Friday being a day off from work for me, I took advantage of the nice weather to visit the Calverton Shooting Range in Calverton, NY. It wasn't at all crowded when I arrived around 10:45 but was quite busy by the time I left 90 minutes later. As is usual for that range the shooters were about evenly divided between AR users and those with more traditional rifles.
I brought my new-to-me Marlin 336 in 30-30 and my 12-gauge Maverick 88. Using the 50-yard rifle targets I fired 40 rounds out of the Marlin, Remington Core-Lokt 170 grain, and 30 one-ounce 2 3/4" Winchester Foster slugs from the Maverick. When all was said and done I was able to manage 6-inch groups from the 30-30 and slightly tighter ones with the slugs. That may sound dreadful, but keep in mind that I only fire offhand - there's something about using the bench that seems not quite right to me - and used iron sights. An older man at the next bench, who had many years of shooting experience based on our conversations during the breaks, said that under those circumstances it wasn't bad, especially as I wear eyeglasses. He also said that I didn't appear to flinch at all, which was gratifying.
While I like iron sights, I've concluded that it's time to, ahem, bite the bullet and get a scope for the Marlin. Given my vision limitations I really don't think I'm going to get much better than 6-inch groups out of it if I continue with the iron sights, and at some point I'd also like to be able to go for the 100-yard targets. Not going to happen without a scope. There's a LGS not far away where I've occasionally bought ammo and targets, and when I get the chance I'll stop in for a scope. I must say I am rather pleased to be able to maintain sub-6 inch groups with the slugs, using just the Maverick's bead sight. Somehow that is easier to see than the Marlin's sights.
After finishing at the rifle section I went over to the nearby shotgun area, not using sporting clays (they're some distance away and I haven't yet gotten a thrower) but just blasting away at 50-yard targets. I recently picked up a 10-round box of Remington Nitro Turkey 3" shells, no. 5 shot, and according to an online calculator they produce something north of 50 foot pounds of recoil energy. When I saw them in the store I just had to pick them up to see if I could handle them, that's just the way I am. I'll have to say that they weren't nearly as brutal as I had feared, somewhat but not markedly worse than the slugs. Which doesn't mean that I would have wanted to fire 100 of them in one session, ten was enough thank you very much. I finished with some Field and Stream 2 3/4" no. 7 1/2 birdshot, 1 1/8 ounce, which I had gotten very cheaply at Dick's Sporting Goods. They're actually made by Federal. After shooting the turkey load they seemed to have no apparent recoil at all
I brought my new-to-me Marlin 336 in 30-30 and my 12-gauge Maverick 88. Using the 50-yard rifle targets I fired 40 rounds out of the Marlin, Remington Core-Lokt 170 grain, and 30 one-ounce 2 3/4" Winchester Foster slugs from the Maverick. When all was said and done I was able to manage 6-inch groups from the 30-30 and slightly tighter ones with the slugs. That may sound dreadful, but keep in mind that I only fire offhand - there's something about using the bench that seems not quite right to me - and used iron sights. An older man at the next bench, who had many years of shooting experience based on our conversations during the breaks, said that under those circumstances it wasn't bad, especially as I wear eyeglasses. He also said that I didn't appear to flinch at all, which was gratifying.
While I like iron sights, I've concluded that it's time to, ahem, bite the bullet and get a scope for the Marlin. Given my vision limitations I really don't think I'm going to get much better than 6-inch groups out of it if I continue with the iron sights, and at some point I'd also like to be able to go for the 100-yard targets. Not going to happen without a scope. There's a LGS not far away where I've occasionally bought ammo and targets, and when I get the chance I'll stop in for a scope. I must say I am rather pleased to be able to maintain sub-6 inch groups with the slugs, using just the Maverick's bead sight. Somehow that is easier to see than the Marlin's sights.
After finishing at the rifle section I went over to the nearby shotgun area, not using sporting clays (they're some distance away and I haven't yet gotten a thrower) but just blasting away at 50-yard targets. I recently picked up a 10-round box of Remington Nitro Turkey 3" shells, no. 5 shot, and according to an online calculator they produce something north of 50 foot pounds of recoil energy. When I saw them in the store I just had to pick them up to see if I could handle them, that's just the way I am. I'll have to say that they weren't nearly as brutal as I had feared, somewhat but not markedly worse than the slugs. Which doesn't mean that I would have wanted to fire 100 of them in one session, ten was enough thank you very much. I finished with some Field and Stream 2 3/4" no. 7 1/2 birdshot, 1 1/8 ounce, which I had gotten very cheaply at Dick's Sporting Goods. They're actually made by Federal. After shooting the turkey load they seemed to have no apparent recoil at all