I finaly made it out to the range today. WHAT A WASTE! I couldn't shoot my steel core's, which I knew, but they also wouldn't let me shoot my lead core ammo, because a magnet stuck to it. The casing was copper, but the jacket was mixed metal, and thats why the magnet stuck. I managed to fire off 20 rounds before I was told to stop. Almost every single experience I have at a shooting range, whether is terribly rude personnel or multitudes of tedious, silly rules, always makes me wonder why I even bother going to these places when I'm an 1hour drive away from the Mojave Desert? I'm driving out to the desert next weekend, where no one will bother me or try to make me follow some idiot rule.
The rifle fired beautifully though. Smooth action, no sticky bolt (although at only 20 rounds, it has not been tested hard), and dead on accurate. Out of the 20, I plinked a steel target at 100 yards about 10 times, so half my shots made it. I'm visually impaired, so hitting anything, unless I'm using a shotgun, is a pretty big accomplishment for me. The wind was blowing at around 30MPH and I have never fired this rifle before so I was impressed. Once I got used to aiming this rifle, I began hearing a PLINK after the very distinct and lovely KA-BOOM this canon makes. I let my 5'8, 115 Lb fiancee fire it and she loved it. I kept reading on these boards about how bad of a kick the M44's have. Some have even compared it to a shotgun blast. I dunno what the heck these folks are talking about! I was firing heavy ball and it doesn't feel anything like a shotgun kick. Maybe it's because I shoot shotguns all the time, or maybe some people's stance or positioning of their weapons may be improper, but I felt a very insubstantial kick, nothing at all as bad as a shotgun kick. There was so little kick that my finacee fired 10 rounds, standing up, an had no problems. In comparison, when she shoots my Mossberg 500, she usually gets jolted and its a little harder for her to fire.
No pic's this time, but I'll get some next weekend when I go out to the desert. By the way, here are the heavy ball rounds I fired today. Super clean, as advertised, circa 1954. Out of the 20 - 30 that were fired, not a single misfired or failed to eject: AIM Bulgarian 7.62x54R Heavy Ball 183grn Bulgarian 7.62x54R Heavy Ball 183grn
I've ordered two cases of ammo from these guys and each one came fast and was exactly as advertised.
-Thepurplem0nkey
How did they figure it out after 20 rounds? the sound of the blast? boredom? I only ask because I have the same ammo, and want to figure whether I should bother taking it to a range or not.
Check the rules for the desert. No need losing the privilege, the right or your firearms for something silly either. I'm not sure if you can or not, you'd know more then I. But if you're unsure, better to ask that's for sure...
__________________ "My next door neighbors two dogs have created more shovel ready jobs then Obama has." - Gary Johnson
I've been to the CA desert a few times out shooting, about 1/2 hour outside Randsburg. It is very remote, BLM land. Legality-wise I am not too sure, but the area is basically for public use as far as I know. Make sure you know where your bullets will land, and you should be fine. Last time I was out, all day we only saw one other group of people, some people on ATVs. Be safe though! As it is so remote, if you have an accident, you are a long way from help.
The Bulgarian heavy ball is brass cased, but Burdan primed, so tough to reload. Save the brass and recycle it for $$$. It's the rebate that most people throw away.
As for the range... the only ranges here that ban steel-core are indoor ranges (for obvious reasons). I used to shoot out in the desert but always heard other gunfire and couldn't see the shooters (not a comfortable situation). We do have an unregulated range south of here that works well until you get a few drinkers, then it gets dicy.
purple monkey without going back on the thread what rifle??
usually the heavy ball works better in longer barrel rifle and light seems to work bette r in carbines
I dont know about desert country but good form says always ask or research where your shooting!!
It's perfectly legal to shoot in the desert near my home, I checked the laws before ever planning to go out there ;-) I appreciate the concern over where i shoot, but I'd definately be a candidate for the Darwin award if I didn't pick a safe location to fire my weapon. I plan to find some remote spot, park my vehicle, and hike to the nearst mountain face. I'll use that as my backstop. With my M44, my .22, the Mossberg
and a portable propane BBq.....we're talking some quality time shooting and eating in the desert ;-)
Marion, the rifle was the M44 Carbine. The kick was minimal, in fact Id argue that the kick is slightly less than the M-16A2 which has a huge recoil spring in the stock.
-Thepurplem0nkey
Yeah purplemonkey I bought a recoil pad when I bought my first mosin and then most of them ater that then found out it wasnt as bad as I thought!!Guess I am not as big a wimp as I thought he he ,, BBQ sounds real good about now !!
