Denver: Silver Bullet Shooting Range

[meles meles]

Well oomans, we're here and as there is a range not far away from our hotel we thought it would be remiss of us not to pay it a visit. A quick look at their website, http://www.silverbulletshootingrange.com , confirmed that as a friendly alien we would be allowed to shoot there and so off we burbled in our big rented Jeep.

On arrival we wandered in, identified ourself as a friendly alien and asked if we could rent some pawguns and shoot.

We could.

Whilst the two staff on duty, Frank and Chris, checked out our passport and filled in some paperwork, we were sat down at a table and given a ring binder full of range rules to read: all sensible stuff and no dramas. There's coffee on tap and tables / seating in a rest area with a view both of the shooting lanes and several glass cabinets full of very desirable objects from the likes of Messrs, Ruger, Kimber et al. We tried not to drool too much.

The range wasn't too busy and so Chris and Frank had plenty of time to spend with us, asking about our shooting experience and what sort of guns we might like to use. It was quickly decided that a nice stainless Ruger SP in .38 would make an ideal beginning and so, after a quick but thorough lesson in safety drills and range etiquette, we passed through the 'airlock' from the shop and into the range. As an alien, and an unaccompanied alien at that, we were escorted at all times by Frank or Chris. They are friendly though, and very professional, and both were happy to offer copius advice.

Our first target was a life size ooman silhoutte at 7 yards range - "typical gunfight or street brawl distance" apparently.

5 rounds were fired, double action, in slow time.

The Ruger's trigger was lighter than we expected, even in double action mode, and so our first shot was several inches high and right of oir point of aim. A heart shot rather than body centre of mass. Compensating for the trigger, our next 4 shots printed a two inch group around the body centre of mass. We smiled.

Our next 5 rounds were again double action, but rather faster. As quick as we could pull the trigger in fact. The group was larger and lower, all 5 in or around the right left kidney. Some advice was forthcoming on stance, trigger action and grip. 5 more DA rounds were fired, quickly. The group size hadn't improved, ie it was still about 5 inches, but it had shifted the point of aim up and across into the central abdomen.

The last 5 rounds at 7 yards were fired in single action. Head shots. Slow, deliberate shooting gave our target a very severe headache.

The target was moved out to 15 yards, and then 25 yards, and we spent half an hour or so alternating between single and double action shooting. Most of it slow and deliberate, but occasionally some rapid fire practices, those usually in DA mode. All the while Chris and / or Frank who were sharing duty, offered help and advice.

We then took a break for a cup of coffee and a chat, after which we returned to the range with a Springfield XDM 9mm pistol. We chose to fire multiple practices of 5 rounds at 7, 15, 20 and 25 yards. We put into practice all we learned from our trip to Prague last year with Froggy, and dredged the depths of our memory for reminiscences of firing our Browning Hi-Power service pistol. At 7 and 15 yards we did rather well, both in slow and rapid practices, but at 20 and 25 yards the groups really opened out, some of them being nigh on a foot across. Oddly enough, the groups shot quickly tended to be smaller...

After consuming quite a lot of brass, we returned to the rest area for a coffee and anothe post mortem of the target sheets. They were all very dead. We're pleased to say only one round wasn't actually on the silhouette, and that was close enough to the silhoutee's head for us to be able to claim that if he'd had a beard...

Frank then suggested that as our shooting with the revolver has been better than with the auto, we ought to try a real revolver. A shiny stainless Ruger .44 Magnum was produced and we succumbed.

Wow ! It's big. It's heavy. It's really not concealable. Even the cartidges seemed to be in a whole different league to the .38, .357 and 9mm rounds.

We zipped the target out to 15 yards and loaded the cylinder with six 240 grain rounds. Lifted the revolver, cradled it in our paw, leaned into it, squeezed the trigger.

BOOM !

The reverberations took longer to die away than our grin !

A large hole had appeared right in the target centre of mass. A veritable V bull of hit !

The sights had come back to rest on the same point of aim.

BOOM !

A second hole appeared about an inch from the first.

BOOM !
BOOM !
BOOM !
BOOM !

A 6 round, two inch group at 15 yards. Right where we had aimed. We were very pleased, particularly as the last 4 rounds had been fired very quickly indeed.

We worked our way through the box of .44 Magnum cartridges, firing 6 round practices at 15, 20 and 25 yards, usually double action but some single action. It was equally accurate in both modes. We shot far better with it than we did with either of the other two pawguns. Our 20 and 25 yard groups with it were way better than we achieved with the 9mm ! If only we could have them here in dear old Blighty...

All too soon it was time to pay up and leave. The bill came to $151 which we thought not bad at all for 3 hours range rental, rental of 3 guns and box upon box of canned bangs. Frank and Chris were thoroughtly professional thoughout but friendly too and always willing to offer advice, all of it good ! When they asked where we'd learned to shoot a pawgun and discovered it was when we served 'er Maj, they both dropped their fee for providing escort cover from the bill which we thought was a nice touch. The US seem to respect and honour their veterans more than is the case in the UK.

If you are in Denver, call in and see them. It's highly recommended and we're sure you'll leave with a grin !

[20series]

Badger

It sounds like the sort of place I could feel very at home in, thanks for the excellent report

Alan

[meles meles]

We enjoyed ourselves enormously, but left feeling a little baffled. For example:

Why, we wondered, did we shoot better with revolvers when everyone tells us pistols are more accurate?

Why did we shoot smaller groups when we were firing quickly than when we were taking slow and deliberate aim ?

If only we could own a pistol and a revolver back home. Purely for comparative purposes of course, all in the name of scientific research at the Badgerkadamy...

[saddler]

Revolvers usually have a longer sight radius compared to pistols of similar barrel lengths.

I also find most revolver designs have a better grip angle compared to pistols...so are better for instinctive pointing & rapid target acquisition.
But, revolver designs cost more to make = less profit margin = marketing depts prefer pistols so "pistols" are IT

[BamBam]

Badger paws fit revolvers better, most likely.

[Ovenpaa]

Sounds like an excellent 3 hours. Did you find it hard work towards the end? I spent a long afternoon at a range many years ago shooting big stuff (.44/.45/.454) with my son and felt battered at the end, my eyes stung, my hand and shoulders ached and I had a headache despite ear defenders and plugs. Good fun all the same. Not sure I would do it again these days :)

[WelshShooter]

Sounds you like had a good ol' time! It seems as though the American's haven't had badger infestations yet which is why they treated you well I suppose.

With regards to pistols not being as accurate as revolvers, that too surprised me especially with the DA shooting of revolvers. Perhaps the 9mm ammo you were given was not that accurate for the pistol? Maybe the sights weren't as easy to use compared to the revolver? Maybe the pistol felt too "small" in your massive paws? Do bears defecate in the woods? Who knows.

[froggy]

Quoi ? pas de fotos ??
Anyway, thanks VM for that excellent report Mr "So British Blaireau" ! Sounds like an excellent way to spend 3 hours out of your sett !!
Funny what you say about the common opinion of pistols vs revolvers. In France, it is quite the opposite. My French club is very much a target precision aficianado sort of place, ie : 22lr are Hamerli mega expensive space pistols and but center-fire are all revolvers, 5 rounds max in each serie in about what feels like half an hour ... They all think I am a roastbeef clown with my "Glock & CZ mania" and wouldn't be seen dead with one of those . And yes ... they all easily out-shoot me

[WelshShooter]

Quoi ? pas de fotos ??
Anyway, thanks VM for that excellent report Mr "So British Blaireau" ! Sounds like an excellent way to spend 3 hours out of your sett !!
Funny what you say about the common opinion of pistols vs revolvers. In France, it is quite the opposite. My French club is very much a target precision aficianado sort of place, ie : 22lr are Hamerli mega expensive space pistols and but center-fire are all revolvers, 5 rounds max in each serie in about what feels like half an hour ... They all think I am a roastbeef clown with my "Glock & CZ mania" and wouldn't be seen dead with one of those . And yes ... they all easily out-shoot me

But are they having fun?

[froggy]

They usually start laughing & falling off their zimmer frame when I get through the door...
F*ckers !!