Front Sight-Driving from Nor Cal

[XDJYo]

Hiya!

Been reading alot of posts and watching a lot of youtube videos on Front Sight and the wife & I are getting ready to bite the bullet and buy a membership (already have it lined up).

Question about the drive from NorCal (San Ramon). The google map route to get to Pahrump (probably staying at the Saddle West Hotel in town), has us going over some terrain I'm not familiar with, so I thought I'd check with y'all to see if there's anything I need to worry about. It takes us thru Bakersfield and then the Mojave desert past Edwards AFB and then Barstow. Then, it takes a bit of a turn Hwy 127, then 178. Are there a lot of mountains to head over? Or, would I be better off going Hwy 15 all the way into Vegas and then cut back to Pahrump?

Since it seems like desolate desert and what-not, any precautions I need to take (aside from the usual-coolant/tires/oil etc). Is it fairly well traveled? AAA is my friend.

Any other pointers? Looking at going in either late April/early May or possibly the fall (September/October).

Thanks!!!

Mr. & Mrs. XDJYo

***Please let's not make this a 'you can get better training closer' thread. Thanks!

[BadTech]

It depends. Are you going directly to Pahrump, or stopping in Vegas first?

I am coming from the Sacto area. Driving down I-5 is boring, and heavily patrolled by CHP. Highway 58 from Bakersfield to Barstow is one of my least favorite routes. Lots of truck traffic.

The last time I drove it, I cut off I-15 at Baker, and took 127 to Pahrump. That is some nice scenery.

From now on, I will be using the "via Reno" (I-80 to US 95 to NV 160) route when going directly to Pahrump. It's only a little further, but a lot less traffic in NV compared to CA. Depending on NVHP patrols, it can be even faster.

[Blackhorse2010]

Yep. 58 sucks. Lots of 2 lane roads and an a** load of trucks.
This time of year, driving through some of the mountains is hit or miss.
Personally, I'd stick to major highways.

[Blackhorse2010]

Hiya!

Been reading alot of posts and watching a lot of youtube videos on Front Sight and the wife & I are getting ready to bite the bullet and buy a membership (already have it lined up).

Question about the drive from NorCal (San Ramon). The google map route to get to Pahrump (probably staying at the Saddle West Hotel in town), has us going over some terrain I'm not familiar with, so I thought I'd check with y'all to see if there's anything I need to worry about. It takes us thru Bakersfield and then the Mojave desert past Edwards AFB and then Barstow. Then, it takes a bit of a turn Hwy 127, then 178. Are there a lot of mountains to head over? Or, would I be better off going Hwy 15 all the way into Vegas and then cut back to Pahrump?

Since it seems like desolate desert and what-not, any precautions I need to take (aside from the usual-coolant/tires/oil etc). Is it fairly well traveled? AAA is my friend.

Any other pointers? Looking at going in either late April/early May or possibly the fall (September/October).

Thanks!!!

Mr. & Mrs. XDJYo

***Please let's not make this a 'you can get better training closer' thread. Thanks!

AAA is your friend, but only id you have cell phone coverage.

[XDJYo]

We're not planning on visiting Vegas at all. Maybe afterwards, not part of the plan at the moment.

The Reno route seems like a huge round about for us since we're in the East Bay. I hear you though about I-5. I've done that drive many times though. I grew up in Gardena (So Cal), so Ive been back to visit a lot.

Hmmm. 58 seemed like a straight shot thru the desert, but seems like a pain. And for quite a long while too.

Good to hear that the 127/178 route is nice!

Hoping the weather will be nice and mild when we go.

Thanks all for your help!!!

Any other suggestions are welcome!


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[DSMeyer]

April/may is hit n miss on comfortable weather. It can be cold or hot. September /October, plan on it being hot!

[acegunnr]

The best route I have found is:

I-5S to Hwy 223 just past Bakersfield

Hwy 223 through Arvin to Hwy 58.


Hwy 58 through Barstow to Hwy 15

Hwy 15 to Baker then Hwy 127 to Shoshone

Hwy 127 at Shoshone to Hwy 178 to Pahrump

The only major elevation, 4000+, is through Tehachapi. The roads are not that desolate and you will see other cars in case you run into trouble.

[jrwhitt]

Hiya!


Question about the drive from NorCal (San Ramon). The google map route to get to Pahrump (probably staying at the Saddle West Hotel in town), has us going over some terrain I'm not familiar with, so I thought I'd check with y'all to see if there's anything I need to worry about. It takes us thru Bakersfield and then the Mojave desert past Edwards AFB and then Barstow. Then, it takes a bit of a turn Hwy 127, then 178. Are there a lot of mountains to head over? Or, would I be better off going Hwy 15 all the way into Vegas and then cut back to Pahrump?

I wouldn't bother going all the way into Vegas - the route you describe is what I normally do (from here in Oakley) - right on the money at 8 hours (including a couple of gas/pee stops).

I'd carefully check my gas at Baker although there is fuel in Shoshone - there is NOTHING between Baker and Shoshone as as well as Shoshone and Pahrump.

Only real mountain climbs are up through Techapi and then through the hills on 178

One day I'll try the Reno route but not until safe (summer) weather

[XDJYo]

Thanks you for all of the great info!!!

Just scored our memberships! (Thanks Ace!!!)

Our plan is to head down on a Saturday and take it easy. Get there when we get there. Take Sunday to relax and get situated and get any last minute supplies/stuff we may need/forgot. Take the Mon-Thu 4 Day Defensive Handgun Class and hang out and recuperate on Friday and drive back on Saturday. Another day to recuperate on Sunday before heading back in to work on Monday.

And, the wife is getting pumped up for the trip too! She actually went and cut her nails short so she can manipulate the pistol/load etc without worrying about breaking a nail! LOL!!!

Been watching the YT videos on the malfunction drills. The Type 3 Malfunction (double-feed), seems to mess a lot of people up. To me, it seems a bit awkward. Looking, verifying the mag and locking the slide back seems to be unnecessary steps. I've gone with the 'strip the mag out, pop it in the pinky and rack the slide three times to clear' (this is after the tap/rack procedure). But, I've seen some do it very quickly. Impressive. I've got a few months to get those steps all locked in.

Anyways, thanks again to everybody and to all of the Calguns community for their insight and knowledge. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for y'all.

Happy shooting and be safe!!!

[Tripper]

The best route I have found is:

I-5S to Hwy 223 just past Bakersfield

Hwy 223 through Arvin to Hwy 58.


Hwy 58 through Barstow to Hwy 15

Hwy 15 to Baker then Hwy 127 to Shoshone

Hwy 127 at Shoshone to Hwy 178 to Pahrump

The only major elevation, 4000+, is through Tehachapi. The roads are not that desolate and you will see other cars in case you run into trouble.

Thats the way I go
When we went in june, car overheated right at shoshone, let it cool down, added water, on to Pahrump over that last mountain with the heat full blast, sun had just went down. We was in two cars, sent wife and kids on to Pahrump in the other car, I grabbed my GO BAG out of it and waited for the cool down. There was no cell coverage from a few miles in on 127, all the way to getting on the pahrump side of the mountain on 178, where I started getting text but no calls for a bit more

Have extra water if you go that way, in case of overheating
It is about 50 miles or so shorter than going to vegas then over to pahrump

Be sure to call saddle west for reservations, you don't get the Front Sight lifetime member discount online, they justvrequire you show your nember card at checkin



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[Tripper]

check, lock, strip, rack rack rack, insert, rack, ready tonfire if necessary
Check = check to determine malfunction type, it is type 3
Check for mag, lock slide to rear, strip currebt mag out, rack 3x, insert new mag, rack to load, determine if condition has changed, shoot if still necessary

Did I get that right

Oh
Do it
Really really fast

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[AAShooter]

Going that route you are right next to Death Valley. If you have an extra day and the interest, this time of year is not a bad time to check it out.

[acegunnr]

check, lock, strip, rack rack rack, insert, rack, ready tonfire if necessary
Check = check to determine malfunction type, it is type 3
Check for mag, lock slide to rear, strip currebt mag out, rack 3x, insert new mag, rack to load, determine if condition has changed, shoot if still necessary

Did I get that right

Oh
Do it
Really really fast

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Check and Move!

[XDJYo]

Thats the way I go
When we went in june, car overheated right at shoshone, let it cool down, added water, on to Pahrump over that last mountain with the heat full blast, sun had just went down. We was in two cars, sent wife and kids on to Pahrump in the other car, I grabbed my GO BAG out of it and waited for the cool down. There was no cell coverage from a few miles in on 127, all the way to getting on the pahrump side of the mountain on 178, where I started getting text but no calls for a bit more

Have extra water if you go that way, in case of overheating
It is about 50 miles or so shorter than going to vegas then over to pahrump

Be sure to call saddle west for reservations, you don't get the Front Sight lifetime member discount online, they justvrequire you show your nember card at checkin

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Thanks! Yeah, June is probably out of the question. Trying to stay away from heat stroke if possible.

Overheat?! Yikes! That's the one thing I want to avoid. Maybe a cooling system refresh is in order before I tackle the drive? 2004 BMW 330 with 120k miles. Already did a preventative cooling system refresh a while ago at 70k.

Going that route you are right next to Death Valley. If you have an extra day and the interest, this time of year is not a bad time to check it out.

I've heard how gorgeous Death Valley is especially this time of year, but gotta keep the trips in decent weather. The clock ain't ticking backwards! LOL!

check, lock, strip, rack rack rack, insert, rack, ready tonfire if necessary
Check = check to determine malfunction type, it is type 3
Check for mag, lock slide to rear, strip currebt mag out, rack 3x, insert new mag, rack to load, determine if condition has changed, shoot if still necessary

Did I get that right

Oh
Do it
Really really fast

Sent from my SM-T210R using Tapatalk

Check and Move!

Yup, pretty much what I saw:
Look & Verify (look for the type 3 and verify you have another mag).
Move (move it to the right)
Lock (lock the slide back)
Strip (strip the mag)
Rack-a-rack-a-rack-a (need I say more??? )
Insert (New mag)
Rack (load).

Doing it quickly while under pressure of the timer???

[acegunnr]

After you load you need to point in, finger on the trigger and re-asses whether you need to shoot or not. If not, then finger off the trigger and down to the ready, after action drill.