Jul 31 2007
Brothers Postal Match #1 - Shambler Shoot
Long gone are the days that I can throw a rifle and a handgun into a hardcase, check them as baggage and fly down to Texas to see my brother and his wife, enjoying some friendly competition at his range (Well, technically my range too, I’ve a lifetime membership around here somewhere). We really only got to do that once before 9/11, and the administrivia involved in doing it these days is more than a bit of a headache.
Piet has suggested more than once that we should get a postal match going so that we can compare our toys, and get some more of that friendly competition going. I kept dragging my heels, until the other day when we decided on the spur of the moment to just go ahead and do it.
Piet provided the target and after agreeing on a complicated drill involving rifle/pistol transitions, time limits and all sorts of stuff singularly unsuited for a postal match, we decided we’d just shoot 5 rounds at 20 yards with a 9mm (Piets Glock vs. My Beretta) and 5 rounds at 100 yards (AR15s with iron sights). A few miscommunications later, and we both found ourselves on our ranges 1600 miles apart, shooting at the same targets.
Now, I had decided in advance that I would bring 3 targets, one each for the agreed upon firearms and an extra for my Smith and Wesson Model 14 (which I was curious to see in this sort of test). Not too suprisingly the Revolver was a reliable little zombie killer.

(Smith and Wesson Model 14 - 20 yards)
While scoring what appears to be three killing hits, It clearly doesn’t count, and for two reasons. The first is that we agreed on semi-auto 9mm handguns, the second is that I put 6 rounds into the zombie (that bottom one is actually two holes) instead of five. Still, nice to know the old S&W can hold it’s own when the zombies come knocking.
After some practice shooting (I don’t get out to the range nearly often enough) I set up at 100 and tossed the requisite 5 rounds downrange. Not my best shooting, but a dead zombie none the less. Not altogether upset with the shoot, although the target combined with the black backboards made it nearly impossible for me to tell where the rounds had gone until I walked back to collect my target.

(AR15 - 100 yards)
Technically, I think only two of the rounds (the two highest) would have been enough to drop the zombie, the other two headshots would have cut through the bottom of the Jaw, and the fifth was a torso hit. We’ll count this as 2/5 (subject to Piets agreement) as I was under the impression that zombie kills are what counted here.
Ok, enough messing around. After a quick two magazines of warm up, I turned the Beretta 92F on the zombie. While the results were not awe inspiring, they were suprisingly adequate.

(Beretta 92F - 20 yards)
I’m conflicted here, I think technically this too should count as two killing hits. The Torso hit is obviously not zombtastic, the flyer is out altogether, and the right eye hit looks like it’d miss the brain (although you never know). Once again I’ll defer to Piet on this, as we never did get specific enough about the scoring.
Ok folks, that was my day on the range. Piet should have his targets up soon, and we can compare notes. Dependant on how this match goes, we may be expecting another (more specific) in the near future.
Jebus H. Murphy, are you serious.
That is some nice shooting.
It takes a big man to admit he’s gotten owned.
I am not a big man.
That’s it!
If I get my goddamned DL I can rent a car to get to Guelph this time next year. Toronto’s a wasteland for shooters.
You have to wait a year to drive to Guelph?
Graduated Licensing. It’ll be at least a year before I’m allowed to drive alone.
Piet … “How soon we forget”
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/driver/gradu/index.html
From the government that brought you de-streamed Grade 9 classes. Look how well they worked out!
You’re probably already aware of it but check out David Wellington’s writing. It’s great stuff.
Start with Monster Island:
http://www.brokentype.com/monster/
Nice work on the postal match!
Just for the record, what the max distance on your range?
My range only goes back 100 yards.