barnbwt
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- Joined
- Aug 14, 2011
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I finally got to shoot my two new-to-me K31's!!
Since the rifles were only half of what made the experience so awesome, I want to include a review of the range I went to for the first time. It's a rifle-centric range, so I'll put it in this forum, if that's all right
I bought these rifles over a month ago, and I've been trying to shoot them since. However, the range I usually go to forbids FMJ ammo, which is a bit more difficult to locate in this caliber than many. I found some Hornady Match soft point, so I was ready to go...or so I thought. I swing back to the range, only to find they've recently banned .30cal and above since someone's house beyond the berm was struck (ongoing litigation). Until the berm is raised and the lawsuit settled, no big boomsticks
Luckily, thanks to the advice of THR, I was referred to Gibson's Outpost down in Mesquite, TX as an alternative. It's only a bit farther than my daily commute, so I figured I'd give it a go. Checked their hours online, and found they have 200yd ranges (last place only 100) and they also allow FMJ!!! They cost 2.50$ more per session plus gas, but with cheap FMJ, that cost can easily be recovered. With high hopes, I loaded the guns in the car (both guns barely fit in my FNAR case).
The backwoods drive was fantastic; the DFW area is unusually green this year from all the rain, the weather was fantastic, and the windy road was in good enough condition for some fun with a six-speed manual! Half hour later I arrive at the range's driveway, and find it in better repair than my old range (but smaller), and there are actually places to park!
The staff in the front office was helpful; told me the fees I'd need to get a range card (6$ annual, 12.50 each day), and told me the rules. Aside from the ammo bans, and a rule about not bringing guns through the front office, the rules are the same as the old place. So far so good!
I carry my rifle case around to the benches, and see a long row of very well made cinderblock rifle benches with sandbags, and wood standing benches for pistol shooting. Beyond a green, nicely mowed lawn (no tractor ruts to trip on) were berms and target stands at varying distances. 5-25yrd ranges for pistol (maybe some 50yd), and 50-100yd for rifle (and 2 200yd, but 10$ extra). Past the berms, nothing but tall deciduous forest for over a mile before the next habitation (checked on google). With that large green lawn, nestled in the edge of the forest, this place was a veritable Zen garden for shooters. I settled in on a 50yrd range to sight in the guns.
Only a dozen or so other shooters were there when I came by, a bit light I'm told, and they all seemed very polite and practiced good range etiquitte. I even saw some dads educating their kids on proper gun safety and shooting form. No rednecks reeking of alcohol firing from the hip, no unattended newbs sweeping the range with their muzzles, no overwhelmed RO's watching too many people. No fools shouting "LOOK AT THIS!" before sending rounds over the berm. Couldn't ask for more from a basic rifle range (expect a place to shoot scatterguns, no shotguns are allowed here).
As rural as this area is, I think it will be many years (knock on wood) before urban encroachment makes shooting untenable.
See my next post for the review of the K31!
TCB
Since the rifles were only half of what made the experience so awesome, I want to include a review of the range I went to for the first time. It's a rifle-centric range, so I'll put it in this forum, if that's all right
I bought these rifles over a month ago, and I've been trying to shoot them since. However, the range I usually go to forbids FMJ ammo, which is a bit more difficult to locate in this caliber than many. I found some Hornady Match soft point, so I was ready to go...or so I thought. I swing back to the range, only to find they've recently banned .30cal and above since someone's house beyond the berm was struck (ongoing litigation). Until the berm is raised and the lawsuit settled, no big boomsticks
Luckily, thanks to the advice of THR, I was referred to Gibson's Outpost down in Mesquite, TX as an alternative. It's only a bit farther than my daily commute, so I figured I'd give it a go. Checked their hours online, and found they have 200yd ranges (last place only 100) and they also allow FMJ!!! They cost 2.50$ more per session plus gas, but with cheap FMJ, that cost can easily be recovered. With high hopes, I loaded the guns in the car (both guns barely fit in my FNAR case).
The backwoods drive was fantastic; the DFW area is unusually green this year from all the rain, the weather was fantastic, and the windy road was in good enough condition for some fun with a six-speed manual! Half hour later I arrive at the range's driveway, and find it in better repair than my old range (but smaller), and there are actually places to park!
The staff in the front office was helpful; told me the fees I'd need to get a range card (6$ annual, 12.50 each day), and told me the rules. Aside from the ammo bans, and a rule about not bringing guns through the front office, the rules are the same as the old place. So far so good!
I carry my rifle case around to the benches, and see a long row of very well made cinderblock rifle benches with sandbags, and wood standing benches for pistol shooting. Beyond a green, nicely mowed lawn (no tractor ruts to trip on) were berms and target stands at varying distances. 5-25yrd ranges for pistol (maybe some 50yd), and 50-100yd for rifle (and 2 200yd, but 10$ extra). Past the berms, nothing but tall deciduous forest for over a mile before the next habitation (checked on google). With that large green lawn, nestled in the edge of the forest, this place was a veritable Zen garden for shooters. I settled in on a 50yrd range to sight in the guns.
Only a dozen or so other shooters were there when I came by, a bit light I'm told, and they all seemed very polite and practiced good range etiquitte. I even saw some dads educating their kids on proper gun safety and shooting form. No rednecks reeking of alcohol firing from the hip, no unattended newbs sweeping the range with their muzzles, no overwhelmed RO's watching too many people. No fools shouting "LOOK AT THIS!" before sending rounds over the berm. Couldn't ask for more from a basic rifle range (expect a place to shoot scatterguns, no shotguns are allowed here).
As rural as this area is, I think it will be many years (knock on wood) before urban encroachment makes shooting untenable.
See my next post for the review of the K31!
TCB