I just got back from going to the range and I have to say that I love the Koko Head range on weekdays.  It is so much less crowded than on the weekends.

I figured it was pretty nice on the weekdays.  Now all I need  to do is find a way to leave work. 

Yeah, I do enjoy having the rifle line nearly to myself on the odd days I can make it out there!  Got a funny story about sharing the line with a police sniper team that I may share some day...

The only thing I wish is that more of the venues were open.  I think silhouettes and trap should also be available, although I understand that the volunteers who run those ranges have jobs too.

Weekdays certainly are the best time for sighting in, I think.  The quiet allows more concentration, and the nearly-empty line means you can request cease-fires at your convenience!

Tom, you can't just tease us with a story about snipers and just leave us hanging.

Now that you've piqued our curiosity, I think now you have to tell us a story.   

+1 on the story... holding out is just mean.  hahaha!

Alright, even though I was saving it for out first social gathering. 

I was out there with my M1 Garand.  It's nothing special, a CMP service grade, but I've got the sights dialed in and have definitely made my peace with it.  I had the whole line to myself, except for one other group...

Setting up right beside me was a group of 3 HPD sharpshooters.  Or snipers, I guess is an accurate term as well.  In their cool black tactical outfits, and one of them with a really nice-looking rifle (I think it was a Remington LE model 700) and a honkin' HUGE scope.

Personally, I get no better joy than ringing the 440 yard gong with an old battle rifle and iron sights.  And I was having a good day, landing 5 or 6 out of 8 pretty consistently. 

Well, not to be outdone, the sniper beside me starts to shoot at the long gong too.  And it went  little something like this....

Me:  BANG......... THWACK

Him:  BANG.........

Me: BANG....... THWACK

Him: BANG..........

After about the 3rd time, all 3 of them are looking over to watch me take my shot.  Then they look at the gong.  And if it's a hit, they look back at me with stinkeye.  Then the 2 friends look at their buddy, who lines up his sight, takes his time, and misses.  Again.

They persist for about 3 clips of ammo (remember, I'm shooting a Garand, "clip" is the proper term!) then decide to pack it in and come back another day.

Now, in all fairness, they were apparently there to sight in a new scope, and the sniper was actually shooting at one of the smaller hanging 440 yard targets while I was shooting at the big one.  However, they kinda jumped over the whole "dial it in well" stage in a rush to compete with a Garand-wielding hippie.  It really gave me a good chuckle, watching them watch me, and totally kicking their butts!   

Thanks Tom, you don't disappoint.

I have only been to the rifle range one time and it was the very end of the day. So I get up to the line, uncase my Saiga, and get everything ready for the last round of firing.

The range officer calls safe and I hike my target out to the 50 yard line.

Hike back in and wait for the people going out further.

The range officer calls the line is hot.

I get set in on the bench and aim my rifle at the target...and FWOOOOSH...

The wind blows the cardboard and target off of the stand. DOH!

So instead of packing it in, I take a few shots into the berm, which seemed to be accurate enough. So I decided to take one shot out at the nearest gong. BANG..........

Oh well, maybe next time.

Great story!   I had a similar experience at magnum shooting pistols.  Scary to think that the only time  most officers practice is once a year right before quals.