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2020 RANGE DAY 6

October 25, 2020May 3, 2023 Leave a comment

RANGE DAY 6 was a fun day. I finally got some 38 ammo. It was wad cutter because that was all I could get, but beggars can’t be choosers.

I finally got to go back to the range yesterday to enjoy my new S&W M586, and it is just a pleasure to shoot. I picked up a box of .38 wadcutters, because I can’t find normal ammo at the moment.

This is the first time I’ve shot wadcutter, which is designed to punch a nice neat circle in a paper target, to make scoring easier.

It takes a little more to load my wheel guns with wadcutters compared to target rounds, at least at first. Target rounds have that cone at the front which kind of helps guide them in. Not a huge issue, but loading takes a split second longer.

I like to alternate between semi auto and wheel guns. Switching up makes me adjust to each weapon, making it harder to just “dial in” with one weapon due to repetition.

I put 300 rounds through my S&W M586, and had some truly awesome shows. I started in the short, 5 yard lane, and finished on the fifteen yard lane.

This was my target after the first couple reloads.

This was my target after a lot more rounds. yes, I am pulling to the left a little, but that’s why I’m at the range, to get better.

I like to use the little reactive circle stickers to give me a small target. I put one on this target post and was surprised that a .40 caliber round went through a two by four. The picture on the right is the entrance, and you can kind of see how it blew out the side of the lumbar, while the right side is the exit. I have no way of knowing how much energy the round had after punching through the two by four, but it sure makes you think. At close range, even if the round hits the framing spot on, it might not be enough to stop the round.

.40 caliber going through a two by four

At the end I moved to the 15 yard lane and finished up with my last few reloads.

I took my time and shot mostly the S&W 586 in single action, but it was worth it to see the results.

It is always a good day when I get to the range. Once the weather gets a little colder I’m looking forward to walking the clay course. It is open now, but it just seems wrong to do it when the weather’s warm.

And of course, the last thing is always clean up. I use a colander to shake all the sand and dirt off the brass before I throw it in a bucket so a buddy can reload it later.

Smith & Wesson Model 586 Shooting Log

Date	Rounds Fired	Comment
8/14/2021	200	The wheel guns are just so much fun to shoot.
11/21/2020	100	This M586 is a nail driver. If I need to put a shot in s small target I'm grabbing this gun.
10/31/2020	200	My son and I both love this wheel gun. We traded it back and forth all day.
10/24/2020	300	This is just an amazing wheel gun. It is worth every penny I paid for it.
09/06/2020	100	My first outing with my new S&W M586.

Glock Model 23 Shooting Log

Date	Rounds Fired	Comment
8/14/2021	50	Still not sure if I like this Glock. It doesn't point naturally and it always takes two clips to get on target.
11/21/2020	50	The Glock 23 is a great little semi auto that is slowly growing on me.
10/31/2020	100	My son and I took turns with the Glock 23 today. He really liked the Glock, so I might need to do a paternity test.
10/24/2020	100	I'm not a huge Glock fan, but this G23 is slowly growing on me.
09/06/2020	100	Spent a little bit of time at the range on this beautiful Labor Day Weekend.
7/6/2020	100	Had the range all to myself!!!
6/27/2020	100	After figuring out how to sight with this it was fun to shoot.
10/07/2016	50	The thing I'm starting to love about this Glock is how clean it shoots - and how easy it is to clean - because it doesn't seem to get that dirty.
09/04/2015	50	Just a quick outing to start off our weekend.
05/09/2015	150	My youngest was funny when he was shooting this . I don't really feel the difference between the .40 and the 9mm, but he said he can really tell the difference.
04/26/2015	100	My buddy is going through a divorce and needed some cash. So I got a very nice gun that had barely any rounds down the barrel for half the retail price.

Smith & Wesson M&P 22 Shooting Log

Date	Rounds Fired	Comment
11/21/2020	100	The M&P 22 is just a joy to shoot, which is why it gets fed on a frequent basis.
10/31/2020	200	Our family friend really enjoyed the manageable kick the 22LR has. My son liked how he could group hits in rapid fire mode.
10/24/2020	100	After shooting the 40 Caliber G23, this feels like a toy, but it is fun to shoot.
09/06/2020	100	More bulls eyes with my .22 nail driver.
7/12/2020	320	Relaxing day at the range with my youngest son.
6/27/2020	100	Cheap, fun shooting.
6/14/2020	100	First outing of 2020.
10/07/2016	250	It's been a while since the .22 came out of the safe. What more could you want than cheap and fun shooting.
03/28/2015	300
02/08/2015	300

Remember, if you use GunBroker, or live in South Jersey, stay away from County Sports in Carney’s Point NJ. They have horrible customer service and will screw you over to make an extra $5 bucks. How do I know, because that’s what they did to me.

Recommended Shooting Gear:

See all Range Days!

Glock Pro Mags Versus Glock Mags

September 13, 2020May 29, 2023 Leave a comment

I live in a state where 10 round magazines are the most you can own legally. Having a lower capacity means I want more mags. Know what I mean? So I decided to stock up on mags for my Glock 23. I was surprised to see the massive price difference between OEM and Pro Mags.

Pricing

I paid $30 for a single Glock Factory Mag.

That price seems reasonable until I saw that I could get 4 Pro Mags for $67, or $16.75 apiece.

So how do Pro Mags compare?

On price they are clearly a winner.

Functionality

On functionality they aren’t quite 100%. They function flawlessly when it came to semi auto action. I didn’t have any issues with feeds or seating the mags. Where things didn’t work quite as well was on ejecting the magazines.

Part of the reason to have lots of magazines is so you can quickly reload. Drop the empty, load the next magazine. This is where the pro mags didn’t quite hold up to the OEM parts.

Yes, I first tried with empty mags, then was curious if a loaded mags weight would help it drop , which it did not. I was the only one at the range, and the weapon was always pointed down range. Don’t try this at home unless you can do it safely.

I think the reason the Pro Mags don’t drop without being pulled is that their retention notch appears to be significantly deeper than the OEM mags.

Pro Mag to Glock OEM comparison.

I am not a gun smith, so these are just my novice observations. Having said that, there is clearly a functional difference between these two mags.

If you look really carefully, you will also see that the edges of the release on the Pro Mag is not quite as clean.

The edge of the molding is rough and has bits of plastic/polymer that sticks off.

My next step is to clean those edges up with a small file and see if that improves the clip release.

In the end these Pro Mags are fine for the range, but I wouldn’t be putting them on a carry rig or rely on them in this state for a bug out / survival situation.

For the price though, these are great for the range.

See the one thousand items you need to survive the Apocalypse!

2020 RANGE DAY 5

September 6, 2020May 31, 2023 Leave a comment

I’m finally able to get around and feel good enough to get back out to the range. This was more than a regular range day though! Why? Because it was also my first outing with my new (to me) Smith & Wesson M586.

I didn’t hesitate. I had the option to get the M686 in stainless or the M586 which is blued. The blued M586 just calls to me.

How can you not pick the blued version? I just love the blued steel and the classic wooden grips.

I fell in love with Smith & Wesson revolvers years ago when my father in law took me to the range with his M686. That was over two decades ago now, and even though he’s since passed, i still remember spending time with him at the range.

M586 Shooting

How does this M586 shoot? This Smith & Wesson is just smooth as butter. It feels like it was made for my hand, and the action is honestly the smoothest I’ve ever felt.

At 30 feet, I was honestly very happy with my first twelve shots.

It’s a six inch target, so I felt like it was a good beginning. Add in the fact that I’m just now up and on my feet and able to get around reliably, and I was doubly happy. Back issues suck, so being able to get out to the range was super special today.

How does my new Model 586 compare to my Model 64?

(If you like my range flags you can make your own by buying Range Flags and Message Tags.)

There were really two main things I appreciated when switching between these two pistols.

M586 vs M64

The first was the action. The M586 benefits from 10 years of advancements over the M64. The Model 64 came out in 1970, while the Model 586 was released in 1980. The trigger on the Model 586 is incredibly smooth. It doesn’t matter if I was firing in single, or double action, the trigger on this Model 586 was just perfect.

The second was felt recoil. The Model 586 is obviously chambered in .357 Magnum and was designed to handle rounds that would destroy the Model 64’s frame. That basically equates to a revolver that is just a little beefier, and when firing .38’s, the Model 586 barely feels any kick at all.

Overall, I’m incredibly happy with my new Model 586 and can’t wait to get out to the range again.

I only had one box of 100 rounds, of .38 left, so once that was sent down range I shot an equal amount of .22 and .40.

When it comes to the .22, it is basically a nail driver.

I was in a 30 foot stall for all my shooting today, so I can’t really complain about anything. My first Smith & Wesson M&P 22 round were all within an inch and a half. What more can you want?

Smith & Wesson Model 586 Shooting Log

Date	Rounds Fired	Comment
8/14/2021	200	The wheel guns are just so much fun to shoot.
11/21/2020	100	This M586 is a nail driver. If I need to put a shot in s small target I'm grabbing this gun.
10/31/2020	200	My son and I both love this wheel gun. We traded it back and forth all day.
10/24/2020	300	This is just an amazing wheel gun. It is worth every penny I paid for it.
09/06/2020	100	My first outing with my new S&W M586.

Smith & Wesson Model 64 Shooting Log

Date	Rounds Fired	Comment
8/14/2021	200	The wheel guns are just so much fun to shoot.
09/06/2020	100	I got to compare my new M586 to my M64 for the first time today.
7/12/2020	100	Relaxing day at the range with my youngest son.
7/6/2020	100	Had the range all to myself!!!
6/27/2020	100	Every time we go shooting the wheel gun is always the one we run out of ammo for.
6/13/2020	100	First outing of 2020.
10/07/2016	150	This really is one of my favorites. Pulling back the hammer forces me to pause - which usually helps my aim.
09/04/2015	50	Just a quick outing to start off our weekend.
05/09/2015	150	The .38 is clearly a fun gun to shoot. Everyone was waiting to shoot it and I only brought three boxes of ammo for it - and they went quick.
04/26/2015	100	Everyone loves the semi autos but for some reason they always keep reaching for the wheel gun too. There is just something about pulling back the hammer and firing with a good wheel gun.
04/25/2015	100	My son wanted to shoot the revolver so I took him out to the club. He had a ball.
03/28/2015	200	My brother went through all my 38 ammo! But it was worth it, he was hitting the target much better with the revolver. I don't think he likes the sites on my CZ or Glock.
02/08/2015	100	My first rounds with my new to me S&W Model 64.

Smith & Wesson M&P 22 Shooting Log

Date	Rounds Fired	Comment
11/21/2020	100	The M&P 22 is just a joy to shoot, which is why it gets fed on a frequent basis.
10/31/2020	200	Our family friend really enjoyed the manageable kick the 22LR has. My son liked how he could group hits in rapid fire mode.
10/24/2020	100	After shooting the 40 Caliber G23, this feels like a toy, but it is fun to shoot.
09/06/2020	100	More bulls eyes with my .22 nail driver.
7/12/2020	320	Relaxing day at the range with my youngest son.
6/27/2020	100	Cheap, fun shooting.
6/14/2020	100	First outing of 2020.
10/07/2016	250	It's been a while since the .22 came out of the safe. What more could you want than cheap and fun shooting.
03/28/2015	300
02/08/2015	300

See the one thousand items of Survival Gear you need to survive the Apocalypse!

Smith & Wesson 586

August 30, 2020June 5, 2023 Leave a comment

I started the purchase process on this Smith & Wesson 586 month ago, but all the paperwork is done and I got to bring this baby home.

Now all I have to do is to find some .38 and .357 ammo during the current ammo shortage so I can take it to the range.

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A post shared by TJ Provost (@undead.earth) on Aug 30, 2020 at 11:14am PDT

I made this Smith & Wesson 586 purchase in the midst of an ammo shortage. It only took me a few weeks to find some ammo. Sure, emptying a clip is fun. There is just something about a wheel gun that calls to my spirit though. I can set the trigger, aim, and fire.

The other benefit of a wheel gun is it will never go out of battery! Unlike a semi auto which will commonly fail if you get tackled and have to defend yourself with an assailant right on top of you – a wheel gun is going to go off even if its nose is pressed into your attacker.

Always follow the four basic rules of Gun Safety:

Always keep firearms pointed in a safe direction.
Treat all guns as though they are loaded.
Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
Always be sure of your target and what’s beyond it.

Wear good Safety Gear and learn the proper skills to shoot safety.

See the one thousand items of Survival Gear you need to survive the Apocalypse!

County Sports, LLC Review

July 30, 2020November 19, 2023 Leave a comment

County Sports is a small local shop that feels like they can treat their customers like crap because the next dealer is 10 miles away!

If you live in South Jersey or buy from Gunbroker, be careful of doing any business with County Sports LLC in Salem county New Jersey.

One of my readers sent me the transcripts of their sale and interaction with the company. All I can say is that I am appalled.

My reader bought a thousand rounds, and asked to confirm a pick up time for the ammo.

No response from vendor. I get it. They are a tiny shop, I get it. That doesn’t mean you can just wait weeks to respond though.

The reader was then exposed to Coronavirus and was going to be on quarantine for at least 14 days. They messaged the vendor multiple times with no response.

County Sports then opened a ticket saying they couldn’t ship, and cancelled the sale, and then immediately relisted the item at a huge price hike. I tell everyone in my neighborhood to skip County Sports, they aren’t a decent vendor in my opinion.

Country Sports won’t respond to requests for information and doesn’t appear to be an honest business.

Buyer beware.

As always wear good Safety Gear and learn the proper skills to shoot safety!

See the one thousand items of Survival Gear you need to survive the Apocalypse!

Spearmint – Yeah SpearMint

September 12, 2013March 31, 2023 TJ Provost Leave a comment

Spearmint. Oh, you meant Spear – pause – Mint. Quality humor there!

Consider this my official review of Cyanide and Happiness. Yes, there cartoons are sometimes dark. But the dark is always mixed with some fun.

If you enjoyed the cartoon and have a bit of a dark sense of humor I highly suggest getting the Cyanide and Happiness Joking Hazard Card Game as well! Or you can just buy someone the empty Joking Hazard Box if you want to hurt someone. For real though, I guess the empty box is to store cards but it seems like a really cruel joke if you buy it for someone and give it to them empty. Don’t do that!

In any case, I hope the Spearmint cartoon inspires you to go read some more Cyanide and Happiness cartoons and enjoy all the good humor they provide.

If you are looking for an actual spear and ended up here by accident I’d recommend reading up on this awesome Cycle Spear.

Finally, are you interested in surviving the next major disaster? How about surviving the Zombie Apocalypse? I suggest checking out the Top 1000 Survival Gear items. Without the right gear you aren’t going to make it!