.22 Day

[Mesa Tactical]

Just found these photos on my hard drive that reminded me of the Thanksgiving .22 Day Shoot I hosted last year for my family.

I have a lot of firearms, including quite a few .22s in every style: bolt-action rifle, lever-action rifle, semi-auto rifle, semi-auto pistol, revolver (all I am lacking is a pump-action rifle). I wanted to get my sister's family out to the desert for some shooting, but I thought it would be cool to start with a session where everyone could try any firearm action they wanted, but in .22LR only. We had a great time, and I learned a few things:

1. Easier to clean .22 firearms afterwards (except the S&W Model 617).

2. Much less expensive to shoot.

3. Logistics are easier with only a single caliber (usually I have to bring a half dozen different caliber cartridges).

4. Fun steel targets, like dueling trees, are available.

5. Only downside is that aside from the steel targets (which one can't use at some formal ranges in SoCal, like Burro Canyon), there aren't a lot of fun things to shoot with .22. With centerfire rifles and shotguns we like to shoot at plastic bottles and jugs filled with colored water, because they explode, but of course all .22s do is poke holes in the targets. It's hard to see holes in paper beyond 20 yards, too. We have found Shoot-N-C targets to be invaluable when shooting .22s, but they still aren't as fun as colored water jugs.

As you guys know, it is always best to start n00bs off with .22s, and we have a lot of experience with n00b shooters. Getting lots of n00bs out on the range is one of my goals in life, which is probably why I have so many .22s.

Now that we are preparing for an Appleseed clinic and getting a bunch of .22 rifles ready to go, I'm feeling like it might be time for another .22 Day.



More photos (just a few) here.

[Ed_Hazard]

Used to shoot alot of 22's in my youth group days. We used to shoot a lot of cheap 99cent store candies for some fun interactive targets. Cheap lollipops, blowpops, Necco waffers, hanging lifesavers. We would walk the aisles and see what might make fun targets.

Some dryer crackers and cookies are also fun targets that are more than nature freindly. We used to have some old 4x4 segments drilled to fit, older broomsticks that would double as dueling trees for the blowpops. We'd hang the cookies and stuff, then my buddy got the bright idea of sawing a groove into the underside of the 4x4 for the cookies to sit in. Fun and cheap.

[big fancy]

check out .22plinkster on you tube. he does trick shots and it'll give you ideas of things to shoot. balloons, lifesavers, aspirin, .223 shells, soda can tabs etc.

[jyo]

In the last several years, myself and a group of shooters have engaged in what I call "22 Afternoons"---that is after the morning session of shooting the 9mms, 45s, 223s, etc., you have lunch and then only shoot a variety of 22 firearms for the next several hours---cheap and relaxing---improves the shooting skills of all involved. Other times, we will gather a group of friends together just to relax and casually shoot only 22s---bring a cooler full of soft drinks and sandwiches and shoot for hours. We often shoot clay birds (whole unbroken birds salvaged from the trap range) at various ranges---free reactive targets---keep it fun! 22s at a 100 yards or a lot further is really hard and will open your eyes as to the capabilities of the 22 round.

[korny351]

I remember seeing a post once, where they hot-glued paintballs to a backstop. Sounded like a fun and challenging target.

[chknlyps2]

I love a .22 fest.

I have a couple 1/8th in thick steel plates welded to stakes that you can just pound in the ground easy. The thin metal rings better than thicker stuff for larger rounds.

After a few hundred rounds they tend to deform a little so I just park my truck on them to flatten them out.

This one is great at 100 to 125 yards with iron sights or 75 or so yards with a ruger mkIII

[jyo]

I live in the L.A. area---perhaps its time for a Calguns 22 fun shoot---just a bunch of us CG guys and our 22s (and a bunch of ammo)---bring the wives and GFs, some snacks---could be fun!!

[cwilliams]

I live in the L.A. area---perhaps its time for a Calguns 22 fun shoot---just a bunch of us CG guys and our 22s (and a bunch of ammo)---bring the wives and GFs, some snacks---could be fun!!

I would be down for that!

[Pep-aronie]

X3 on that 22 fun shoot ..... Im in

[jyo]

I think the fun shoot is a good idea, perhaps when it cools down a bit (I can't take the heat)---lets work on this.

[cwilliams]

Is there any particular range or location you have in mind? And agreed on letting it cool down. Makes for a much better day when it's not 100 out.

[jyo]

Well, theres always Angeles range in the north SFV---well laid out---we could "take over" an area on one side of the rifle side or even better, part of the pistol range (after all, its just a few guys and their 22s). This would not have to be a competition (but I suppose some form of competiton would be expected)---like I said, just some guys with a common interest getting together. Weekends are kinda crowded there, maybe a Thursday afternoon---I think they offer a discount on Thursday.
Open to your thoughts.

[cwilliams]

They do indeed offer a discount on Thursdays. Angeles sounds good to me! Being able to shoot .22's all day without breaking the bank is pure joy.

[snypr]

Hmmmm, how bout a Fall, Norcal vs Socal shoot out?