327 was really fun to shoot with .38s and .38+Ps. My favorite guns that day, the model 25 and the Big Boy. Those 45s left both like they were guided missile's. The heavy N frame absorbed any recoil and it felt like shooting less than a .38. The rifle was great out to 100 yds. I shot at paper plates. If I did my part, the Henry put them on the plate at 50 and 100 yds. The Smith, no surprise, put them on the plate at 50 yds. I didn't try 100 yds, I quit while ahead.
It was a lot of shooting, but a lot of practice was had and a lot of knowledge was gathered on some new guns. The time flew by. I can't wait to get out again!
I
... Not enough to risk a trip to Oz. 
The next day the area in front of my berm was under ten inches of water. 
Maybe this afternoon. 
I take a box of bullets & a gun... 
