Don Lovel
Hunter
The good news is, lots of folks are using the NRA Whittington Center ranges
The bad news is, lots of folks are using the NRA Whittington Center ranges. Getting to shoot out there over the years, I remember having the whole place to myself a few times.
Beautiful out there this week, they have had lots of rain, even a pretty big flash flood on the main drainage through the property recently. Considering how the drought had made everything around Raton burnt to a crisp, it was sure nice to see how pretty that part of New Mexico is with green grass.
I left to come home early this morning after two days of intense recoil therapy. Sighted in my 300 Mag with 180gr Nosler Partition Federal Premium, and shot another 30rnds of 180gr Remington and Federal getting better at not flinching and holding the rifle much more steady. I think I can put a good shot on a bull elk with it in October. I shot 100rnds through Dad's Springfield Sniper, shot 100rnds through his M1A, shot 200rnds through my Garand and 200rnds through my 243 M77MkII varmint rifle on the Silhouette range, man that is fun. Hitting 500 meter rams pretty regular with my old eyes with the Garand just tickles me. I also burned a bunch of cheap 223 in my AR on the sight in range.
Shot 5 different heavy 45 Colt loads through my Bisley and finally settled on Doubletap 335gr LBT that shot good groups for me even with the sore hand from sighting in 20rnds of it. Some bull elk comes in real close or thick woods, I can get him with it out to 50yds no problem. Sure love my Ruger Bisley, I have killed several whitetails with it, and would love it if I got my bull with it in October.
On the way out this morning I watched 5 young antelope bucks fighting from about 20yds away in my truck as they paid no mind to me.
If you have never been out there, you really should make the trip and see how well they have done with the new range construction and some upcoming improvements to the visitor center. Frank Brownell's collection in the museum is pretty sweet. They had a good selection of nice guns for sale including one of the new Pedresoli 1886 Winchester guide guns in 45-70.
And a special shout out to Ashley, the cute little gal who works at the entry gate, she puts a great face on the NRA and Whittington Center, and I got to watch her run a bunch of ammo through a AR on the sight in range. She is a good example of how important young women are to the future of the NRA.
The bad news is, lots of folks are using the NRA Whittington Center ranges. Getting to shoot out there over the years, I remember having the whole place to myself a few times.
Beautiful out there this week, they have had lots of rain, even a pretty big flash flood on the main drainage through the property recently. Considering how the drought had made everything around Raton burnt to a crisp, it was sure nice to see how pretty that part of New Mexico is with green grass.
I left to come home early this morning after two days of intense recoil therapy. Sighted in my 300 Mag with 180gr Nosler Partition Federal Premium, and shot another 30rnds of 180gr Remington and Federal getting better at not flinching and holding the rifle much more steady. I think I can put a good shot on a bull elk with it in October. I shot 100rnds through Dad's Springfield Sniper, shot 100rnds through his M1A, shot 200rnds through my Garand and 200rnds through my 243 M77MkII varmint rifle on the Silhouette range, man that is fun. Hitting 500 meter rams pretty regular with my old eyes with the Garand just tickles me. I also burned a bunch of cheap 223 in my AR on the sight in range.
Shot 5 different heavy 45 Colt loads through my Bisley and finally settled on Doubletap 335gr LBT that shot good groups for me even with the sore hand from sighting in 20rnds of it. Some bull elk comes in real close or thick woods, I can get him with it out to 50yds no problem. Sure love my Ruger Bisley, I have killed several whitetails with it, and would love it if I got my bull with it in October.
On the way out this morning I watched 5 young antelope bucks fighting from about 20yds away in my truck as they paid no mind to me.
If you have never been out there, you really should make the trip and see how well they have done with the new range construction and some upcoming improvements to the visitor center. Frank Brownell's collection in the museum is pretty sweet. They had a good selection of nice guns for sale including one of the new Pedresoli 1886 Winchester guide guns in 45-70.
And a special shout out to Ashley, the cute little gal who works at the entry gate, she puts a great face on the NRA and Whittington Center, and I got to watch her run a bunch of ammo through a AR on the sight in range. She is a good example of how important young women are to the future of the NRA.
