Ed's Shooting-Related Notes and Links

Google Earth Shooting Sports Locations [data revised 9 December 2007]

To view the locations:

  1. if you don't already have it, surf to http://earth.google.com/ to download and install Google Earth on your computer (the free version is adequate);
  2. then come back here to download and save either the compressed ShootingSports.kmz (20 kb) or the uncompressed ShootingSports.kml (175 kb) file(s) -- be sure to save the file with either the ".kmz" or the ".kml" extension, as appropriate, so your system will know it is a Google Earth file;
  3. next, either double-click the ".kmz" file and Google Earth should start and display the range locations, or start Google Earth manually and then drag-and-drop the ".kml" file into the "Places" area therein;
  4. please send any updates to ed@flat5.net; and finally,
  5. check here occasionally for updates -- the revision date of the download is in the About folder in the data.

If you have trouble with the download, please email me directly (ed@flat5.net) and I will send you a copy as an email attachment. Please put "Google Earth Shooting Sports data by email" or something similar in your email so I will know why you are contacting me. (I don't respond to empty email messages.)

Luck Target

At the Tuesday evening Bullseye matches at the Phoenix Rod and Gun Club (see Pistol Division) we always start with a Luck Target (click here). There is a one dollar per shooter fee for the Luck Target and the winner gets half of what is collected. (The other half goes to help a school in the neighborhood.) The rules are printed on the target itself -- we shoot at 25 yards and someone flips a coin after everyone has fired to determine if high-score or low-score wins.

This is fun because anyone can win. Rank novices have just about the same chance as High Masters.

Dillon 650 Operational Procedure (*.doc)

If you use your Dillon 650 progressive reloader to reload ammunition a lot, you probably do these or similar steps from memory. But I don't reload regularly or often enough to trust this to memory so I wrote it all down. I use these instructions each time I reload to make sure I don't skip some critical step. Note that you will still need Dillon's excellent instructions and, where we disagree, you'll have to use your own judgement. I hereby disclaim all warranties, liabilities, and so forth, implied or expressed, for my instructions. They seem to work for me is all I can say. (You're on your own.)

Learning to Shoot Blog

Click to read Ed's "learning to shoot" notes which focus almost exclusively on the sport of Conventional Pistol, a.k.a., Bullseye.

Inexpensive Spotting Scope

Would you believe a good spotting scope for $50? Well, I spent even less than that and the old-timers that initially sneered at this little bargain are now starting to take a second look. Click here for details!

Snap Caps

After working with three "snap cap" gadgets for the S&W 41 but finding them inadequate for various reasons, Ed crafted his own. He's been dry-firing with it for hundreds of "shots" and it shows no sign of wearing out. Click Trash Can Snap Cap for details.

.22LR Velocity Spreadsheet

To examine (or download!) a spreadsheet containing muzzle velocities for dozens of brands of 22 Long Rifle ammunition collected from (almost all) the manufacturers, Click Here.

Ed's Red Cleaning Solution

Ed has used the home-made cleaning solution known as "Ed's Red" but he is quick to point out, "I'm not that 'Ed'." For parts, sources and practices, click Ed's Red Notes.

Fixed Sight Drift Formula

Not hitting the target where you want but have fixed sights and you don't know how much to move them?

Click Here to calculate how far to move the rear sight when your rounds land some distance left or right of the target's center.

Preventing 1911 Hammer Follow

"Hammer Follow" is when the hammer falls simultaneously with the release of the slide when initially charging (loading) the 1911. When this occurs the gun will fire unless special steps have been taken. (An important safety rule is to always keep the muzzle of the gun pointed in a safe direction!)

"Preventing 1911 Hammer Follow" lists the steps needed to preclude an accidental discharge when this happens. A couple of popular variant are also described. Read and decide which approach is best for you.

Bullseye Targets to Download

Right-click and choose "Save As" to get your own copy of the Bullseye targets from the table below. Be sure to UNcheck "Fit to page" or "Shrink oversized pages to paper size" when printing.

PISTOL Slow Fire Timed/Rapid Fire
50 foot B-2 B-3
20 yard B-4 B-5
25 yard B-16 B-8RC (repair center)
50 yard B-6RC (repair center) n.a.


Email to the family via ed@flat5.net is welcome.
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© Copyright 2005 by Ed Skinner
All Rights Reserved
Revised 10 December 2007