What I Learned Today

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BigMikey76

New member
I went out today and fired several different rifles, all in different calibers. Having never fired anything more powerful than a .22, it was a very enlightening experience. I got to fire a .243, 7mm08, .270, .30-06, and a Mosin 91/30 in 7.62x54R. I learned a few things:

1) The kick on a .30-06 is not nearly as strong as many of the people who responded to my last thread made it out to be (could have something to do with my size - 6'3" 350lbs). In fact, the comments about the 06's recoil had nearly turned me away from considering it, but it is solidly back on the table now.

2) Turning milk jugs inside out with a hunting rifle is A LOT more fun than shooting paper with a .22.

3) I will definitely need to put in some more range time before shooting at Bambi, but I did much better than I was expecting.

4) No matter how much time I spend telling myself that I won't anticipate the moment of firing, it happens anyway. Mostly I had to force myself not to lift my cheek off of the stock as I fired. When I maintained control, I did ok, but I missed every time I anticipated.

Thanks once again to Jimbob86 for taking me out today. Had a lot of fun and learned some stuff, too.
 
Well that's a heck of a rare oppotunity there my very large friend and some good learned lessons. Good on BOTH of you!

Ya know, the recoil may be part of the anticipation. Dry having someone else load the gun for you where you don't know if it is actually going to fire or not. And that .22? The best thing you have going -- don't discount it.

Good and safe shooting.
 
I really liked the Mosin. It really didn't kick much more than the .270, and it was fun to shoot. Most of all, it felt really solid, like it could take some manhandling and keep working just fine. I was less accurate with that one, but it was the only non-scoped rifle, other than my .22. My two reservations on buying one are that I don't know enough about rifles to potentially spot a bad specimen, and that I would have to clean the cosmoline off of it. I have heard that is a less than enjoyable task.
 
I have heard that is a less than enjoyable task.
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Bucket, paint thinner, paintbrush, elbow grease, and a bit of time.... not hard. Not painful...... a bit messy, somewhat tedious ..... there are worse ways to save $$$.

..... and don't kid yourself, Mikey: offhand disintegration of oranges at 20-30 yards with a Mosin, especially for someone who has never fired a centerfire before is pretty good shooting.
 
Good to hear that you did well with the rifles.

Not really gonna know how sensitive someone is to recoil until they try it.
I'm all of 165 lbs. I shoot my 30-06 and don't feel like it's overpowering.

Don't dismiss your Marlin Model 60 just yet. You can still practice your breathing and trigger pull with it.

It's always amazing to hear about someone help out another. Jimbob, this Buds for you! :)
 
Shoot with your eyes closed and the gun empty. Then have someone load it (or NOT load it?) where you don't know if there's a round in it and close your eyes and concentrate on SQUEEZING the trigger steadily. Do this over and over until your main goal is to hold on the target while squeezing the trigger and you're not thinking about the bang.
 
..... have someone load it (or NOT load it?) where you don't know if there's a round in it
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We did a bit of that ..... it helped demonstrate that if you did everything right, and maintained "cheek to stock weld", etc., then the taget reacted acted appropraiately (Exploded!)

Item no 4 indicates that you are not as comfortable as you say in item no 1.
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I saw the problem as Mikey was so eager to see the target fly apart that his head was coming up off the stock for a better view, and the muzzle was dropping at the shot ...... with the dummy drill, and a bit of coaching to get him to watch the target through the scope, and to try and remain motionless before, during and after the shot.... muddy orange juice!
 
1) The kick on a .30-06 is not nearly as strong as many of the people who responded to my last thread made it out to be (could have something to do with my size - 6'3" 350lbs). In fact, the comments about the 06's recoil had nearly turned me away from considering it, but it is solidly back on the table now.
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Depends on the rifle. I've got a 6 3/4 pound '06 that will thump with the best of them. My Garands and 77 Mk2 seems not to kick at all.
 
I wish now that I had taken pics, though ....

Mikey is a really big guy, with really big hands (kinda like a baseball glove with the fingers cut apart) ..... I'd like to have taken some pics of him shooting my EMP ...... the trigger reach was so short for him that when he put the pad of his finger on the trigger, the top half of his palm could not contact the grip .....

The 91/30 looked ...... kinda short ...... when he shouldered it.... and my Ruger Frontier looked like a toy gun .....
 
Tim R is right too. I was teaching a class with Rambo in it once. Gave him a WWI Enfield .303. No problem. Then made him cry, well, his doe-eyes water, when I gave him a Jungle Carbine to show off to the rest of the class with that had a 50-year old hardened rubber butt-pad.

Ouch!
 
BigMike,

I'm only 5'8" and 190 pounds but I love my 30.06
I have a Browning BLR Lightening. It's quite light and so the recoil is rough. If I'm sighting it in 10 rounds can be uncomfortable. But while hunting recently I took a couple piglets in succession and I didn't feel a thing. :)
 
Congratulations!

You are on the road to real shooting!

I would recommend, along with learning about the guns and shooting that before you go looking for Bambi, that you also learn about the game, and field dressing it.

Not having at least the basic knowledge of how to dress the game is a disservice to your self, and the game. We all start hunting without experience, but you need to know the basics so you can learn to do it right. Having an experienced hunter with you when you do go afield is a very, very good thing.

Till then, learn shooting. Positions and techniques. Along the way, you'll learn about the guns and ammo you use.

You have taken the first steps on a life long road, where you can go as far as you want, or not, as you want. Learn safety, and have fun. And most important, learn safety! Everything else will flow from that.
 
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