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April 25, 2008
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Saturday's silhouette practice day was a nice one, albeit a little hot around 89 degrees. I rounded up the usual suspects, including a couple Dan Wessons. The range looked good, and I had the place to myself until about 2:30.
While waiting for the morning shadows to dissipate, I shot a few XP-100's. Then it was time for the .375 SuperMag. Man, I love that Dan Wesson blue...I think I saw some of my ancestors there laughing at CF's. 
A new, unstripped barrel nut came over the winter, and I needed to re-zero the gun, plus I wanted to shoot it. It has accompanied me a few times this summer, but I never got around to it before.
I started on the chickens, but couldn't see where the bullets were going, so I moved out to the pigs at 100 meters. Fiddling with the sights, I finally connected with the pig swinger. In silhouette, we always set our sights referenced to the bottom. Once you dial in the sight setting, count how many clicks it takes to run the rear sight down as far as it will go, and record that number. The pigs were 14 clicks from the bottom.
I shot a few more to confirm that was correct, then repeated the process on the 150 meter turkeys and the 200 meter rams. It took 9 more clicks for the turkeys and then 10 more on top of that for the rams, so in the book it goes down as Turkeys +9, Rams +10. Now you can always run the rear sight to the bottom, count out the appropriate number of clicks, and be ready to shoot whatever distance you want. After the "work" I just continued practicing on the different targets, mostly turkeys and rams. It sure is fun to feel the recoil of the revolver, see the target start to fall, then hear the clang of the bullet on steel. Before long, I had emptied the 98 rounds of Hornady 220 grain bullets I brought with me.
Next, I took out the .22LR. It hasn't been shot in a number of years, and, to be honest, my Freedom Arms revolver shoots so much better, it has gotten most of the work.
Revolvers are even more picky about ammo than single-shots, and I had tested a lot of ammo in this gun years ago. This time I had uncovered a small stash of Winchester Super Silhouette ammo...a few bricks cheap off the net. I got the 722 zeroed with it at 50 yards, then started shooting turkeys and rams at 75 and 100 yards. Ignore those great-looking groups we all get at 25 yards, or even 50 yards. The real test of rimfire ammo happens at 100 yards. If it groups well there, then you have something.
Since I had never tried this ammo before, I had hoped it might do well. I sure missed a lot of turkeys and rams, sometimes several in a row, and far more than I thought I should have missed. Even tried some groups at 75 and 100, and the ammo just did not shoot well in the Dan Wesson. It has shot decent groups in other rimfire guns tho, but you have to test it in each one. I cleaned the barrel and went back to my Eley Standard and the gun started shooting well again. So much for that test. This revolver still shoots patterns, no matter what I feed it, but it handles well in creedmore and has a great trigger. It is still my "37" gun, which is about what it does on the steel range, 37x40 average. A hundred rounds went down range, and it felt really good to get reacquainted with an old friend. Had a great day at the range, and as a bonus, it was my birthday. Nothing like going shooting on your b-day.
The Savantist
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
February 9, 2009
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IHMSA,
Another superb range report. It is great to here that the .375 got some exersize. And your .375 to be specific definitely has a few reflections in it. One of the nicest I have seen. Interesting about the .22's being so particular with their ammo. i never really knew that, until your last post about .22's. I'll pay more attention to that in the future. Thanks for sharing
SMF
A man cannot have too many SuperMags
December 17, 2008
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Really a pleasure reading that report IHMSA.
Like SMF I had no idea about .22 rimfire ammo being that different from gun to gun.
Very funny about the blue...and Thanks for the great work.
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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I don't know about long guns, but with every .22 pistol I have ever owned, the ammunition always seems to be the biggest variable (after my own consistent incompetence). If I am having accuracy problems (or function problems in an autoloader) in an otherwise clean, lubricated and functional pistol, my biggest payback in solving the problem is almost always an ammo change. I don't know why this is, but it seems to work. The same "problem" ammo can work very well in another pistol.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
April 25, 2008
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Long guns or short guns, .22's are very ammo specific. You need to test as many different types in each gun as you can...and do it at the maximum distance you will be shooting them at. You could take 2 identical factory guns with consecutive serial numbers, and their ammo preference will be as different as night and day.
.22's are just like any centerfire gun, but more finicky. You can adjust the powder charges, switch bullets, change primers, any number of things to fine-tune a centerfire load to your gun, but you can't do any of that with a .22. The only thing you CAN do is switch ammo. I wrote an article on the .22LR. It was posted in a shooting magazine years ago, and is on a couple websites. If anyone is interested, I will post the link to it.
The Savantist
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Moderators
January 24, 2009
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IHMSA80x80 said:
…I think I saw some of my ancestors there laughing at CF's.
And I know why...my ancestors probably couldn't shoot any better than I can! 😛
Great range report & happy B-day!
And yes, we'd like to see the article link...what were ya thinkin'!
December 17, 2008
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Thanks IHMSA, yes, I think you would have everyone's attention with that article!
June 8, 2009
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"Ignore those great-looking groups we all get at 25, or even 50 yards." Smile!
I'd be interested in reading your article.
Must have been a good day all over for shooting. I got in some trigger time with the .22's between trips to the Vet. Dust devils were kicking up in the field next to the range sending a straw shower my way every so often.
April 25, 2008
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OK, kinda figured that. Here's the link
http://specialtypistols.infopop.cc/Articles/sp27.pdf
Couple of things to keep in mind. The original was written in 1999, updated in 2004, where this link is. The prices are obviously dated, but the comparisons are still valid. I wrote this article for the handgun silhouette shooters, so it is geared toward that area. The principles still apply to any shooting discipline involving rimfires.
The Savantist
DWF Supporters
Dans Club
Moderators
November 17, 2008
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Great report IHMSA, Its been to many years since I experienced the Boom-Topple-Clang. Hopefully I will get back to it one day, but the best part to me was actually watching the bullet go down range and the gray puff as it splattered on the steel. Most people do not believe you can really see a bullet in flight but it,s normal in silhouette. I will be devouring your article as soon as I get the time to take it in. And as far as the "37 gun", I believe if I remember that far back 37 was my top score. I will grin from ear to ear with a 37X40 any day. Great report and keep em coming.
Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.
June 8, 2009
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Thanks for the article. I'll get it read this weekend and come Monday my groups should be looking better!
January 22, 2008
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It's always a pleasure reading IHMSA's range reports and seeing the new photos! I'm also looking forward to reading the article as well.
Thanks for posting it!
Dans Club
May 17, 2009
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I've got a question. When you say you are shooting at 200 yards, is that standing free hand with iron sights or are you resting the gun on something? I can't imagine hitting anything at that range without a rest. IMHO I've not tried the long range shooting yet. No place around here (Lehigh Valley, PA) to di it. 
December 17, 2008
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IHMSA - thanks for the article. Well written and tremendous information. I truly had no idea there was that kind of difference in .22 ammo and had never given a thought to the impact of rim thickness, etc. I learned a ton reading it
Foreign brands the best...who'd a thunk it?
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
February 9, 2009
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IHMSA,
Awesome article. I printed it for my archives.
SMF
A man cannot have too many SuperMags
April 25, 2008
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jaggman said:
I've got a question. When you say you are shooting at 200 yards, is that standing free hand with iron sights or are you resting the gun on something? I can't imagine hitting anything at that range without a rest.
In silhouette, we can shoot either from a standing position, like you stated, or a "freestyle" position, which means any position you want to use, as long as the gun is not on a solid object, like the ground or your boot. Here is what we call the creedmore position, the most common one used
It looks awkward, but it is very stable, near benchrest solid. The rams we shoot are at 200 METERS, which is 220 yards. I have written an article about the basics of silhouette for the Dan Wesson forum...just waiting for Jody or Steve to post it.
The Savantist
Dans Club
May 17, 2009
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Thanks for the pic IHMSA. I see the "protection" on your leg for the gases released at the "gap". Like they say in London in the tube-"mind the gap" 
I'll have to try that next time I'm out. What do you use on your leg?
April 25, 2008
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I have the exact same blast shield shown in the pic. It is Kevlar with a thick hard rubber outer layer. Lots of folks just use a thick piece of leather. For all my non-revolvers, I don't use anything.
The Savantist
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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IHMSA80x80 said:
jaggman said:
I've got a question. When you say you are shooting at 200 yards, is that standing free hand with iron sights or are you resting the gun on something? I can't imagine hitting anything at that range without a rest.
I have written an article about the basics of silhouette for the Dan Wesson forum…just waiting for Jody or Steve to post it.
You're right, I'm slow and I deserve not one , but
We don't have a Kick in the #$% smiley, do we?
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
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