What's your typical range trip?

[Mr White]

Just wondering what peoples range habits are.

When I go to the range, I see everything from the guy sighting in his muzzleloader, to the old guy testing loads in his favorite varmit gun, to the the group of young 20somethings trying to see how many holes they can put in a cardboard box at 25 yds with an AK in the shortest amount of time, to the guy shooting a bunch of different pistols with his girlfriend, to the guy with his little kids having fun with a .22 and a reactive target.

For me, a trip to the range usually involves either my M1 or my AR. Sometimes both. About 1/2 the time I'll take a pistol along, about half the time I'll take my Hi Point carbine. My Mosins, my SKSs and my K31 don't get shot too often, maybe once every couple months. In the fall, I pay more attention to my hunting rifles, which rarely see the outside of the safe in the spring and summer.

I'm not one for putting the maximum amount of lead downrange. I'd rather put 20/20 in the black and take 20 minutes to do it, than hit 20/200 in spray n pray mode. I usually either shoot from sandbags to test loads or practice from position.

I rarely shoot more than 100 rounds/per gun on any trip with the exception of .22LR. Sometime if I take an SKS or the Hi Point along, I might break the 100 rd/gun mark.

If I take my kids, a 10/22 and/or the Single Six will usually accompany us. Going through a brick of .22 in 3 hrs isn't too hard to do.

Trips usually last 2-3 hrs. In the spring and summer, I get to the range 1-3 times/week. In the winter I may only go every few weeks when the weather is OK.

What's your typical range trip consist of?

 

[El Tejon]

1. I practice with my carry guns, 150 to 200 rounds.

2. I may bring a long gun to sight in or plink with.

3. I always bring a .22 pistol or rifle to have fun with.

4. I always have a firearm that has just been "fixed" that I need to test fire.

 

[Beatnik]

I usually go with either my dad or my range buddy, and usually try to bring along a non gun owner or two.

I don't go more than once a month, 'cause I'm broke these days and have other expensive hobbies. I go even less these days because the range in town caught fire and won't be renovated until fall.

I usually bring the Marlin .357 Magnum lever action carbine. I love shooting that gun, but it takes longer to reload (only about 300 rounds through it yet, springs are still tight) so I never make it through more than 60 rounds or so, even with a couple shooting.

I also bring the Walther P38, the Steyr M9, my dad's military armory frankenstein 1911, and my range buddy brings his colt 1991A1 and his Beretta Cougar .40 when he goes. He rarely brings his longarms anymore, but I don't care because it's fun to shoot double .45's.

We usually go through about 100 rounds of 9mm and 150 or so of .45. We're never there for more than 2 hours because the women don't go with us usually and we don't want to keep them waiting TOO long.

Now, call me a dork if you want. I like shooting, but I really, really enjoy taking the guns home, stripping them, and cleaning them for a couple hours.

 

[PPGMD]

I go to the range 6 days a week (like god they are closed on the 7th day ). On a normal day I take two pistols and put 50 rounds through each of them with slow fire exercises.

 

[Chuhhuniban]

I shoot pistols in .45 ACP and 10 mm. Generally (but not always), I will take two of the same caliber and 200 to 250 rounds of appropriate ammuntion (20% factory loads and the rest are my reloads - I add factory loads to each trip to compensate for the fraction of the brass that is either not recoverable or shot-out and no longer reloadable). I will shoot between 150 and 200 rounds - if I go above that my practice is no longer good, I'm just making holes and empty brass. I vary the range, from 30-feet out to 50-feet (indoor range). I record the weapons and round count in my range log and scan the targets into computer files by date, weapon and range when I get back to my office or house (OCD, right?).

Then, of course, having been thoroughly brainwashed in the Army, if I shoot it, then I clean it, so the pistols that went to the range are field stripped and cleaned (and inspected) (detail strip every 750-1,000 rounds) (and I generally clean my vehicular carry weapon each time I go to the range just for reliability, even if I haven't shot it).

Then I sort the brass into my reloading stuff for my next session of reloading.

The whole process is Zen; you can't do it right and be thinking of anything else, so you empty your mind of all the other crud and shoot...

 

[scrat]

most of the time is being spent on adjusting for windage and elevation. i try to get my kids to learn the difference from blowing away money to sighting for accuracy.


they kinda get discouraged from time to time because i will only let them shoot a few rounds then wait for sease fire then check where the rounds hit to adjust from there. However making good shooting habits will improve their shooting. so when they see the improvements then they understand. if it were up to them they would shoot all the ammo in 20 minutes

 

[wooderson]

2 semi-autos and a revolver or vice versa, 100 rounds apiece unless the revolver is my 642, which only gets 50. Usually a .22 as well.

 

[Sniper X]

I'll take anything new, and there allways seems to be something new to take! I also like to test the sighting in of my SWS and support weapon, and of course stay profecient with my carry guns. I also ALLWAYS take my 1894 in .357 because if I don't everyone gets on my case because they all allways want to shoot it.

I'll also take my H&K M1 and throw a few slugs and 000 buck thru it. Like to shoot some skeet too.

 

[Bazooka Joe71]

Couple of pistols, maybe 100 rds a peice. Couple of semi auto rifles, 100-200 rds a peice and a couple of .22 rifles for cheap competitions with my buddies...Although my Nagants have been getting most of my attention lately.

 

[Lupinus]

The Marlin 60 is a must and sees action every trip, my Rem 700 is an almost constant and the Win 94 is a maybe if I am in the mood. The Springfield 84c rarely sees the range.

 

[cheygriz]

I usually run 100 rounds through my SIG P239 9MM carry gun. Then a couple of hundred through the SIG P226, or the Beretta 92 of the Glock 17.

I usually finish with 50 rounds through the Beretta 950 .25 or the S&W 642.

I use the standard FBI "Q" target for most handgun shooting at 7,10 and 15 yards. (5 yards, and head shots only with the .25ACP )

I don't usually take both pistols and rifles on the same trip. That becomes a hassle.

On rifle days, I'll run 3 or 4 30 round magazines through one of the ARs, three more through one of the AKs (usually the 5.45X39 Ak74) and finish with 50 rounds through the Model 70 .30-06.

The ARs and AKs, I use FBI "Q" targets at 100 and 200, offhand only. The model 70, I usually use Speedwell "realistic" targets at 200 offhand and 300 prone.

Of course, sometimes I like to just plink with a .303 British or M44 Mosin at 1 qt. oil bottles, offhand at 100. Or "plink" at fired 12 guage shotgun shells with a .454 Casull or .44 magnum, or .45 colt at 25-50 yards.

I guess I'm already a reasonably competent marksman, (although anybody can improve, even national champions) so these days, I shoot mostly for fun instead of "training."

And if ya REALLY wanna have fun , prime a bunch of empty 12 guage shells, and set them up at 50 yards, and try to set off the primers with a good accurate scoped .22LR, shooting offhand.

Ya might need lotsa .22 ammo, but ya won't need very many shotshells!

 

[RNB65]

Handguns: 100-150 9mm rounds and 50 or so other rounds (.45/.40/.38SP)

Rifles: 2-3 hours of shooting or until I run out of ammo. I don't keep a shot count on the rifle range. Typically an AR and/or a CZ bolt-action.

Shotguns: 100rounds on the sporting clays course. Maybe 25 on the wobble or 5-stand.

All the ranges I go to are between 35-50 minutes away each way, so each trip is fairly time consuming.

 

[scurtis_34471]

I generally put 50-100 rounds through my Bersa .380 and 100-200 rounds through my Walther P22. My wife will put 50-100 through her .38 Special and may or may not shoot the Walther. My daughter will typically put 100+ rounds through her Ruger 10/22 and may spend some time with the Walther as well. My wife may or may not shoot her Marlin 60. I may or may not shoot one of the .22 rifles or my VEPR. When I do shoot the VEPR, I typically shoot 60 to 90 rounds. With the .22 rifles, it can be anywhere between 50 and 200. We typically go to the range twice a month and spend 3-4 hours there. Now that we are members of the local gun club and have a range only 12 miles away, we may go more often for shorter periods of time. I'd love to go shoot a few hundred rounds every weekend, but I really can't afford to unless its .22LR.

 

[rugerdude]

Well when I used to go to the RIFLE range, I would bring every rifle I own (like 5 or 6) and shoot 100 rounds through each at least (.303, 7.62x54r & 39mm, .22lr).

It was an enormous hassle to get 5 rifles in hard cases to the range and clean them afterward.

I'm getting a membership to a much better rifle range soon, and I'll probably focus on shooting one or two rifles per trip to become really efficient with them. I think it will help my shooting if I'm not constantly switching guns.

When I shot competetive skeet at what amounted to a shotgun only range, I normally shot 100 rounds of #8 and sometimes as many as 200.

 

[MikeH]

Usually 2 long guns. 100-200 rounds of ammo for each for semi-auto, less for bolt-action shoulder wreckers.

I'd take a handgun only if I am not planning to stop anywhere else. Such is life in the Free State of Maryland.

 

[30Cal]

My range time is most often 88rds through an M1A, 80 of which count towards my score. Sometimes it's 50rds for record. Occasionally I come home with prize money or hardware.

 

[glockman19]

I visit the indoor range 2X a week and shoot 100-200 rounds a visit. I usually shoot my 9mm Glock 19 & 26 & my S&W 642.

On the weekends I spend 4 hrs at the outdoor range and bring my Ruger 10/22 for fun and to play with while my other barrels are cooling down. To the outdoor range I bring my Remington 10/22 100-200 rounds, and 700 CDL in .30-06 the CDL gets sighted & practice at 200 yards with 50-100 rounds, I also bring my M1A and shoot for practice at between 200-400 yards 100 rounds on average. In between I have fun running 100 rounds through my Mini-14. After the long guns get their weekly work out I shoot my 686 50 .38 50 .357 & Kimber Raptor II 100 .45. Each get 100 rounds a week.

So all together I shoot between 500-700 a week. What's going to happen next week when I get the Kimber Custom II and next month when I can pick-up the S&W 442?

needless to say I've begun saving my brass for the day I decide to start reloading. I must have 1,000 rounds of .308 brass waiting. I just started to save other calibers .38, .357, 9mm & .45 and only have a few hundred of each.

 

[Big Calhoun]

I typically go to two different indoor ranges. For the most part, the trips are uneventful...

- I usually take at least two guns to shoot with.
- Upon entering, I usually just pick up my ammo and go shooting, maybe a hello here and there to the regular sales people I'm familiar with.
- After shooting, I usually lug everything back to my car and come back inside
- Upon coming back inside, I peruse the used guns, check for new guns, and spend a little more time chatting with the salespeople I'm familiar with.
- Then it's back to the house to do some cleaning.

It's fairly basic. One range I go to is smaller, so it can get hectic and crowded at times. Usually, I see a lot of professional types (corporate), LEOs, and out-of-town visitors. The other range I go to is larger, and a little slower paced. Mostly just regular old joes, a parent with a kid, or a couple. Can't really complain about either place.

 

[gaweidert]

If I go on a Wednesday or weekend I usually try to hit the sporting clays venue. At the rifle range it's usually one of my AR's along with various milsurps. Bolt action days usually are limited to 100 rounds or so. Biggest problem is if I have time to clean my rifles after shooting. My milsurp ammo is mainly corrosive so I need to have time after I get home to clean my rifles before storing them away if I sm shooting corrosive ammo. Lately my Remington 597 in .22LR has been getting a bit of a workout too.

 

[Chris Rhines]

I always go to the range with an idea of what I want to practice. Draws, movement, target transitions, long range, etc. I pick one element of my shooting and focus on it.

I usually only take 1-2 guns to the range at a time. Sometimes I do one pistol and one long gun.

I get to the range, sign in, load my magazines (Maryland...), set up my target(s), do a bit of dry fire to warm up, and get to the shooting. A few hours later, I clean up the range and update my shooting journal. Then I go home.

- Chris

 

[heypete]

Since the local range is handgun/subgun/rimfire rifle only, I usually just end up bringing my XD-45, Ruger MkIII and suppressed Ruger 10/22.

Sometimes, like this weekend, I'll be heading out with a bunch of folks to hit the closest rifle range, and I'll be bringing my AR, Rem700, M1 Garand, XD, MkIII, 10/22, and Mossberg 500.

I haven't gotten enough rifle practice, though I did have some full-auto fun on Easter Sunday with M16s and Uzis, which was nice.

 

[johncolo]

When weather permits walk to side of yard set up a few soda or coffie cans and pratice drawing and and point shooting or just plink or some days take the rifles and plink out to 200 yards to get ready for hunting season

 

[Redneck with a 40]

I always take my handguns with me, with sufficient ammo. This is what I usually do:

1) 100 rounds out of the Ruger 22/45
2) 50 rounds out of the XD-40 ( I alternate the XD and Mil-Pro week to week)
3) 50 rounds out of my Taurus Mil-Pro 40
4) 30 rounds out of my SKS once a month
5) I'd like to shoot my Taurus Tracker 357 mag more, but 357 ammo has gotten rediculous.

 

[Lonestar49]

...

I go to my local indoor range, 10 mins from my house, which is also my gunsmith, and is a training range for all of Orange County's various police departments (they have their own part of the separated range lanes) but if the civi lanes are all taken, we are allowed to use any unused lanes with the PD officers.

I earlier, had joined another indoor range that was 25mins from my house, but I never felt comfy there with the likes of wanna be gang bangers, or hell, they could have been the real deal, but I would be on "high-alert" before I unlocked my truck doors and kill the engine, going in, and coming out, as I, too many times, saw those eyes looking at my 2 guns.

So, now that I found a much safer environment, I get in 200 rounds each, for my Sig P229 CT 9mm and my Beretta Px4 40cal once a week.

I got to tell ya though, it really amazes me that all that separates each lane/s is what appears to be nothing more than a fiber-class panel wall, and I have to suppress the thoughts of some newbie, or someone that gets careless, while racking, or dealing with a ND, AD, etc., but faith is a wonderful asset, and I never question IT, but where is logic/protection in those kind of dividers?


LS

 

[gbran]

Rifle range; Shoot .223's, '06 and rimfires at various distances Plus long range gongs.
Then move to pistol range for paper punching withvarious calibers.
Then to steel plate range for pistols.
Finish up with the shotties hitting clays.