The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Spent the best part of three weeks in New Mexico in May getting my biannual dose of shooting "proper" firearms.

First weekend was a Practical Pistol match & I was doing OK until the last magazine change of the final stage - bloody thing not only failed to drop but had to be pried out when back at my mate's place.
Guilty party was a cheapo magazine, which I replaced with a couple more Chip McCormick competition magazines prior to the next weekend's fun & games.
The pistol is a stainless steel Springfield 1911 that my mate loans me & is modifying to suit my left handedness - much nicer than last year's Gov't model. I also have pretty much exclusive use of a BSA built L1A1 that now wears a Zeiss scope to aid my myopic view of the world & after some judicious parts fitting it now shoots sub 2" groups at 100yds so long as I don't feed it 1980's Indian surplus ammunition, coz if I do it shoots patterns rather than groups.... Combine the 1911 with the L1A1 & add a Saiga 410 shotgun & that's what I used for a three day mix of shooting & bullsh***ing at the NRA Whittington Center which I've been attending since 2006 & I'm pleased to say I finished higher up the scoreboard this time than I have in the past.
As usual, I had a wee chore to do too - reloading several hundred cases ready for my next visit later in the year:
Had some time behind my friend's .44 too; the loads were what he referred to as "bear killers" but I reckon I'm either immune to recoil, or too fick to feel it.

Of course there's a downside to all this: I've spent the past four weeks working my fingers off catching up with all the business stuff that didn't get done whilst I was away.

Now I need another holiday.....

Great range report, I am starting to understand where all the Brit shooters go now, probably the same reason the Viking and I head out to DK.

The NRA Whittington Center is an amazing place, with accommodation for competitors, hunters & even passing visitors.
There are 16 or 17 ranges catering for pretty much everything except tank guns & open to everyone for $20 a day.
Apart from the ranges, there's another 50 something square miles of hunting land & an abandoned mine, complete with the remains of the town it once supported.
I also have evidence that bears do indeed crap in the woods.....
Mr No-legs put in an appearance too, though in this case he was only of danger to small furry animals, as he was a gopher snake - shot down a hole like greased lightning a few seconds after the photo, so I guess he smelled lunch.
We were told there were several mountain lion in the area & the ranger advised us to go armed if we went up the canyon on foot - felt a little odd strapping on a handgun for what might be termed a defensive reason for the first time in 30 years.

I know this post isn't firearms related, so here's the sunset on our last night there - everything in sight is part of the place:

I like the sunset picture :goodjob:

The next time you come to New Mexico, you can hook up with me, I live just down the road you know in Albuquerque ... BTW we have an excellent range here in Albuquerque, it is where the NRA National Police Championship Shoots are held :)

Patrick

1886lebel wrote:The next time you come to New Mexico, you can hook up with me, I live just down the road you know in Albuquerque ... BTW we have an excellent range here in Albuquerque, it is where the NRA National Police Championship Shoots are held :)

Patrick

I usually shoot at Zia Rifle and Pistol Club when I'm over & stay with a friend just north of Gibson & west of San Mateo.
I should be back some time between mid October & mid December depending on business commitments here.

I shoot at the Albuquerque Shooting Range Park, Zia is a little too much for me to buy a membership there.
When you come, PM or email me and we can hook up, plus you can come over to see my collection :)

Patrick

Will do.