The Redneck Hoplorato

Despite our region's monument to central planning by enlightened bureaucrats known as Interstate-95, I managed to get down to Range CTone last Saturday morning... AND HAD A BLAST! Yes, CTone's been off-the-air due to family and job and job and job of late, but I can tell you he is doing fine.

The RSOs at Range CTone are very cool, effectively allowing us to do things we could never do at most other ranges.

First up was some pistol-on-steel. We practiced draws, double taps, etc... and then started doing some movement -- walking lateral to the target while shooting; drawing, shooting, and backing up while still engaging, etc...

We finished up with shooting while on your back as if having been knocked to the ground. If you've never done that, btw, it is much harder than you might think. And there are some definite issues you MUST think about before doing it depending on your holster position: appendix carry works best, crotch carry ("smart" carry) is awkward but doable, and carry between 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock causes you so sweep one of your knees. Be careful, you don't want to blow your kneecap off trying to get your gun to the ready!

CTone was curious how my carry ammo held up ballistically, so we put out some jugs of water and ran  a test round. You can't do that at most ranges!

Hornady Critical Defense in 9mm.
The calibre wars are over!

I also picked this FMJ off the ground that we fired through an old bean bag. It came out the other side in pretty good shape.

9mm Remington UMC shot through a bean bag.

Once done with the pistols we moved on to our Franken-ARs (because we were both shooting rifles cobbled together from parts found here and there). Both rifles needed lube, so I grabbed some CLP from my range bag. CTone went to his garage and came back with motor oil.

Me: "Motor oil on your AR. Duct tape on your holster. You're the most redneck hoplorato I know."

CTone: "I take that as a compliment."

Me: "That's how it was meant."

And then we got to putting rounds down range. With the Franken ARs we had only one failure, and that was with this round:

This is 90's production Lake City ammo surplus. Looks like the primer was put in backwards. This is the kinda crap our troops have to deal with in the field.

Anyway, we had a good time. Wish I could have been there longer.

ATTENTION HOPLORATI: For all three of you with Hoplorati badges on your blog, check your meat-space mailboxes. A present is coming soon (as in, I mailed it yesterday).