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Long-Range Hunting: Ballistic Ties It All Together

From Ballistic

Long-range hunting continues to gain in popularity, which is not a huge surprise given the superior tools available to hunters today. There are more sub-MOA rifles today than ever, more high-quality glass, and more brands of ammunition designed specifically for long-range hunting.

But all these fine hunting tools are useless if we don’t now exactly where our shots are going. That’s where Ballistic comes in. It’s a kind of a Lord of the Rings thing: one Ballistic to bring all the tools together, and in the distance combine them!

Okay, not exactly. But, why acquire such first-rate shooting gear without the premier app to direct your long-distance shots? Put another way, if you are as serious about long-range hunting as we are, you need the Ballistic advantage.

If you are new to longer-range hunting, start with the basics.

First, create a Bullet Profile on Ballistic for your hunting round or rounds. Fill in all the inputs you can, including the manufacturer’s ballistic coefficient, bullet weight, etc., as well as the atmospheric conditions at your shooting range.

Using your hunting rifle-optic set up, plus your hunting ammunition, zero your rifle at 100 yards, generating as tight a three- to five-shot group as possible. Next, use a high-quality chronograph to determine your muzzle velocity; ten shots through the chronograph will provide the ammunition’s average velocity. Add this muzzle velocity to your Ballistic inputs and your 100-yard zero.

Many hunters neglect the “Sight Height” input on the Ballistic profile, thinking it doesn’t make that much of a difference. Wrong!

Sight height is the distance from the centerline of the scope to the centerline of the bore.  Some hunters just “eye it up” to estimate the distance. In fact, you should use a set of calipers to measure this distance. Measure to .01 inch, do this several times and average your results.

Ballistic calculations show that various sight heights for the same loads don’t have a huge effect—up close. But stretch out your shooting distances, and just a half-inch of sight height variation can mean several inches up or down. Enough to cost you a miss on that game animal or–much worse–a wounding shot.

Many longer-distance hunters prefer a 200-yard zero, as it considerably reduces the hold-over distances they’ll need for longer shots. But, review your Ballistic profile and you’ll discover that rounds also require a hold under at much closer distances. You may be ready for that long-range shot, but your trophy game animal could very well come strolling by at 40 yards!

Know your reticle, too. There are significant differences between MOA and MIL-RAD hold-over and windage points. Ballistic will calculate these points for both MOA and MIL’s.

Atmospheric conditions have a huge influence on bullet drag, and Ballistic is an easy and precise method for factoring in those conditions.

Bullet drag is created by how much air resistance a bullet encounters during flight. Sometimes referred to as “aerodynamic drag,” bullet drag increases as the density of the air increases. For the long-range hunter, more drag means your bullet will slow at a faster pace versus less drag, with a slower bullet more susceptible to gravity and wind.

Air density is influenced by many factors, including altitude, barometric pressure, temperature and relative humidity. At higher altitudes, for example, air tends to be thinner, providing less resistance, while air generally becomes heavier (and therefore more resistant) as the altitude is closer to sea level.

If you, for example, zero your rifle near sea level and then go hunting for mule deer in mountainous terrain, the difference in altitude alone can change your point of impact by several inches.   

As environmental conditions change during your hunt, simply adjust your inputs and Ballistic will instantly re-calculate your long-range shooting solutions.

And then there’s the all-important wind. As the shooting distances increase, wind has a major influence on where you bullet will or will not land.

With Ballistic, you can input wind speed and direction in a manner of ways. Ballistic’s Advanced Wind Kit takes full advantage of the JBM ballistics engine’s wind capabilities to allow long-distance hunters to account for nearly any possible wind scenario.
For example, you have a 10 MPH wind at your shooting position blowing from left to right. But where that trophy elk is standing–480 yards away–the grass is clearly being moved from right to left at what you estimate is approximately 5MPH.  
Using the Advanced Wind Kit, you can easily and quickly program in this wind scenario. Simply taps the screen to create a new wind zone and then slide it to the appropriate range: 10MPH at 0 yards, left to right; and 5MPH at 480 yards, right to left.

Ballistic will automatically plot the precise windage points you need to adjust for these conflicting winds! And Ballistic can do this for up to eight different wind sources, including headwinds and updrafts.

If long-range hunting is in your future, increase your odds for a successful hunt with Ballistic, the Number One app for serious shooters.

Upper Receiver Group – Improved, Geissele’s Perfect M4

Geissele, known industry wide for phenomenal trigger systems, won a contract with USSOCOM to field an upgraded version of the M4. More specifically the upper.

Geissele already has their Super Select Fire triggers running in several SOCOM M4’s as part of the SOPMOD. The military is playing a game of keep up with the Jones’… or maybe the Miculek’s.

3 Gun and the other high intensity shooter sports have pushed arms accessory development to incredible levels. Geissele has always been a warfighter centric company. They hold their products to that stringent level of possible abuse.

The URG-I features a number of upgraded items over the M4, M4A1, and the Block I and II upgrades currently fielded.

The barrel is an optimized design for the new M855A1 rounds. Standing up to the higher wear and tear the round puts on barrels. Additionally featuring the longer midlength gas system and a mildly overbored gas port. To assure reliability under harsh operating environments and smooth the recoil impulse.

The rail is the Mk16 13.5″, currently only available on the URG-I’s and one of the first fielded systems with the CRANE approved M-LOK mounting system in place of the traditional picatinny.

The barrel is topped with a Surefire 4 prong flash hider for interface with suppressors. Geissele dropped their DDC Airborne reduced profile ambidextrous variety charging handle in for good measure.

While it isn’t the lightest system utilizing M-LOK it is probably nearly the strongest. With the barrel nut interface and handguard design. Purpose built to bring the M4 into the next phase in it’s military career.

Mike over at GarandThumb has an in depth look at this new premium piece of AR-15 equipment.

Sentinel Concepts Essential Carbine Employment AAR: Shoot Your Gun

It’s been a good year for training. Autumn is by far the best season for it too. The lingering summer heat isn’t stifling but it’s warm enough to be comfortable and cool enough to avoid heat stroke.

It’s perfect.

I’ve focused heavily on carbine this year as the area I am developing. Yes, I need to dust off and work handgun too. Handgun only or joint handgun and carbine courses will be of great benefit.

However, before all that.

Sentinel Concepts

Steve Fisher is Sentinel Concepts. Since the 90’s Steve has been teaching and advancing firearms instruction. Magpul Dynamics catapulted private firearms training with Art of the Dynamic Carbine and Steve was one of the lead instructors in that space.

I’ll admit I binge watched that DVD set on repeat as an eager Marine.

At this moment Sentinel Concepts is offering their full 2019 course calendar at 10% off for early registration. Steve’s class compendium is already a tremendous value but early sign up will save you cash that can be reinvested in ammo, equipment, travel, or upgraded lodging.

Take advantage of it.

Essential Carbine Employment

Essential: Absolutely necessary.

Essential Carbine Employment is structured in just that mentality. What is absolutely necessary for you to get into the fight with your rifle and win quickly? Less time in a shooting scenario = less time being shot at.

This is a defensive fighting course. It’s a reactionary design framework that centers around the concept of quickly grabbing your rifle and putting it to use against immediate threats.

This framework is universal in application. Grab the rifle and fight from a car, patrol or personal. Pick up the carbine and fight through to defend you home, day or night. Enemy contact, point and shoot. An armed reaction has the same goal regardless of your personal status as citizen, sworn officer, or troops in contact.

The Medical Emergency Brief

Training with live munitions is a moderate to high risk activity. When done safely it’s of great value. Furthermore it is a mitigated risk by simply being smart about what you are doing. For that increased risk we start slowing down and thinking about everything that is occurring on the range.

Steve’s brief is simple and brutally efficient.

“Do not shoot each other, if it looks like we’re going to have a problem with that you are going home.”

There was a trauma kit staged center of the range with supporting equipment in most vehicles and tourniquets on each individual student. Everything in place to minimize time spent openly bleeding out.

As student you should also know your training location and communication plan. The instructor will remind you. If they don’t it is incumbent on you to ask about it to remind the course. This isn’t rude (unless you are) it is safety.

Absolute Zero

Everything starts with a good zero on your optics. It doesn’t matter if you’re shooting iron sights, RDS, LPVO, Holographic, or an ACOG like me, you need the carbine shooting where you point it.

Therefore, do everything in your power to have a zeroed rifle. Use a bipod, bags, anything to mechanically secure the rifle and shoot effective groups to adjust off of.

Come to class with a zeroed rifle. Furthermore if you’re using an unzeroed rifle for self defense… you’re doing it wrong. Essential Carbine is a ‘pickup’ course. You grab your rifle and shoot. The zero you have on your gun at that moment is the zero you’re fighting with.

Which brings us to the next topic.

Fighting Zero

The absolute or ‘mechanical’ zero is found and refined through repeated slow fire grouping and adjustment. In a perfect world it would take two, maybe three groups to do. In reality it can take hours at a course or training event. This time consuming process is circumvented by prior preparation and a fighting zero exercise.

Firing 5 rounds off hand standing at 50 yards. If rounds are center mass on the target, good. If not, throw a quick adjustment on the sight and fire once more. You’ve got what you got.

The framework of the fighting zero, picking your rifle and engaging a direct immediate threat to your life. You don’t have time to shoot a few groups before going to the gunfight.

The ACOG excelled at this course. I was the only crotchety stubborn Marine clinging to my RCO and irons while everyone else was in the RDS camp with an LPVO or two floating around also however the ACOG ran.

I did run an LPVO on an M16A4, with many an admiring nod, and an RDS on an MP5 during the course too for shits and giggles. Overall modern optics of all varieties surpass iron sight effectiveness.

All the rifles brought were FN‘s minus the Zenith MP5. Damn fine firearms.

SCAR16 MOD1, M16A4 Collector Series, FN15 TACII

Originally intending to shoot the rifles all in a circuit, I instead just stuck to my favorite for most of the course.

SCAR’s are fun.

The Presentation

The understood mechanics of how to mount a gun to your body have evolved in this golden age of firearm practical sciences. Steve ascertains a student’s current habit and then nudges it to refine and streamline it.

What does that mean?

The premise is simple. The rifle and the handgun are co-partnered mechanically in many more ways than people realize. Think of shouldering the carbine in the exact same manner as your draw your sidearm. This change in practice turns the swing turret like motion of the traditional ‘low ready’ into a more useable presentation.

Old low ready’s fatal flaw is that no one actually carries their rifle like that for long. You aren’t grabbing the rifle, getting in low ready, and then shooting. The middle step doesn’t exist but we practice like it does. In certain circles, especially competitive ones it absolutely does but that’s highly limited application. The low ready is very fast when the motion is short. When that motion is turned into a full swing over shooting the target and swinging past is all but assured.

The rifle ‘draw’ Steve covers brings the controls into the same space your pistol occupies and presents it an a near identical manner. Rifle comes up and presses out before locking onto the stock pulling into the shoulder. The lever motion on your shoulder is mitigated and you end up with a far more accurate presentation.

It sounds a little crazy but it works.

Practical Offline Shooting

Traditional marksmanship, even in the tactical shooting world, tries to accomplish two things. It tries to build a squared up shooting position to better stabilize the rifle. Furthermore it tries to build a squared up shooting position to present armor towards the threat.

While both admirable goals in theory, let us speak a little truth to power.

Taking the time to pivot and square to the target during training is a product of administrative safety, not tactics. It doesn’t improve your practical accuracy down range. And as for that armor… It’s either gonna catch a round and save you or it isn’t, assuming you have it on and it has a rating for the threat level you are facing.

Your best defense isn’t that plate hopefully protecting your squishy innards. That rifle in your hands sending quick and effective shots into their squishy innards is the best armor. Stopping someone from  shooting is better than partial body coverage with material that can be shot.

To this end Steve takes the traditional pivot and square up and turns it into a draw/presentation where the torso moves enough to get the shots onto the target. The lower part of the body does little, because it may not be able to do anything. These presentations work seated and with limited space rather nicely.

Positions of Disadvantage

AKA Shit I fell down.

Probably the most illustrative drill showcasing body to carbine mechanical accuracy these positions aren’t ones you would choose to be in under ideal circumstances.

Kneeling, prone, supine, urban prone, sitting. You may be in one or more of these positions very quickly and not necessarily by choice.

So much about shooting is teaching and conditioning your body to what feels correct. If it feels right and hits the target it is probably just fine. These alternate position drills are getting your body to feel that you can still work your carbine and just what that looks like.

So if and when you find yourself in such a position under any circumstances you have experience familiarity. The situation doesn’t produce a dead stop in your brain that could cost your life as you improvise.

Dropping, deliberately or not, is just a change in the fight and should not be the end of it.

They’re not pretty. They don’t have to be. They just have to work… quickly on demand.

 

With that we broke for the day.

Springfield Armory’s ALL XD Gear Up Promotional

3 EXTRA MAGS + RANGE BAG FREE!

With the purchase of any new XD®, XD Mod.2®, XD-S®, XD-S Mod.2®,XD(M)® or XD-E® pistol October 1 – December 31, 2018

Beginning October 1st, customers who purchase any XD® model from the Springfield Armory lineup will qualify to receive three additional magazines and a Springfield Armory range bag. Buyers will also have an exclusive offer to upgrade their Gear Up package to include a Surefire® 6PX Flashlight, Kershaw® Knife and Carabiner for only $99. With Christmas approaching, these are sure to make great gifts.

Springfield Armory Joins the Optics and Suppressor Ready Line Up: The XD(M) OSP

The popular XD(M) Line from Springfield Armory has new addition.

The XD(M) OSP

This 9mm package from Springfield Armory is all about options. The optics-ready pistol features a factory milled slide and suppressor height sights that co-witness with a red dot, allowing the operator to choose the optic and silencer that fits their needs. A non-threaded barrel is also included.

Retaining the features of its predecessors the OSP is a pick your parts and get shooting system. Two barrels, 19+1 capacity, optional Vortex Venom, suppressor and RDS height sights.

Caliber 9mm
Magazines (2) 19-Round Magazines
Barrel 5.3″ Threaded (.5×28) & 4.5″ Non-Threaded; Hammer Forged, Melonite®
Sights Co-Witnessed Suppressor Height, Vortex Venom Red Dot
Frame Black Polymer
Slide Forged Steel, Melonite®
Recoil System One Piece Full Length Guide Rod
Length 8.6″
Height 5.5″ (without optic)
Width 1.2″
Weight 31.1 oz w/ Venom Red Dot
MSRP $958
Caliber 9mm
Magazines (2) 19-Round Magazines
Barrel 5.3″ Threaded (.5×28) & 4.5″ Non-Threaded; Hammer Forged, Melonite®
Sights Co-Witnessed, Suppressor Height
Frame Black Polymer
Slide Forged Steel, Melonite®
Recoil System One Piece Full Length Guide Rod
Length 8.6″
Height 5.5″ (without optic)
Width 1.2″
Weight 29 oz
MSRP $710

 

Nighthawk Custom Inaugurates their Newest Model, The President

Berryville, AR, US – (October 1, 2018)    Nighthawk Custom, innovative manufacturer of “The World’s Finest Custom made 1911’s, introduces the newest member of The Boardroom Series 1911, The President.

The President is the second pistol in our sharp shooting Boardroom Series.  This range ready government 1911 is the 5-inch version of our Boardroom Series and is modeled after The Chairman.  Sleek, tough, and expertly engineered, The President is sure to please the 1911 purist, and is guaranteed to catch attention on the range.  The President includes the following features:

  • Heavy Angle Lightning Cuts on the Slide
  • Extra Aggressive Front and Rear Cocking Serrations
  • Gold Bead Front Sight
  • Heinie Ledge Solid Black Rear Sight
  • DLC Finish
  • Available in 9mm & 45 ACP

“Our Boardroom Series combines elegance and performance to create a shooting experience that is unparalleled, “says Mark Stone. Owner and CEO of Nighthawk Custom.  Stone adds, “at Nighthawk Custom there are no shortcuts, and I take pride in the fact that we build pistols with a combination of the finest materials and old-world craftsmanship.”

The beauty is in the details. The faceted design on the slide, accented by the heavy angle lightning cuts, create the sleek, stylish look of The President.   The one-piece magwell, barrel bushing, grip safety, thumb safety, and slide stop, all add to the stunning looks and make this pistol a fully functional modern 1911 made to run hard and fast.

Railscales G10 grips have been designed to maximize grip texture without being overly aggressive or rough, and the lightweight aluminum tri-cavity trigger complete this pistol and make it a must get for every gun enthusiast.  The President is an absolute delight to shoot and the Nighthawk Custom accuracy is awe inspiring.

The President is also available with a Stainless-Steel Barrel and VZ 320 Black Medallion Grips.  For more details, visit  www.nighthawkcustom.com  to see The President, or you can call a Nighthawk Custom Account Manager at 877-268-4867 to place your order today.

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On Citizens and Subjects

I was having dinner with friends a while ago who like me are of the 2A persuasion. We discussed the current gun control voices in the U.S. and the discussion ultimately turned to Britain, their strict gun control, and rising knife crime. It has gotten so bad that British parents are apparently even buying stab vests for their kids?

British gun control has now slippery-sloped into knife control and the ridiculous demonization of any sharp pointy tool. There is even now talk of filing down the points on kitchen knives because, in the words of one British judge, the only people who “need” pointy knives are butchers and fishmongers.

We are left to wonder if back when Britain instituted civilian disarmament that anyone could have imagined the current anti-knife push. It’s almost as if people bent on violence will find any means to harm their fellow human beings. But Brits are still determined to blame the tool rather than human agency.

Brits seem to sit back and just let these ridiculous restrictions happen to them, and sometimes even appear welcome them. Our dinner table group concluded that this must be because the Brits have a completely different mindset about firearms and their rights than we have here in the U.S. They are still “Subjects” in mindset, despite all the Parliamentary changes that have happened over the past few hundred years. 

British firearm restrictions implemented after WWI ensured a disarmed populace during WWII – leaving the general population unable to defend themselves against impending Nazi invasion. Even before the U.S. government’s Lend-Lease Act took effect, American citizens donated thousands of privately owned firearms for the defense of British homes. Then when the war was over, those firearms so freely donated were unceremoniously destroyed (except for one) proving that Britain still hadn’t learned its lesson.

Thus it makes me laugh when gun grabbers try to point to Britain or other English-speaking countries as examples of civilian disarmament which they think the U.S. should emulate. These numbskulls cannot grasp that we Americans will NEVER be “like” Britain, Australia or even Canada. Our attitudes and history are completely different.

The Brits have a history of centuries of being subjects with “rights” being granted to them by the throne – or by the upper classes in Parliament – and just as easily taken away. The Parliament even still technically serves at the will of the monarchy, and the monarch asks the elected Prime Minister to “form a government”.

Despite Britain being the “mother country”, rights guaranteed to British citizens are not at all like American rights – especially when it comes to self-defense and weapons possession. This makes any comparison between British and American firearms law a comparison of apples and cabbages.

The Australian model of gun control is another much touted example that the U.S. should supposedly follow. What the people who propose this scheme fail to grasp is that that we are not “like” Australia either, and never have been. The histories of our two countries are completely different.  We were both originally British colonies, but that is where the similarities end. 

Australia gained independence by an Act of the British Parliament in 1901. Even then, the British parliament retained certain powers over Australia until the Australia Act of 1986. Yup – Nineteen. Eighty. Six.  And as a Commonwealth Realm Australia STILL honors Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State. They are still subjects of the British Crown.

Australia got “permission” to leave, and did not gain their independence through violence and bloodshed as the United States did. They also don’t have our Constitution or Bill of Rights, which contains the Second Amendment – the codification of our natural right to self-defense – whether from criminal attackers or despotic government.

Neither is Canada “like” the U.S. in foundation and means of gaining independence. Canada didn’t gain full legal autonomy from Britain until 1938, and they still maintain their allegiance to Queen Liz, as another Commonwealth Realm. Canadians too remain subjects of the British Crown. Canada has tried various gun registration schemes throughout its history, because they don’t have their own version of the Second Amendment either.

Unlike Australia and Canada, American rights and freedoms were secured by years of bloodshed – not by amicable permissive agreements with the British Government. This imparts a wholly different feeling among the American populace – or at least it SHOULD.

U.S. Citizenship carries responsibilities as well as rights. One of those responsibilities is honoring and preserving the Constitutional Republic which was paid for with so much blood and treasure by the Founders and those who followed after them. Wishing away our unique heritage in order to get along with other countries who are not like us is irresponsible and  antithetical to the ideals the country was founded upon.

An understanding of our history, and WHY the Founders set up our system of government as they did – especially the Second Amendment – should be an essential element of responsible American citizenship. Alas, the gun-grabbers seem to be missing this piece of their education, and would wish us all to be “Subjects” again. 

We would do well to remember the words of Benjamin Franklin when he was asked whether the Constitutional Convention of 1787 had settled on a Republic or a Monarchy. His reply was, “A Republic, if you can keep it.”

 

 

 

The Ultimate Pistol Accessory, MechTech CCU

Mech Tech Systems Carbine Conversion Unit or CCU for short is by far the worlds most versatile pistol accessory.

A CCU is essentially an upper for your semi automatic pistol, so if you own a Glock, 1911, or an XD pistol you can convert your current platform into a pistol caliber carbine. Essentially functioning as an AR-style upper receiver once mounted in place, the non-serialized CCU replaces the host gun’s slide and barrel assembly. The new configuration allows the carbine to retain the pistol’s superb single-action trigger and comfortable grip angle.

The Mech Tech CCU is legal to own and is not a firearm so it can be shipped right to your doorstep.  It also installs on your pistols frame with no tools and takes only seconds to go from handgun to carbine.  It really is the ultimate pistol accessory. The CCU transformed my pistol into an absolute beast at the range. It is small, easy to operate, and can be converted back to a pistol in just seconds. The CCU increases the performance, accuracy, and ballistics of the host gun also.

Installation is fast and easy and doesn’t require any tools.

Seriously, with no tools and just a few seconds you go from pistol to carbine. Remove the host gun’s barrel assembly and slide. Then just align the rails inside the CCU with those on the frame and then slide the frame forward as far as it will go.

Re-installing the 1911’s slide stop secures the components together and viola, you went from pistol to carbine in seconds.  Changing it back to a pistol is just as easy. You just have to pull the slide stop pin out, pull back on the frame to release it from the CCU, then just reassemble your pistol.

Mech-Tech makes the CCU out of rolled steel with a powder-coated finish and a corrosion-resistant interior coating.  The rolled steel does make the CCU a bit on the heavy side, however that weight does cut recoil down a lot.

A charging handle is found on the left side of the unit to replace the action of the slide in the pistol. The bolt can be locked in the open position by retracting the handle and then pushing in on it until it engages a small round notch in the wall of the housing. Even after conversion to a rifle, the CCU still utilizes the host 1911’s grip and frame-mounted thumb safeties as well as its magazine release button.

You can customize with 4 different stock options, different rail configurations, lights, lasers, sights, and vertical foregrips. I ordered my unit with the adjustable, M4-style stock, the mini rail kit, and flash hider. I wanted to stick with the Sig Sauer theme so I went to Sig for a brand-new Romeo 5XDR red dot to mount on top.

So, this accessory adapts to your existing pistol frame in seconds, utilizing your existing magazines and ammunition, and has multiple uses.  It really is a great product. The Mech Tech CCU can be used in a wide variety of situations and applications.  It is extremely fun to shoot at the range, you can hunt small game with it, use it for home defense, or just throw it in the truck or trunk.

The CCU as tested costs $698.80 and utilizes my existing magazines and ammunition. Although it is probably around the same cost as purchasing a separate rifle when you add all the options it is just a very cool and usable accessory to own for your existing pistol. Mech Tech’s CCU represents a paperwork-free accessory that boosts ballistics in a platform that you are already familiar with. It will make your pistol more versatile and easier to shoot.

It is very easy to see why someone who already possesses a compatible handgun would find such a product appealing.  If you own a Glock, 1911, or anything in the XD family you can order your very own Mech Tech CCU and transform your standard pistol into a long-distance monster at mechtechsys.com

Specifications: Mech-Tech CCU

 

Caliber: Many available (tested in .45acp)

Capacity: Same as your pistol (8 rounds tested)

Barrel length: 16.25″

Overall length: Varies from around 24″ to over 33″ depending on the stock choice

Weight: 5.3 lbs. in the “basic” configuration from Mech Tech

MSRP: $399.95 in “basic” configuration

As Tested Price: $698.80

GAT Daily Welcomes Jase Winner to Our Authors Circle

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” –Maya Angelou

My name is Jase Winner. I am a competitive USPSA/ 3-Gun shooter and tactical trainee.

The Beginning

I’ve been shooting as long as I can remember, which I mean literally because I actually don’t remember a time where I didn’t have the ability to say “ Dad, grab the guns and ammo and targets and stuff. I’ll get dressed, we should go shooting” and 45 mins later I was on my way to my happy place.

I started shooting trap and skeet when I was 10 years old. I loved being on the line and shooting those birds, and for about three years it was as far as I thought I could go in the shooting world without going military or Law Enforcement.

Then, in 2016 I found out about this wonderful thing called 3-Gun. I went to my first 3-Gun match with an 870, one of my dads old AR’s, and a stock Glock-19. I had my dads extra mag pouches and shotgun caddy’s from his deployments and a can-do attitude.

3 Gun World

The day of my first match was a day that truly changed my life. Fast forward two years and I’m a sponsored shooter going to train with industry leaders and competing in multi-gun nationals. I am an A-student and a Boy Scout, I do both 4-H and youth leadership Spokane. I’m both a runner, and a wrestler.

I have a lot of passions, but the one I always come back to is shooting.

Tactical Shooting

My introduction into the tactical shooting world was at the beginning of my competition years and my dad and I (honestly I just tagged along but whatever) observed a Bill Blowers/Tap Rack Tactical class. I played some roles for the boys so they could actually have a target or something to look for. It felt like a really thorough game of hide and seek.

In retrospect I did learn a little bit on how to clear a house, info every 13 year old needs if you ask me. Between local comps and occasionally seeing Mr. Bill I was satisfied. Then being the very money conscious person I am, decided I needed to start posting videos and and getting my name out there (sponsors are life) because if not this great thing wouldn’t last as long as I wanted.

After a few months of videos and pushing my name I was fortunate enough to get sponsored by Team TUFF and Sentinel Concepts. Over time I’ve picked up a dozen more sponsors and trained with several instructors. I’ve attended the inaugural Shooters Symposium, the Friends of Pat memorial weekend, among a few courses. I’ve met some of the best people on the planet through my shooting. I’ve done things at 15 that 30 year old’s have only dreamt of. I have lived an amazing life so far and I can attribute a lot of that to my shooting.

Jase

That is a little about me and my journey so far, which brings us to the present.

You’re reading this article because one of my amazing sponsors, GAT Marketing, reached out and asked me if I would be interested in writing for their publications.

Apparently it’s uncommon to find a 15 year old who has done both competition and tactical shooting.  (Editor’s Note: Uncommon AKA Nearly Impossible) So with this peculiar perspective of mine I plan to bring something different to the table. Not the same potato salad everyone else is bringing but maybe a macaroni salad instead. I hope to bring something different that will either make you scratch your head, shake your head, or share what you read. I have been given an opportunity and I plan to capitalize on it.

I hope you all enjoy the ride.

Thank you for reading- Jase Winner

Fall at the Range: ECE 2 With Sentinel Concepts

Fall is a perfect season to train.

Why?

Heat. Warm enough to be comfortable while moving and cool enough to not melt while running up and down the range.

So as we roll into Autumn I’m heading to the range with Sentinel Concepts Essential Carbine Employment.

Fast paced courses are a rush. They can be intimidating too but a word of advice. Do it. Buy the training. You bought the rifle now buy into running it. REALLY running it.

Continue pushing your skill development. Spending this year pushing mine and helping others develop theirs has put me in a better place as a shooter and a professional than I have ever been.

AAR to follow. Now for the PCC/PCI.

The Healing Power of … Firearms?

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We’ve all heard the adage “Physician Heal Thyself”. This ancient proverb was originally intended as an admonition to mind one’s own problems rather than advising others on theirs. Physicians (even ancient world ones) have always been notoriously bad at taking care of others’ “business” before their own.  Physicians’ own needs often come last in the hierarchy of demands. But this concept has broader implications in today’s world, and physicians really do need to work on “healing” themselves. The concept of “self-care” has become an important one because physician suicide is on the rise.

It might seem odd then to say that for this particular physician/writer, firearms, rather than being a “suicide risk” during times of stress, actually provide a much needed outlet and social support.

At my residency graduation dinner, a wise physician mentor reminded my graduating class of the importance of having friends outside of the medical community. He emphasized that as we launched into our careers, having experiences outside of medicine would provide much-needed perspective and change of mental gears. He reminded us that as busy physicians we would need to come up for air occasionally and get a look around at the real world.

I have found that the shooting sports and associated comaraderie provide me with such friends and social support.

Time spent at shooting matches with friends has never been a wasted effort. Though my scores have often left room for improvement, the experience of mutual support, mutual ribbing and joking, and “shop talk” about calibers and features has never left me wanting for laughs and common interests.  I have had more fun standing in the pouring rain with friends on the range than one could ever imagine. As the saying goes, “A crummy day at the range beats a good day at the office”.

In the same way, time spent afield with trusted hunting friends or alone in the woods in a ground blind can be wonderful therapy.

The scent of freshly spent shotgun shells combined with the smell of damp earth in the Autumn is a tonic to the spirit – especially while watching a good bird dog work a field. 

The smell of pine trees and dead leaves, with a half moon shaded by misty clouds as a guide to the ground blind can be a positively spiritual experience for an exhausted soul.

Greeting the sunrise, breath steaming in air that crinkles the nostrils, while the birds slowly awaken in the trees, is a slice of heaven.

Even when the only “quarry” is Autumn Olive berries, my time outdoors in nature provides much-needed recharging, while the S&W .357 on my hip provides some personal security when alone in the woods.

The real world perspective that my firearms experience has given me also reminds me that not every predator lives in the woods and walks on four legs. The self-defense end of firearms training has given me some different perspectives from that of my pediatric colleagues.

While most pediatricians tend to be the sensitive and kind-hearted type, I’ve learned that my own nature in that direction has limits. If it comes down to my life or that of a predator, I will do my best to make sure that the predator doesn’t win. This is because I have been taught that my OWN life has value too. This has been the biggest blessing that my association with the firearms community has bestowed upon me – the lesson of valuing my OWN life and providing me with the means to defend it.

From my perspective, firearms have not been the evil death-dealing public health “disease” that Organized Medicine would have the public believe. Rather for me, firearms have provided life-affirming opportunities and friendships. Firearms have provided the means of saving my own life – both literally and figuratively.

A Little on Muzzle Velocity from Ballistic

Ballistic comes to us with some long range shooting tips.

Today’s tip is simple. Muzzle velocity is important. Getting an accurate reading from the rifle you are using will always give you the best results. Use a chronograph and get a good average.

The Top 6 80 Percent Receivers

With all the talk around 3-d printed guns, I’ve seen an increased interest in building your own guns. Not just assembling, but building a firearm off the books. The increased interest seems to be largely built around not skirting laws, but almost as a political statement. A declaration that you can’t stop the signal. With a renewed interest in this type of build, I wanted to put a quick list together of all the guns you can build from 80 percent receivers. 3-D printing guns is cool, but they aren’t great or effective guns. 3D printers are expensive and the average Joe is going to be printed 1911s. 80 percent receivers are the more realistic route when it comes to building guns. There are more options than you’d expect.

 

1 The AR 15 and AR 10 series

When it comes to 80 percent lowers the number 1 name in the game is the AR 15. In all fairness in the firearms world the AR 15 kind of rules everything. The AR 15 and AR 10 series, in general, are extremely popular and when it comes to 80 percent receivers the AR 15 series is one of the easiest to jump in. 80% guns require 80 lower jigs, and the AR 15 series gives you tons of options for jigs and tooling. From a simple drill press jig to the almighty 5D tactical jig.

80 percent receivers

The AR 15 series, of course, allows you to easily build pistols and rifles and because of the selection out there, you also have a multitude of calibers. 5.56, 9mm, 300 Blackout and many more. An AR series weapon can be whatever you want it to be. The 80 percent lowers out there are plenty representative of the market with forged, billet, and even polymer receivers out there.

2 The AK Series

The second most popular rifle in the United States is, of course, the AK series. The AK 80 percent receivers are fairly common and their simplicity makes them pretty easy to complete. Building an AK is a bit more difficult than simply assembling an AR 15.

Not as many options exist for building AKs and it has become the more expensive route compared to the AR, but if you want to feel like a Kyber pass gunsmith then the AK is the way to go.

3 The Glock

I think its fair to say the Glock is the AR 15 of pistols. Everyone owns one, and the options for customization are truly astonishing. It’s not a big surprise someone made a polymer frame that’s completely off the books and unserialized. The Polymer 80 series are popular for a reason. These guns are actually very easy to finish and the polymer nature makes them easy to dremel and finish. The frame just so happens to include an awesome jig. This is a great beginner’s pistol build.

4 The 1911

The venerable 1911, just the mere mention has people in the crowd yelling, “Two world wars!” The gun itself has been around since 1911, not a big surprise. The gun is the 45 ACP killing machine designed by our Lord and savior John Moses Browning. The 1911 was a gun designed to be built mostly by hand and fitted so being able to build one isn’t that big of a surprise. Complete 1911 build kits are widely available and you can assemble government and commander size 1911s in 45 ACP and 9mm without much challenge. This is another gun with a massive aftermarket.

You can really customize each and every piece that goes into the gun. The barrel, the magazine, the sights, hammer, beavertail, and more. I mean seriously down to the grip screws you can finish and then build the 1911 of your dreams. The metal frame makes these a little trickier to mill, and you’ll need some more professional grade tools to finish the job. Building a 1911 is a labor of love.

5 Ruger 10/22

Is this America’s favorite rifle? I mean the AR 15, in general, has outsold the gun, but I’d bet the Ruger 10/22 has outsold any one company’s AR 15. The rifle is reliable, accurate, affordable and easy to use. I was honestly surprised Ruger 10/22 80 percent receivers exist, but it makes sense. You can buy nearly every part of a Ruger 10/22 without having Ruger stamped on it. The aftermarket is massive and Ruger 10/22s are used for nearly everything from precision shooting to popping squirrels.

The Ruger 10/22 is a simple gun, and its far from temperamental. It doesn’t take much to assemble one and you can do it at home. The 80% option allows you to start from scratch and build whatever you want whenever you want.

 

6 Sten Guns

Yep, a Sten gun. Did I save the best for last? I like to think so. The Sten gun was a gun made to be a cheap gat to beat back the Nazi menace. These guns are a little more than a tube, some springs, and a bolt. It worked though, and the gun is cheap, easy to build and Sten gun kits are an actual thing.

The 80 percent receivers are very cheap and finishing one is very simple. If you ever wanted to feel like a partisan a Sten gun is the way to go. It does take some more complicated tools. Grab a receiver from Indianapolis Ordinance and sit back and take a ride back to WW2. You can build Sten rifles or pistols, and it’s relatively affordable. You will have to convert a bolt to semi-auto only and to work as a closed bolt, do a bit of welding, and ultimately darken your home and enjoy some Newcastle as you do it.

 

80 Percent Receivers 

Building guns have always been an American past time and it’s not a difficult task. The ability to build, customize, and make your own guns is also an American tradition and way back when our forefathers did it to fight the British. The tradition continues, and if you enjoy building unserialized, untraceable guns then 80 percent receivers are for you.

 

Robinson Armament XCR-M In a Nutshell

As I mentioned in a previous article I had never heard of Robinson Armament before this year. After a little research I am glad I finally got my hands on one.  The Robinson Armament XCR was developed in 2006 to meet the requirements of The United States Special Operations Command SCAR Contract.  At the time SOCOM wanted a family of Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifles, the so-called SCAR, designed around two different calibers but featuring high commonality of parts and identical ergonomics. The winner of that contract went on to be commonly know as the SCAR.

The XCR is a completely original design. Robinson Armament borrowed ideas from the best rifles and improved on them.  The action is a lot like an AK, easy to operate and a very reliable gas piston system. The grip and feed system are very much like the AR-15. If you are used to running an AR-15 or one of its variants magazine changes will be intuitive. Add the quick change barrel and you can have a reliable rifle in a plethora of calibers that seems to conform to you. Speaking of barrels, Robinson armament fired a full power round through a barrel which was obstructed with several squib loads and came out smiling. It can even shoot while full of water.

Take down is performed by the push of a small button on the upper portion of the receiver.  Upon disassembly the first thing you will notice is a very robust three lug bolt and ejector.  The barrels are chrome lined and easily swapped out with the turn of just one screw.

I have AR-15’s, bolt guns and AK-47’s,  knowing this my wife asks why I need another rifle. In her mind the XCR can fill the roles of most of my other guns. She is right. If I could only have one gun the XCR-M would be at the top of my list. It is portable and accurate. It is chambered calibers capable of penetrating light masonry, wood, and level 3 body armor. It can be used for hunting, survival, and excels in the designated marksman rifle category which is the role I chose for my XCR.

The XCR-M is very popular in Canada where it is unrestricted unlike the AR-15. Canadian residents can own and enjoy shooting their XCR’s just like us Americans. The 3-Gun crowd is giving the XCR glowing reviews in reliability. They are saying the XCR is more reliable than the AR-15 platforms being used. My XCR-M will be put to the test in the Precision Rifle Series next year and should yield some pretty impressive results.

Recent tests at the range proved Robinson Armaments quality and accuracy have only gotten better as the company aged and grew.  My best shot groups in .308 win were 5/8moa using factory loaded Lapua Scenar 155gr HPBT. That’s pretty impressive for any gun let alone a semi-auto gas gun. For more information about the range testing see the article titled “Robinson Armament XCR-M: Zeroed In“.

The Robinson Arms XCR-M weighs between 9 and 10 pounds. That is average for most battle rifles. Take a close look at one and you will see why its in that 9 to 10lb category.  The main body of the XCR is one piece aluminium monolithic rail and receiver. The stock is adjustable and fold-able made from aluminum. With a quick turn of the adjustment screw the stock stays in position with no play. The XCR comes standard with flip up sights. I chose to mount a scope on mine as I want expect it to hit targets consistently out to 800m.

I put the XCR-M up side by side with the FN SCAR 17. Both rifles are chambered in .308win.  Coincidentally the FN was the winner of the SOCOM contract. It is lighter than the XCR, has many of the same features, but to me the XCR-M feels more solid.  FN used a lot of polymer to keep weight down which I think makes it feel a little cheaper.  One of the greatest features of the XCR is its ability to change calibers easily, unlike the FN. The Robinson Armament XCR-M out shot the SCAR on the 100 and 200yd ranges.

One thing I would like to see improved on the XCR is their options for triggers.  The standard trigger works and feels great, however in the marksman role I would like to see a lighter, crisper feel to it.  Standard AR-15 triggers do not fit the XCR so the only options are to have a gunsmith modify it or send the gun back to Robinson Armament for an upgrade.

Don’t expect to walk into your local gun shop and put your hands on one. A quick look on their website shows only 21 dealers in the United States. The closet one to me is a 3 1/2 hour drive each way. The best way to experience Robinson Armament is through their website. Robinson Armament makes customizing and purchasing their firearms easy. They make sure yours does not look like every other gun at the range. The process is just like ordering a car online. You pick the color, barrel length, profile and caliber. They also let you pick your muzzle brake, gas system, and whether you want M-LOK or Key Mod for your forearm. Once all of your options have been selected the production process begins.

Robinson Armament may be the newer kid on the block but they are quickly making a name for themselves. I can’t wait to get my hands on one of their pistols. Now I just have to decide if I want it in 5.56 or .308.  They say XCR stands for “eXchangeable Caliber Rifle” After shooting my XCR-M I say it stands for “eXtremely Capable Rifle”.

 

 

This Old Gun – The Model 81

Pop Quiz, what was the first successful semi-automatic rifle for the civilian market? The correct answer is the oft-forgotten Model 8 by Remington. Designed by our Lord and Savior John Moses Browning the Model 8 was a magazine fed, semi-automatic rifle that carved its own way into American history. The Model 8 later evolved into the Model 81 Woodmaster. The Woodmaster made numerous improvements over the Model 8 and was introduced in a couple of new calibers. The Model 81 Woodmaster was a rifle I was able to recently pick up quite cheaply and has fascinated me since I purchased it.

The Bubba

Okay, half you are furious at me and the other half are wondering why is it camo? Both are valid. Unfortunately, the gentlemen who owned it before me Hydro Dipped the wood and spray painted the rest of the rifle black. I intend to remove this as time goes by and when I have the time to take my time to preserve the wood and metal as best I can.

 

The Legacy Of the Model 8

The Model 8 really deserves a place in the rifle Hall of Fame. Right beside the M1 Garand and the Winchester 1894. Unfortunately, it seems to lack the same amount of fame those rifles achieved. The Model 8 and later Model 81 was advertised heavily by Remington as hunting rifles. They promised 5 rounds of rapid fire to quickly put down big and dangerous game.

One advertisement read “… 5 shots discharged in one second. That’s American action.”

 

Legendary Texas Ranger Frank Hamer apparently loved the rifle. He owned a variety of them and his favorite was a customized model in 35 Remington that fed from a special high capacity magazine. Reports state the magazine is either 20 or 15 rounds. This model was customized with a removable magazine so its possible he had a 15 and a 20 round magazine. Frank Hamer reportedly used a Model 8 when he and his posse killed Bonnie and Clyde.

 

These removable magazines were often offered by gunsmiths and were a Special Police factory option. A number of companies produced these conversions and you can still find advertisements for these conversions here and there. Rifles converted to a removable magazine platform are quite popular and widely available.

 

Inside the Remington Model 81

The Remington Model 81 was designed to add a few improvements to the Model 8. This included a more robust stock and forend, as well as the addition of a pistol grip versus a straight stock.

The Remington Model 81 is still the same rifle internally as the Model 8, it is a semi-automatic rifle with an internal 5 round magazine. The gun works off of a long recoil-operated system with a rotating bolt head. When you fire the gun the bolt, bolt carrier and barrel actually recoil together. The barrel and bolt move together against two springs. The springs then force the barrel forward, which unlocks the bolt and barrel. Once the barrel and bolt separate the bolt ejects the fired round and picks up the next round and chambers it. It’s pretty simple and very robust.

Remember the design came to be from the Model 8, which was invented in 1905. No gas is used to regulate the system, and the design is similar in nature to the M2’s short recoil operation. This is a very reliable system when used correctly.

 

She’s a Beaut

 

My gun is well into its seventies and round after round, it goes bang. The Model 8 and Model 81 even feature a last round bolt hold open. A pretty nifty feature for a gun designed in 1905. Since the magazine is fixed you load through the top of the action. Round after round, and it’s easy to do so. The right side charging handle is nice and large and does require a bit of force to rip rearward.

By now you’ve seen the safety, and I’m sure you recognize it. It’s very AK like in nature and functions identically to an AK safety. It’s easy to use, but obviously a little slow and far from modern. I love the fact a somewhat obscure American rifle had an influence on the AK series of rifles.

You can also easily remove the barrel and barrel shroud form the gun, but I won’t call it a take-down design. You have to remove the wooden fore end and then unscrew the barrel from the receiver. For transport this is neat, but it’s not practical if you ever needed the gun in a hurry.

 

Shooting the Remington Model 81

The Remington Model 81 is a heavy gun for what it is. At 8 pounds without an optic, and only a five round magazine the gun feels heavier than it should be. It is made of real steel, so like a classic car its a tank.

That weight does help with recoil control but I imagine the recoil is slightly increased due to the rearward force of the barrel and bolt. The sights on the rifle are dinky open sights mounted on the barrel shroud. They are very small, but would likely be fast for close quarters and brush hunting.

Redfield made a peep sight you could mount on the rear of the receiver, but these are rare and expensive these days. Mounting a scope was possible, but difficult. It has to be offset mounted on the left side of the receiver due to receiver design. It’s an accurate gun though. At 100 yards I can make respective groups with those little iron sights.

My best groups averaged around 3 inches with high quality 300 Savage ammo. That’s no optic, no bipod or rest. Just me, open sights, the prone position, and good ammo.

It’s a fun gun to shoot and something entirely different. Most full powered semi-auto guns are tactical in nature. The Remington Model 81 is far from tactical, and the combination of steel and wood and a semi-auto action just screams classic. It really is like driving a classic muscle car. Without a doubt, a modern car is faster and more efficient, but there is just something about driving a classic piece of American steel that makes it appealing.