Out with the old, in with the new....... not really

So, I was supposed to shoot the club match at Central Carolinas Shooting Club this past Saturday. Supposed was the optimum word. Let's face it, I'm a wuss when it comes to cold weather and it wasn't getting above 40 until early afternoon according to weather.com, so I stayed all snug in my bed with about 4 blankets covering me up and slept in.

So, instead of shooting on Saturday, and lord knows I couldn't shoot on Sunday with two NFL playoff games going on, I decided to shoot on Monday which was a holiday for me.This is where the "out with the old, in with the new" kinda comes into play. No, I didn't get rid of anything, just didn't shoot it as much, but I did get to shoot something new.

I had been saving up for a M4/AR15 rifle as I want to get into rifle matches and 3gun matches in the future. I didn't want to spend a lot of money, because lets face it, I'm not going to be shooting professionally for any major manufacturer and traveling around the United States on someone else's dime. At most, I might travel to Virginia and Maryland where I have family or South Carolina because it's not far away. Anyway, for the price I was looking to spend, there were several vendors available. I finally decided on a CMMG M4LE in 5.56 nato. With shipping included, I believe the price was $714.

So, I received the gun just about two weeks ago and boy was I hopped up to shoot it, but something strange happened. I went to several gun shops, Walmart, and Dicks Sporting Goods and you know what? Everyone was out of 5.56 and .223 Remington ammo. Guess with all the guns purchased for Christmas, that everyone bought up all the ammo as well. I can tell you from experience, it's not real fun when you have a new toy and can't play with it. Anyway, I ordered 500 rounds of .223 Remington from USAAMMO.com and received it a couple of days ago.

So, I went to Shooters Express in Belmont which is the only place I know where I can shoot a rifle that won't cost me an arm and both legs to shoot at to become a member (Charlotte Rifle and Pistol Club), or have a fairly long waiting list (Mecklenburg Wildlife Club). Now Shooters Express does have a couple of rifle lanes, but they're only out to 25 yards. Good enough for me as I haven't shot a rifle since 1991 and have never shot an M4/AR15. So, I send my Osama Bin Zombie target out to 25 yards, load up my rifle, sight in and fire. Hmmm, not much of a kick. Didn't really expect it with a .223 remington round, but definitely different than shooting an M14. So, after 10 rounds, I bring the target back and find all my shots low. Still on the target and definitely taking out major organs, but not where I was aiming. Helps when you use the center sight and not the protective flanges around the sight. DOH!

Next 10 rounds are much better, basically right around the lower sternum area, but not where I'm aiming, so I adjust and fire the next 20 rounds right through the center mass heart area, as if a zombie has a working heart. I know, I know, why am I shooting a zombie in the heart. Well, I'm saving the head for my pistol work. Anyway, these first 40 rounds are shot free style, standing up and holding the rifle. Finished up with the 10 low rounds and the next 30 in the area of roughly a baseball. I shot the last 10 rounds seated and using a table for support. Still not off a sandbag, but supported anyway. These last 10 rounds made a nice group roughly the size of a golf-ball with several holes touching. Sweet. Again, it's only 25 yards, but hey, let's let some success stand.

Now I pull my Osama Bin Zombie target up to 10 yards and load up my Smith and Wesson M&P 9mm. I had forgotten that with my new trigger pull, I'm shooting a little high. Remembered that when I saw my first couple of rounds slightly high, but definitely taking the turban off. Accounted for the new trigger pull and finished off my box of 50 Speer Lawman 115gr FMJ. Nice group. Threw a couple outside, but all 49 out of 50 were in the space of a softball with most of them in the size of a baseball. Nicely centered too.

Finished up, packed everything up and went to browse in the store. Found lots of nice eye candy, but they were crowded, so didn't ask to see anything. Been looking for a new range bag. My current bag is a canvas gym bag. Poor thing is not designed to hold up to carrying a couple hundred rounds of ammo, couple of pistols, ear protection, safety glasses and such and is starting to break down. Also looked at the rifle cases as well to see what they have. Right now I'm still transporting my rifle in the cardboard box, and frankly, that's just not cool. So, if anyone has a recommendation for a good value range bag and rifle case, sound off! It would be much appreciated.

That's it for me. Remember, shoot safe, shoot straight!