So finally threw about 200 rounds out of the 22/45 with my son and a friend. About 2 duds from the CCI ammo, about 2 times the pin didn't string the round for some reason, and about 2-4 failure to feeds.  Accurate, cheap, fun enough, and a great warm up.

Noticed I did better right off the bat with the 1911, after playing with the 22/45 first.  But, maybe that's also because i was pretty tired, and a lot more relaxed than usual.  idk

Still a pain in the ass to field strip, but I think i got it figured out.  The hammer HAS to be in the correct position at specific step, and the manual doesn't seem the point that out very well, if at all.

Quote from: DarkStaR on September 18, 2011, 09:53:12 PM
Still a pain in the ass to field strip, but I think i got it figured out.  The hammer HAS to be in the correct position at specific step, and the manual doesn't seem the point that out very well, if at all.

It takes practice.  I have found holding it upside down does the trick for me.

Had the opportunity to put on a private handgun class for a couple of women over the weekend.  Went real well and had good results.  Spending a day teaching people that want to learn, to shoot, is a pretty good day for me. 

The handful of women that took my classes were great. No typical guy BS. No pre-conceived ideas of "I know how to shoot a gun, what can you possibly teach me" nonsense. None of the "Daddy taught me to do it this way, how could he be wrong". And this wasn't even a pistol class. It was a tactical shotgun class! Even when couples showed up I always had to break them up and stick hubby at one end of the line and the wifely unit at the other end. The husbands kept trying to tell the gals how to do everything, when in reality the women were doing fine and the husbands had it ass backwards! It always made my day (and the ladies!!) when I did one on one shoot offs at the end of the weekend and the gal put hubby on the trailer!! Bet it made for an interesting car ride home.

Quote from: fastwin on September 19, 2011, 06:42:48 AM
The husbands kept trying to tell the gals how to do everything, when in reality the women were doing fine and the husbands had it ass backwards! It always made my day (and the ladies!!) when I did one on one shoot offs at the end of the weekend and the gal put hubby on the trailer!! Bet it made for an interesting car ride home.

there is a lot to be said for learning to shoot right the first time.  i can't tell you how many guys i know who can't shoot worth a damn, and have developed the worst habits as a result of improper training.  basic things like breathing, trigger operation, grip, sighting.  i always flinch when i see someone squeeze an eye shut and jerk a pistol like it's a latch on a door to fire it.  duh.

I wouldn't mind taking some classes...too nad you guys are in different states

There are so many good operators out there. I'm sure you could find some top quality schools/instructors in your area. Never hurts to travel either. But when it comes to plane travel the pain in the ass factor goes WAY up. The bulk ammo issue is a killer when traveling by plane. Much less the gun(s) issue in this post 9/11 era. The furthest anyone came to one of my classes was from Colorado. He made ammo arrangements with the owner of the range.

Funny, that class was held during a terrible winter blast in March. Air temp was 11 degrees, sleet and 40 mph winds the first day. Everyone showed and there was also a long range rifle class that same weekend on the other end of the range and they all showed too. I've never seen that much shotgun ammo fumbled to the ground by cold, gloved hands... me included. We did all our cold range gun handling/prep work in a heated mobile home on site then would run out the door for live fire exercises. Standing next to 55 gallon drums with lit fire wood for warmth between shoots like a group of homeless folks. I'll never forget that class. Best part was the guy from CO pregnant doged the most about the weather!!! I was younger back then. Today I wouldn't have showed!!

Finally when to take the m1a out for its first shots.  Had previously laser bore sighted it at some unknown distance behind my house. It was about 8" right at 100yrds, but I was glad I was at least on the paper.

After about about 30 rounds, everything seems to be settling in, I was able dial in the scope some, and at least keep the groups in the black.

Now I just need a couple more sessions to dial me in...first rifle and all.

The kick is not that bad for me after all...so far...maybe it's the california muzzle brake...idk.

I was really nervous at first because that was the first time I've been at a range with range officers and range commands.  

No f'ups on my part, and one of the RO recomended I sign up to volunteer to be a RO also.  1/4 price membership fee, no daily fees, and get to shoot non-public hours (the range is under the sherifs direction and run by the members/volunteers)...hell yeah.  

Very nice. Glad you had a good first date with the M1A. Heck yes, sign up as a RO if you have the time. Save $$$, extra range time, might even pick up some helpful tips from others. What's to loose?

Took a buddy to shoot MY M1A, and he did better with it than I did, and that was the first time he shot a high power rifle.

Out of 2 rounds of 5 shots each,

I was just able to just keep it in the black at 100yds.

He was able to get 2-3 Xs per round with better groups.

Pure luck.

Quote from: fastwin on September 20, 2011, 06:51:09 AM
Very nice. Glad you had a good first date with the M1A. Heck yes, sign up as a RO if you have the time. Save $$$, extra range time, might even pick up some helpful tips from others. What's to loose?

Sign up as an RO AFTER the annual Elmer Fudds have invaded and left,

they terrify the regulars with bad gun handling and a general lack of basic gun safety during their annual sight-in (blasting practice)

before they head out into the woods on opening day

all excited and jittery with adrenaline they are dangerous....I avoid the range from mid-October to Opening Day weekend

"Ooops, Sorry" just doesn't mean much with loaded weapons

Quote from: fastwin on September 22, 2011, 02:52:00 PM
Pure luck.

I think I just need to relax out there.

Tomorrow is pistols, so it's game on!

Quote from: DarkStaR on September 22, 2011, 11:25:58 PM
I think I just need to relax out there.

Tomorrow is pistols, so it's game on!

at the shooting ranges in Switzerland, it's common for the old guys to have a (single) tipple of schnapps before going to the range.  and by single i mean people were pretty strict about not overdoing it, but it really seems to make them better shooters.

I'm always better at everything after a shot or two.

RAT's right. Wait until the carnage and danger lightens up at the range before signing up to be a RO. The same thing happens every time I have to qualify when I renew my carry license. I never worry about my score, I worry about all the yahoos up and down the line! I've seen some super scary shit during the qualy shoots. It's like DAMN people, do you ever bother to practice your shooting and gun handling skills between the 5 year renewals?? I wish the certified instructors had the right to deny shooters their license renewals based on dangerous/stupid behavior while on the firing line. Most of those shooters barely qualify anyway but forget their score. Wielding the barrel of your loaded handgun around like it's a ball point pen should be grounds for license revocation.