Taking my life in my hands...UPDATED With RESULTS OF HUNT

[snert]

I was pro-active and got all my rifles sighted in, all my shooting at the public range done months ago.

But I just got an invite to hunt PA opener in a nice little woodlot that is perfect for my TC Contender 357 Herrett. I have not shot it in 6 years, so tomorrow...yes...pray for me...I am going to the local range to pop a couple thru it to check zero. I am "certain" it will be fine, and since I have killed more deer with it than all my rifles together, I am confident in my abilities. But I gotta make sure nothing happened to the scope/barrel in the six years of inactivity.

I am kinda excited about this hunt. If I live thru the time at the public range!

 

[Gargoyle]

Cool story, bro...

 

[Dub]

sounds like fun. Enjoy!!

 

[js2013]

I am kinda excited about this hunt. If I live thru the time at the public range!

Public ranges can be scary places, especially during deer hunting season when folks who haven’t touched their rifle since last year come out in droves.

Good luck on your hunt and even more luck at the public range.

 

[thebeav]

Sounds great. I'm sure it's fine....Good luck !

 

[joshb]

Take some paper plates so you fit in!

 

[JSH]

Cob webs and dirt dauber nest out, you will be good to go , lol.
If ya was closer I would loan my new to me rig I got from a buddy. 6.5x47Lapua on a Striker.

 

[FNSafari]

Public ranges can be scary places, especially during deer hunting season when folks who haven’t touched their rifle since last year come out in droves.

Good luck on your hunt and even more luck at the public range.

At our club/range(not public) we used to have a sight in day just prior to deer hunting. The attendance used to be moderate but last year and the year before, no one. I wonder how well all the rifles stayed sighted in from year to year! We didn't bother this year.

 

[ebb]

After that many years of nonuse i would be worried about the scope. Sometimes they die from sitting too long.

 

[David Milisock]

I was pro-active and got all my rifles sighted in, all my shooting at the public range done months ago.

But I just got an invite to hunt PA opener in a nice little woodlot that is perfect for my TC Contender 357 Herrett. I have not shot it in 6 years, so tomorrow...yes...pray for me...I am going to the local range to pop a couple thru it to check zero. I am "certain" it will be fine, and since I have killed more deer with it than all my rifles together, I am confident in my abilities. But I gotta make sure nothing happened to the scope/barrel in the six years of inactivity.

I am kinda excited about this hunt. If I live thru the time at the public range!

I belong to 3 private ranges and I stay away from late October to early December.

 

[matthias]

We are all concerned at public range. My guess is we should be as concerned when driving around. People are not that safe on the roads.

 

[rwj]

We are all concerned at public range. My guess is we should be as concerned when driving around. People are not that safe on the roads.

At least when driving, one is surrounded by a steel cage designed to protect the occupants… I’ve yet to see anyone wearing body armor at a range…

 

[FNSafari]

After that many years of nonuse i would be worried about the scope. Sometimes they die from sitting too long.

I worry about mine each year. Never hit the woods without checking POI.

 

[FNSafari]

I worry about mine each year. We never hit the woods without checking POI at expected shooting distance.

 

[thejamesd]

I though we were going to have to talk you out of shopping with the wife when I saw the title!

 

[JEFFPPC]

If you have multiple available ranges pick the one with the most expensive fee. That one will be very quiet.

 

[K22]

Black Friday at the two private clubs where I belong are like a combat zone with guys doing their once-a-year sight in for deer season which starts on Saturday. So, I avoid the ranges like the plague on this day. However, I've noticed a considerable decline in attendance at the ranges this November. In the past, they are quite crowded beginning in early November.

Stay safe and be vigilant. Public ranges around here are a nightmare of safety violations.

The 357 Herrett is any interesting cartridge. Steve Herrett was a pioneer in handgun hunting using his 357 Herrett in a scoped T/C. I have several of his custom carved target pistol stocks which I used for many years in NRA Bullseye competition.

I've only ever taken one deer with a pistol, a 357 S&W Model 27 back in 1985. It was an experience of a lifetime for me.

Best of luck on your hunt.

 

[snert]

At least when driving, one is surrounded by a steel cage designed to protect the occupants… I’ve yet to see anyone wearing body armor at a range…

I do. I have seven vests left over from the job. But today it was all rifles, so all it would have done is keep the mess in...

That macabre thought aside, I SURVIVED! In fact, I EXCELLED! Gosh I forgot how fun that little pistol really is. Took me back to 1989 When my wife bought it for me as our first anniversary gift.

There was a line of guys waiting at the 50 yard benches, which was all I needed to confirm zero. I sight in about 3/4 inch high at 50, which puts me about 2 inches high at 100 and "good nuff" to 175.

I am shooting a 2x Leupold EFR with a 14 inch TC factory barrel. Old Hornady? 180 grain Single Shot Pistol Bullet, 30-30 cases necked up and shortened, 21 grains of IMR 4198, and a CCI 250 to light it. Pretty much a very efficient and slightly hot 35 Remington, without the hassles of the 35 Rem case.

Off an old cast Bald Eagle, turned around so I could put my Bunny ear bag behind it, I shot a three shot cloverleaf, touching, about 1/2 inch high. That was better than I could see!

Several looky-Lou's were intrigued and were eyeballing me when I set up with no rifle in view. Seems no one there had seen a pocket cannon in years. Anyhow, when the range was safe, we went down to collect targets. Mine was by far the best target of the 6 backers. One guy hit a 18x18 inch target once out of five rounds with his 06 and called it "good".

I felt darned happy and I am very excited to go tomorrow. I left my target for the next guy waiting behind me in line (nice gent) who was quite interested in seeing the TC and the "Huge" case it shot. Maybe he will try the joy of handgun hunting.

I guess what is old is new again, huh?

Made me want to buy my friend's unused 7-30 waters 14 inch.

Good luck guys. I will post an update if I manage to scratch one down.

And I should mention, except for one knucklehead who insisted on using his scope (while standing behind his partner) to check a target, everyone was generally being safe. But then, I was there for less than 1/2 hour.

Snert

 

[J.d. Popkes]

I let my range membership expire on purpose. Much prefer shooting out in the middle of nowhere. Public land with no public. Never had any close calls but hate checking on range schedules, waiting to set up targets because people are shooting, too crowded etc. I think if my two choices were public ranges or hunting I’d throw darts at the bar.

 

[hogpatrol]

The weekends close to the opening day of deer season, the marching band shows up at the ranges, only they're not twirling batons, they're rifles.