More Range and painting.

Today was my sons day off from School because the teachers had "professional Development", Instead of my son's desire to sleep all day and veg on sports channel, I volunteered him to help out with the Order of the Arrow lodge project for the council's camping base.
     We are making a huge Chess/Checkers set for the camp, so the scouts can play chess during summer camp and the cub scouts can play checkers.

 This is one of the checker pieces

He painted 24 of them, 12 of them in yellow and 12 of them in blue...the Cub Scout colors.

Because he was so good and took my  drafting volunteering him in stride with minimal grumbling, I took him to the range.

   

He shot his Marlin 10/22, he put a package of 22LR through it, about 100 rounds.
  

My son shooting my Nylon 66, He really likes my Nylon and keeps wanting me to give him the rifle.

I then pulled my adapter to shoot 22LR through my AR pattern rifle

He put a lot of ammo through my "new" AR rifle

I then got my "old" AR out and he fired about 50 rounds of 5.56 through my old AR, 

He really enjoyed doing that, and made some comment that I need to send him the pic so he can put it on instagram and add a comment "getting ready for Vegas".  He has my warped sense of humor but I informed him that right now people don't have a sense of humor and he would open a huge can of worms if he post that pic and the subsequent comment.  He reluctantly agreed with my assessment.

     I am proud of my son, he knows how to shoot and how to act on a range by following the 3 "Always" rules and all other safe behavior that a responsible gun owner, but I told him that I have been remiss in his education and he asked me on what and I informed him that I need to teach him to clean and care for AR pattern rifles.

     

Saturday activities

   A few things...Last week my son returned from NOAC, the National Order of the Arrow conference in Lansing Michigan.    

There were 14,000 scouts there, they had the conference at the University of Michigan.  The theme was " It Start With Us".  The theme promoted the belief that in order to make the world a better place..it starts with us...basically we have to start off the process.  It also coincided with the "100 days of service".    The theme also promoted the "ripple" effect.   Basically that all people can cause a ripple, by itself not much, but when combined with many others can cause a tsunami of change. 
     He had a good time and he gave me a gift:

The mug along with my other stuff in my "man cave".

 

 

 

 

 

 On Saturday Morning, I ran a BB range and a friend of mine ran the Archery range for a "Back to the Pack" event, it was a cub scout event to help the new leaders in the cub scout get trained and we basically helped keep the kids entertained while the parents did some training.   It is all good, a whole new batch of shooters, and I also exposed some new parents to the idea of shooting, they had more fun than the kids did!  While I was running the course, I always went over the "Always Rules" for firearm safety and then "what do you do when you find a real gun"?   I stress the "Don't touch...and find a grownup".  It was a good time.  I have broached the idea to council about my working the National Jamboree in 2 years as a shooting instructor.  National Jambo will be in West Virginia at "the Summit Bechel".  

     After finishing the morning events, I then drove down to camp, it was a bit of a drive, made worse after being outside sweating, getting into a cool air conditioning car....talk about getting sleepy.  But I digress.   About 6 weeks ago I had gotten an email from "Eric from Ammoman" wanting me to do an evaluation on some ammunition.  Well I was skeptical, so I shot an email to my favorite blog babe Momma Fargo whom I remembered doing something like this. and asked her if this is legit and not a scam.   She assured me that "Eric" is totally legit and a good guy and awesome customer service.  Well I responded to "Eric" and a week later I had some ammo show up..

I was like a kid in a candy store let me tell you....I quickly opened the box to see what treasures awaited me:)

 I was very happy, Some "Good" ammo....not the cheap crap I have been buying(More on the results when I do the write up next week.).  But I went  down to camp to do the shooting...it was a bit of a drive but it is totally quiet and peaceful.  I didn't want to go to the local range, don't get me wrong, it is a very good range but it is crowded and I didn't really want to be explaining what I am doing to a bunch of people, so I contacted Mac 6 weeks ago and asked him if I could use the range and he was very gracious and said "Yep".  While I was down there I met up with my good buddy Mac and finally met his girl Jackie, talk about a class act lemme tell you...and she shoots!

Here she is shooting Mac's 357 Revolver.

Mac had purchased a new AR platform rifle and he wanted to stretch its legs out.   Any opportunity to shoot is a good opportunity and we had a good time.  I did my evaluation on the ammo and will post this on either Tuesday or Wednesday.  Part of my evaluation, I switched out the uppers on my AR and went totally "Old School".  for the 55 grain stuff that Eric sent me and Mac shot an old school AR platform and was totally tickled pink

  For Georgia the heat wasn't bad  and Mac had made arrangements with a troop doing service work to add some ceiling fans to the range and it was real comfortable and relaxing.  Shooting with friends..it don't get much better.

 

  

 

 

Returning from camping

Well did return from camping and I did have a good time, the faithful Ranger made the trip..

loaded with camping gear.  we faithfully traversed the span of the Peach of the South and dodged the various municipalities that use revenue based traffic enforcement policies...that tend to target those that are not local denizens of said municipalities...After a journey fraught with danger, we arrived at the camp with our numbers and wallet intact.
     I was asked by Mac the camp director to teach the "rifle shooting" merit badge,  I have no problem with this besides I like to shoot, Mac and his boss are good friends of mine so such a request is easy and an honor to do.
       We had some rain.....it would show up especially in the late afternoon...we would have to plan activities around the weather

      I had a good bunch of kids and they had a good time, I run a relaxed range, as long as the kids follow my instructions, I don't go drill sergeant on them.

 

They are using the CZ 452..a very good rifle

   I have commented in the past that the camp has some real good rifles...I have seen some camp rifles that are totally shot out.  Whomever purchased these did a good job and the staff do a good job ensuring that the rifles are well taken care of.
     After the kids left, I would indulge myself with one of the H&R M12 .22LR that are available.

   I had some ammo to shoot..

I had a good time and I did respectable...I didn't change the sights and I had no idea how I shot until I finished.

The target...Not bad.

    

    As a scoutmaster, I also had an opportunity to earn a very difficult patch....some of the requirements were brutal......I will give some examples.....the memory still brings me pain.....
     We were required to take naps in the afternoon.......and the horror of horror.....we were required to drink coffee......this was worse than waterboarding......after this experience......I might need some help

   I did have a good time despite having to really work for the scoutmaster patch.  I would go again.....

    

   I went to get the pic of the scout law...and my phone died.....it is the breaks....

Range Day and Fathers Day Post.

I spent time today going to the Range, it has been a bit of time since I went and today seemed to be a good day.

     I coordinated with my Dad to go to the range today for Fathers day

   This is for all the dads that spent time with their kids, no matter the age.

    But I decided to go to the range and my Dad was amenable to going.  My son always looks for the opportunity to go shooting, so we again had 3 generations of my family on the range...I swear the space time continuum shuddered somewhere.  I decided to roll out my pistols along with my "Nylon 66".  My dad was shooting his recent acquisition his Smith and Wessen target pistol.

 

Here is a bad pic of his pistol.

  I shot it, it is a very nice shooting pistol.    I also decided to roll out my wheelguns. and my small semi-auto.  Here is my first wheelgun:

   It is a Smith and Wessen model 681,  .357 caliber.  it is my favorite pistol.  It used to run with a metro police dept and since was put out to pasture with the advent of semi-auto pistols.  She shoots very well and is real easy to operate.

     I also shot my Smith and Wessen Model 14-4 .38 special.

     As nice as Semi's are, I still prefer "Wheelguns".. There is something old school about revolvers, the form and functions of it.    I also shot my small Semi that I have,

 

She is a CZ-50.  I bought her in the late 80's at the Nellingen Rod and Gun club.  Part of a lot of Czech police turn in's for the CZ-75.  I wanted to buy another but was unable to.  A small regret.  this semi is totally reliable, no matter the kind of .32..it will feed and function as she should.   

    And yes my son was shooting also

 he shooting my revolver.

     he also shooting my rifle.   The range was enjoyed by all, we had a good time and good memories.  We then went to "waffle house" for a lunch.  Several days ago, my son commented that when I go over to my Dad's house I spend several hours over there.  I replied "Of course he is my Dad...My Dad has a finite time here in this planet and I want to spend as much time with his as I can."  I learned a lot about being a "Dad" from him.  Some things good and some things bad.  But he made me the person that I am.  My devotion to country came from him, my sense of duty and obligation came from him.  The desire to do my best and not accept mediocrity came from him.  he didn't spent a lot of time with me and my brother when were little, he was the sole breadwinner and was always working.  he made sure that we were provided for.  I spent a lot of time with my son because besides being a good kid, I want him to be a good man and any good father is a dad, that is the difference from a "Father" to a "Dad".  Any body can physically be a father...but it takes a special person to be a "Dad".
     Back to the waffle house, we had a good meal then spent quite a bit of time just talking and my son actually listened and didn't complain.  I was glad and grateful for that because normally a 12 year old kid has the attention span of a gnat.  I had an early "Fathers Day" today because tomorrow I will be going camping with my troop.  I will be out there for a couple of days.  Next week I will be out there for an entire week.  

Range time...

I took Small and Noisy A.K.A.  my son as I refer to him to the range as a treat for the end of the school year.  He did extremely well on the CRCT test that is a requirement for promotion to the next grade.   In Honor of Old NFO and Murphy's law  who went to the range and fired a bunch of old rifles, I finally decided that my old rifles need to be given some exercise also.  First off my son started shooting and he did extremely well.  Here is a pic of him holding the rifle that "Santa" brought him.

Well he settled down and at the end of the lane where I had the target set up, he started shooting very respectable groups.  the only time we had problems is when we had feeding issues.  His rifle is finicky when it comes to ammunition.
    

Well I brought out 4 of my "old rifles and fired them for the first time in 12+ years.  I even fired the 303 enfield.  I happened to find 4 rounds in my ammo stash so all 4 got a workout.  It was different shooting bolt action .30 caliber rifles when I have been shooting .22LR's in my AR-15.  After finishing the range I took the time to clean them up.  And took a couple of pictures of them.  I should have taken pics of them at the range but I didn't.  So I took them at home.  The pics ain't near as good if I had used natural light.
     Here are a 4 of them on the couch.

The first one is a 308 Enfield that the Indian Police used.  It was made in Ishapore  it is the same rifle as the 303 enfield but made for the 308 or the 7.62 NATO round.  It was made in 1968.  It uses the same action as the 303 Enfield.
   The second one is my O3A3 Springfield, It was made in 1943 and it was the first "old" rifle I bought.  I got it back in 1987 while I was in Germany.

It is my favorite rifle as far as my bolt action rifles go.    The next one is my Mosin Nagant 91/59.  I picked up in the mid 90's when they were importing them into the country.  It was made in 1942 and was later converted by the Bulgarians to a carbine version.    The last one is my 303 Enfield, it was made in 1945 at the same factory as my 308 Enfield at Ishapore.  Funny how that worked out.  Like I said, it was a blast shooting my "old" rifles.  there is something about holding a piece of history in your hand.  The rifles look much better in person than they look in the picture.  And an added plus all the serial numbers match.  I really don't care about stuff like that but I was pleasantly surprised when I cleaned them for the first time and the S/N matched.
     Once I locate more ammo, I will take them to the range again.

Went to the range with the Garand

Well I went to the range on Friday, it is a new location closer to my house.  I took my 9 year old son who was excited to go to the range.  He had done real well, he had the highest score in his 3rd grade class for the year so as a reward, I took him to the range, along with 4 rifles.  I took my AR 15, my M1 Garand, my sons .22 bolt action Marlin and my Remington Nylon 66 .22 rifle.  Well all of the rifles did well, I even let my son fire my Ar-15 and that was a treat for him.  I havn't fired it in a long time. ammo ain't exactly cheap but I have a .22 adapter on the way so I can fire it more.   I bought it back in 1991 when I came back from the Gulf.   The Garand didn't do well, I had the correct ammo for it and I kept having what is called "Short Recoil"

   Here is what my Google search found:  See Below

        I don't know where to start....I don't want to buy parts and trouble shoot it that way.  That will get expensive in a hurry.   I am thinking about trying to find a gunsmith to diagnose the problem for me but that also will add up to a lot of coins.   Yes I am trying to be cheap.

    Does anybody have any ideas to try first?

Short recoil — the bolt is not retracted far enough to complete the cycle.	Ammunition does not develop adequate gas port pressure to cycle the action.	Gas port pressure should be 6000±2000 p.s.i. Faster-burning powder may not develop adequate port pressure without developing dangerously high chamber pressure. Always use appropriate ammunition!
	Carbon built up in gas port or gas cylinder.	Clean the gas port and gas cylinder.
	Undersized or out of round operating rod piston.	Replace the operating rod.
	Oversized gas cylinder.	Replace the gas cylinder.
	Barrel external diameter too small at gas port, leaking gas.	Replace the barrel.
	Operating rod is binding, possibly against the stock.	Replace the operating rod if it is misshapen, or remove wood from the stock as needed.
	Gas cylinder lock screw leaking gas.	Clean and tighten gas cylinder lock. If it has a leaking valve, replace it.
	Weak or broken operating rod spring.	Replace the faulty part.
	Burs on bolt binding in the receiver.	Remove the burs from the bolt.
	Damaged or deformed receiver.	Replace the receiver