Thread: Shooting central

When I was in SoCal, my son and I would occasionally go out to Barstow or up to Big Bear ahooting. Where I am now, two friends and I get together for Sunday breakfast, followed by a trip to the local outdoor range. Depending on how we feel we may take out 22 rifles or pistols, heavier hitters or Black powder guns. I have a replica of the Remington 1858 revolving rifle that's a blast to shoot .
1858 carbine.jpg

Originally Posted by laidback

When I was in SoCal, my son and I would occasionally go out to Barstow or up to Big Bear ahooting. Where I am now, two friends and I get together for Sunday breakfast, followed by a trip to the local outdoor range. Depending on how we feel we may take out 22 rifles or pistols, heavier hitters or Black powder guns. I have a replica of the Remington 1858 revolving rifle that's a blast to shoot .
1858 carbine.jpg

Funny you mention black powder. I have been around guns all my life and only fired one of these. It was a 30 caliber I believe and was a flint lock. I actually hit what I was shooting at because I didnt know what to expect. After I realized the delay in going off I was screwed up the rest of the day. lol

Whats sad to me these days is how some of the makers are getting cheap. Particularly Remington. Winchester went under several years back and now Remington seems to be on the same path. The quality is just now there anymore imo. Their older guns were some of the best ever built.

What caliber is that 1858 laidback? I have seen those before but never shot one.

One of my buddies just bought a 375 h and h magnum and this thing kills at both ends. The recoil is just too much for me and its not my cup of tea at all. I like the smaller stuff. I would like to try out a 204 ruger someday to play with. I have gotten a lot of grief from some people for buying a 9mm pistol. Some say it wont get the job done but I would hate to be shot with one and to me its all about recoil. If you cant hit what your shooting at then the bigger power does not matter. The 9 has all I want and I dont want more. Have any of you ever shot a 44 magnum? Good God almighty! Talk about recoil. I had a 357 at one time and it was too much for me except when you shot 38 wad cutters in it. I got rid of it for this very reason.

The 1858 is a 44, caliber, and is a cap lock.(uses a percussion cap for ignition).
Coincidentally, I can produce everything I need to shoot this thing. I have a mold for the ball, I know how to make black powder, and a little device I got from Dixie Gun Works to make the caps, using soda cans,( or beer cans).

Originally Posted by Eddie Haskell

One of my buddies just bought a 375 h and h magnum and this thing kills at both ends. The recoil is just too much for me and its not my cup of tea at all.

I had to laugh when I read this, Eddie. Back in the early 80's I went to an outdoor range with a friend of mine, another Captain. I just brought the Berretta to the range that I owned at the time, just before I had bought my Browning, and my shotgun to shoot some skeet with afterwards which was my main reason for going. He brought two rifles and a few handguns and a Colt Python (6" barrel) that he had recently purchased. It was a canon!!! I used two hands to grip it and the recoil almost knocked me on my ass. lmao It weighted a ton and man was that thing loud even with ear protection. Bejebus. I only fired a couple of rounds, waaaaaayyyy too much gun for me. I decided I needed my wrists to function with. It seemed huge for me for a handgun. It did have marvelous adjustable sights though. He also brought a S&W .44 mag with a barrel that I believe was 6 1/2 inches long. (he was into the bigger is better mode obviously. lol) Again, the roar of it was huge, especially since we were at a range out in the Inland Empire that is surrounded on three sides by some small mountain ranges. Again, way to much gun for me. I can only image that you could shoot through several walls in your home with it and still hit your neighbor's car parked in his driveway. lmao You could clearly see a large muzzle flash from it in broad daylight. Yikes!!!

Originally Posted by A Life Aloft

I had to laugh when I read this, Eddie. Back in the early 80's I went to an outdoor range with a friend of mine, another Captain. I just brought the Berretta to the range that I owned at the time, just before I had bought my Browning, and my shotgun to shoot some skeet with afterwards which was my main reason for going. He brought two rifles and a few handguns and a Colt Python (6" barrel) that he had recently purchased. It was a canon!!! I used two hands to grip it and the recoil almost knocked me on my ass. lmao It weighted a ton and man was that thing loud even with ear protection. Bejebus. I only fired a couple of rounds, waaaaaayyyy too much gun for me. I decided I needed my wrists to function with. It seemed huge for me for a handgun. It did have marvelous adjustable sights though. He also brought a S&W .44 mag with a barrel that I believe was 6 1/2 inches long. (he was into the bigger is better mode obviously. lol) Again, the roar of it was huge, especially since we were at a range out in the Inland Empire that is surrounded on three sides by some small mountain ranges. Again, way to much gun for me. I can only image that you could shoot through several walls in your home with it and still hit your neighbor's car parked in his driveway. lmao You could clearly see a large muzzle flash from it in broad daylight. Yikes!!!

I have only shot the damn thing once. it knocked the hat off of my head. the recoil is just undescribable. It knocked me on my ass. It hit me that hard and thats no joke. It took me a bit to recover. I came around and swore to Jesus I would never shoot A gun this big ever again.

At least none of us( I don't think) were dumb enough to try to fire something like this 600 Nitro Express pistol, (elephant cartridge)
YouTube - The most powerful handgun in the world

Originally Posted by Eddie Haskell

I have only shot the damn thing once. it knocked the hat off of my head. the recoil is just undescribable. It knocked me on my ass. It hit me that hard and thats no joke. It took me a bit to recover. I came around and swore to Jesus I would never shoot A gun this big ever again.

So-o-o, I'm guessing you'd pass up something like the 500 S&W, or the BFR(Biggest, Finest Revolver, or Biggest F*****G Revolver) in 45-70? Just asking...!

Originally Posted by laidback

So-o-o, I'm guessing you'd pass up something like the 500 S&W, or the BFR(Biggest, Finest Revolver, or Biggest F*****G Revolver) in 45-70? Just asking...!

You guessed right. A 44 magnum is the biggest handgun I have ever fired and it was extremely unpleasant. I cant imagine a 500 S and W. Why anybody would buy one I will never know.

Originally Posted by Eddie Haskell

You guessed right. A 44 magnum is the biggest handgun I have ever fired and it was extremely unpleasant. I cant imagine a 500 S and W. Why anybody would buy one I will never know.

It's part of the, "bigger is better" syndrome that creeps in. There are lots of theories as to why this is, but I'm not sure how valid any of them are. For target shooting(jmvho) the less experience recoil the more pleasant. For hunting IF you can place your shot properly it doesn't take much gun to bring down almost anything.

For personal protection, there may be an argument for the stopping power of a big gun, but you still have to hit what you're aiming at. My personal protection piece is a Kel Tec 9mm with a Crimson Trace.