Clinotus
06-07-2008, 12:50 AM
So I got out of the house today to start on a series for the front page. The day was calm but overcast with a 90% chance of rain. I figured I would take my chances, but chance was not with me today, my friends; chance was across the room having fun with people while I stood outside looking in.
My drive to the range was uneventful except for the student driver who I was unable to pass for the first 3 miles. Using my savvy and grumpy old man skills, I was able to bypass the student driver on the left...only to wind up behind another student driver for the next 5 miles.
Omen? Nah.
I arrived to an empty range and with my spirits lifted once more was able to set up my new tower of power. You see, over the years I used to build wooden stands for the range; now, since I have no wood remaining, I decided to use an old bird stand.
http://230grain.com/images/articles/hownotto/toolsofthetrade.jpg
I set it up like so:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/hownotto/bulletprooftower.jpg
Then with my trusty tape set up even further like so:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/hownotto/10feet.jpg
I have to segue for a moment to point out that I've always been a point shooter: I can use sights on handguns, but generally after 4 or 5 shots with the sights I just remember how the gun shoots and just where to aim.
So I set up took aim and looked to the berm:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/hownotto/setup.jpg
After the first string I earned my first "oops" moment with this:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/hownotto/bend1.jpg
As fate would have it, I was able to bend it back with my mortal fingers but you can still see the slight bend.
I moved to the left and emptied four magazines at random boxes and clays on the berm to establish that yes, I really can shoot. I did well, by the way. :)
Back to the scene again, and 30 rounds later wound up attempting to use the sights once more, producing:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/hownotto/bendingmetal.jpg
Undeterred and after removing the chronograph I figured I might as well send the last two rounds I had downrange:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/hownotto/notsobulletproof.jpg
That last picture I took at home because a moment after I hit the stand the heavens opened and I got drenched in the short walk back to my car.
Great.
My drive to the range was uneventful except for the student driver who I was unable to pass for the first 3 miles. Using my savvy and grumpy old man skills, I was able to bypass the student driver on the left...only to wind up behind another student driver for the next 5 miles.
Omen? Nah.
I arrived to an empty range and with my spirits lifted once more was able to set up my new tower of power. You see, over the years I used to build wooden stands for the range; now, since I have no wood remaining, I decided to use an old bird stand.
http://230grain.com/images/articles/hownotto/toolsofthetrade.jpg
I set it up like so:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/hownotto/bulletprooftower.jpg
Then with my trusty tape set up even further like so:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/hownotto/10feet.jpg
I have to segue for a moment to point out that I've always been a point shooter: I can use sights on handguns, but generally after 4 or 5 shots with the sights I just remember how the gun shoots and just where to aim.
So I set up took aim and looked to the berm:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/hownotto/setup.jpg
After the first string I earned my first "oops" moment with this:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/hownotto/bend1.jpg
As fate would have it, I was able to bend it back with my mortal fingers but you can still see the slight bend.
I moved to the left and emptied four magazines at random boxes and clays on the berm to establish that yes, I really can shoot. I did well, by the way. :)
Back to the scene again, and 30 rounds later wound up attempting to use the sights once more, producing:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/hownotto/bendingmetal.jpg
Undeterred and after removing the chronograph I figured I might as well send the last two rounds I had downrange:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/hownotto/notsobulletproof.jpg
That last picture I took at home because a moment after I hit the stand the heavens opened and I got drenched in the short walk back to my car.
Great.