dwarven1
Lonely Mountain Arms
This weekend I went to a pin shoot at N. Leominster Rod & Gun. I had with me my 2.5" Model 19, my 4" mod 19, and my 6.5" Model 629.
I really wasn't expecting to win anything - heck, I wasn't really expecting to outshoot anyone! It was more for fun, because I hadn't attended a pin shoot in a couple of years. I just wanted to get reacquainted with my revolvers, really.
Well, I decided to start with the snubbie. Much to my surprise, shooting in a Weaver stance with both eyes open and shooting double action, not only was I making a very good percentage of hits, I was holding my own with some of the other shooters. There were two very good shooters there who would usually take me down in the second or third round of each relay (hope I'm using the right terminology there!), so I didn't win a relay until the last one of the morning.
After a few relays, I decided to use the 629, as I was occasionally leaving some dead wood on the table. Wow... what a difference. Now I see why Mitch Ota doesn't use anything but a .44 Mag! The .357 would knock the pins down and (usually) off the table, but not always. The .44 just blew the pins straight back off the table!
And interestingly enough, as I shot more I got more comfortable shooting double action. I kept the front sight on the pin and put many more of them down than I missed. Kind of a good feeling! I even found myself keeping pretty good situational awareness of what the other shooter was doing. One time we were both knocking pins down in perfect sync - except he was shooting about a quarter to a half second before I was. So on the last pin I deliberately shot faster - broke out of my rhythm and squeezed the trigger much faster than I had been, and I didn't even wait until the front sight was on the target to start. My pin hit the ground about a quarter second before his did!
I know I'm nowhere near the kind of shooter that some NESers are, but I had a great time and I felt I made some real progress in shooting a wheelgun. I also got some real practice loading with a Safariland speedloader (and if I still have any HKS speedloaders in the closet, they're going to be given away!). Those Comp2 speedloaders are great; very fast to use.
I may have to start bringing the wheelguns to IDPA shoots and leaving the K9 home.
Hope no one thinks I'm bragging here - I'm just pretty happy about how much I think I learned and wanted to share. Seems every time I take a gun out of the safe that I haven't used much and give it a workout I discover an aspect of shooting that I'd missed before.
Hell... I may even have to give trap and skeet another try. Who knows what I'm missing out on!!
(BTW - the guys up at N. Leominster were VERY friendly and welcoming. I had a great time shooting there and expect to go back.)
I really wasn't expecting to win anything - heck, I wasn't really expecting to outshoot anyone! It was more for fun, because I hadn't attended a pin shoot in a couple of years. I just wanted to get reacquainted with my revolvers, really.
Well, I decided to start with the snubbie. Much to my surprise, shooting in a Weaver stance with both eyes open and shooting double action, not only was I making a very good percentage of hits, I was holding my own with some of the other shooters. There were two very good shooters there who would usually take me down in the second or third round of each relay (hope I'm using the right terminology there!), so I didn't win a relay until the last one of the morning.
After a few relays, I decided to use the 629, as I was occasionally leaving some dead wood on the table. Wow... what a difference. Now I see why Mitch Ota doesn't use anything but a .44 Mag! The .357 would knock the pins down and (usually) off the table, but not always. The .44 just blew the pins straight back off the table!
And interestingly enough, as I shot more I got more comfortable shooting double action. I kept the front sight on the pin and put many more of them down than I missed. Kind of a good feeling! I even found myself keeping pretty good situational awareness of what the other shooter was doing. One time we were both knocking pins down in perfect sync - except he was shooting about a quarter to a half second before I was. So on the last pin I deliberately shot faster - broke out of my rhythm and squeezed the trigger much faster than I had been, and I didn't even wait until the front sight was on the target to start. My pin hit the ground about a quarter second before his did!
I know I'm nowhere near the kind of shooter that some NESers are, but I had a great time and I felt I made some real progress in shooting a wheelgun. I also got some real practice loading with a Safariland speedloader (and if I still have any HKS speedloaders in the closet, they're going to be given away!). Those Comp2 speedloaders are great; very fast to use.
I may have to start bringing the wheelguns to IDPA shoots and leaving the K9 home.
Hope no one thinks I'm bragging here - I'm just pretty happy about how much I think I learned and wanted to share. Seems every time I take a gun out of the safe that I haven't used much and give it a workout I discover an aspect of shooting that I'd missed before.
Hell... I may even have to give trap and skeet another try. Who knows what I'm missing out on!!
(BTW - the guys up at N. Leominster were VERY friendly and welcoming. I had a great time shooting there and expect to go back.)
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