Despite EXTREME temperatures and usual brutal winds at Ranchito Robinson, I finally got around to exploring the maximum distances being considered for the new sport of MAGNUM Air Pistol Field Target (MapFT). Torn between a maximum target distance of 75 or 80 yards (yes, with air pistol), I've now explored those distances enough to gain greater insight(s). As Uncle Josh, aka- Master Of Exaggeration And Understatement would say, either was "a pretty far piece over yonder".
The Fool's firing-line view of the 70 yard, 3" (triangular) KZ bear and the 80 yard, 4" (triangular) KZ elk-
Understand you're looking at large extreme field targets that are also heavy enough to be totally rimfire capable. Besides the thrill of knocking those heavy mothers down to 80 yards with a pellet pistol, I sought greater insights into whether to dictate a 16X maximum scope magnification (setting) limit, or allow more magnification in deference to the extreme (pistol) distances. So as any self-respecting Extremist would, I decided to take this deep-dive into air pistol EXTREMES (by any measure) at 16X on my Weaver V-24 rifle scope. Trust me, that 3" triangular kill zone looks plenty small enough at 70 yards and 16X; the 4" KZ at 80 yards not (quite) so much. Perhaps the reason I decided to explore these limits when I did was an inexplicable feeling of Zen-like calm and confidence.
And the recent relentless heat abates slightly about the same time as do the usual brutal winds. Uncle Josh calls that 45 to 60 minute window of opportunity the Happy Hunting Hour; most folks call it dusk or sunset.
As any self-respecting fool would do, armed with two mags (totaling 20 shots) for my RonCo BroCo Gen 2 Convertible, I decided on ten-shot groups at each target!
Apparently aforementioned Zen-like feeling of confidence was not delusion (this time), as I cleaned both those suckers on my first attempt!
Yes, that edge-hit did knock that huge field target down, despite roughly half the pellet diameter catching the face-plate. It sure would be interesting to know how much of the 18.1 grain pellets roughly 19 foot-pounds of remaining energy at 70 yards impacted the paddle. Regardless, I have no doubt whatsoever that had the edge-hit been anywhere but the top of the paddle the target wouldn't have fallen. Apparently "God watches over fools and idiots."
The ten-shot group on the 70 yard bear measured 2" center-to-center, and that on the 80 yard elk measured 2.5". So intoxicated on my success (LUCK) like a drunken sailor in port, with equal abandon and as any self-respecting fool would do, I 'thought', "wonder if I can kick that bear's ass AT 80 YARDS".
Yes, I know; 'Extremist' is a relative word. 'FOOL', not so much!
With shooting light fading fast, I mustered all the Zen-like confidence AND egomaniacal abandon of a drunken sailor in Boystown, and went to work on that 3" KZ bear at 80 yards as only Uncle Josh could (before ME, that is). AND CLEANED THAT SUCKER TOO!
And with nary an edge-hit. That group measured 2.1" c-t-c.
An interesting exercise to say the least, perhaps a better term would be 'enlightening'. But enough so to decide on 75 or 80 yards as the maximum range for MAGNUM Air Pistol Field Target competition? Still intoxicated on that most-memorable display of super-human pistol shooting skills (pure, BLIND LUCK), I "think" I'll wait till sobering up before deciding on 75 or 80 yards as the MapFT maximum distance.
The magnum pistol that did the deed-
BTW- No; believe it or not, I hadn't been drinking.
The Fool's firing-line view of the 70 yard, 3" (triangular) KZ bear and the 80 yard, 4" (triangular) KZ elk-
Understand you're looking at large extreme field targets that are also heavy enough to be totally rimfire capable. Besides the thrill of knocking those heavy mothers down to 80 yards with a pellet pistol, I sought greater insights into whether to dictate a 16X maximum scope magnification (setting) limit, or allow more magnification in deference to the extreme (pistol) distances. So as any self-respecting Extremist would, I decided to take this deep-dive into air pistol EXTREMES (by any measure) at 16X on my Weaver V-24 rifle scope. Trust me, that 3" triangular kill zone looks plenty small enough at 70 yards and 16X; the 4" KZ at 80 yards not (quite) so much. Perhaps the reason I decided to explore these limits when I did was an inexplicable feeling of Zen-like calm and confidence.
And the recent relentless heat abates slightly about the same time as do the usual brutal winds. Uncle Josh calls that 45 to 60 minute window of opportunity the Happy Hunting Hour; most folks call it dusk or sunset.
As any self-respecting fool would do, armed with two mags (totaling 20 shots) for my RonCo BroCo Gen 2 Convertible, I decided on ten-shot groups at each target!
Apparently aforementioned Zen-like feeling of confidence was not delusion (this time), as I cleaned both those suckers on my first attempt!Yes, that edge-hit did knock that huge field target down, despite roughly half the pellet diameter catching the face-plate. It sure would be interesting to know how much of the 18.1 grain pellets roughly 19 foot-pounds of remaining energy at 70 yards impacted the paddle. Regardless, I have no doubt whatsoever that had the edge-hit been anywhere but the top of the paddle the target wouldn't have fallen. Apparently "God watches over fools and idiots."
The ten-shot group on the 70 yard bear measured 2" center-to-center, and that on the 80 yard elk measured 2.5". So intoxicated on my success (LUCK) like a drunken sailor in port, with equal abandon and as any self-respecting fool would do, I 'thought', "wonder if I can kick that bear's ass AT 80 YARDS".
Yes, I know; 'Extremist' is a relative word. 'FOOL', not so much!
With shooting light fading fast, I mustered all the Zen-like confidence AND egomaniacal abandon of a drunken sailor in Boystown, and went to work on that 3" KZ bear at 80 yards as only Uncle Josh could (before ME, that is). AND CLEANED THAT SUCKER TOO!
And with nary an edge-hit. That group measured 2.1" c-t-c.
An interesting exercise to say the least, perhaps a better term would be 'enlightening'. But enough so to decide on 75 or 80 yards as the maximum range for MAGNUM Air Pistol Field Target competition? Still intoxicated on that most-memorable display of super-human pistol shooting skills (pure, BLIND LUCK), I "think" I'll wait till sobering up before deciding on 75 or 80 yards as the MapFT maximum distance.
The magnum pistol that did the deed-
BTW- No; believe it or not, I hadn't been drinking.
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temperatures). Here's a ten-shot group at the current PFT maximum range of 35 yards (shot in the current millennium)-
"I would have finished better if I hadn't missed so many shots." -- Unknown Field Target Shooter