redneck2
Member
The longer I live, the more I think most "gunsmiths" are really blacksmiths with a screwdriver instead of a hammer
What's the strangest thing that's happened to you while...
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The longer I live, the more I think most "gunsmiths" are really blacksmiths with a screwdriver instead of a hammer
A black-powder guy was on the 25 yard range near me, apparently he'd been utterly unsuccessful at sighting in the rifle on the 100 and 50, so he stepped down. Whatever the original reason was, he was upset and over-controlling the rifle now, and frankly his muzzle was visibly wandering all over. The RO and a few others were trying to help by seeing if they could tell just where the shot was hitting, but there was just so much debris kicking up that it wasn't working. The guy was getting more and more frustrated, starting to lose his cool, and all the people watching weren't really helping. The RO was trying to calm the guy down while he loaded up.
He took his last shot, which utterly missed again, and finally lost it. He screamed as loud as he could, set the rifle down on the bench, grabbed his cleaning rod and WHIPPED it down the range just as hard as he could. It tumbled end over end several times, before punching into his target.
The RO calls a cease-fire, takes the guy aside, and explains a few things to him. Dunno what was said, but the guy came back and immediately began packing up. We went down-range to change targets while the RO watched the guy leave, and then he came down and joined us as we were standing around the target.
I'd love to be able to say that the cleaning rod had hit the bullseye, but it was actually just outside the 8 ring high and left. Still rather impressive.
He took his last shot, which utterly missed again, and finally lost it. He screamed as loud as he could, set the rifle down on the bench, grabbed his cleaning rod and WHIPPED it down the range just as hard as he could. It tumbled end over end several times, before punching into his target.
The RO calls a cease-fire, takes the guy aside, and explains a few things to him. Dunno what was said, but the guy came back and immediately began packing up. We went down-range to change targets while the RO watched the guy leave, and then he came down and joined us as we were standing around the target.
I'd love to be able to say that the cleaning rod had hit the bullseye, but it was actually just outside the 8 ring high and left. Still rather impressive.
Win75
Member
I was working up some loads for my deer rifle on the 100 yard area at a public Conservation Dept. range when just as I was getting ready to fire a round, I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. I made my rifle safe and looked to my left where I saw a man and woman, with both arms loaded with plastic 2 liter bottles full of water, walking into the lane two down from me. About 50 yards downrange, they placed the bottles on the ground in a line and walked back about 25 yards. Now, they are 25 yards downrange on a 100 yard rifle range with me 15-20 yards to the right of them and they both pull out revolvers while the guy tells me, "Go ahead and shoot, it won't bother us, we are out of the way."
Well, it bothered the h*** out of me. I packed up my stuff and went home.
Well, it bothered the h*** out of me. I packed up my stuff and went home.
shouldifail
Member
the strangest thing that has happened to me while at the range with MY guns would be when my nylon 22 started auto firing!!! YIKES.. after hundreds upon hundreds of cheap 22, the bolt had gotten severely gummed up. some cleaning fixed the problem.
the coolest strangest thing would either be the time i got to shoot a mag full of ammo through a FA mac 11 for helping a guy sight in....or the time an older gentleman had a mortar type cannon which he was kind enough to let me fire. He had built it himself, but it looked as nice as any cannon i have ever seen. truly a piece of FINE craftsmanship. this mortar lobbed a concrete filled tennis ball into the air with a hang time of 10-15 seconds and would come down EXACTLY 100 yards downrange.
made me feel like a kid!!
the coolest strangest thing would either be the time i got to shoot a mag full of ammo through a FA mac 11 for helping a guy sight in....or the time an older gentleman had a mortar type cannon which he was kind enough to let me fire. He had built it himself, but it looked as nice as any cannon i have ever seen. truly a piece of FINE craftsmanship. this mortar lobbed a concrete filled tennis ball into the air with a hang time of 10-15 seconds and would come down EXACTLY 100 yards downrange.
made me feel like a kid!!
pappy
Member
I don't know if this is all that 'strange' per-se, but after my lasik, I'm not shooting as good as I used to, or maybe I'm just getting old. 
I won a CMP Springfield match last Saturday. There were 17 shooters, some of them very good shooters.
It was a double match, Garand/Springfield. I shot my Garand in both, which is allowed. I shot pretty well in the Garand match, and shot about 10 points better in the Springfield match, 280/300. It was good enough for 1st.
It was a double match, Garand/Springfield. I shot my Garand in both, which is allowed. I shot pretty well in the Garand match, and shot about 10 points better in the Springfield match, 280/300. It was good enough for 1st.
The Lone Haranguer
Member
Not really strange in this context, but I've received compliments on my shooting technique. One asked me if I were a police officer; another, apparently having seen my own technique and grouping, asked for advice on poor grouping with his rental Glock. I've also had people give me targets and even ammo.
There was a indoor range (since closed) that had a huge metal triangle thing that held the paper target. The way it was set up - the edge of the metal was almost touching the top of the B-27 head to get the paper in the clip.
I decided to shoot weak hand for practice and one handed also and go for a head shot. I must have hit the bottom edge of the triangle. The round let off sparks, zipped down through the target at an angle and bisected it. The remaining half caught fire on the edges.
The dude next to me asked what kind of round was that - the ultimate stopper - cuts you in half and sets on fire.
Other fun:
1. At an IDPA match have to shoot over a barrel and make a slide lock reload. I drop the mag and it drops straight into a hole into the barrel. The SO and I stop to laugh.
2. First time I heard a round go into a plastic barrel and whip around in it, sounding like a jet plane.
3. Saw an SKS go full auto on the range - luckily the shooter controlled it.
I decided to shoot weak hand for practice and one handed also and go for a head shot. I must have hit the bottom edge of the triangle. The round let off sparks, zipped down through the target at an angle and bisected it. The remaining half caught fire on the edges.
The dude next to me asked what kind of round was that - the ultimate stopper - cuts you in half and sets on fire.
Other fun:
1. At an IDPA match have to shoot over a barrel and make a slide lock reload. I drop the mag and it drops straight into a hole into the barrel. The SO and I stop to laugh.
2. First time I heard a round go into a plastic barrel and whip around in it, sounding like a jet plane.
3. Saw an SKS go full auto on the range - luckily the shooter controlled it.
The first time I was on a military rifle range, one of the shooters cleanly killed a white tail doe with his M-16. The standing rule was 'You shoot at the targets, not at any wildlife ... but if some poor creature should happen to wander between you and the pop-up, game on.'
We butchered the deer and had venison that afternoon. Good times.
We butchered the deer and had venison that afternoon. Good times.
CajunBass
Member
About the only "interesting" things I've ever seen at a ranger were the occasional "hot brass down the clevage" dance, with my wife being one of the dancers once. I'd warned her, but she didn't listen.
That and getting the chance to shoot a lot of guns I wouldn't have ever shot, including an MP-5, and a highly customized Model 29 once (Barrel cut to 2 1/2", magnaported, "N" frame grip removed, "K" frame grip installed, trigger job, I don't know what all else). Man those were fun guns.
Edited to correct typo pointed out by Mr. White, just below. But then my wife says anytime she goes anywhere with me, she's with a "hot bass."
That and getting the chance to shoot a lot of guns I wouldn't have ever shot, including an MP-5, and a highly customized Model 29 once (Barrel cut to 2 1/2", magnaported, "N" frame grip removed, "K" frame grip installed, trigger job, I don't know what all else). Man those were fun guns.
Edited to correct typo pointed out by Mr. White, just below.
But then my wife says anytime she goes anywhere with me, she's with a "hot bass."
Last edited:
Funderb
Member
shooting plate with steelcore.
bang-ping zzzzzzzzzzzeeer OUCH! #$%#$.
no damage at all, but a tiny steel chunk from 150 yds found its mark.
bang-ping zzzzzzzzzzzeeer OUCH! #$%#$.
no damage at all, but a tiny steel chunk from 150 yds found its mark.
I had recently acquired a new side-mount scope for my older Winchester lever action 30-30. Planning to go deer hunting the next week - my brother-in-law and I went to the local outdoor police range. Since he was a fireman - he had special permission to shoot at the range.
This particular range had steel 3/8" rebar-like metal U frames that were cemented upside down. I guess the idea was to hang your target from the top bar - which we did. Since I had mounted the scope myself - I had no idea how far off it might be - so I decided to start shooting at 25 yards and move back as I developed a group. My very first shot hit the top rebar pipe about 16 inches above my target. Metal sparks flew everywhere. When we took a look to see what had happened - my shot had blown the top rebar pipe completely in half. Needless to say I was quite embarrased and too shaky to sight in my rifle after that. Not to mention my brother-in-law wasn't happy with me for messing up that range target holder. It wasn't a good day. But fortunatly - we were the only people there.
This particular range had steel 3/8" rebar-like metal U frames that were cemented upside down. I guess the idea was to hang your target from the top bar - which we did. Since I had mounted the scope myself - I had no idea how far off it might be - so I decided to start shooting at 25 yards and move back as I developed a group. My very first shot hit the top rebar pipe about 16 inches above my target. Metal sparks flew everywhere. When we took a look to see what had happened - my shot had blown the top rebar pipe completely in half. Needless to say I was quite embarrased and too shaky to sight in my rifle after that. Not to mention my brother-in-law wasn't happy with me for messing up that range target holder. It wasn't a good day.
But fortunatly - we were the only people there.Was in the booth at a local range and a piece of brass from my M&P 40c bounced off the booth wall and right down the back of my shirt. Burned my neck pretty good. Unfortunatley I had an undershirt on and the brass worked its way down into the top of my butt crack! Not plesant. I was able to rip the back of shirt and undershirt out of my shorts and the casing dropped out thank God.
Its not like thats never happened before, but its the first time it happened to me. The guy a few lanes down got a big chuckle as I danced around tring to pull my shirt tails out with one hand while keeping my weapon pointed downrange with the other.
Its not like thats never happened before, but its the first time it happened to me. The guy a few lanes down got a big chuckle as I danced around tring to pull my shirt tails out with one hand while keeping my weapon pointed downrange with the other.
Old Grump
Member
2nd or 2rd pistol match
Rapid fire with 45 and my target falls to the right after my 2nd shot and I call for an alibi. I had shot the target leg off. They laughed and gave me the alibi just so they could all watch me to see what I shot next
Couple of months later at the same range a guy shows up to everybody's displeasure and I find out from my team captain that this guy is a an equipment queen. Its not his fault that he is a bad shooter its his equipment. So today he shows up on the range with a tricked up 45 just back from the custom maker and allows as how he is going to show the rest of us how to shoot. After 5 rounds of 50 yd slow fire he looks through his scope lets out a string of profanity and throws his brand new tricked up custom 45 out about 20 yards. The range master immediately yells "free target" and within seconds that gun is nothing but shrapnel, only the barrel still looked original. He closed his box, walked off the range and we never saw him again.
About 2 years later same range in El Paso shooting a regional championship match. The newly retired Police Chief of Albuquerque is down there shooting a colt 45 revolver and doing pretty good against all of us pistol shooters. Last string of the day his buddy puts his gun down, pulls a bugle from his bag and stands behind the chief and when the targets face for the last string of RF he starts to blow long and hard. The chief keeps shooting, the rest of us stopped to watch. Last shot fired the chief puts his gun down turns around and cold cocks his buddy. Worse yet we didn't get an alibi because the chief had fired his shots off and there was no reason for us not to shoot ours so he was up a string on us. New range rule posted after that on the line, "No bugle playing when the firing line is hot". Its been 35 years since I have been there but I still like to think that sign is still there puzzling the dickens out of people.
Rapid fire with 45 and my target falls to the right after my 2nd shot and I call for an alibi. I had shot the target leg off. They laughed and gave me the alibi just so they could all watch me to see what I shot next
Couple of months later at the same range a guy shows up to everybody's displeasure and I find out from my team captain that this guy is a an equipment queen. Its not his fault that he is a bad shooter its his equipment. So today he shows up on the range with a tricked up 45 just back from the custom maker and allows as how he is going to show the rest of us how to shoot. After 5 rounds of 50 yd slow fire he looks through his scope lets out a string of profanity and throws his brand new tricked up custom 45 out about 20 yards. The range master immediately yells "free target" and within seconds that gun is nothing but shrapnel, only the barrel still looked original. He closed his box, walked off the range and we never saw him again.
About 2 years later same range in El Paso shooting a regional championship match. The newly retired Police Chief of Albuquerque is down there shooting a colt 45 revolver and doing pretty good against all of us pistol shooters. Last string of the day his buddy puts his gun down, pulls a bugle from his bag and stands behind the chief and when the targets face for the last string of RF he starts to blow long and hard. The chief keeps shooting, the rest of us stopped to watch. Last shot fired the chief puts his gun down turns around and cold cocks his buddy. Worse yet we didn't get an alibi because the chief had fired his shots off and there was no reason for us not to shoot ours so he was up a string on us. New range rule posted after that on the line, "No bugle playing when the firing line is hot". Its been 35 years since I have been there but I still like to think that sign is still there puzzling the dickens out of people.
jrfoxx
Member
I know the feeling. A while back, I built a portable trget stand out of 1/2" PVC pipe.Cheap, handy, breaks down easy for transport. Well, I kid you not, EVERY single time I have used that stand to sight in a gun I got for the first time, even at 20-25yds, the first rounds has hit the freakin' thing! The top and 2 side pieces have been replaced a bunch of times now. I bring spare parts when I go to sight in a new gun because I got tired of my range trip ending early from a blasted target stand. I just cannot figure out how it managed to always hit the tiny 1/2" pipe, as opposed to the MUCH, MUCH more statistically likely "anywhere else". When I find that Murphy guy, I'm gonna kick him square in the nards.Twice.
rainbowbob
Member
Off-thread, but...I need one of those! Does anyone have a link for a design plan? I suppose I could just fake it and stick something together.
[EDIT]
Nevermind...I googled and found several references.
xsquidgator
Member
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- 835
Target stand
This is one that's easy and has worked well for me for a few years. The parts that get shot once or twice a year are cheap 1x2" wood or PVC pipe. I keep a couple of spares with me when I go to the range so that it's not game over if the stand gets shot. (Once a Range Officer shot it for me by accident - PVC pipe does not hold up well to .40 cal slugs!)
Materials Needed:
-(optional) one 1"x2" board four or five feet long, this will be the horizontal cross member on top. Drill a 1/4" hole though it at each end, and put a long, like 3-4" long, 1/4" bolt through the hole, and tighten a nut down on it. You'll have exposed thread.
- (vertical members)two about 1" diameter lengths of PVC pipe, each cut to the same length. Drill a 1/4" hole through and through each about 6-12" from one of the ends. Put a 1/4" bolt through the hole, put a nut on the other side and tighten it down.
-Two pieces of steel rebar
- One big piece of cardboard to act as the backstop, replace every month or two as needed
-about 4 or so little spring clamps. Big binder clips would work too
assemble when you get to the range:
1) pound rebar pieces into the ground
2) stick a vertical member over the top of each piece of rebar. the bolt holds it up
3) use the spring clamps to clamp the cardboard to the sides. Since it's based on rebar pounded into the ground, I've found it can stand up to some pretty brisk winds
4) if desired, stick the horizontal member across the top. You don't absolutely need this as you can just clamp the cardboard to the sides and it'll work too.
Here is a sketch:
This is one that's easy and has worked well for me for a few years. The parts that get shot once or twice a year are cheap 1x2" wood or PVC pipe. I keep a couple of spares with me when I go to the range so that it's not game over if the stand gets shot. (Once a Range Officer shot it for me by accident - PVC pipe does not hold up well to .40 cal slugs!)
Materials Needed:
-(optional) one 1"x2" board four or five feet long, this will be the horizontal cross member on top. Drill a 1/4" hole though it at each end, and put a long, like 3-4" long, 1/4" bolt through the hole, and tighten a nut down on it. You'll have exposed thread.
- (vertical members)two about 1" diameter lengths of PVC pipe, each cut to the same length. Drill a 1/4" hole through and through each about 6-12" from one of the ends. Put a 1/4" bolt through the hole, put a nut on the other side and tighten it down.
-Two pieces of steel rebar
- One big piece of cardboard to act as the backstop, replace every month or two as needed
-about 4 or so little spring clamps. Big binder clips would work too
assemble when you get to the range:
1) pound rebar pieces into the ground
2) stick a vertical member over the top of each piece of rebar. the bolt holds it up
3) use the spring clamps to clamp the cardboard to the sides. Since it's based on rebar pounded into the ground, I've found it can stand up to some pretty brisk winds
4) if desired, stick the horizontal member across the top. You don't absolutely need this as you can just clamp the cardboard to the sides and it'll work too.
Here is a sketch:
JackBurtonJr
Member
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2008
- Messages
- 294
My second-most funniest story from Okinawa happened on a Marine range back in '73. I don't remember specifically which range were were shooting on.
I worked in a Navy personnel office on Torii Station Army Base and our department head decided that he wanted all of us clerical type people .45 qualified (maybe because he was concerned that chucking our typewriters at invading Viet Cong couldn't guarantee us a OSS).
I was in a lane to the immediate left of a young sailorette, one of the first non-medical WAVES assigned permanently on Okinawa. She had just started in working in our office a few days earlier and in WAVE boot camp they then didn't weapons qualify so it was her first time with any gun of any kind.
Being a female type sailor, her dungaree blouse buttoned from the reverse of the men's, so the opening gapped to the left instead of the right. While we were shooting rapid fire one of my ejected hot brass flew into the gap in her blouse, and then wedged deeply into her cleavage (she was VERY well endowed).
She was quite surprised, upset, and vocal... and waving a .45 around in one hand while she danced across the range grabbing at her chest with the other. I was the only one who knew what happened, and I was dying laughing while everyone else scattered until things got back under control. I think the range Gunny put his retirement papers in the next day. Just couldn't handle these new-fangled ideas about women on the firing line.
She eventually forgave me, and a few months ago we celebrated our 34th wedding anniversary, and are expecting our first grandchild in eight weeks. (She's since learned much better range manners, and I try not to give her any reason to regret going with me )
I worked in a Navy personnel office on Torii Station Army Base and our department head decided that he wanted all of us clerical type people .45 qualified (maybe because he was concerned that chucking our typewriters at invading Viet Cong couldn't guarantee us a OSS).
I was in a lane to the immediate left of a young sailorette, one of the first non-medical WAVES assigned permanently on Okinawa. She had just started in working in our office a few days earlier and in WAVE boot camp they then didn't weapons qualify so it was her first time with any gun of any kind.
Being a female type sailor, her dungaree blouse buttoned from the reverse of the men's, so the opening gapped to the left instead of the right. While we were shooting rapid fire one of my ejected hot brass flew into the gap in her blouse, and then wedged deeply into her cleavage (she was VERY well endowed).
She was quite surprised, upset, and vocal... and waving a .45 around in one hand while she danced across the range grabbing at her chest with the other. I was the only one who knew what happened, and I was dying laughing while everyone else scattered until things got back under control. I think the range Gunny put his retirement papers in the next day. Just couldn't handle these new-fangled ideas about women on the firing line.
She eventually forgave me, and a few months ago we celebrated our 34th wedding anniversary, and are expecting our first grandchild in eight weeks. (She's since learned much better range manners, and I try not to give her any reason to regret going with me
)
JackBurtonJr
Member
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Happened to me... thought I was going to lose my eye at first. Good reason to wear a cap when indoor shooting
JackBurtonJr
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While at a DNR outdoor range we watched a bunch of boyz from the hood bouncing their rounds off the dirt at 30 feet while shooting their glocks gansta style on the 100 yard range.
Didn't take too long to get them headed back where they came from.
Didn't take too long to get them headed back where they came from.
jhansman
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One day at the range, several of us blasting away, a badger waddles across the field of fire. He was well in front of the closest target and in no danger of being hit. We all just stopped shooting and gawked at him as he made his way across. Then, over the PA, the range master's voice says "Do not shoot the wildlife." We just busted up and waited for him to vacate.
Excellent!
She eventually forgave me, and a few months ago we celebrated our 34th wedding anniversary, and are expecting our first grandchild in eight weeks. (She's since learned much better range manners, and I try not to give her any reason to regret going with me
JackBurtonJr is online now Report Post
Excellent!
Tom609
Member
I had a similar animal experience. Our range has a strict "no shooting the wildlife" policy. In fact it's amazing how comfortable some have become. I've watched groundhogs go back and forth for hours in front of the 100 yard targets. They couldn't care less about all the lead flying over their heads. Another time, I was the first one at the range and found a fox sleeping in a pile of leaves near the benches. He didn't move until we got going and the first few rounds were fired. He levitated, landed on all fours, and trotted off into the woods.
Probably 40 years ago or more, when I was a kid, I went with my older brother to an outdoor shootin' hole in the country. There was a big dirt pile there for a backstop, some woods, and there was an oil drilling rig nearby, but not in our line of fire. We were talking with a guy that was there, and his son came running out of the woods, all anxious and eager to leave, "c'mon Dad, let's go! I'm ready to go!" We found out later that one of the guys on the drilling rig had been shot with a .22.
Coincidence? Hmmmm.....
Coincidence? Hmmmm.....- Status
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