What Did You Shoot Today?

[JonB]

Looks like Alder buckthorn in non-spiny.
the buckthorn in MN, that I know of, is very spiny! nasty stuff.

Frangula alnus - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Ian]

@JonB the Frangula Alnus or glossy, non-thorny buckthorn is the stuff for black powder. It makes berries that start red and mature nearly black, the common buckthorn berries start and end dark. If you spot any Alder or Glossy buckthorn I'd love to have a large FRB full of 3/4 to 2" sections, will gladly pay shipping plus some gas money if you can get some,. Green is fine, will peel and season a little before carburizing.

 

[JonB]

@JonB the Frangula Alnus or glossy, non-thorny buckthorn is the stuff for black powder. It makes berries that start red and mature nearly black, the common buckthorn berries start and end dark. If you spot any Alder or Glossy buckthorn I'd love to have a large FRB full of 3/4 to 2" sections, will gladly pay shipping plus some gas money if you can get some,. Green is fine, will peel and season a little before carburizing.

In the last 20 years, I have cut a lot of the nuisance Buckthorn to clear trails, and while I haven't looked closely at it, I recall they all had thorns, cuz I got the scars
BUT, this weekend, I'll look for the Glossy non-thorny stuff.

 

[oscarflytyer]

the 1942 vintage Winchester 75. Finally got it semi-set up. Put the .494" high front globe on it. 25Y/indoor range/hasty bag rest. cheap CCI factory second ammo (do NOT let THAT fool you! It has been a great performer!). I committed the ultimate faux pas prior- I cleaned the bore of a target rifle. But, in my defense, I inherited it/never cleaned it/no clue it's heritage...

From 0-50 rds, groups (MAYBE ME/my shooting?/getting re-acclimated to a target gun/target peep sights?) got better. Last group/sighted in perfectly - was THE best. 5 shots. One called flyer. Other 4 were perfectly centered ragged hole group. The ammo I used is very good/haven't gone into ammo accuracy testing/have 1600 rds of vintage Eley Red Box - that will be another sub-project...!

I am psyched. Confident I can still shoot a target rifle fairly well. also confident I can at least compete in a match with the rifle (know I can handgun/rifle been eons ago!). And, think I can compete out to 50 yds with the target peeps - which is normal Match parameters.

This is a special project to me for a couple reasons. Competed in small bore rifle as a teenager/was very good. This rifle was gifted to my by my boys, out of their Grandfather's/my FIL's safe. They knew I competed back in the day and it wasn't of interest to them. They knew I would love it, and I do! I hope to do at least ok with it, and maybe set up a grandkid or two behind a VERY COOL vintage target smallbore!

 

[richhodg66]

Went out and shot my first two rounds of trap since October or November, they called and asked if I was gonna shoot Spring league this year, had kina forgotten about it. Hit 19 from the 16 yard line and the same at the 19 yard line. I'm pretty pleased since I hadn"t shot in four months and it was raw and cold and windy. Shot with a good bunch of guys, good day all around.

 

[Snakeoil]

Finally got it semi-set up. Put the .494" high front globe on it. 25Y/indoor range/hasty bag rest. cheap CCI factory second ammo (do NOT let THAT fool you! It has been a great performer!).

At 50 ft to 25 yds, pretty much all .22 ammo shoots well. I have a bunch of Blazer and cheap Winchester HV ammo as well as some old PMC target. It all sucks beyond 25 yds. So, I save it for the close range stuff.

Glad to hear that you are rediscovering your roots. What do you have for a rear sight, Redfield Olympic?

 

[Snakeoil]

Had a great day shooting in some of the worst conditions I've ever shot in. .22 match at Wilton with 3-minute targets at 50, 100, 150 and 200. The wind was changing so much and so rapidly that by the time we got to the 4th relay, I was starting to get hoarse from calling the conditions. Best score for scoped shooters was a pair of 35/40. I should have shot a 33, but when my partner told me to put a click right into the scope, I didn't and of course, missed at 9:00 with no room to spare.... ON THE 50 YD TARGET!!!! Grrrrrrrr.....

But, in spite of the conditions, everyone seemed to be having a great time trying to figure them out and beat them. The two top scope scores were shot by relative newbies at Wilton. And the top iron sight score was also shot by a relative newbies. They are not newbies to shooting, just shooting at Wilton.

 

[Pressman]

I think it's still too cold and just unpleasant to shoot outside. Actually, it's about June 1st when the weather starts to be fully cooperative for outdoor shooting. So, I took the Savage 93 FV to the indoor range to sight in a new scope. It's Viridian 4.5x14 sold by a company just up the road from me. I posted a question and review of the scope on Rimfire Central.
I also took along a vintage .22 for its first range trip. It's a Ranger Model 34 which seems to be some type of Marlin. It shot well, better than I could hold the open sights.
For fun the S&W Model 17, 4" got a good workout.
Several more rifles that I picked up this winter are waiting for their first trip.

 

[RicinYakima]

I have great affection for my Model 18, 22LR Combat Masterpiece, with the pencil barrel. Mine was built the year I was born, and shoots better for me than the Model 17s' with 6 inch barrels. Chambers are actually tapered, so if you use match ammo, you have to put them in with your thumb. Still its favorite ammo is the old copper plated SuperX.

 

[oscarflytyer]

At 50 ft to 25 yds, pretty much all .22 ammo shoots well. I have a bunch of Blazer and cheap Winchester HV ammo as well as some old PMC target. It all sucks beyond 25 yds. So, I save it for the close range stuff.

Glad to hear that you are rediscovering your roots. What do you have for a rear sight, Redfield Olympic?

Yes/agree/aware that, as ranges increase, the lessor quality 22 ammo def floats to the top (in a bad way!)! This was just setting up the sights (FINALLY) to get it shootable. I need to know what it shoots best to 50 yds for the local match, and also if I can find something/same for the occassional 100 yd match. I also once upon a time shot 100m 22 rifle silhouette (man, THAT is a REAL HOOT!!!!). Wish I could find that game again! I am seeing some good things about CCI. I would really like NOT to have to spend CF $ on 22 RF ammo!

My rear sight is a Pre-1957 Lyman 57A (based on pics in old dated Lyman manual and the style of elevation knob my sight has). I am guessing my sight is early ~1940s vintage. The front sight was a Redfield 65 globe. Problem was, it was the lowest .400" base and way too low for me Couldn't get my head down on the sight and get zeroed. I went to a Lyman 17 .494" high base and it works. If I can find a 65 that is ~.500" high, I will buy/swap it (I have the inserts for it).

The bog Redfield Olympics are nice sights. Like them/shot them when I competed. They 'fit' on a big fat Rem 40 (what I shot them on). On a Rem 513 (shot that) and my 75, imo, they are too much. If I were shooting the big Anschutz (had one/WISH I still had it!), a Rem 40X or Win 52 - I would want the bigger Olympics.

 

[Michael]

Still its favorite ammo is the old copper plated SuperX.

I have over the years Super-X has been the most consistent from one firearm to the next. Not always the most accurate, certainly never the least.

 

[Snakeoil]

I am seeing some good things about CCI. I would really like NOT to have to spend CF $ on 22 RF ammo!

Many of us at Wilton are shooting Norma TAC 22 now. It is advertised as target quality practice ammo. I did an ammo test that included Eley and Lapua brands and the TAC 22 out shot the lower grades of those two top brands.

Norma runs specials every so often. It was one of those specials that gave us the incentive to try the ammo. I did an order for the club and took a case myself. After testing it, I ordered two more cases. We have paid anywhere from $39 to $37 a brick, depending on the sale. Norma does not charge shipping or hazmat. For this quality ammo, it's truly a great deal. Yeah, it's not 50 cents a box .22 ammo. But you ain't gonna find those prices anymore. We all have to face the face that our sport took a major leap in pricing and I don't see it every going back down.

 

[fiver]

i seen some CCI standard velocity at 3.99 for 50 rds. the other day.
i hemmed and hawed then realized even at that price it was 39.90 per 500 rds.
which locally isn't all that bad.

 

[oscarflytyer]

Norma TAC 22

Thanx Snake! I THINK that is what my LGS has - BUT - they are $70/brick - I THINK! I KNOW they were WAY too high! But also have some 50 rd boxs. May buy one and try it, then buy bulk if it shoots well.

I USED to shoot Remington green box Target, but they are NOT what they used to be! AND, $15/100! Stupid. I do have 1600 rds of old Eley red box (actually white boxes with red writing - not sure vintage, but know they are old and the old Eley red box used to shoot lights out. New I have no clue. But 1600 rds will only get me thru maybe a year of matches if all goes well....

Another LGS sponsors Precision RF out to 200 yds, and has ammo. Not sure what they have, but if the 200 yd guys like it, it has to work 50-100!

 

[L Ross]

Norma TAC 22

Thanx Snake! I THINK that is what my LGS has - BUT - they are $70/brick - I THINK! I KNOW they were WAY too high! But also have some 50 rd boxs. May buy one and try it, then buy bulk if it shoots well.

I USED to shoot Remington green box Target, but they are NOT what they used to be! AND, $15/100! Stupid. I do have 1600 rds of old Eley red box (actually white boxes with red writing - not sure vintage, but know they are old and the old Eley red box used to shoot lights out. New I have no clue. But 1600 rds will only get me thru maybe a year of matches if all goes well....

Another LGS sponsors Precision RF out to 200 yds, and has ammo. Not sure what they have, but if the 200 yd guys like it, it has to work 50-100!

Go to NormaShooting.com sign up to get their email offers. That's how you know when they have a deal on TAC. I think once upon a time I went through the whole RWS GECO Norma TAC story, but I have found it to be excellent ammo albeit subject to lot to lot variations like all .22 ammo. Mine has all been good. Young shooters that populate .22 forums whine about it being greasy and it makes their fingers dirty when they are stuffing their 25 round magazines, blah blah, blah. If those kids had to stand on their hind legs, aim, squeeze, put the rifle down, repeat, break the shot, follow through to get the joy of a hit on a small target at a distance they'd go back to their Game Boxes.

 

[Winelover]

Norma is currently running the TAC-22 LR on sale at $4.41 / box of 50 rounds. No hazmat. Free shipping on orders over $150.

Buy Ammo Online - Ammunition in Stock - Norma Shooting

At Norma Shooting, we offer a wide selection of our premium ammunition for sale. Ammunition orders over $150.00 will receive free shipping.

normashooting.com

I have two boxes from a previous order, I purchased to try out. Haven't gotten around to it, yet. Maybe today. Concern is that being subsonic, they'll probably shoot low and may not function in my semi-autos, which outnumber the non semi-autos.

 

[Winelover]

^^^^^Update:

This AM, shot one of the two boxes of Norma Tac-22 subsonic, purchased.

First thing, I noticed, was that exposed lead is oily when loading the semi automatic magazines. Can live with that.

Second thing, first shot in 10-22 (4x Weaver) failed to eject, in both magazines. Tested at 60 yards, from my hunting blind, seated with only a tripod for a front rest.



8 shots in 7/8"
9 shots in 1.5"
10 shots in 1.75"

Failure to eject, on first shot, didn't help concentration.

The subsonic, TAC-22, is optimized for weapons with suppressors.................as a result they shot 2.25" low! POA was the upper target.

Fired the rest of the box in my 22/45 Lite. Again, two out of three magazines, failed to eject upon firing the first round. Rest all fired and ejected.

Since I don't own a suppressor or compete with a 22LR.............I'll stick to the less expensive HV ammunition like CCI Blazers or, their premium line of Mini-Mags or Stingers. All, at the same cost or less, and not have to adjust my scopes/sights. YMMV

For those that are considering purchasing from Norma Shooting. Sign up for their emails. Yesterday, I put three bricks in my cart to be eligible for free shipping. Went all the way through checkout except putting in my CC information. I also had a coupon code for 5% off entire purchase that was about to expire. Didn't pull the trigger, on the two boxes I had on hand.............so I figured I'd wait till I tried them out, today. Well today, I get an email with a coupon code for 10% off, on yesterday's order..........that I left sitting in my cart. Guess, it pays to wait on some purchases.

 

[JonB]

@JonB the Frangula Alnus or glossy, non-thorny buckthorn is the stuff for black powder. It makes berries that start red and mature nearly black, the common buckthorn berries start and end dark. If you spot any Alder or Glossy buckthorn I'd love to have a large FRB full of 3/4 to 2" sections, will gladly pay shipping plus some gas money if you can get some,. Green is fine, will peel and season a little before carburizing.

I forgot to mention, after my trip up north last weekend, there is no Glossy non-thorny stuff at my buddy's farm.
I also recalled there is buckthorn at my sportsman club, I doubt there is an the Glossy non-thorny stuff out there, but I will check next time I am out there during the daytime.

 

[Snakeoil]

Test targets from my ammo test a little over a year ago. 50 and 100 yds. Shot out of a 52C Winchester with a 10x Unertl.

 

[Snakeoil]

Took the .32-40 to Wilton to get some new scope settings after milling 0.040 off the rear scope block. At 100 yds, I put in the setting I had before I milled the block and then added 40 MOA to it. Drilled the target dead center. Subsequent impacts moved as the barrel warmed up. Ended up a a couple minutes down and left. Continued the process out to 500 yds. The wind started to howl and change directions regularly. Sun was out and mirage was pretty strong as well. 400 and 500 was a bit of a challenge. Hope the conditions are better for Sunday's match.