S&W 22A range report

[jrdudas]

After much research and indecision I finally purchased a S&W 22A yesterday.  Took it to the range today to try it out and sight in the red dot scope I bought for it.  Fired about 60 rounds mostly in 3 round groups for zeroing purposes.  Once the 22A was zeroed in at about 15 yards using a benchrest I was able to get 3 round groups (still using the benchrest) at that distance that could be covered by a quarter (25 cents).  Shooting offhand was another matter.  I normally shoot using one hand and I found it difficult to hold steady and hence had a wider pattern.  

I was shooting Federal 36 grain rounds I got from the local Wally World.  No malfunctions, with the exception of one squib round, in the 60 or so that I fired.   In addition to the three round groups I fired 3 or 4 five round groups in more or less rapid fire.  The pattern was not as good of course, but I mark that down to the shooter and not the gun.  

All-in-all I am quite satisfied so far with the 22A, and look forward to firing many more rounds through it.

A little side note: while I was shooting (indoor range) another shooter came in and his first five rounds hit the ceiling instead of the target.  Don't really know what he was doing with his first shots because his next five at the same distance were within a 2 inch circle at the bullseye.  I do know that he was shooting either a DA or SA and not a semi-auto.  

JR

[Chris]

JR

Next time your at Wally's, pick up a box of Rem Subsonics and run them through your 22A.  That's about all I shoot through my 22A since I broke it in.  My guess is your bench-rested 15 yard and off-hand groups will tighten-up a bit.

BTW, a guy that's punching holes in the celiing would scare me...I would have left posthaste.   :eek:

...Chris  

[Keith L]

BTW, a guy that's punching holes in the celiing would scare me...I would have left posthaste.  

No kidding.  I wonder what the heck was going on?

[Questor]

It sounds like you've got yourself a good gun! Congrats! There's nothing quite as pleasing as a good .22.  I like the Remington Subsonics too, but have not tried them in anything but a single shot pistol.

I wonder if that other guy had his eyes open when he pulled the trigger, or maybe he was using one of those Hollywood shooting stances that don't work in real life. I'd have gotten out of there like a scalded dog!

[jrdudas]

With regard to the other shooter at the range:

At first I didn't realize what was happening; I heard the shot and noticed that his target didn't look like it was hit.  He was a couple of lanes away and using one of those targets that turn yellow where it is hit.  On the second shot I actually saw the bullet fall to the floor about 20 yards out after the ceiling hit.  Not believing my eyes I paid closer attention to the third and fourth shots; I saw them drop to the floor at about the same distance.  At this point his target that was about 8 yards out had not been hit yet.  I was getting ready to leave the area when his last shot also hit the ceiling.  He stopped shooting then for quite a while so I stayed.  His next group was on target.  If his next shots had been into the ceiling I know I would have left the area.  In retrospect I should have stepped out of the range area after the first couple of shots and reported him to the gal at the range desk.

JR

[Questor]

Almost everyone I see at the ranges is responsible, but once every couple of years or somebody really stands out. At one indoor range I use there is a bullet hole in the plastic of the separator between two lanes. How thoughtful of Caswell to make the steel underneath the plastic bullet proof. I still have no idea of how that could have happened. It is as if someone fired at the partition deliberately.