Independence Day shooting

[church]

Timed this just right this year. Got out early, got in a decent bit of shooting before the humidity really set in.

Shot

My NEF Handi Rifle in .357 mag-youth buttstock and barrel cut from 22" to 16.5"-right at 32" LOA,

Great Western 357 Atomic.

Herter's Powermag 357 Mag.

Smith 27 357

Pre-27, 357

Smith Model 10, 38 Spec

Colt Cobra 38 Spec

Ruger Bearcat, OM

OM Super Single Six.

One, my shooting stunk. Out of practice.

Two, mechanical malfunctions on the Great Western-kept launching the ejector.

Three, the OM Bearcat lost the hand spring screw. Kept running, didn't know it was gone until I cleaned it.

Four, a quantity of S and B 38 Special 158RNL was failing to go off in both my Model 10, and the Model 27. I bought a bunch of this cheaply in 2002, and not sure what the problem is. Their 9 m/m hardball has consistently been good stuff.

That said it was a great time.

I started shooting on 04JUL back in 1977. My best friend in high school and I intended to shoot 04JUL76, but a parade he marched in ran long.

We made sure to have no other obligations a year later.

This year is the 32nd Independence Day in a row I've gone shooting.

[mt]

A day at the Range with friends is hard to beat regardless of the small setbacks.

mt

[parson45]

I celebrated this morning by tossing some 44 special's out of my Lipsey's to ring my 40 yard gong.

[chutch]

I took the 357 three screw , S&W model 24 44 special , USFA SAA and New Vaquero in 45 colt along with a Model 94 Winchester also in 45 colt and my High Standard Military HD 22 LR. A great time was had by all!!!

[smirker]

I just took it easy with friends and talked about guns.I very good day.I am impressed with 32 years straight spent shooting.I wish my job and life would allow that much consistency.

[church]

I won't lie. Some 4ths it was raining like a monsoon. I got a grubby old Ruger Standard I used to own, drove into the country, rolled down the car window, emptied the pistol into a ditch, and drove home.

Strictly so I could say "I went shooting".

On the other hand, there have been Independence days where I went to a friend's farm around sunup, and left for home around 1AM on the 5th.

[Charger Fan]

That sounds like an excellent tradition! I think I've only actually gone shooting on the 4th maybe 3 times. I think I'll try to make it a tradition too. I'm going today, so I guess it can be sort of a belated start to the tradition.

[nobearsyet]

Iburned a little powder in an OM 357, NM 44 Mag, and a Pedersolli Sharps 45-120, tha tI think might be going back in for a new barrel in something a little lighter

[Aggie01]

No pistol shooting on the 4th, but me and 7 friends paired off into teams for some shotgunning fun.
We made up games as we went, winning team manned the throwers for the next game.
8 shooters, and our best estimate was that we put 1200 rounds downrange.
We also took out more than a couple coolers of beer.

Good times.

[Frank V]

My Wife & I went out on Independence day & had a good time at the range. Frank