Rifle practice, getting ready for mule deer

Hi,

Yesterday we took advantage of a beautiful day and went rifle shooting.  I wanted to practice with my two rifles.  My husband thought that was a very good idea.  He too would bring his two rifles.

We are going to Colorado to mule deer hunt on a friends ranch in October.  Or at least we are pretty sure we will be hunting in October this year.  In Colorado you have to enter your name into a drawing for a deer tag.  If your name is picked then you can hunt in the section of Colorado you asked to hunt in.  In past years the section where our friend lives has been under subscribed.  Meaning there are more tags available than there are hunters.  So, we are pretty sure we'll be hunting mule deer this year.

Because I could take a shot of 300 yards or more at this ranch I feel that I need to practice at those distances a few time this summer.  My furthest shot in Colorado so far was at 289 yards, and my husbands was at 370 yards.  My closest shot was as 189 yards, my husbands was at 60 yards.  He only got this close a shot because the deer came up over the rise from a blind side at where he was hunting.  Other wise I'm sure my husband would not have let the deer get that close before getting a shot at it.

I took my Remington Model 7, both my rifles are a Model 7, 7mm08 and 270 WSM.  My husband took his 7mm and his 7mm08.  We started at 100 yards. With just a few adjustments to the scopes we were both shooting the targets about 1 inch high to the bulls-eye   Just were we wanted to hit.  Then we moved out to 200 yards.  My scope on the 270 has the marked redical for 100 yard increments.  The 7mm08 does not, so I'll have to make a mental adjustment for the further shots.  I shot both rifles very well.  There would be dead deer on the ground.  Same at 300 yards.  My husband did just as well. Our groups of three shots were with in 1 inch, and my husband had one group of 3 where they were touching each other.  We had a great time at the range.

I will probable take the 270 and my husband is planning on taking the 7mm to Colorado.  They are both good cartridges for out west. I am already excited and looking forward to our hunting trip.

Take care,  good hunting and good shooting.
M.

Trap League Week 5

Hi !!

I did it!  I finally shot more that a 19.  My second round on Wednesday was a 21.  I am so happy.  Now I can set my next goal:  a score of 23.

I have to tell you about my shotgun.  It was brand new last fall.  A Browning Citori Lighting double barrel. The gun is now fairly well broke in.  I remember last year it took time to break it in, get the parts smoothed out.  Originally it was difficult to break open the action.  It was difficult to take the fore arm off the barrels, and I had a sore palm from forcing the gun to open to eject the shells after shooting .  I did expect this because it was brand new.  It took about 20 outings with the shotgun, putting it through its paces before it became comfortable for me to operate.  Now I have no trouble taking down the gun for storage and cleaning.  I can easily open the action after shooting.  I do not feel like a dork any longer.  I just know that last year people were watching me struggle with the gun and wondering why I do not know how to operate it.  Now it is just second nature to load, shoot, unload and disassemble it.  I really do love this shotgun.

My husband had; in his words, a dismal night.  He shot a 23 and a 20.

My other team members on the second round also shot 20, 18, 13 and 20.  So, that means that I was top scorer for that round on my team.  LOL.  I am also still top lady in the league. But, my team is in 9th place.  We are only 2 points out of 8th place and 4 points out of 7th.  We can pull off a big move in positions at next weeks shoot.  Wish us luck.

Take care,  good shooting and good hunting.
M.

Trap League, week 4 of the spring league

Hi!!

I've had such a busy week since the last Wednesday Night Spring Trap League shoot.  The ranking finally came out over the weekend.  My team has moved into a tie for 7th place out of 12 teams.

I had a good evening, shooting an 18 on the first round and a 19 on the second.  I must protest a bit on the 19 score.  I was very sure I hit another clay bird.  I did not hear the scorer call out a miss, or I could have asked for a review.  A review would have consisted of asking my team members if they saw a hit or miss, plus my view on the hit.  But, after completing the round, it seemed to me to be to hard to ask for a review of something that happened many rounds ago.  My error I guess in not listening better to the scorer.  Stupid ear plugs! But the good news is I am high scorer overall for the ladies.

My husband shot a 22 and a 23.  He is still looking for that round of 25.  I sure hope he gets it at least once during this season.  Several would be ideal.  We'll see.

Our team mate with the skeet barrel shot gun did not get the new trap barrel in time for this week shoot.  He shot a bit better for him this week. He now knew that he must be much quicker on pulling the trigger, since the shot pattern from the skeet barrel is not ideal for trap.  I know the new trap barrel with the correct choke should help him with his scores.  I hope that he has it by next week.

We want good weather and excellent shooting for the rest of the league. I cannot believe we are halfway through the spring league's season.  I am having a good time.

If you get the chance to shoot trap or skeet do so.  It is challenging and fun all at the same time.

Side note:  I saw a turkey in full strut and fanned tail feathers in the woods this past weekend.  It was a wonderus sight.

Take care, good shooting and good hunting.
M.

Trap Shooting Week 3 of the League

Hi;

Week three of the league saw me do not so well in the first round.  I was a bit upset over the misses.  My scores for the two rounds were a 15, and a 19.  Fortunately I managed to recover in the second round.  My husband shot a 21 and a 24. He was okay, but not totally happy with his shooting.  We both were shooting behind on the clay targets.  I'm sure I will get the hang of it with enough practice.

I remember when I started out on the bowling league many years ago.  I was not very good. In the first year of the league my score per game averaged in the 80's.  Before the next season began my dad gave me a book on bowling techniques. I did better the next year with my average, bringing it up to around 110.  By the time I stopped bowling my average was around 135.  For Trap I am listening to the help I am being given.  I am going to look for a book or tips on the internet.  Something that can give me a boost in my game.

My team moved up in the standings.  We are now in seventh place.  Our team member that did so badly last week, shot with his repaired gun, and he did so much better.  He did order a trap barrel to replace the skeet barrel he currently has on his shotgun.  That too should help him with his scores.

It was a pleasant night, around 70 degrees with a light wind. So, the weather was not a factor in shooting tonight.  I love getting out in weather like this. But, I know hot and humid is coming!!

Take care,  good shooting and good hunting.
M.

Bowling Pin Shoot April 2013

Hi;

Sundays April 2013 Bowling Pin shoot was a fun time.  The day was a bit chilly, but the sunshine made it bearable.  There was a nice size crowd.  I believe everyone shot several rounds. This is typical, because it is so much fun to run the round of 6 bowling pins at 7 yards, then 6 bowling pin steel plates at 15 yards.

I posted this event on the Shooting Diva's web site, trying to get more women to participate.  It worked.  There were nine ladies, plus one lady brought her teenage daughter.  The daughter told me she was having a great time and excited shooting her .22.  One of the men let the teen try his .22 with a dot scope.  She did so well, I think I see a new scope being bought before the next match.  I heard from many of the ladies that they enjoyed the day, spending time with the other women and men there, plus getting to shoot at a fun event.
Below you can see that we also had a youngster shooting his .22 very well.  His score was 16.94 sec.

 

I had a great day.  Everything fell into place as I was shooting.  My .22 score was 10.86 sec. and my 9mm score was 16.51 sec.  I've shaved off 2 - 3 seconds on my .22 time from last year.  And, on the 9mm I've reduced my time by around 6 - 8 seconds.  I love my new Springfield Arms 1911 9mm.  The extra weight of it over the Glock I used last year makes it so much easier for me to recover from the recoil and sight in on the next bowling pin.  The better .22 time is just due to practice.  I came in first in both the rim fire and center fire ladies category.  But, because I was helping with running the match this time, I was not eligible for any prize. One of the men who would have helped with the event had a commitment at a 3 gun shoot. He had forgotten about it.  So, my husband asked if I would help them with running the timer. 

Everyone I talked with was lamenting the shortage of ammo.  They could not practice like they want to, or just go out for a good time at the range.

My next event is the Wednesday Night Trap League.  I would really like to shoot a 20 or 21.

Take care, good shooting and good hunting.
M.

Trap Shooting this week

Hi.

Trap league shooting this week, weather wise, was so 180 !  Last week I needed long johns, gloves, hat and heavy coat.  This week I needed shorts and a t-shirt.  It was around 82 degrees while shooting.

I did well.  My first round was a 19.  I really thought I'd shot a 20 but the score keeper said otherwise.  My second round was an 18.  I realized a bit to late to pick up a better score, but I was leading the bird to far. That is unusual for me.  If I miss it is usually because I am behind on the clay bird.  Maybe the nicer, warmer weather made me limber and I was swinging too fast.  Who knows??  I will keep it in mind for next week's round.  I do know that I was concentrating much more on keeping the barrel down by sighting the gun where I could only see the bead.  That has been one big improvement in my success ratio.  Last year I sighted down the barrel where I could see some of the barrel rib as well as the bead.  Turns out that is not to correct way to sight and shoot.  That style of sighting does well for squirrel and rabbit hunting, but not nearly as accurate as it needs to be for a clay bird.

My husband had two rounds of 23.  He has not yet determined why he is missing. Personally right now, I would be happy to have a score of 23.  I am working on it, and I'll be very happy the day that that happens!

Unfortunately one of my team members had a really, really bad night.  Two low scores (10 and 10), and a broken shotgun.  He finished the last station by using my husbands gun. The good news is he shot 4 out of 5 on the last station with the borrowed gun.  The bad news is the barrel on the broken shotgun is a 'skeet' barrel.  Not appropriated at all for 'trap' shooting.  The choke on a skeet barrel throws a wider pattern of shot, where the trap barrel will keep the shot in a tighter group.  The tighter group will have a much better chance of hitting the target.  My husband is taking with him about getting a new barrel.  Oh by the way, my husband fixed the broken shotgun.

Take care,  good shooting and good hunting.
M.

Spring Trap League Begins!

Hi;

Last Wednesday night was the beginning of the eight week Spring Trap league.  Well, we thought it was Spring, but the weather was Winter with a big W.  Cold and blustery.  It made for a challenging two rounds of Trap.  About 40 degrees at dusk when we started and probably 33 degrees when we finished.  The winds were blowing pretty hard at times.  The wind caused the clay birds to wobble and float up or down.  I think this type of challenge is part of what the game is about. The better your shooting skills the better you adapt to the conditions you have no control over.

I had a fun evening. I was bundled up with long johns, heavy socks, heavy boots and my hunting coat. Only my face was cold.  Everyone was in the same boat so there was no advantage gained or lost.

In my first round I shot an 18, which for me is good.  I was happy with that.  Last year my average was 16, so I am improving. My husband did better by shooting a 22 that round.  There are five on my team, the other three guys did well shooting in the 14 to 18 range. Now in the second round we were all really ready to get out of the cold, so no fooling around. We got down to business.  I shot a 19!! My husband really had a great round, a 24.  He was a bit upset that the missed shot was the second to last shot.  He is really looking forward to getting a perfect score of 25.  I am confident that he will get that score this season. The other three team members did well.

My scores gave me high lady for the night.  I'd like to keep that going for the whole season.  This year there are 5 ladies, vs last year during the Fall Trap league when there were only 3.

Out of the 12 teams we came in 5th place.  This is so much better than last year.  We did no better that 8th place and I think we ended the season in 10th.  Maybe I shouldn't say anything.  It is only the first shoot, and with seven more to go, we will see our standing change several times, I'm sure.

Well, I'm looking forward to next weeks shoot.  I'll let you know how it goes.  Keep your fingers crossed for us.

Take care, good shooting and good hunting.
M.