Range Time

Headed down to the range yesterday.  Not the normal range either, but the one down south.  They're both equally distant from us, but the Rabbit Creek involves traveling through the whole city.  Also, there are a lot of horror stories from that range, which definitely put me off (although I think the source of those stories is no longer employed at the range).  We'd gotten a handful of free day passes at Hunter's Ed though, and our cheap side kicked in.

Rabbit Creek is definitely a lot more organized and rules-oriented than Birchwood.  It puts many people off, but I think it's probably necessary.  Birchwood is broken up into a lot of different ranges, each holding 7-10 shooters.  Usually you can get one to yourself, or share with maybe two or three people.  Since there are so few people per range, you don't need an official range master - just communicate with the guy at the far end when you need a cease fire and all's good.  Rabbit Creek is only three ranges (not counting the training area or shotgun), and each range holds 17-20 shooters - and the rifle range was full!  With that many people, it definitely helped to have a range master calling the cease fires.  I still prefer Birchwood, but I'm very introverted.

Anyway, we ran a few mags through our carry guns as we do whenever we go to the range.  Then it was on to rifles.  Being small and left-handed, finding a rifle that fit me was difficult, especially because I didn't want to spend much money (I'm saving up for a nice O/U).  A few weeks ago we happened upon a used Winchester 1894 with youth stock in good condition and grabbed it.  I was feeling like crap, so I didn't actually sight it in, but just putting a few rounds through it was grouping quite nicely.  Almost no recoil, too.  A sweet gun, especially for the price I paid.  I'm quite satisfied so far.  Should work nicely for bear, which is what we're aiming for this spring.