In a couple of months, We’re going to be out and about doing some research for a potential relocation of our residence. Most places we’re going will be CCW positive territory, so I am planning to take along the Glock 30 parked in this Bianchi holster under the winter garb we will need (It’s going to be a lot cooler than we’re used to).
It seems a shame to hide something this purdy under the coat. (Clickable Image)
Today’s outing was a lot of fun – again. We took our usual assortment of hand guns and our Remington 870 shotguns.
Our range was really busy today. Late in the summer, we noticed a lull in attendance, but the last couple of fall weekends, the shooters are back. It’s a good thing that people keep current with their firearms practice.
We shared a booth and took turns randomly shooting the handguns. We shot close to 200 rounds of .45s and about 100 rounds of 9mm. We also shot a handful of .38s through the revolver (and a couple of 158gr. .357 magnums left over from the last box we bought).
After we finished with the handguns, we got out the shotguns and put 25 rounds of 12 and 20 gauge through them. Damsel’s is a 20 gauge ‘youth model’ that we bought since her reach is a bit shorter than needed for the full-sized 870 – or so I thought – she is now just as comfortable with my full sized 870 as she is with her smaller one. That’s her in the video with her Warthog and my 870. The guns in the Pelican Case are the Glocks on the left (26 and 30), the S&W 686 revolver, S&W 908s and the Warthog.
The true context of firearms ownership is in the defense of liberty, defense of country, defense of family and the traditional provisioning of game for the table. There is so much at stake in the coming weeks for these constitutionally-guaranteed rights. Keep this in mind as you look at this nice portrait of my favorite pistol – and be sure to vote with this in mind.
Click image to magnificate.
Our trip to the range today was a lot of fun. When we got there, the place started getting really busy. We were glad to see the activity pick up after the usual summertime slowdown. We saw families shooting together, but not as many kids as we have seen in the past.
Firearms Inventory
We generally start out with the handguns and finish with the shotguns. Today, we just mixed it up with the handguns and switched off between the 12 and 20 gauge. I didn’t count the number of rounds we shot, but it was on a par with our usual, I’m sure. For sure there were 100 rounds of .45 ACP through each of the Para Warthog and the Glock 30. We finished with 25 rounds through each of the shotguns.
As an aside, when I dismantled the 20 gauge shotgun for cleaning, I really hacked myself up getting it back together. Damsel did 4 band-aids of first aid on my fingers and hands. My fingers are just a little big for the 20 gauge – I have no problem with the 12 gauge even though the edges on the receiver are just as sharp.
We haven’t been shooting for a couple of weeks, so today was especially enjoyable. Our gunography consisted of my Glocks (G26 and G30 ) and Damsel’s “Girls,” the Warthog, the S&W 908s and her S&W 686. I also took my ancient Ithaca single-shot 20 gauge shotgun, our 12 gauge security gun and Damsel’s 20 gauge, the latter two being versions of Remington’s 870 series.
We have come to the conclusion that the sights need to be adjusted on the revolver; everything else seemed to hit where we aimed (more or less) but the revolver consistently shot below the target.
The Warthog performed flawlessly for the first 49 rounds. The very last round in the last magazine stuck on its way into the chamber. After clearing the round and re-inserting into the mag, she fired fine. On inspecting, it appeared that the friction spot on top of the barrel was a little dry, possibly contributing to the misfeed.
The Glocks both worked like “Glockwork” for a total of fifty rounds each. I lost count of the .357 rounds through the 686, but it was probably somewhere around fifty as well. The other S&W pistol saw a similar number of rounds and worked just fine.
The old Ithaca only got five rounds of 20 gauge since that was all I brought for it. The Remingtons each saw twenty-five rounds.
Last summer, we bought some Winchester© shotshells in both 12 and 20 gauge in, 2¾”, #8 shot. They were a bargain at Wal-Mart, so why not? We got 250 rounds of 12 gauge and 20 gauge. They were packaged as Winchester “Universal” loads.
When we finally took them to the range and started using them for target practice, both gauges gave us problems with jamming in the barrel, misfeeding, failing to eject and generally a nuisance to deal with at the range. We used all three of our Remington 870s and experienced the same problems with each.
Image right: the fine print – click to enlarge.
This was printed on the box:
Universal loads are a great value, ideal for dove, quail, grouse and recreational target shooting.
…
Try Universal ammunition for fun and practice. Then, when you’re ready to do some serious hunting or target shooting, pick up a box of Winchester Super-X®, Supreme® or our famous AA® Target Loads.
Let me see . . . “When you’re ready … serious …” – get some real ammo?
I did some research and found that in the forums here and there, shooters out there had the same problems. No more “universal” for us. No fun shooting with so many mishaps.
Remington and Estate game loads (number 7, 7½ or 8 shot) have seldom, if ever, given us problems.
Check out this interesting still-life that Damsel composed last April. I have been looking through some of the old photos as I transfer them to a recently-acquired mass storage external drive. I saw this one among them and thought it was quite nice. Click for the wallpaper/screen-saver size.
