Range Report: Clear Creek Shooting Range

What's better than a day at the shooting range?  Almost nothing, right?  Today I went to Clear Creek Shooting Range with four of my friends.  It's in the Daniel Boone National Forest, near Salt Lick, KY.  If that doesn't ring any bells, it's about an hour out of Lexington via I-64 East. 

It's a public range.  Cost is $7 a carload.  They have a covered area with 5 benches and target posts out to 200 yards.  There is an outhouse type toilet/restroom and paved parking.  It is the perfect place to sight in a rifle or shoot soda cans.

Or pumpkins.  Someone left their pumpkin carcass behind so we finished it off.  We also finished off a few 2-liters, 23 soda cans, a handful of empty plastic water bottles, and 3 bowling pins.  Okay, we didn't "finish off" the bowling pins, but they don't look so smug anymore.  Take that, 7-10 split!  STRIKE!  Shamefully, we left one generic brand Root Beer and a generic brand 2-liter.  Intact.  Whole.  Soda unspilled.  It is a travesty.  But never fear!  We will get those rascals next time.

Highlight of the day had to be shooting my friend's cowboy six-shooter in .45LC.  That thing was a little hand cannon.  Sweet sweet sweet.  And yes, now I want to get one.  Add it to the list.    

Okay, back to the scheduled programming.

This was my 2nd time at Clear Creek.  Both times have been on weekdays and the place has been empty.  It's cool having the place to yourself.  I'm on friendly terms with a lady who works 3rd shift at Meijer's and she tells me that the place is pretty busy on the weekends.  I don't know firsthand about that, but on weekdays, it's deadsville.  That's the way I like it.

Along with the .45LC, I got to shoot some other new guns.  Both my own and guns owned by others.  I'll do a separate post on all that.  A part two.  Because everyone loves a sequel, right?  

Well, I think this turkey is cooked.  Great range.  Great place to go shooting.  I love it. 

Clear Creek Shooting Range: A+

Order up!

        

Fifteen Round Magazine, Hold The Gravy

It is HERE!!  It finally arrived yesterday.  The 15 round Beretta Jetfire magazine in all its glory!

I've got it next to its "little brother" in the picture.  "Little brother" is, of course, the standard 8 round magazine.  So even though the 15 rounder took a very long time to ship, I'm pleased with it.  Feels well-made, spring seems strong.  I'd buy from the seller again, all things considered.  I haven't been to the range yet, so reliability is still a mystery, but I'll get some range time on Monday and report the results.

It looks a little funny with a tail sticking out, but I'm pleasantly surprised by how good it feels in the hand.  It feels balanced.  That said, I can't wait to shoot it.  The rest of this post would just be me blabbering on about how I can't wait to go shooting, period, so I better cut it short.  Who knew pigs could fly, huh?  Order up! 

Deep Fry of the Day: Hawes Wrangler

Pre-Range Report (or Getting Ready)

Sorry it's been a while between posts.  I've been getting ready for a big outing to a shooting range.  A bunch of work friends are coming so I'm pretty excited.  Ordered a bunch of 7.62x39 (or as I like to call it, "AK ammo").  Scrounging up whatever .22lr ammo I can find (ie. begging on Armslist).  And reloading a ton of .38spl with a hammer (Lee Classic Loader, baby!).  Still have to clean my new-to-me .22s: the bolt action Marlin 25N and the Hawes/JP Sauer sixshooter.  Can't wait to try them out!  But yeah, it should be a good time. 

To update my earlier post about the 15rd magazine for the Beretta Jetfire: It still hasn't arrived yet.  I'm hoping it arrives in time to try it at the range.  But I'm starting to wonder if I didn't get ripped off.  The guy has over a 1000 positive feedback on Gunbroker, so maybe I need to be more patient.  Maybe it will arrive in time.  Maybe pigs will fly.

And maybe we are out of time.  Big range report coming up.  Should have some posts about my new-to-me guns and what not.  And hopefully, maybe, a post about a certain 15rd Jetfire magazine.  Hey, I think I saw a pig flying.  Oh well.  Order up!        

Steyr Mannlicher VS Watermelon (gif)

Borrowing footage from Aurora91sl's youtube video (see the full video here).  His Steyr Mannlicher VS. Watermelon.  Hmm, I like the results.  Seriously though, there is nothing better than a fun day at the range.  And there is no better way to have a fun day at the range than blasting reactive targets like unopened sodas, shaving cream containers, or large pieces of fruit.  Personally I've never used watermelon as a target before (too expensive to waste).  But I have shot a rotten cantaloupe before.  It's very fun.  And, of course, I'm all about soda can blasting.  

You can read about all the reasons why I want a Steyr Mannlicher 95/34 in this previous Guns I Want To Buy post but honestly, what better reason than wanting the ability to destroy watermelons with a single blast?
That's about it.  Oh yeah, is the always repeating gif annoying?  Would a gif that only played one time be better?  Let me know.  Order up.   

With a Side of Luger (Maybe)

This is going to be short, but I found out that I might get the chance to shoot a P08 Luger in a couple of weeks!  My co-worker's dad owns the Luger and he might let her take it to the range.  I'm thinking, wow, what a cool dad.  Because if it was my Luger, I wouldn't let it out of my sight/safe.  But thankfully her dad isn't like me.  And believes in sharing his Luger with the world his daughter's work friends.  I'm not sure if his Luger is in 9mm or 7.65 Parabellum.  If it's in 9mm, I've got some ammo to contribute to the cause.  7.65 Parabellum...not so much.  Anyway, here is the eye candy of the day.  P08 Luger picture via wikipedia.

Order up.

Hawes Western Six-Shooter Is HERE!!

This post is going to be short (a rarity for me, I know).  My Hawes Western Six-Shooter by JP Sauer & Sohn is here!! 

I picked it up from my transferring FFL dealer this afternoon.  The gun is beautiful.  Full size, pretty heavy (heavier than the Ruger Single Six I used to own).  It goes without saying that I can't wait to shoot it but I'll say it anyway.  I can't wait to shoot it.  Anyway, this has got to be short.  So that's it for now.  Order up!

Guns I Want To Buy: Steyr Mannlicher 95/34

This is the inaugural Guns I Want To Buy post.  And man, it was tough deciding on what gun to feature first.  I mean, there are LOTS of guns I want to buy.  I still don't own a 1911, an M1 Carbine, a Ruger Mini 14, a Browning Hi-Power...and the list goes on.  So I decided to go with something off the beaten path, something a little weird, a little different (after all, Kentucky Fried Firearms is a little different too).  So without further ado, let's give a warm welcome to the Steyr Mannlicher 95/34.

The picture (if you couldn't tell) is from J&G Sales, located in AZ but they do internet business as well.  The rifle is chambered in 8x56R, which is an oddball round.  The rifle has a straight pull bolt, which I'm assuming is just like the Schmidt Rubin.  Most other bolt actions like the Mosin Nagant and the K98 use a rotary bolt (turn the bolt up, then back).  The rifle is loaded with a 5 round clip.  At the last round, the clip automatically falls to the ground.  Without the clip, the rifle can only be loaded one at a time.  It's an old rifle.  The 95 stands for 1895 and the 34 for 1934.  And yeah, one last thing.  The Steyr Mannlicher has some SERIOUSLY STOUT RECOIL.  How stout?  Shooting it is the one time it is okay for a man to cry.

Alright.  Three things got me interested in the Steyr 95/34.  One of them was buying my friend's Mosin Nagant 91/30.  Man, the Mosin Nagant is a fun fun gun to shoot!  Lots of power, pretty accurate, and affordable surplus ammo.  Since I enjoyed the Mosin so much, I thought I should look into other bolt action rifles.  About a month later, my FFL 03 Curio & Relic license finally came in the mail.  And with that license in hand, I started looking for C&R guns to buy.  Which led me to J&G's website where I found the Steyr Mannlicher for sale.  Price: $100.  And a hundred bucks is always a great price to pay for a firearm that eats thunder and craps lightening.  So to recap:
1.) My Mosin Nagant love
2.) My C&R license
3.) El cheapo price   

But the reason I ultimately didn't get the Steyr Mannlicher back then was the scarcity and high price of 8x56R ammo.  And even though the Mosin Nagant's recoil never bothered me, I was a little worried the Steyr's recoil might get the best of me.  So I didn't buy it.  And guess what?  Due to the Gun Scare of early 2013 (when everyone freaked out about possible gun control legislation), J&G is sold out.  My other web sources for C&R guns like Classic Firearms, Wideners, and Aim Surplus don't have in in stock either.  So it looks like I missed the boat, right?  But wait.  I have a secret source for C&R guns.  Their website is only for FFL licensees (both FFL01/gun dealers and FFL03/Curio Relic Collectors).  And they still have Steyr Mannlichers in stock for $109.  I've been feeling non-buyers remorse for a while now.  Think I'm going to have to jump the gun on this one before they are gone for good.

Lastly, enjoy these Youtube videos of fine folks shooting their Steyr Mannlichers.  Aurora91sl shoots watermelons in his video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD3NAuKCmuU.  Watermelon action starts around 2:40.  And Iraqveteran8888 shoots his Steyr 95 carbine in his video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd0kcuy7LPw.  He uses the 5 round clips and his video shows the system nicely.

Well, I think this is just about done.  I'll update when I buy one.  Order up.            

Deep Fry of the Day: 1971 Hawes Catalog

Kentucky Fried Firearms traveled back in time and returned with this fine catalog from 1971.  (Google Translation: Bought it on Ebay.)  As you can see, Hawes sold a lot of guns made by JP Sauer & Sohn.  On the used market today, the Western Marshals are most common.  But I have seen a Montana Marshal and a Texas Marshal for sale before.  I think I saw a Chief Marshal on Gunbroker that wasn't labeled as such (the adjustable sights and short hammer look familiar).  The Virginia City Marshal is new to me.  I'll have to keep my eyes open for one (as if I wasn't obsessively checking Gunbroker and Armslist already).

The catalog itself contains five pages.  It's interesting to see what Hawes had to offer in '71.  I'll be honest.  I'd like to collect (and shoot) all the variants.  (Google Translation: Time to take out a 2nd mortgage.)

The most fascinating thing for me is on the bottom left corner in the orange box.  It looks like the .357 version (Model #6357C) could've been purchased with a optional 9mm cylinder.  And for whatever reason, shooting 9mm out of a cowboy six-shooter sounds so wrong, it's got to right.  You know what I mean?  I feel I've got to try it.  So yeah, add 9mm cylinder to the list of things I'll obsessively check for online.

Well, it looks like this deep fry is just about done.  Order up!     

UPDATE: Numrich used to sell a replacement 9mm cylinder (blue/nickel) for $58.85 but it looks like they sold out a long time ago.  I'll keep watching GB and Armslist.   
  

Update: Hawes Western Six-shooter (made in West Germany by JP Sauer & Sohn)

Just wanted to update my previous post.  The Hawes Western Marshal in .22lr has been shipped today!

It's coming Second Day Priority, I think, or something like that.  (Whatever USPS calls their 2nd Day Air.)  But anyway, by this time next week, it should be in my hands.  Very cool.   

It's Better to Collect Guns Anyway

Link: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/those-comics-basement-probably-worthless-095537403.html

I collected comic books as a kid.  And yeah, I thought they would make me rich.  After all, everyone has a dad, uncle, or grandpa who had all these comic books or baseball cards that got thrown away by their moms.  And man, if those comics or cards were still around, Dad/Uncle/Grandpa would be RICH!!  I thought all I had to do was save my comics from the Thrown-Away-By-Mom fate and I'd be rolling in the dough.

I was wrong.  I learned this a long time ago, back in '99 or 2000, when I sold my collection of comics for pennies on the dollar.  I was eighteen then.  So it wasn't like I could've been collecting firearms instead of comics.  But I DO wish I had started my gun collection a lot earlier.  Not too long ago, AK-47s went for $200; SKSs for $100.  AKs are now around $550 and SKSs around $300-$350.  Though I've owned a handgun since I've been legally able, I only started collecting other firearms within the past few years.  Still I've noticed this: Guns don't lose their value.  They either retain it or go up.

Plus it's not like most of us are just sitting on our guns, waiting for our "nest egg" to hatch.  We're having fun shooting them too.  And there is nothing better than the smell of gunpowder lingering in the open air of your favorite range.  Could a comic book do that?  I don't think so.