Interesting trip to the range

[gb6491]

My buddy and I hit the range today to wring out his Thompson Contender and to sling some lead from various other pieces we brought along.
That made for a fun day all on it's own, but I happened to notice a gent a few tables away shooting a pistol I'd only seen photos of, so I thought I'd mosey over and introduce myself. The gent said his name was Stig and that it was indeed a Unique Des 69 he was shooting.

Stig turned out to be a real affable Joe and offered to let me shoot the Unique...very nice, but he wasn't finished. There was his Sphinx 2000 Master, a Colt Python, and, what I thought most interesting, a Morini M102. The Sphinx is about as good as it gets with CZ75 clones (or for that matter, the real deal CZ75). The Master had a single action only trigger and it was as good as any tuned 1911 trigger I've felt. The Python was...well a Python, but not a safe queen. It had seen some loving use, but was still a looker for being made in the 1950's. Now, to the Morini. I knew they made air pistols, but wasn't aware that they made .22s. This was something entirely new to me. A very cool pistol with an electronic trigger and an interchangeable, under-barrel, tube magazine. I saw the spare magazines and first thought they might be recoil spring assemblies. Fortunately, I had the good sense to keep my mouth shut until Stig explained what they were. Unfortunately, the bolt was not installed in the pistol at that moment, so I didn't get a chance to shoot it, but I sure would have liked to :)

While I may have been so bold as to introduce myself to a stranger at the range, I didn't feel it was good form to ask if I could take photos of his pistols: so I've found some from the web to illustrate the toys I got to play with today (except for the Pyhton, as I suspect most are familiar with it).
Unique Des 69
http://i67.tinypic.com/23uydr5.jpg
Sphinx 2000 Master
http://i67.tinypic.com/s4vyua.jpg
Morini M102
http://i67.tinypic.com/2lv0ajl.jpg
Here's another Morini, that's the trigger power switch at the bottom rear of the grip.
http://i66.tinypic.com/2mq2jv5.jpg
Regards,
Greg

[yqtszhj]

Now all of those are cool.

[Bawanna]

Way cool!

[340pd]

Too many years ago when I was shooting bullseye matches, I looked hard for the Des 69. Never found one and settled for a Hammerli 280 and later a sp20. Both shoot better than me but I still like the looks of the 69.

One of our customers at my range has a Sphinx and I agree, it is a very solid firearm.

[berettabone]

That's gun world bucket list stuff right there............................................. ......a privilege indeed.

[Alfonse]

Wow! I would bet he often gets questions when he shoots those. What fun!

[Harrylee]

Well Greg looks like you was the lucky man at the range. These are very cool guns, so what did you think of shooting the 69? Now the Morini with the electronic trigger is quite intriguing and would have loved to pull that trigger, do like a light trigger for accuracy. I’d say you were a lucky guy today to see, hold and shoot at least one. So the 69 report?

[gb6491]

Harrylee,
Let's just say I was close to hitting what I was aiming at and Stig was kind enough not to smirk at me. I'm certainly no match for him one handed.
The pistol performed beautifully. My hand size is very close to Stig's so the grips and trigger position felt very nearly perfect for me. He had the trigger set as a two stage with a short take up on the first stage. The second stage was light and crisp. The grip breaks your wrist slightly downward to bring the sights on target, but my trigger finger seemed easier to control from this position. The sights (or should I say sight picture) are excellent and easy to align. The pistol points quite well; I'd dare say naturally once one became acquainted with the grip position. Magazine capacity is five rounds. That lever on the right side operates as slide lock and a safety.

Thanks to all for their comments :)

Regards,
Greg

[AIRret]

WOW, thanks for sharing! It's always great to see unique guns that are USED!!

[kwh]

Another good day at the range. Thanks for sharing, I could almost imagine being there.

[Harrylee]

Well Greg seems like I was lucky day at the range today also. Went to the range my usual time when no one else is there. As I get to the door 2 gals show up one older (yeah older maybe a year or two more than me) and her younger friend, then she asked if I was doing the indoor and I said yes. And they where doing indoor also, the way our range works is first in sets the distance to the target line. So I said I was shooting at the 50 and they didn’t have a problem with that. So we start getting ready and the older of the two brings out an old high standard, nice lookin gun and she said it was new. Now really was in my head, then she went on the her older friend brought it back when he came back from Korea and sold it to her for a fair price with only 100 rounds thru it. Then it comes out this small 5 foot lady used to shoot competition shotgun, OK we are getting someplace now. And her younger friend came to the range with her six months ago and is now hooked on shooting. They found her a Ruger mark iii 7 ½ used. So as time went by and I made nice big holes with the 45 it was time to go with the Buckmark, let the both let them hold it and dry fire it. The both love the trigger job I put on it. So at the end we swapped guns, so I got to shoot her old, new high standard. Very nice and she liked the Buckmark also. Then the younger girl was having trouble sighting in, I told her we need to bench rest to check the sights. So she did and seemed to be off with the sights a bit then she asked if I would bench it fo her, sure I said. That had a 7 ½ barrel on it and not a bad piece and sure enough the sights where off. Made a few corrections and got her hitting where she felt good. She knew she still had a lot of work a head to be good but kept her interest alive. I didn’t take pictures of the guns but found the guns shot online. All in all win, win

http://www.chuckhawks.com/high_standard_supermatic.jpg http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad301/guns4/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_4800_kindlephoto-254641953_zpszbyv0u3z.jpg

[Bawanna]

That's a fine looking High Standard. Well taken care of it appears. Good for you helping the lassies. I love to see woman at the range.
Many times I've seen mostly younger gals either standing behind boyfriends or something on the range or outside in the store part.
If the range isn't too crowded and I have something to shoot that's appropriate I grab them. I'm a geezer and I can get away with it.

Dude's shooting away and next thing he knows his girlfriend is shooting with me in my lane. Euphoria for sure.

It's especially good when the lady is shooting good which they usually do. So far no jealous boyfriend had tried to take me out but I know it's a coming one of these days.

Done the same with kids but I always ask dad if it's ok before I do that. Never had a dad or mom in some cases turn me down. Kids love it. Sometimes when they leave they come back with a couple boxes of 22 or whatever. I tell them to keep it for next time.

[gb6491]

Harrylee,
Fine pistols and friendly ladies, that sounds like a crackerjack day to me:)
Kudos to you for the your assistance in getting the younger gal's pistol sighted in.
Overall, I have to say I'm jealous of your range day:biggrin1:
Regards,
Greg