Boom stick questions. Point me in the right direction.

Merry Christmas to everyone.  A funny story to pass on from today.  My neighbor stopped by with some gifts for the family. He is a good shooter. He just hit grand master in steel challenge even though he has only been shooting for a couple years.
 

 He gave me a package that was obviously two boxes of blazer 9mm.  I pick it up and give it a small shake and then another and boldly stated 149grain?  I was joking as we usually shoot 115 or 123. He gets that astounded look and said no way. And asked me if I can really feel the weight difference.   I lead him on a little bit but have to admit eventually that it was a complete guess.  
 

Made for a great Christmas laugh. 
 

Anyone get something for Christmas?  

In reply to dean1484 :

Didn't get anything from others for Christmas but I did get myself a couple. 

I bought a 5.7 handgun because it was on sale ($290 after tax!) and a Stribog SP in 10mm because I wanted a roller-delayed 10mm PCC.

However, the most exciting is a stupid, stupid gun that's been in project status for about 10 years. I finally got my Obrez pistol! It's a dumb gun that I'll only ever run a few dozen rounds through, but it's an homage to an interesting piece of history. 7.62x54R in a 3" barrel. Why not? 

Wow!! And I thought a carbine length Nagant was loud!

In reply to madmrak351 :

There's a really interesting history of ad hoc weapons throughout history, and the Obrez is a particularly neat one. A short barrel doesn't come close to stabilizing the bullet so it's just going to tumble and have poor accuracy, but that's not the point - most didn't even have sights anyway. The idea was to take a firearm that was commonly available (i.e. a Mosin Nagant) and turn it into a firearm that could be carried under a long coat. You have one good shot and four mediocre shots, as working the action becomes much more awkward: However, if you make that one shot count it's better than none.

Plus there's the psychological impact of a massive muzzle blast. And maybe being set on fire from powder burning outside of the barrel. :) 

In reply to brandonsmash :

Yes, I looked up a little bit of history on it, very interesting gun. My older son is a historic military weapon collector and part time gunsmith with a local shop. He was telling me yesterday that he had purchased a Remington built Nagant. Apparently the Czar was having them built under contract just before the revolution. I will have to ask him if he knows about the Obrez!

And here I was thinking an FR-8 was too silly to pursue...

Why am I thinking that it went something like this..

/start Russian accent /

Comrade I need gun.

No you need pistol.

Ok hold my vodka.

(10 minutes go by)

Ok hear is your pistol 

/end Russian accent/

So we are coming down to the end of the year. Any one have any surprises or notable purchases or did you get to use or shoot a cool bit of kit?  
 

For me it was the hipowers. I don't know why but I just like them way more than I thought I would. I had shot them in the past and don't remember being that impressed with them but I picked up two classics that are just so nice to shoot.  
 

 The other thing that surprised me was the K31 I got. I have other variants of the K31 I have had other K31s but the one I got this year is probably one of the most accurate rifles I have. This includes things like my MARS H or my SCAR 20. It is way more accurate than I am.  To do it justice I need to figure out a way of putting a modern optic on it. 
 

Another cool thing was the the tip Rodan gave me about storing mags using magnets.  So simple and yet absolutely brilliant.  
 

BTW you can also post up notable disappointments (I have a couple pistols that fall in to that category). But I wanted to start things out on a positive note.  

dean1484 said:

Anyone get something for Christmas?  

Does it count if you bought it for yourself?? 

I've been working on playing in the dark with my .300BLK AR, and mounted up an AGM Neith day/night digital that I bought a while back but have mostly been using to watch critters on our property.  A long time back, I got to play with an AR with an IR laser under NV goggles (.mil issued stuff), and it was pretty cool so I thought I'd see where the aftermarket was these days.  For Christmas, I bought myself a laser aiming module, an HFXC from SMSLaser.  At a little over $200, it's quite a lot less expensive than the 'real' stuff...

The Neith is admittedly a very 'budget' piece of equipment, but it does work adequately with a separate IR illuminator (the integrated one is marginal).  I was mostly interested in the HFXC as an IR illuminator/laser combo, but it also has a visible (green) laser and white light illumination.  So far, I have to say it's impressed me.  Both the IR and visible lasers are incredibly bright, and even turned down to lower settings are visible without magnification out to 200+ yards.  The IR illuminator is also very bright, and has an adjustable focus.  Combined with the Neith, targets are easily identified at 200+ yards.  The white light is less impressive, about the equivalent of an original Streamlight TLR-1 which, IIRC was around 300 lumens.  It's adequate for CQB, but less than I would want on a 5.56 AR for white light use.  At ~8oz, the HFXC isn't light, but it's compact, and the laser emitters are inline with the barrel if top mounted.  It came with a tape switch that I didn't really like, so I'm waiting for an alternative to arrive.  Fortunately, it's a standard Crane plug, so it's easy to replace.

I haven't done any live fire with the HFXC yet, so time will tell how it holds up, and if it holds zero.

Dad brought me some fresh reloads for the EAA Witness Match 45.  Hornady discontinued the bullet it really like so had picked up 200ea of 5 different bullets we found to see if it likes any of them.  Great shooter, just picky on feeding.  

In reply to Rodan :

"Dean will not go down the IR/Lazer rabbit hole. .. ."  I have to keep saying that as that looks really cool/fun to play with.  

dean1484 said:

In reply to Rodan :

"Dean will not go down the IR/Lazer rabbit hole. .. ."  I have to keep saying that as that looks really cool/fun to play with.  

If you don't have a NOD setup, then no need to worry about IR lasers & illuminators.  There... I saved you about $5k for basic entry into NV with helmet/monocular & LAM setup. 

Will say though, once you get into NV, it's a whole new ballgame... will be setting up the rifles and pistols a little different which you plan to use with NV. Actually just finished swapping around lower for 300 Blackout rifle with the 6mm ARC Precision AR I built - wanted the better lower on it and had new trigger come in (Blackout Defense ZERO hybrid). The 6mm ARC Precision AR got its TT diamond trigger swapped to the PSA lower originally on the 300Blkout...

Vracer111 said:

If you don't have a NOD setup, then no need to worry about IR lasers & illuminators.  There... I saved you about $5k for basic entry into NV with helmet/monocular & LAM setup. 

 

For any kind of tactical use, you are 100% right... a real NOD setup is a requirement.  Digital and thermal have too much latency to be much use when movement is involved.  For general screwing around or night hunting, a digital with illumination is pretty effective for under $1k.  Thermal seems to be working pretty good for the hog hunters, but it's a bit more of an investment.

In reply to Rodan :

I agree, if just want to have NV capable digital scope on rifle that can be had for well under $1k... I have one that is fairly decent but still not close to what analog gen 3+ NODs can do. If just looking for a few hundred yards capability the digital NV scopes are pretty good with an illuminator.

For NODs I found a pretty interesting new digital one, the ADNV-G14SE: around $1600 and has 100Hz refresh rate. Only 800x600 resolution OLED screen, but works about as well as Gen2 analog from what I'm seeing about it and it's smaller/lighter than most any analog NV and has same mounting setup. Also have option of trying used market for analog NV... can find good deals on used high quality Gen 3 units for under $2k - "as is" used is a bit risky though compared to new with warranties.

Regarding new/interesting acquisitions, I've recently ordered a new pistol which is multi-caliber capable; the FK BRNO PSD. Was looking for something 10mm and had really considered going with a PCC ... either an AR build (PSA Jakl) or the Ruger LC Carbine. But once I read up/found out more about the FK BRNO PSD, I knew I wanted to go that route instead. Most likely will replace the Sig X-Ten... already sold my Sig Cross and probably going to sell the Sig X-Ten if the FK BRNO PSD is everything it's supposed to be. Will probably compare them back to back, but can tell anyone right now I would much rather have a single action only pistol which can shoot 9mm, 40S&W, 10mm, and 7.5FK over the 10mm Sig and it's lacking trigger that can't seem to be improved.

I just found out PSA released their .308 JAKL on the 27th....

In reply to Vracer111 :

I had hope for PSA's STG44, but I guess it's dead...

In reply to Rodan :

Meanwhile a bunch of autists from Reddit in the 3d2a space just released a printed version of the STG44 that uses some AR parts. 
Black Lotus Coalition

I started a project I was kind of dreading as there are lots of little parts and screws to work with.  
 

I got this a while back and used it for steel challenge and other competition stuff.  The problem is the people I got it from swore to me they had set these up before and that it was ready to go. I got it new in box in its most tricked out form.  
 

Anyway I took it to the range and it was evident that they had no clue. Everything quickly loosened up and I found the optic mounted incorrectly with the rear sites still in place (they have to be removed for the optic to sit flat on the mount). So I stripped it down. Swapped the barrels back to the basic set up and I have been shooting it like that for most of this year.

I decided to take the time and take it all apart clean it and put it back together with proper lube and blue loctite in the correct places so hopefully it does not start shedding parts after a couple mags like it was when I got it.   

My czechmate

As we started yesterday night 

All the parts pulled out in there bags.

And finally I finished it off this morning.  Back to its competition configuration with all the spare parts back in there bags.  
 

Going out to the range later to run a couple hundred rounds through it to make sure everything is in order. 
 

Oooh I like it and have it's cousin by EAA in 45.  Really like them and they were a nice "not a 1911" option for the guy who wanted to be different.

To me the DWX is the best "not a 1911". I want to put an optic on my DWX but I don't want to cut the slide. 
 

But this thing is a whole different level. With all the weight and the huge comp and all the weight it puts out forward it shoots so flat. You can shoot it and not loose sight of the dot. There is zero muzzle rise. 
 

This is a case where having the right equipment really does make you shoot better in competition. In this case it is the speed as you are not having to re acquire the dot between shots.  My friends Athena was similar. 

For comparison my DWX

Rodan said:

dean1484 said:

Anyone get something for Christmas?  

Does it count if you bought it for yourself?? 

I've been working on playing in the dark with my .300BLK AR, and mounted up an AGM Neith day/night digital that I bought a while back but have mostly been using to watch critters on our property.  A long time back, I got to play with an AR with an IR laser under NV goggles (.mil issued stuff), and it was pretty cool so I thought I'd see where the aftermarket was these days.  For Christmas, I bought myself a laser aiming module, an HFXC from SMSLaser.  At a little over $200, it's quite a lot less expensive than the 'real' stuff...

The Neith is admittedly a very 'budget' piece of equipment, but it does work adequately with a separate IR illuminator (the integrated one is marginal).  I was mostly interested in the HFXC as an IR illuminator/laser combo, but it also has a visible (green) laser and white light illumination.  So far, I have to say it's impressed me.  Both the IR and visible lasers are incredibly bright, and even turned down to lower settings are visible without magnification out to 200+ yards.  The IR illuminator is also very bright, and has an adjustable focus.  Combined with the Neith, targets are easily identified at 200+ yards.  The white light is less impressive, about the equivalent of an original Streamlight TLR-1 which, IIRC was around 300 lumens.  It's adequate for CQB, but less than I would want on a 5.56 AR for white light use.  At ~8oz, the HFXC isn't light, but it's compact, and the laser emitters are inline with the barrel if top mounted.  It came with a tape switch that I didn't really like, so I'm waiting for an alternative to arrive.  Fortunately, it's a standard Crane plug, so it's easy to replace.

I haven't done any live fire with the HFXC yet, so time will tell how it holds up, and if it holds zero.

 

4MR ranch just released a review on it...

Definitely looks like an interesting unit and supposedly in the comment section SMS is already in process of making updated unit based on reviews they received about it - IR laser and IR illuminator power will be able to be separately adjusted, strobe mode removed, fire button changed to double press for constant on/hold press for momentary, and will have an extended cap available to be able to accept 18650 batteries.

Kind of curious if will be able to stand up to a .308 AR10.... would maybe be interested in one after redoing the gas system/muzzle device & handguard change and possible upgrade buffer to a hydraulic one for impluse reduction on my M5. Need to get  1-3/8" crowsfoot and mod it so can remove the stock barrel nut and put on the Wilson Combat handguard that's ready to go on.

Tomorrow will be picking up the new pistol (FK BRNO PSD) and an optic for it (Holosun 507 Competition model... big O' window with nice optioned reticle)... Just ordered a Holosun PID Dual light for it as well...was thinking of the Streamlight TLR-VIR II, but would rather a good white light and visible laser and ability to independently run the IR laser by itself along with having a visible laser as well. Plus was able to get the Holosun for a good $150 cheaper and don't have to remove it from gun to change battery... Also had the 10mm barrel ( and two boxes of the 7.5 FK ammo) come in... so ready to directly compare it with the Sig X-Ten.

My wife and I shot a new match with our local club yesterday.   They call it the "Steel Pig" match... reduced size steel pig silhouettes at 220yds (200m) with .22LR.  It's like a typical metallic silhouette match, with a rack of 10 pigs.  One shot per pig, and you shoot 3 relays for score.  If the pig falls off the rack, it's a hit, otherwise a miss.  It's pretty challenging, considering a .22 has over 5 feet of drop at 220yds... 

Here's a practice target with my T1X to give an idea of the size.

We were fortunate to have very little wind yesterday, but even the 5mph puffs we had were tricky.  After only getting less than 50 rounds of practice and sight-in in much higher winds over the last couple of weeks (and getting up early after a 14 hour day at the track), I was happy to score 20/30; my wife had a rough 3rd relay and scored 15/30.  Match winning score was 28/30.  I shot some handgun silhouette back in the 80s and it's a very challenging sport with pistol or rifle.  Perfect scores aren't that common.  

It was a fun match to shoot, and we're already looking forward to next month.

In reply to Rodan :

Very cool!

To DIY or not to DIY: Gunsmithing Edition. 

So I bought this Ruger 22/45 LITE from a friend not too long ago. This was one of the "special" models that came factory with a Riton Red Dot, but I purchased it without the optic. To start I just got a cheap Truglo Red Dot. (Holosun or better would normally be my choice, but it's a 22, and non-reciprocating.) Unfortunately when I installed said red dot, even though I was using my fancy new FAT wrench, I stripped the threads... 

Very shameful, I know, next time I will just use my finger and an allen key for tightening as I trust my finger's torque spec more than the FAT wrench, at least for low torque applications. 

So, here's the thing. No aftermarket plates I've found are a direct fit because this factory optic model doesn't have the standard holes threaded. So I think I have boiled it down to 3 options:

1. Attempt to tap the factory plate with one size bigger threads. I'm not 100% sure if this would work since the holes in the optic would also need enlarged which risks weakening it, or breaking it. Additionally, the factory optic plate does not have any locating lugs for the optic, it relies solely on the two mounting screws. I know it's just a 22, but I'm not a big fan of that. 

2. Buy an aftermarket optic plate, use one of the factory threaded holes I have, and drill/tap the other to fit. This plate seems like it offers lots of optic footprints, so if I switch out optics later I can. 

https://outerimpact.com/product/modular-red-dot-adapter-mra-for-ruger-mark-i-ii-iii-iv-iv-lite-22-45-pistol/

3. Take it to a gunsmith and have them try either option.

I'm leaning towards option 2 right now. So, how bad of an idea is it to try and drill/tap a brand new hole in my gun? The upper is aluminum, so it shouldn't be HARD, but precision is key. Another plus is keeping the optic to the rear, where i would need to drill/tap is clear all the way through, so depth is not a problem. 

Please excuse the dirt...