I was shooting wearing glasses, and it seemed like after practically every shot they would get misted with oil, which did not quite help my vision, and wiping just smeared it so I could not see shit. I have no idea if whoever was maintaining the rifles just dunked them in lube or something.
These days I usually wear contacts, so maybe I should try taking the sport up again, and going to a different range of course.
I joined the Livingston range this year–a first. $55 a year and no NRA membership, unlike the one on this side of the pass. I got a Ruger SFAR in .308 this spring, and it’s so much easier to shoot than my 7mm Mag Elk rifle. It’s also easy to run through a couple hundred dollars of ammo in a range session, and that’s using the cheap stuff. I got a bunch of cheap ammo (PMC) to break it in, and now I should find some decent stuff to really zero it in. Other than the 7mm my most accurate rifle is the Marlin bolt .22 with a $40 Tasco scope on it…
Not at all. I mentioned bow and arrow in my op. I also like bows, but am losing the strength for them.
Don’t get old.
I have an archer inside of me who has never made it out, thanks to some early conflict with my mom (long story). I’m now a middle aged lady, but I’m tempted to to try out target shooting with a traditional style bow. Any suggestions on how to begin?
I’ve been shooting for about 65 years or so. Currently an NRA Chief RSO and Pistol Instructor. One of the Directors of a large range in Eastern Missouri. I sponsor prospective members and help teach new member orientation classes. Also conduct testing/qualifications for mid range qualifications.
I participate in IDPA pistol matches and used to be a Safety Officer.
Usually shoot CF rifle at 600Y and 22 rimfire at 300Y. Shoot some trap and skeet. Used to shoot sporting clays several times a month, but with age, the group kind of fell apart.
Reload for shotgun, pistol and various rifle calibers.
Traditional?
As a new shooter I would have you look at bows for youths. Like 20 lb pull.
You are not looking for a hunting bow. Or a serious target bow. You are looking for a bow that will train you. Not the other way around.
Went to the range 2 weeks ago, just to practice. Got reasonably good patterns with my EDC Ruger (LCP) and Les Baer (Custom Carry). I’m pleased since I haven’t been practicing like I should.
I was an avid hunter until about 2017 or so. With the exception of feral hogs, I only hunted for food. CWD started spreading in the deer where my hunting club was located and I began to worry about the meat. Add in a few encounters reminding me I was not always the apex predator, and I decided to stop. I still manage some range time with my rifle though.
Same here, only left eye. I’m left-handed, left-footed, and left-eye dominant. Cataract surgeries have a success rate of 99% in the US, but I got to join the 1% due to mine. And spent most of a year with my left eye either blind, or with severely limited vision. So I learned to shoot with my right eye, and have become accustomed to it now. I still have some weird vertical errors in my shot patterns, but am mostly back to where I was.
I’ve been plagued with Central Serous Retinopathy in my right eye. Basically, it’s a blister that detaches the retina. There’s no successful treatment and most cases go away on their own. Mine didn’t, and now it’s caused permanent damage to the central field of vision in my right eye. I got pretty good at compensating for it with a pistol, but sighting a rifle is just about impossible right-handed. I tried a red dot sight and it helped a little, but over time I’ve become left eye dominant because of my brain compensating. At this point I’d have to spend a lot of money replacing everything I’ve sold or given away, so I pretty much resigned myself to sticking to the bow.
I really want a rifle that I can comfortably (and accurately) shoot offhand.
I have a couple old-school FALs. Love them, but they’re heavy. And you can’t put optics on them. I’m 59, and my eyes aren’t what they used to be. I need optics, sad to say.
So a few weeks ago I shot my daughter’s Ruger SR-556 w/ red dot. It’s a piston-driven AR, and damn that thing is heavy. Why the hell does it have a piston? At any rate, I was very unsteady when shooting offhand, and couldn’t keep the dot within a 4 inch circle at 25 yards. So I installed a red dot w/ adjustable magnification on it (a Primary Arms SLX 1-6x24 SFP). I can now see the target much better, but now that damn thing is even heavier, which makes me even more unsteady.
So here’s my current plan: a Ruger 10/22 w/ carbon fiber stock. Only 3.5 pounds! Add a red dot w/ adjustable magnification, and I think I’m good to go.
Take a look at a used Ruger SFAR. 7# in .308, available in many calibers, although I’m sure the 10-22 will be a hoot.
The Ruger looks like a good carry pistol.
I bought my wife a Walther pd380 . Like the deep groves in the slide, makes it pretty easy to rack a round.
Neither one of us carry but we have our CCW permits (called CHP in Colorado 
). My wife says that if things ever get bad enough that she wants to carry, she’ll open carry. Can’t really argue with that.
I’ve a Sig Sauer P365 in 9mm. I would carry that. I prefer cross draw holsters. It came with a red dot sight, but I am having trouble getting it adjusted. It shoots about 2" high at 7 yards. Not too worried about that.
Cool rifle. But I’m now of the opinion that .308 is too heavy for unsupported offhand. Same is true for even .223. At least for me.
I just ordered an M1907 loop sling. It supposedly makes you steadier by taking muscles out of the equation; the rifle is supported by your bones. Am a bit skeptical, but will give it a try.
That’s what I was thinking, more or less. Thanks.
Do get an arm guard. And a finger/s glove.
I learned with the sling on a Garand, not sure if they are same. But for High Power rifle you don’t use the sling for offhand so I never tried it.
You can get replacement handguards with Picatinny rails. But, yeah that thing is a beast! My FAL handguards came off during a defensive match. That was when I learned how hot a barrel can get…
What does shooting “offhand” mean? I assume it doesn’t mean shooting with your non-dominant hand.
Assuming you’re a righthand shooter, one loop tightens around your left arm, just above the bicep. I guess it then makes a rigid “triangle.”
I don’t shoot nearly as much as I used to. I stopped bird hunting a few years ago, but continued to hit the local range now and then to shoot (at) clay birds, but I don’t think I’ve been since before COVID, and we live close enough to it to hear when they have a meet! The local indoor range closed down and the local outdoor range doesn’t meet my personal safety standard, so I’d have to drive quite a way to shoot anything other than scatterguns. I inherited a beautiful Kimber 1911 from my brother who never got around to shooting it, and one day I’ll take it out. I’ve been saying that since he passed in 2018 and still haven’t gotten around to it.
My son, OTOH, shoots a LOT. He’s on one of the USAF’s shooting teams, which is nice because the USAF pays for a lot of the ammo now, and he’s also a RSO at his local range.
My understanding is shooting standing without any sort of rest. So, classic western movie style. AKA inherently very inaccurate.