Long Hard Busy Day

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JimT
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Long Hard Busy Day

Post by JimT »

The first thing after the chores were done this morning ... I grabbed my Model 94 Trapper 30-30 and headed to the range. I have not been treating this gun very well, not having fired it in the last 2 years! I apologized several times. I took 3 different loads. One load was the 130 gr. Speer Hot-Cor bullet over 31.0 gr. of 3031. The second load was with the 150 gr. JSP spitzer bullet from PPU ... a .311" bullet intended for the 7.62X54R Mosin Nagant. I have found these to be accurate in the 30-30. Being a spitzer bullet I load them single shot. The last load was the Sierra 170 gr. JSP over 30.0 gr. 3031.
IMG_0181.JPG
It's been awhile since I shot a rifle ... my old eyes ain't what they used to be ... but I can still hold Minute-of-Whitetail. At 50 yards all my shots with all 3 bullets stayed under an inch. Not something to write home about, but it'll still work. Part of it is age but the BIG part is lack of practice shooting a rifle! I have been concentrating on handguns and will continue. But I do need to work in more practice with the long guns.

I took time off from the Range and came home ... had some lunch ... took a nap .. then I gathered up my grandsons (ages 9 and 11) and went back to the Range with my Ruger American .22 Magnum bolt rifle.
IMG_0136.JPG
The boys want to hunt Deer but have not used a 'scoped rifle before, so we have started with the .22 Magnum. I set up at 40 yards and put up some targets with a 2" aiming point. I had them each fire 3 shots at their target and then we checked the targets, talked about what we can do to improve and the fired 3 more each.

The 11 year old consistently put 2 shots together and pulled one out. Takes after his grandpa. The 9 year old was having problems seeing the scope. Turns out he is left eye dominant. I had him switch to shooting left-handed and he started doing real well. He had no more than 1/8" vertical dispersion, though the horizontal was broader. We worked on getting him in a more steady position and that helped.

We finished up shooting clay pigeons on the bank which they love to do. That's what they endure punching paper for ... so they can shoot clay pigeons. They love blowing them up and then shooting the small leftovers.

So .. it was a tough hard day ... but someone had to do it. :wink:
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348win
Levergunner 2.0
Posts: 178
Joined: Mon Feb 03, 2025 9:41 pm

Re: Long Hard Busy Day

Post by 348win »

Glad to see the tradition being passed down and 3 guys having a darn good day.

Congrats and good shooting.
rossim92
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Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2011 2:42 am
Location: mechanicsville, md.

Re: Long Hard Busy Day

Post by rossim92 »

JimT wrote: Fri Mar 07, 2025 7:58 pm The first thing after the chores were done this morning ... I grabbed my Model 94 Trapper 30-30 and headed to the range. I have not been treating this gun very well, not having fired it in the last 2 years! I apologized several times. I took 3 different loads. One load was the 130 gr. Speer Hot-Cor bullet over 31.0 gr. of 3031. The second load was with the 150 gr. JSP spitzer bullet from PPU ... a .311" bullet intended for the 7.62X54R Mosin Nagant. I have found these to be accurate in the 30-30. Being a spitzer bullet I load them single shot. The last load was the Sierra 170 gr. JSP over 30.0 gr. 3031.

IMG_0181.JPG

It's been awhile since I shot a rifle ... my old eyes ain't what they used to be ... but I can still hold Minute-of-Whitetail. At 50 yards all my shots with all 3 bullets stayed under an inch. Not something to write home about, but it'll still work. Part of it is age but the BIG part is lack of practice shooting a rifle! I have been concentrating on handguns and will continue. But I do need to work in more practice with the long guns.

I took time off from the Range and came home ... had some lunch ... took a nap .. then I gathered up my grandsons (ages 9 and 11) and went back to the Range with my Ruger American .22 Magnum bolt rifle.

IMG_0136.JPG

The boys want to hunt Deer but have not used a 'scoped rifle before, so we have started with the .22 Magnum. I set up at 40 yards and put up some targets with a 2" aiming point. I had them each fire 3 shots at their target and then we checked the targets, talked about what we can do to improve and the fired 3 more each.

The 11 year old consistently put 2 shots together and pulled one out. Takes after his grandpa. The 9 year old was having problems seeing the scope. Turns out he is left eye dominant. I had him switch to shooting left-handed and he started doing real well. He had no more than 1/8" vertical dispersion, though the horizontal was broader. We worked on getting him in a more steady position and that helped.

We finished up shooting clay pigeons on the bank which they love to do. That's what they endure punching paper for ... so they can shoot clay pigeons. They love blowing them up and then shooting the small leftovers.

So .. it was a tough hard day ... but someone had to do it. :wink:
congrats , sounds like you had a ball. would it help if each grandson had their own rifle with a scope sighted in just for them? you do know,christmas is only 9 months away!
Rossi 92 .357 lever , and a cz pcr 9mm
Henry .22 lever, Remington speedmaster 552 .22 lr
Marlin Glenfield .22 boltaction
gforce 12ga semi
Taylor's Tactical 1911 A1 FS in .45acp
ruger vaquero, 357 magnum
Marlin 336W .30.30
beeman sportsman rs2 dual caliber pellet rifle
henry .22 magnum pumpaction/octagon barrel
stag 5.56 m4 with reddot
Drawdown
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Re: Long Hard Busy Day

Post by Drawdown »

Yap, quite a fine day all around! I've been using that Speer 130gr HC & 30gr 3031 for a number years in both my Winchester's and it's maybe the most accurate load in both, for sure near the best!
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life"

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"If you gotta shoot, shoot don't talk"
Conservative since day one and until the last!
Bill in Oregon
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Re: Long Hard Busy Day

Post by Bill in Oregon »

That's a productive day, Jim! My grandson is all of 14 months old, and I am having a hard time not buying him a .22 and a fly rod. :lol:
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Ray
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Re: Long Hard Busy Day

Post by Ray »

I've used these for many years in the .30 w.c.f. and other larger capacity 30s with reduced loads.

https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/pr ... ctId/87899


IMG_20250308_081300.jpg
The nose is very soft but if one is wary of the tube magazine, it is easily removed on the bandsaw. Although meant for the sks cartridge, the cannelure location seems to be right for other cartridges as well.
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20January2025 !
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Griff
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Re: Long Hard Busy Day

Post by Griff »

:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
Griff,
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AND... I'm over it!!
No I ain't ready, but let's do it anyway!
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JimT
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Re: Long Hard Busy Day

Post by JimT »

Bill in Oregon wrote: Sat Mar 08, 2025 7:40 am That's a productive day, Jim! My grandson is all of 14 months old, and I am having a hard time not buying him a .22 and a fly rod. :lol:
I gave my youngest daughter a .38 Special when she was 2. I have a photo of her holding it. I won't post it because there are sure to be "those people" who might visit this site or monitor it who raise all kinds of h.e.l.l. about it.

PS .. she is in her 40's now and still prefers a revolver over a semi-auto. :D
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GunnyMack
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Re: Long Hard Busy Day

Post by GunnyMack »

Bill in Oregon wrote: Sat Mar 08, 2025 7:40 am That's a productive day, Jim! My grandson is all of 14 months old, and I am having a hard time not buying him a .22 and a fly rod. :lol:
A buddy of mine had a Sharpes before he was born ! The weekend after his folks found out they were pregnant his dad went to a gunshow and bought the Sharpes, walked into the house and the wife said WHATS THAT!? His reply was its for the kid!
BROWN LABS MATTER !!
Bill in Oregon
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Re: Long Hard Busy Day

Post by Bill in Oregon »

Jim, Will, y'all are giving me ideas ... :lol:
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