Went to the range this past week...

[BiggJawn]

FINALLY got a day off with nothing on the dance card, so we drove an obscene distance to the closest public range (110 miles) and spent the day busting caps.

First, I want to say to all the young men who post Yoo-Toob videos pissing and moaning about how "bad" the 7.62X54R kicks: "Go back to your Daisy Red Ryders, pussies".

Pick up an M1 Garand. You'll BELIEVE something can kick!

Got used to both rifles after about 50 rounds, really enjoyed the Mosin/Nagant. I like it a lot. I like the M1, too, even if it did double and scare the shit out of me once...

Went to the other end of the range and limbered up the M1911 and the TCP .380. Yes, the mouse gun hurts the hand after a while, but was surprisingly accurate at 10 yards, much farther away that I ever intend to use it.

The 1911 is a very nice pistol, I put 100 rounds through it, only stopped because I wanted to have some ammo left at home. Still have much to learn about the sight picture on this one.

Lessons learned: Checklist. It sucks realizing 40 miles from home that you left the .30-06 can on the kitchen table. sucks even more to realize at the range that you left the .22 can at home, and the tripod for the spotting scope, too.
Document. I saved all the targets, and the only one I can place is the one with the 4" group high and right from the Garand at 50 yards. Get a journal, and write down each relay as you shoot it.
Rest. I was winded after schlepping everything 50 yards from the parking lot to the line (yes, I'm THAT out of shape). Oh, well, I told myself I needed to get to know how to load, lock, and fire everybody before I started working on sighting anyway... Groups started to tighten as I got my wind back.
Take an empty can for the empties (I don't know why, I don't handload) maybe I can trade the brass for something?

Need to find a closer range...