Posted on 01/24/2009 6:10:23 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Gun sellers have been buzzing with activity lately as people have been stocking up in anticipation of what our new president might try to do to their right to own guns. One wag even named Obama Gun salesman of the year. (Dang, I wish I had thought of that.)
Mr. Obama generated a great deal of anxiety as he tried to convince gun owners to believe what he said not what he did.
Anyway, there were a lot of new guns under the Christmas tree last year. And if you got a new rifle, or even if you've had one a while, there's a program touring the country that looks interesting. It's the Appleseed Project, and here's what their website says:
The Appleseed Program is designed to take you from being a simple rifle owner to being a true rifleman. All throughout American history, the rifleman has been defined as a marksman capable of hitting a man-sized target from 500 yards away — no ifs, ands or buts about it. This 500-yard range is traditionally known as "the rifleman's quarter-mile;" a rifleman can hit just about any target he can see. This skill was particularly evident in the birth of our country, and was the difference in winning the Revolutionary War.
The program is coming to West Texas, and the first one is in just a few weeks. Here's a link to the PDF Flier for the event on February 21-22, 2009, at the Midland Shooters Association rifle range. And here's the price list. (Women, military and kids free!) More detailed information can be found here.
Actually, there are things going on at the range almost every weekend. For example, the learned and likable John Krenik puts on a High Power Rifle Match on the first Saturday of each month. Check out the photos. Many of the participants use AR-15s, and it's a great way to practice and compete with friends.
So unwrap that new gun or clean up the old one and head for the range. Don't be like me and let your shooting skills depreciate. You have to practice to get good, and you have to practice to stay good.
That’s a good point there Freebird.
Someone should tell Nancy Pelosi that GUNS, not abortion, helps the economy.
Our LEOs sure do stack em up, don’t they?
Gun porn!
No not Bastrop. Brain fade. It's actualy not from Georgetown or Taylor.
A musket could not, but a Pennsylvania long rifle could. Sort of the difference between a "regular" infantryman and a sniper or even designated marksman.
i looked at some ballistic charts, couldnt get exactly the right drop, but assuming a muzzle velocity of around 1100 fps, the drop at 500 meters has to be 50+ inches. thats a bunch man.
given the variablility in powder manufacture, ball size, and iron sites, i just think thats not do-able in a field situation.
maybe off a bench with a bunch of sighting in tries and rigid batch control on powder, ball and patch, maybe.
even for a modern blackpowder weapon with optics and all the technology thats a helluva shot to make.
fact, thats a helluva shot to make with any rifle in the field on a moving or non cooperative target..
Not completely true, but mostly they are an educational group. But so is the SAF, it's the associated CCRKBA that is the lobbying group. SAF also supports gunowners in court, thus their support for Heller. Which case BTW, the NRA originally opposed.
NRA has been big in lobbying. But not so good in really pushing the RKBA in the Courts. SAF has been better in that area.
NRA, SAF, GOA, and JPFO all filed amicus briefs in Heller.
The NRA is not a lobby organization;
the NRA-ILA is the lobby organization. Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the “lobbying” arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is committed to preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
That's right. All we need is one big shooting with 'evil looking' semi-automatic weapons involved, and those weapons will be banned within a week if congress is in session. I picked up an AR last week, and I also plan on purchasing a semi-auto .308 battle rifle of some kind. After that, I will be focusing on ammo, ammo, mags, and more ammo. I suppose spare parts and repair kits on hand for all of the weapons you own would also be recommended.
If "first person" shooter games help, I'm the next incarnation of Carlos Hathcock for snipers. NO? I figured as much. ~sigh~
Never said they were. They are like the SAF, and the CCRKA is like the NRA-ILA. I'm perfectly aware of that. I even met one of the former heads of the ILA, Tanya Metaska. I was introduced to her by a guy whose handle was "Lobo Azul". He was AKA Jim Bohan of Yoakum, TX, who died, literally, at his keyboard.
They could, if they interfaced to real gun, or aleast something with a realistic trigger group and with a MILES like laser to show where the thing was pointed when you dropped the hammer. Although recoil is extremely hard to simulate realistically. Might as well just use a real gun...well with the price of ammo today, maybe not.
It works for Abrams and Bradley gunners. (And it's also the business my division of my employer is in).
With open sights, I would think that the proper range for a watermelon is 200-300 yards. I'm not sure that I could see it at 500, and I certainly wouldn't be hitting 100% at that range without a scope.
I think your muzzle velocity is up to 50% low. This page shows some modern .50 cal muzzle velocities. I think the old ones could probably do about as well. Their ignition was not nearly so energetic, but they had longer barrels and could likely burn more of a larger powder. I charge. A .50 cal lead ball weighs about 187 grains. With various powder loadings they show muzzle velocities of 1331 to 1863 fps.
But I found some info on something more like they might have had in 1775-81.
They had .54 caliber rifles. Using a BC of .075, for a .54 caliber, 237 grn ball, a 2000 fps muzzle velocity and usingRenegade Rifle Ballistics calculator, it is do-able, but you get one heck of a rainbow trajectory. The highpoint, at about 300 yards is about 160 inches above the horizontal. You'd have to know the range very well. But lowering the taget range to 400 yards reduces the height of that rainbow by half to just over 80 inches.
I got the muzzle velocity and the BC The Complete Blackpowder Handbook
So, I concede that 500 yards is a bit much, but 300-400 probably happened. (300 yards reduces the height of the rainbow to about 36 inches) At 300 yards, nominal, your range estimate could be off by as much as 15 to 20 yards, and you'd still be within +/- 10 inches, not taking into account all the other variables.
But at least I found an interesting toy to play with.
Practice! until I get good!
Then I’ll practice until I get real good,
Then I’ll practice somemore until I can protect my family, Then I’ll practice until I get good enough to practice with our Vet’s at home!
Then I will learn to protect my COUNTRY, with fellow VETERAN help!
Then I will practice everything I learned because my country needs me!
I wouldn’t wait! Most popular rifles are way backordered, and a new AWB might pass before the backlogs are cleared.
Spill Please?
The goa filed a amicus brief but was the only group to ask for a narrow view of the Second Amendment. Gee, thanks for nothing, goa. Now we have to file 20,000 lawsuits to get rid of 20,000 gun laws.
Even small groups like the Second Amendment Sister have more brains than that.
The goa is nothing more than a t-shirt company.
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