Unique Encounter at the Range

[K22]

So, you are saying that he was actually shooting? Very unusual. Most people are always "the perpetual load tester", never straying from a shooting bench and rest to actually shoot their rifle.

Danny

Yes, he was shooting at 200 yards in the prone, sitting, and standing using a sling. The guy was quite limber despite being older. I was impressed with his marksmanship.

I am not bashing bench shooters, not at all. It's just I never see anyone moving off the bench.

I get a lot of weird looks at the range because I rarely shoot off the bench except for load development or sighting in a new scope both of which I do very little of anymore. Everyone knows me as that guy who shoots off "tent poles" at 5x8 cards. Actually, I use homemade cross sticks. Switched from 3x5 cards to 5x8 cards a few years ago to save paster due to age related declining skills.

 

[Webster]

Yes, he was shooting at 200 yards in the prone, sitting, and standing using a sling. The guy was quite limber despite being older. I was impressed with his marksmanship.

I am not bashing bench shooters, not at all. It's just I never see anyone moving off the bench.

I get a lot of weird looks at the range because I rarely shoot off the bench except for load development or sighting in a new scope both of which I do very little of anymore. Everyone knows me as that guy who shoots off "tent poles" at 5x8 cards. Actually, I use homemade cross sticks. Switched from 3x5 cards to 5x8 cards a few years ago to save paster due to age related declining skills.

Some ranges you can only shoot from the bench.

 

[danny]

Some ranges you can only shoot from the bench.

Not a very good range.....

Danny

 

[M14AMU]

Don't get me started about the demise of across the course shooting! It started dying when the military stopped running the matches and totally knocked in the head due to the belly shooting crowd!!

 

[K22]

Some ranges you can only shoot from the bench.

One of the clubs that I belong to is like that.

 

[DiffEQ]

Bench is for trigger and sight practice, and load development. I am reminded every time I pull out my shotgun or pistol how perishable these skills can be.
The 100 yard range at my club has only benches. I have to move to other ranges at the club to do prone or sitting.

Prone, and Offhand are still doable, but transitioning from standing to the Rapid Sitting stage takes a bit more time to accomplish now.

My 12 y.o. golden retriever has taught me how fast the slide of physical agility can happen. I'm 61, and recently started to go the gym at work every day to do cardio and weight training. It feels good. I asked if there were yoga classes and sure enough -- looks like I'm signing up.
Y'all may laugh at yoga, but it saved my life. Broke L5 when I was 20, and without yoga, I'd probably not be walking at my age.

 

[GotRDid]

Don't get me started about the demise of across the course shooting! It started dying when the military stopped running the matches and totally knocked in the head due to the belly shooting crowd!!

Many Bases like Ft. Knox no longer permit civilians on their ranges.

 

[danny]

Bench is for trigger and sight practice, and load development. I am reminded every time I pull out my shotgun or pistol how perishable these skills can be.
The 100 yard range at my club has only benches. I have to move to other ranges at the club to do prone or sitting.

My 12 y.o. golden retriever has taught me how fast the slide of physical agility can happen. I'm 61, and recently started to go the gym at work every day to do cardio and weight training. It feels good. I asked if there were yoga classes and sure enough -- looks like I'm signing up.
Y'all may laugh at yoga, but it saved my life. Broke L5 when I was 20, and without yoga, I'd probably not be walking at my age.

I go to my range, sometimes to shoot my rimfire rifle or HANDGUN at 50 yards (If I don't shoot the handgun at 100) and there is always some guy (that guy) at the pistol range shooting an AK or SKS *FROM A BENCH* as I pass by, then it never fails; "that guy" is over at our 50 yard range, has walked up to where the targets go, plants the target and "pulls out on it" right after it is planted and proceeds to "let the target have it", most likely with a "9 milli". What that means is that nobody farther than 0 yards from the target can use that range while he is "giving the target hell".

Don't be *that guy*

Danny

 

[danny]

Many Bases like Ft. Knox no longer permit civilians on their ranges.

Don't our dollars fund those ranges??

Danny

 

[GotRDid]

Perhaps, but not only can you not enter the Bases without prior registration for an annual pass, you can no longer bring firearms into the cantonment areas. Likewise, Military personnel can no longer keep firearms in their quarters no matter your rank.
I am not privy to to details of policy/permission to keep firearms in residential housing areas where Soldiers with Families reside.
I do know that during the Iraq Wars, the access to the Base’s Ranges were gradually and increasingly restricted, requiring advance notice of extensive background information, driver’s license, SS#, serial numbers of any/all firearms, vehicle expected to travel in/license plate, Vehicle insurance policy and current vehicle registration.
Not much you can do if the Base Commander is anti-gun; it’s his “House”.

 

[Kalitrazescapee]

When I was shooting at the regionals white city or,a guy had suspenders on,said a trick for big guys is suspenders and un fasten for rapid sit.

 

[DiffEQ]

I go to my range, sometimes to shoot my rimfire rifle or HANDGUN at 50 yards (If I don't shoot the handgun at 100) and there is always some guy (that guy) at the pistol range shooting an AK or SKS *FROM A BENCH* as I pass by, then it never fails; "that guy" is over at our 50 yard range, has walked up to where the targets go, plants the target and "pulls out on it" right after it is planted and proceeds to "let the target have it", most likely with a "9 milli". What that means is that nobody farther than 0 yards from the target can use that range while he is "giving the target hell".

Don't be *that guy*

Danny

LOL, that guy would be ejected and membership revoked at my club.

I mean ranges where you can shoot offhand or prone/sitting, etc. I've shot offhand at one of the ranges, and the RO said I had to use a bench. It's not anywhere in the rules, but I don't argue with them. Other ROs have have not blinked when I'm standing and shooting. One RO argued that, at the "lead only" range, I could not use my powder coated cast bullets. On any given day, you might roll the dice.
Generally, I prefer to shoot when there are no others at the range, so I'll go during the week mid mornings.

 

[GotRDid]

Ahhhh, the days of youth; early 1988, my Father and I went to an M1 Garand Clinic at Scott Mountain KD Range, Ft. Knox, to qualify for purchasing a Garand through the old DCM.
The Course of Fire was 80 shots; 20 Offhand, @ 200 yds, 20 Rapid Sitting @ 200, 20 Rapid Prone @ 300, and 20 Slow Fire Prone @ 600.
We had a lot of fun, and I was High Scorer that day, in the low 700s. First effort in anything resembling High Power.
It was cold in the morning, but conditions improved throughout the day.


After the Match, I was invited to try out for the KY State High Power Team, and earned a slot that took me through my one and only season in the discipline. Made the cuts to go to Local, Regionals, State, and on to Camp Perry that year with an M14NM on loan from the Meade Co. Sportsman’s Club.

Practice at Kennedy Range, Ft. Knox…


Resumed shooting Garands and collecting them when the John C. Garand Memorial Matches were started at Scott Mountain in the late 90s.


I really miss those days.