Target practice, anyone else enjoy shooting?

[Uberhoust]

Don't care too much for shooting targets but really enjoy Sporting Clays. Kind of like Skeet, and Trap except each station has unique presentations of the clays, some moving towards you, some moving away, some cross, some starting overhead. At our local range we even have couple of stations that sometimes throws the clays from behind and below you. We also have clay rabbits (roll along ground), battues (usually launched vertically), mini "midi" (smaller), and micro (really small) clays to round up the challenge. Way more fun than punching holes in paper. Kind of like target practice but the targets are always moving. Shooting glasses are required because sometimes when you hit the incoming clays you get showered with the fragments, a much more visceral experience in my opinion. At our local range the course is uniquely setup for each event, and we shoot in squads of 4 to 5 with a lot of challenges, ribbing, and teasing amongst the squad members.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Don't care too much for shooting targets but really enjoy Sporting Clays. Kind of like Skeet, and Trap except each station has unique presentations of the clays, some moving towards you, some moving away, some cross, some starting overhead. At our local range we even have couple of stations that sometimes throws the clays from behind and below you. We also have clay rabbits (roll along ground), battues (usually launched vertically), mini "midi" (smaller), and micro (really small) clays to round up the challenge. Way more fun than punching holes in paper. Kind of like target practice but the targets are always moving. Shooting glasses are required because sometimes when you hit the incoming clays you get showered with the fragments, a much more visceral experience in my opinion. At our local range the course is uniquely setup for each event, and we shoot in squads of 4 to 5 with a lot of challenges, ribbing, and teasing amongst the squad members.

Sounds like fun!

 

[Ceez]

Clint is one of my favorites, no not Eastwood. This guy is the real deal and runs Thunder Ranch which trains people in firearms. He doesn't sugar coat anything, speaks without regard for feelings and just gives it to you straight which is a lost art these days. This is the kind of guy a lot of us were talking about learning from when we were 1st coming up in our career paths. He's also pretty damn hilarious. If you've never seen him before watch a couple of his videos for some perspective and a good belly laugh or two.

 

[MaloK]

Ok, you're a little more classical inclined than me in some ways. I hate flintlocks, musket, and all muzzle loaders. After 5 shots you need to clean them because they're stuck and you have to take a shower to not pester your car with black smelling smears. My boss loves them, it extends his legal hunting period. But I don't understand them... I make lot cleaner take down with an ordinary compound crossbow that delivers 10x more power and precision. These boom sticks are very nice hung on wall tho.

But I call them the cheeckapoo. When they shoot... Cheecka...............Pooooooo !!! And instead of hitting the heart they it in the butt... Loll...

Then we have to get this outta wood... They like the sport of tracking wounded animals... And it makes me mad...

The last time I went with them... They where not really sure they wanted to bring me again...

Cause, I took down a moose... But my arrow kinda when faster and reached target before the lead ball. This was not really appreciated.

He walked 5 feet before dropping and I felt the global deception I provoked... And prolly a couple are not going to forgive it soon.

But... I'll do it again without hesitation.

 

[Ceez]

Ok, you're a little more classical inclined than me in some ways. I hate flintlocks, musket, and all muzzle loaders. After 5 shots you need to clean them because they're stuck and you have to take a shower to not pester your car with black smelling smears. My boss loves them, it extends his legal hunting period. But I don't understand them... I make lot cleaner take down with an ordinary compound crossbow that delivers 10x more power and precision. These boom sticks are very nice hung on wall tho.

But I call them the cheeckapoo. When they shoot... Cheecka...............Pooooooo !!! And instead of hitting the heart they it in the butt... Loll...

Then we have to get this outta wood... They like the sport of tracking wounded animals... And it makes me mad...

The last time I went with them... They where not really sure they wanted to bring me again...

Cause, I took down a moose... But my arrow kinda when faster and reached target before the lead ball. This was not really appreciated.

He walked 5 feet before dropping and I felt the global deception I provoked... And prolly a couple are not going to forgive it soon.

But... I'll do it again without hesitation.

Theres 2 videos that go together, that's the 1st one. It ranges from the earliest dated rifles all the way to now with all the modern stuff. If you watch his other videos his humor is the same as ours, he's joking but making jokes at the silliness of other people's thought processes that have no place in the real world. This guy is a war veteran with real world experience and an old boomer...



I wish i could have been there when you took that moose. I'm the type of guy, by any means necessary so I would have cosigned your kill and laughed until my belly hurt. Excellent work as always

 

[MaloK]

I wish i could have been there when you took that moose. I'm the type of guy, by any means necessary so I would have cosigned your kill and laughed until my belly hurt. Excellent work as always

Hunting with black powder is completely stupid... at 100 feet, target moves before the projectile reaches it.

But I'll look these vids you suggested.

 

[Ceez]

Hunting with black powder is completely stupid... at 100 feet, target moves before the projectile reaches it.

But I'll look these vids you suggested.

He has a ton of short clips like 2 minutes that give a ton of common sense viewpoints with a dose of hilarity.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Hunting with black powder is completely stupid... at 100 feet, target moves before the projectile reaches it.

I guess you'd consider hunting with a homemade, primitive bow downright idiotic, then. But maybe, just maybe, there are other ways of looking at it.

It takes all kinds. Some people take the "by any means necessary" approach, anything legal to get the kill, and yeah, there's a place for that. But other people choose to hunt with less effective weapons because it's more about the experience than the kill. Some of us like getting really up close in the animal's world, giving the critter a legit chance to escape, instead of sniping it from maximum range. For some of us, that challenge is even more important than making a kill. Some people want to take the roll of a true predator (my effective range with my bows is, coincidentally, about the same range from which a mountain lion will start its charge). Some of us want the accomplishment to be more about ourselves, our skills, our immersion in the natural world, and less about high-tech equipment that tends to shield us from all that.

I'm not being snobby; I have no problem hunting with modern weapons if I need to get some meat in the freezer. And yeah, most people haven't developed the discipline and skills necessary to hunt with lesser weapons; those people should definitely stick to modern gear. But dismissing a whole class of time-tested hunting weapons as "completely stupid" is...well, I won't say it.

Like I said, it takes all kinds. It's all about understanding the limitations of one's weapon, as well as the limitations of the person operating it, and responsibly operating within those limits. Modern weapons do not grant immunity from that responsibility. I've seen much more game wounded with high-caliber rifles than I have with traditional archery. Technological excellence can lead to overconfidence. So it can go both ways.

And on the shooting range? Man, you're missing out if you've never shot the old stuff. My experience at 3d shoots is that the modern guys are shooting tighter groups and racking up higher scores. But the trad guys are having a lot more fun.

 

[Ceez]

I guess you'd consider hunting with a homemade, primitive bow downright idiotic, then. But maybe, just maybe, there are other ways of looking at it.

It takes all kinds. Some people take the "by any means necessary" approach, anything legal to get the kill, and yeah, there's a place for that. But other people choose to hunt with less effective weapons because it's more about the experience than the kill. Some of us like getting really up close in the animal's world, giving the critter a legit chance to escape, instead of sniping it from maximum range. For some of us, that challenge is even more important than making a kill. Some people want to take the roll of a true predator (my effective range with my bows is, coincidentally, about the same range from which a mountain lion will start its charge). Some of us want the accomplishment to be more about ourselves, our skills, our immersion in the natural world, and less about high-tech equipment that tends to shield us from all that.

I'm not being snobby; I have no problem hunting with modern weapons if I need to get some meat in the freezer. And yeah, most people haven't developed the discipline and skills necessary to hunt with lesser weapons; those people should definitely stick to modern gear. But dismissing a whole class of time-tested hunting weapons as "completely stupid" is...well, I won't say it.

Like I said, it takes all kinds. It's all about understanding the limitations of one's weapon, as well as the limitations of the person operating it, and responsibly operating within those limits. Modern weapons do not grant immunity from that responsibility. I've seen much more game wounded with high-caliber rifles than I have with traditional archery. Technological excellence can lead to overconfidence. So it can go both ways.

And on the shooting range? Man, you're missing out if you've never shot the old stuff. My experience at 3d shoots is that the modern guys are shooting tighter groups and racking up higher scores. But the trad guys are having a lot more fun.

Badger, he said he took down the moose with an arrow lol. I think you missed it but he was essentially saying the arrow would arrive 1st at 50 yards before powder ball. You 2 are on the same page lol

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Badger, he said he took down the moose with an arrow lol. I think you missed it but he was essentially saying the arrow would arrive 1st at 50 yards before powder ball. You 2 are on the same page lol

Yeah, I caught that, and it was an entertaining (but a bit puzzling) story. But I don't think we're on the same page, exactly. I think it's always a mistake to dismiss as stupid something one doesn't understand. Personally, I'd love to try hunting with black powder. Such weapons certainly aren't for everybody, but the definitely work for some of us. One just has to know and accept the limitations of one's weapon. That's all I'm trying to say.

 

[MaloK]

guess you'd consider hunting with a homemade, primitive bow downright idiotic, then. But maybe, just maybe, there are other ways of looking at it.

Not at all... I use Bows and Slingshots is my specialty... No sound... You will never ear it coming. No movement,

Even at my old age... I shoot birds in the eye. And squares a sight like a pro.

 

[MaloK]

This brought me thinking of another piece of my younger times.

Since I was able to operate pretty much all the crap needed to prove you're... Reliable... And can handle "missions"

To celebrate my 10 years old, my pops thought it would be a great idea to give me a Gammo .177 the exact year of my birth... 68... Is a pretty good year for robustness... I can tell.

When I first held that thing... Man... is was tough to break open... And a lot more to crank. This was stiff...

But that Kid toy had fully adjustable Iron sight and delivered a lot further than "thought" at the time.

When you where able to have one of these... You already where considered as reliable as the toy

People would trust younger folks to take care of any child. And they would even have protected someone they where bulling at this point.

So it was safe to leave me going in the woods with that air gun, more ammo than you can use, and at least 8 other younger kids to "play" with...

I'm not sure if this was intentional from the parental side....

That really awaken a supervising mode unknown in me, loll...

Some kids I had to crank it for them... Did amazing shots and brought me to follow the wind to beat them.... Because Every turn those who succeed gets to participate. A lot further off the target...

They where all at my chest height and there was sniper seed there.

I still have it well oiled.

 

[Ceez]

This brought me thinking of another piece of my younger times.

Since I was able to operate pretty much all the crap needed to prove you're... Reliable... And can handle "missions"

To celebrate my 10 years old, my pops thought it would be a great idea to give me a Gammo .177 the exact year of my birth... 68... Is a pretty good year for robustness... I can tell.

When I first held that thing... Man... is was tough to break open... And a lot more to crank. This was stiff...

But that Kid toy had fully adjustable Iron sight and delivered a lot further than "thought" at the time.

When you where able to have one of these... You already where considered as reliable as the toy

People would trust younger folks to take care of any child. And they would even have protected someone they where bulling at this point.

So it was safe to leave me going in the woods with that air gun, more ammo than you can use, and at least 8 other younger kids to "play" with...

I'm not sure if this was intentional from the parental side....

That really awaken a supervising mode unknown in me, loll...

Some kids I had to crank it for them... Did amazing shots and brought me to follow the wind to beat them.... Because Every turn those who succeed gets to participate. A lot further off the target...

They where all at my chest height and there was sniper seed there.

I still have it well oiled.

I used to shoot rabbits with my dad at 10 years old with a single shot .22 rifle. It was a big deal, him allowing me to hunt with him wielding a rifle and shooting right next to him as we walked through the desert waiting for rabbits to come darting out of bushes. He had trained me on exactly what to do, how to be safe and how not to get him killed.

Couple years later we went hunting for rabbits with his friend who brought out a winchester .44 lever action rifle. He asked if i wanted to use it and of course I said yes. My dad doted on me to his friend, one of the only times I can remember him doing so outside of regular sports or even life for that matter. He was so proud of the fact that he could trust me at a young age with a firearm to be around himself and his friend shooting fast moving critters. I didnt realize it at the time but that was a huge milestone and memory in my life.


On another note, I remember going out to these mountains in the desert. We would get off the truck and walk around just to have a look. There was always crows flying around....until you unzipped the rifle case. I swear, we could literally do anything and the crows wouldn't leave but once that case started unzipping they disappeared. You wouldn't even get the rifle out of the case and they knew. Incredibly smart bird

 

[MaloK]

Until you unzipped the rifle case. I swear, we could literally do anything and the crows wouldn't leave but once that case started unzipping they disappeared.

We have an Industrial Racking Shop, lying in a crow protected area. I sometimes find myself in a Hitchcock movie when I arrive there.

Not a single inch of roof edge and electric wires left to stack one more and the trees and every stands are completely filled around...

Every single eye is looking at you, while you get out your car and get in... The first time, I was afraid getting out the car, loll.

But they never moves.

Maybe a good audio track of a 12, racking a round, could persuade them.

 

[Ceez]

We have an Industrial Racking Shop, lying in a crow protected area. I sometimes find myself in a Hitchcock movie when I arrive there.

Not a single inch of roof edge and electric wires left to stack one more and the trees and every stands are completely filled around...

Every single eye is looking at you, while you get out your car and get in... The first time, I was afraid getting out the car, loll.

But they never moves.

Maybe a good audio track of a 12, racking a round, could persuade them.

Think it may take more than the sound. Theyre one of the smartest birds there is. I know these crows over here see guns all the time and see what they do. Weve killed 10s of thousands of rabbits over the years out there lol, they're very aware. If you shot one off a wire just one time guarantee that would work they'd split every time they saw you