On Saturday, August the 7th., we had some Visitors at Virden, Mb. Tinman204 and his brother, Walter Sobchak decided to pack up a few toys and come to Virden to do a bit of shooting. Tinman204 also wanted to look at a 1907 Swedish M/96 rifle that he had located in Brandon, (that he bought) so the hour drive to Virden to visit with us was only natural.
This also gave us an opportunity to pack up a few toys of our own, and head for the range ourselves. Since Tinman and Walter had e-mailed us with a “wish list” of some rifles that they would like to shoot, it was possible to cater to most of their request, and then some.
To name a few, but not all of them, between all of us, there were 3 Swedish Mauser m/96 rifles, including Tinman204’s latest purchase. He and his Brother are now confirmed Swedish rifle fans after shooting them. Then we had a Swiss K-31, three Enfield M-1917 rifles including one of the late Gavin Tate’s target rifles, a couple of SKS, a Garand, assorted Carcanos, 2 italian Vetterlis –a rifle and a carbine, several Mausers of various types and vintages including a WWI 98 carbine and an 1888 Commission rifle, 3 Ross rifles, a WWI German Luger, a WWI .455 Colt revolver, and a couple of Twosteam’s black powder guns.
Initial shooting was done at 100 yards, and later moving back to 300 yards for a “Gong Show” where a 16 inch steel gong was used as the target for some friendly competition, and to see what some of these old Military rifles could do at that range. Some of the results were quite impressive.
Tinman204 shooting his newly acquired 1907 Swedish m/96 Mauser rifle. We actually had to clean the grease out of it on the range before it could be shot.
A happy Tinman 204. Four rounds at 100 yards with his new Swedish toy. The other target on the left was from another rifle.
At 100 yards, Twosteam lets loose a .69 calibre ball downrange at the steel gong. She actually hit it too.
Another happy face. Tinman 204 after hitting the 16 inch 300 yard gong, 4 out of 5 shots, using SMELLIE's HMS Canada Ross Mark III. Walter Sobchak did as well with a Mosin Nagant, once he found out where to hold.
A group photo. Left to right, Tinman204, Buffdog, Twosteam, Smellie and Walter Sobchak. Walter was making lunch, and had a BBQ going on the tailgate of the truck with Hamburgers, so we took a bit of time to relax near the end of the day. Those burgers and potato salad tasted good. (That boy is so big I think he should change his CGN name from Walter Sobchak to "Bear Defence.")
Altogether, it was a fun day, and will be thought of and remembered by all of us. The weather was pleasant, a lot of ammunition was shot downrange, we all had a good time, and we even educated a couple of shooters who wandered over from the pistol range, just how much fun shooting military rifles could be. They got to shoot a few rifles too.
What more could you ask for?
.
This also gave us an opportunity to pack up a few toys of our own, and head for the range ourselves. Since Tinman and Walter had e-mailed us with a “wish list” of some rifles that they would like to shoot, it was possible to cater to most of their request, and then some.
To name a few, but not all of them, between all of us, there were 3 Swedish Mauser m/96 rifles, including Tinman204’s latest purchase. He and his Brother are now confirmed Swedish rifle fans after shooting them. Then we had a Swiss K-31, three Enfield M-1917 rifles including one of the late Gavin Tate’s target rifles, a couple of SKS, a Garand, assorted Carcanos, 2 italian Vetterlis –a rifle and a carbine, several Mausers of various types and vintages including a WWI 98 carbine and an 1888 Commission rifle, 3 Ross rifles, a WWI German Luger, a WWI .455 Colt revolver, and a couple of Twosteam’s black powder guns.
Initial shooting was done at 100 yards, and later moving back to 300 yards for a “Gong Show” where a 16 inch steel gong was used as the target for some friendly competition, and to see what some of these old Military rifles could do at that range. Some of the results were quite impressive.
Tinman204 shooting his newly acquired 1907 Swedish m/96 Mauser rifle. We actually had to clean the grease out of it on the range before it could be shot.
A happy Tinman 204. Four rounds at 100 yards with his new Swedish toy. The other target on the left was from another rifle.
At 100 yards, Twosteam lets loose a .69 calibre ball downrange at the steel gong. She actually hit it too.
Another happy face. Tinman 204 after hitting the 16 inch 300 yard gong, 4 out of 5 shots, using SMELLIE's HMS Canada Ross Mark III. Walter Sobchak did as well with a Mosin Nagant, once he found out where to hold.
A group photo. Left to right, Tinman204, Buffdog, Twosteam, Smellie and Walter Sobchak. Walter was making lunch, and had a BBQ going on the tailgate of the truck with Hamburgers, so we took a bit of time to relax near the end of the day. Those burgers and potato salad tasted good. (That boy is so big I think he should change his CGN name from Walter Sobchak to "Bear Defence.")
Altogether, it was a fun day, and will be thought of and remembered by all of us. The weather was pleasant, a lot of ammunition was shot downrange, we all had a good time, and we even educated a couple of shooters who wandered over from the pistol range, just how much fun shooting military rifles could be. They got to shoot a few rifles too.
What more could you ask for?
.
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