Aero Precision AR Pistol

By

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October 16, 2018

I admit that the first time I heard the term “AR pistol” I was somewhat mystified. I just could not picture the utility of such a thing. But then I discovered that this firearm design fills a niche which lies between a full-length AR (16-inch barrel or longer), and a true ATF-designated short barreled rifle or SBR (barrel less than 16 inches).

Because an AR pistol is a “pistol”, it can have a shorter barrel without jumping through the tax stamp-and-wait hoops of SBR territory. This provides a higher velocity yet still compact home-defense option compared against a traditional pistol.

Although I am not the “Tammy Tactical” type the idea intrigued me. A rifle-like pistol that would be short enough to be maneuverable inside the house for self-defense? One that I “might” be able to transport less conspicuously? I was interested enough to start looking at options.

Build and Components

I was recently presented with the opportunity to play around with such an AR pistol – built with parts from Aero Precision.

No, I didn’t do the building. My gunsmithing skills are improving but I’m not to that point yet. I let someone else do the creating for me this time. But Aero Precision has tons of components so I may be interested in various parts. Upgrades to my existing AR’s as my technical skills improve.

The build parts list included:

– Aero Precision ATLAS Receiver Set and Handguard

– Aero Precision Nickel Boron Bolt Carrier

– Aero Precision/VG6 Epsilon Muzzle break 556SL

– Aero Precision/Ballistic Advantage 10.5″ Barrel 1/7 5.56 CMV Button rifled

-LWRC mil-spec Nickle Boron trigger

-SB Tactical PDW adjustable arm brace

This Aero Precision model, chambered in 5.56 NATO, is was similar enough to my own ARs that I had a good baseline for comparison. That also meant that I already had *mumble mumble* cases of various 5.56 and .223 rounds in my possession with which to range test the gun.

Range Testing

I ran a single cleaning rod patch down the bore to make sure there were no obstructions, lubed up the BCG with Lucas Oil Extreme Duty and headed to my club range early on a Sunday morning.

Because of its 10.5 inch barrel this is not really a long range firearm so I sighted it in at 25 yards and tried it out to 100 yards. For a defensive weapon that’s all a perfectly reasonable distance. My older eyes with an unmagnified red dot aren’t any good past that anyhow.

After I sighted in my Sig Romeo5 Red Dot I performed a trial with every compatible ammo I had in my basement. This included six different kinds, everything from Wolf to Freedom Munitions to American Eagle to Green tips, 50 grain to 55 grain FMJ and varmint tips in 5.56 and .223.

I also used several different brands of magazine – PMAG, metal mil-spec, Hexmag, and Troy.

I did the initial shoot-in from the bench off of a range bag and an old rolled up jacket I keep in my car. Later shooting I just used the magazine as a monopod. Just 5-round groups with the various kinds of ammo. It was admittedly a seat-of-the-pants operation but I am not a precision kind of gal and this isn’t a precision gun.

Pro-tip: polyester fleece does not hold up well to the heat of multiple muzzle blasts. The rolled up jacket that I used resembled melted Swiss cheese until I was finished. Oops. At least it was fourteen years old and didn’t owe me anything. Lesson learned.

The second range trip was more of a “endurance test” in the last hour before dark on a Tuesday evening. I put up two targets at 50 yards, and shot transitions back and forth, emptying a 30-round magazine of mixed ammo each time, for a total of five magazines.

Results

The gun cycled easily and smoothly. There was no “sandy” feel like I’ve gotten with a few guns in my past. There were no stoppages or FTE’s with about 250 rounds through the gun.

Loading up mixed handfuls of ammo in different 30-round magazines so that no more than two or three rounds in a row were the same. I did this for five magazines, firing until the mag was empty. The gun only cooled for however long it took to load up a new magazine and pick up the brass from the last string. Then the next magazine of mixed ammo went blazing down range.

The Aero swallowed all of this without a hiccup using four different brands of magazines. It didn’t so much as clear its throat. This Aero Precision pistol just kept right on shooting.

This is the kind of reliability I can appreciate. I am not much of a tinkerer. I don’t see malfunctions as interesting challenges. Rather, I see them as temper-flaring frustrations. I want my firearms to WORK. And keep ON working.

This Aero Precision did just that. For that alone, it’s a keeper.

The ATLAS hand guard was comfortable, smooth, and not obtrusive. I didn’t need gloves to keep from snagging myself on sharp corners. The integrated rail would make MBUS attachment easy if I decide to do so.

The SB Tactical PDW adjustable arm brace made fitting to my smaller frame easier. I have largish hands for a woman, but I have short arms, so fit is a consideration. The length of pull adjustment of this arm brace was helpful.

One issue I had with the adjustment though is that in the fully retracted position the guide rods of the brace interfered with my ability to get to the safety lever. I could do it, but it wasn’t an automatic feel and flip maneuver. It did get more intuitive by the second range trip, however.

Additionally while in the fully retracted position those same bars made it impossible to get to the rear take down pin for disassembly. It’s a small thing, but it was an inconvenience for me.

The mil-spec trigger was … mil-spec. Admittedly I am used to a lighter, crisper match-type trigger, but this one had no slop or grit. It performed reliably with zero issues.

The muzzle brake helped to make this Aero Precision AR pistol very flat shooting. While the 5.56/.223 caliber doesn’t have a great deal of recoil to begin with what there is can be accentuated by the shorter length barrel and overall smaller build of an AR pistol. The muzzle break mitigated this effect nicely.

Weight was not really an issue. This is not the lightest gun I’ve ever handled but it was nicely balanced. We all know a little weight can help with felt recoil too. The SB Tactical PDW arm brace also has a QD sling mount point in case one would need to carry the gun around for long periods.

The accuracy was quite acceptable to me, especially given my seat-of-the-pants sight-in at 25 yards. I did try each of the six types of ammo separately within the same magazine, at 25 yards after my initial sight-in. There were subtle differences but they were all acceptable for my purposes.

As you can see even mixed ammo transition drills at 50 yards were accurate enough for me with a 10.5 inch barrel. These would have all been more or less center mass hits. As I said before, I’m not a precision kind of gal.

Even though I’m not Tammy Tactical I did also try moving around my home with this gun while loaded up with dummy rounds – just to see. It worked fantastic, more maneuverable than the youth 20 ga shotgun which I have also used for this purpose.

Summary

I found this Aero Precision AR Pistol to be comfortable to shoot, reliable to operate, and budget-friendly. The design is small and maneuverable enough to be a home-defense gun, and compact enough to be transportable in a gym bag or other type case that doesn’t scream “GUN!”.

The bottom line is – This one’s MINE. You’ll have to build your own!

XS Sights Introduces New DXT2 Big Dot Night Sights

By

Keith Finch

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October 16, 2018

Fort Worth, TX (October 15, 2018) – XS® Sights is pleased to introduce the new DXT2™ Big Dot® Night Sights for exceptional front sight visibility in all lighting conditions. Available in two colors – Optic Yellow™ and Optic Orange™ – the DXT2 Big Dot sights drive focus to the front sight (and thus to the downrange threat) using a large, high-contrast front and a V-notch rear sight for an unobstructed view of the front sight.

The Big Dot front sights use a patent-pending colored glow dot that absorbs light, causing the sight to glow before it is dark enough to see the tritium center. The glow dot also stores energy enabling it to glow brightly for many hours. The V-notch rear sight features a vertical white stripe with a tritium vial at the center, creating a dot-the- “i” sight picture for fast and accurate target acquisition in high-stress situations.

“Our DXT2 Big Dot Night Sights are the most visible night sights on the market today for defensive shooting,” said Zack Kinsley, Marketing Manager for XS Sights. “The industry-leading large diameter front sight increases the amount of light that is absorbed and reflected to the eye. The yellow and orange color options we offer address different needs, since color perception can vary greatly between people.”

Optic Yellow is the most visible color in low light and is a direct replacement for the first-generation white Big Dot sight. In bright light, Optic Yellow outperforms white because it doesn’t wash out on light backgrounds. Optic Orange is the best for bright light settings such as shooting outside in daylight and offers a high-glow intensity that maintains visibility in decreasing light levels. These Gen 2 Big Dots are four times as bright in low light as the Gen 1 Big Dots thanks to the XS Sights patent-pending glow dot. This increased brightness is due to pairing the convex dot with photoluminescent properties. The outward curve of the dot increases the amount of surface area, exposing the dot to more light, and the optical clarity amplifies light absorption, which increases the excitement of the photo-luminescent properties.

DXT2 Big Dot Night Sights are backed by a 10-year, no questions asked warranty and will be available for the following pistol models by December 2018:

All Glocks
S&W M&P Full-size/Compact
S&W M&P Shield
SIG SAUER P Series (P320, P226, P229)
Springfield XD Series
FNH FN509

Retail Price: $132.00

For more information, visit www.xssights.com.

About XS Sights

XS Sights is known for making the fastest sights in any light. For more than 20 years, the XS team has created some of the most innovative sights on the market today for pistols, rifles and shotguns. Whether used for personal defense or hunting, these sights are designed and built to be the absolute best for their specific purpose.

German’s Assault Rifle Trials are Struggling

By

Keith Finch

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October 15, 2018

A few sources out of Germany are saying that the German Defense Ministry is having some more trouble finding a replacement rifle than they originally though.

The Bundeswehr, the German armed forces, reported they were experiencing issues with the G36 service rifles. They have been using the G36 since 1996 and a variant, the XM8, was a front runner for U.S. Service. Reports centered around massive accuracy inconsistencies after heating. This could cost and was used accusing the rifle of costing soldier’s lives.

The result?

In 2015 the German Defense Ministry decided the G36 was out. While the confirmation of the actual problem seemed elusive and H&K complained of moving goal posts for the G36’s performance from test to test this didn’t stop the GDM from prepping to phase out the rifle.

Furthermore, in anticipation of this move, H&K pushed forward their 416 model and their recently developed and cheaper (allegedly) 433.

But these new rifles and their competitors across Europe seem to be falling short of the GDM’s outline.

Do I Really Need To Break In My Barrel

By

Mike Westra

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October 15, 2018

Every shooter knows of someone or has heard of someone who has a rifle that just seems to hit its target every time no matter what it is. Is it a magic rifle? Did its owner conjure some spell to make it so accurate? No, It is simply a rifle where every part is functioning harmoniously like a fine tuned symphony. Your rifle can do that too.

WHY BREAK IT IN

Most guns are mass produced on an assembly line by machines, thus may have small imperfections in the chambers and rifling. We spend a lot of hard earned money on our guns, we deserve the best accuracy possible. Barrel break in is probably the simplest thing we can do to assure accuracy. The break in procedure is designed to smooth out the rough edges, and wear down the high spots formed during the manufacturing process. Breaking in a barrel can seem tedious or very time consuming but it is well worth it in the end.

Hang out at a shooting range long enough and your bound to run into someone breaking in their barrel. They will probably shoot a round or two then clean, shoot a round then clean then..repeat. The next guy might just run 100 rounds through his and clean before calling it good. There are several common methods to break-in or season your barrel. Which method you choose depends on what type of shooting you want to do. Keep in mind the process does not need to be completed in a single day.

COPPER EQUILIBRIUM

The copper equilibrium method is used when the rifle needs to be accurate for numerous shots over varying distances. Many of the long range shooters prefer this method as it seasons the bore to deliver fast accurate first round hits out to and beyond 1000 yards.

One note of caution before starting the process. You want to be very careful when pushing your cleaning rod out of the muzzle end. Try to stop before the cleaning jag exits to minimize damage to the crown. The first thing you want to do is run a patch soaked with your favorite solvent, then a couple dry patches. Your firearm was fired at the factory and I highly doubt they cleaned it. Make sure the solvent you use is NOT a copper solvent.

Fire a shot, then clean with patches and solvent. Bore snakes work well and can speed up the process. We want to repeat this process for the first 5 shots. After the 5th shot and subsequent cleaning we can now go 5 shots between cleaning. Each 5 shot group fired, use the patches or bore snake to clean the barrel.

Firing six 5-shot groups and now we can go 10 shots between cleaning. We are still not using any copper solvents at this time. With five 10 shot groups under your belt you should notice your group size is shrinking. We are not done yet we still have a few steps to go.

Going forward we want to keep track of our shot count. You should be up to about 85 shots. At this point we’re only going to clean after every 15 shot group until we reach approximately 150 rounds down range.

The rifle should be entering the sweet spot. Group size will be minimized, and point of impact will be consistent. To get your most accurate shots possible from the rifle you want to keep it in this “sweet spot”.

BENCH REST METHOD

The bench rest method is used by competition bench rest shooters. This method gives them a gun that is dead accurate for a few consecutive shots. This method also starts with a thorough cleaning. To achieve the utmost accuracy you will need to follow each step.

As with the previous method we are cleaning after every shot. Fire the first shot, and one shot only then clean bore with brush and powder solvent using 10 strokes. Dry the bore completely with several clean patches.

Next comes the copper solvent. Both Otis and Sweets make great copper solvents. Use two drops and run it down the barrel once. Wait about 2 minutes then run a patch soaked with WD-40. Use clean patches to dry the barrel.

Now you want to apply JB Bore Cleaning Compound to a patch wrapped around the cleaning jag. This is a metal abrasive so be careful not to exit out either end of the barrel until the last stroke. Run the patch through the barrel about 10 times. We need to clean out all the metal abrasive so run at least 5 patches soaked with WD-40 through the barrel. Follow up with several clean dry patches.

We need to complete this process for every shot until the shot count reaches 30. After that we can repeat after every 5 shots for another 30 shots. The bench rest method is very time consuming but if followed properly can result in an extremely accurate gun.

CONCLUSION

No two people or guns that are exactly the same. What works best for one person may not be the best for you. If you don’t break in your gun will it still shoot? Yes, it still has the potential to be a very accurate firearm. If you want the utmost in accuracy then follow one of the two methods above. Unsure which type of shooting would be of greatest benefit? Go hang out at a range and talk to other shooters. Hang out at a competition and watch a skilled marksman with a finely tuned rifle work their magic.

Be warned competitive shooting is addictive and very expensive, ask me how I know…

10,000 Rounds through Springfield Armory’s New 10mm XD(M)

By

Keith Finch

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October 12, 2018

Springfield Armory is pleased to announce a highly anticipated new addition to their polymer pistol lineup, the XD(M)® 10mm. This full-size pistol is the latest variation in the series, now chambered in the popular 10mm round for more power in the highly accurate and reliable XD(M)® platform.

The new XD(M)® 10mm was torture tested to prove the quality and reliability of this new addition to the line, firing 10,000 rounds of Federal Premium® Hydra-Shok® 10mm ammunition through the gun with EVERY round documented on video.

2 BARREL LENGTHS AVAILABLE

Available with a 4.5″ or 5.25″ barrel, both lengths are well-balanced when combined with the full-size grip frame for maximum controllability and comfort while shooting. The 4.5″ model features a low-profile combat rear sight paired with a fiber optic front sight, while the 5.25″ version has a fully adjustable target rear sight with fiber optic front.

15 ROUND 10MM CAPACITY

Holding 15+1 rounds, the XD(M)® 10mm tames this potent cartridge for a comfortable shooting experience with each pull of the trigger.

INTERCHANGEABLE BACKSTRAPS

Count on comfort with 3 interchangeable backstraps. A small, medium and large size are included.

TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF 10MM

Fully supported chambers and ramped barrels are designed for the most powerful commercially available 10mm spec ammunition.

XD(M) 4.5" 10mm

XD(M) 4.5″ 10MM

XDM94510BHCE

Caliber 10mm

Magazines (2) 15-Round Magazines

Barrel 4.5″ Steel, Melonite® Finish; Hammer Forged, 1:16 RH Twist

Sights Fiber Optic Front, Low Profile Combat Rear, Steel

Frame Black Polymer with Changeable Backstraps

Slide Forged Steel, Melonite® Finish

Recoil System One Piece Full Length Guide Rod

Length 7.7″

Height 5.75″

Width 1.2″

Weight 31.2 oz

MSRP $652

XD(M) 5.25" 10mm

XD(M) 5.25″ 10MM

XDM952510BHCE

Caliber 10mm

Magazines (3) 15-Round Magazines

Barrel 5.25″ Steel, Melonite® Finish; Hammer Forged, 1:16 RH Twist

Sights Fiber Optic Front, Fully Adjustable Target Rear

Frame Black Polymer with Changeable Backstraps

Slide Forged Steel, Melonite® Finish

Recoil System One Piece Full Length Guide Rod

Length 8.3″

Height 5.75″

Width 1.2″

Weight 32.8 oz

MSRP $779

Naturalist John James Audobon’s Antique “Long Tom” Sells for $192,000

By

Keith Finch

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October 12, 2018

John James Audubon was an American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter. He was notable for his extensive studies documenting all types of American birds and for his detailed illustrations that depicted the birds in their natural habitats.

The ornithologist used the shotgun to collect specimens for his book “The Birds of America” and was one of the earliest to record and paint the avians in a more natural and accurate rather than artistic manner.

DAKOTA OVERLAND: WISE BEYOND HER YEARS

By

A Girl and a Gun

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October 12, 2018

When I called to talk to Dakota Overland, her mom (and fellow A Girl & A Gun member Tiffany) said she was practicing loading her shotgun so she’d be just a minute.

Talking to Dakota was a delight. The 15-year-old is very thoughtful in her responses, taking a few moments to compose what she wanted to say. Dakota has done interviews across the globe and has even met with members of Congress with The DC Project. She started shooting in July of 2015 when she was just 12 years old. Twelve!

“My dad actually has a friend that had competed for the past ten years or so and has always tried to get my dad into it. But we’re kind of a ‘go big or go home” family so we didn’t need another hobby,” she laughs. Then they watched a Nordic Components match in 2015 and both became interested. “It was our first tactical match and it was frustrating,” she admits. But the thing that sets her apart from others, especially adults? Instead of giving up because it was frustrating, she decided she had to keep trying.

She takes that attitude with her throughout every match. The biggest lesson she has learned in the past three years is that a bad match doesn’t really determine her skill level. “I don’t let that discourage me. I’ve learned that if I have a bad stage to let it go. Because in the end it does a lot more damage if I carry that with me. That’s something I’m really working on because it’s really hard to do. If I do terrible at something it’s hard not go back to it but I need to do that.”

And that is also the advice she would like to give to other junior shooters. “Don’t let a bad stage or a bad match discourage you. I personally use it as a drive to be better. Usually I’ll look at the things I didn’t do well and practice them. And the things I did do well, like shotgun loading, I practice every day for half an hour and then I’m appreciating the work I’ve already done and using my failures as a drive.”

Dakota represented the U.S. in the 2018 IPSC World Shoot. She not enter the Junior Category in case there were not enough entries to meet the minimum criteria to be eligible for Junior Category awards, and she captured the Bronze in the Ladies’ category which included all ages. “It was very different than shooting in the U.S.,” she admits. “It’s such a big match with 700 or 800 competitors from 27 different countries. It was very nerve-racking. But it was also really neat because I got to meet so many different people from different countries but with a shared common interest. I would go back again, it was a lot of fun, and now I know what to expect.”

When asked what advice would she give to junior shooters about their parents, she characteristically paused to give her thoughtful response. “Appreciate what they do because I know that without my parents I wouldn’t be here now. I wouldn’t be able to do this without them. Really appreciate what they do and understand the sacrifices they make. Also don’t be afraid to express yourself. There have been a few times when I’ve just had to say, ‘This doesn’t really work for me.’ We don’t always see eye-to-eye so we need to be able to communicate and talk with them.” Over the past three years, Dakota’s parents have also learned a lot. “Over the time that I’ve been doing it they realized I have my own way of doing things and now they let me do things because it’s worked out better,” she laughs.

So what advice does she give to the parents of the junior shooters? “Don’t discourage them. My parents are really good about not discouraging me. There’s a few junior shooters that I’ve knows where their parent has pushed them really hard in their sport and they burn out and then don’t want to do it because its not fun anymore. Don’t be too hard on us, let us do our own thing but with some guidance.”

Dakota can’t say enough about the support of the shooting and competing community. “They are open and supportive. You don’t have to be a top shooter for them to accept you. You could finish last in a match and they aren’t going to judge you. They are so open and honest, it’s the only sport where your competitor will tell you how to beat them,” she laughs.

She has a hard time choosing a favorite memory so far in her short career. “Every match that I go to I see a lot of people and have a great time at all of them. But one of best was back in 2016 I had been shooting for about a year and I was able to attend MGM Junior Camp. Just going to camps and meeting juniors from across the country who share your interest is great.” Then she adds, “It’s also where I met my best friend.”

Dakota is grateful to her sponsors, Federal Premium, Benelli, JP Enterprises, Vortex Optics, Gunfighter Targets, and Arnzen Arms. “A giant thank you to them. Other than my parents, they [sponsors] are the people that allow me do to this sport and give me the chance to do this. My sponsors have given me opportunities that I wouldn’t have otherwise.”

SOURCE ARTICLE: https://www.agirlandagun.org/dakota-overland-wise-beyond-her-years/

Move Over California, New York, and Chicago IL. Washington State Looks Hard at Gun Control

By

Keith Finch

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October 11, 2018

I-1639 is set to push Washington into the top line of gun control states. It is a veritable buffet restrictions are that pretty much only omit an outright ban on firearms.

Initiative #1639 would implement restrictions on the purchase and ownership of firearms. These restrictions include background checks and waiting periods for purchasing semiautomatic assault rifles―as defined by the initiative—as well as increasing the minimum age to buy semiautomatic assault rifles to 21. The measure would establish requirements for storage of all firearms. Section 13 of the measure, which would establish age requirements, was designed to take effect on January 1, 2019. The rest of the measure’s provisions would take effect on July 1, 2019. – From Ballotpedia

On the list of changes include:

A fresh definition for semi-automatic rifle: Any rifle which utilizes a portion of the energy of a firing cartridge to extract the fired cartridge case and chamber the next round, and which requires a separate pull of the trigger to fire each cartridge. “Semiautomatic assault rifle” does not include antique firearms, any firearm that has been made permanently inoperable, or any firearm that is manually operated by bolt, pump, lever, or slide action.
A new background check requirement with a written permission slip for “assault rifles”
Age of purchase for semi-auto rifles to 21
10 day waiting period after the background check and application are processed.
Mandatory training before purchase
Purchasing fee, $25.00 for all your extra work.
Storage law update with felony penalty

Proponents are claiming it will be a wave in new safety and accountability while data and common sense quash that dream. This is yet another attempt at a gilded package to grasp safety that will just result in hinderance and frustration to people who follow the rules.

Because it is the law abiding that must bear the burden of dangerous few.

The Holosun 507C, A Different MRDS Option

By

Keith Finch

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October 10, 2018

MRDS or Miniature Red Dot Sights are continuing to gain ground on sidearms. As this occurs the options for sight selection continue to grow too.

The most famous sight and probably the most popular is the Trijicon RMR. The Leupold Deltapoint is another very popular contender in the microdot market.

However the wave making Holosun has come trying to earn their spot as a solid optical choice in the whole of the reflex market and the 507C is their microdot offering.

Sage Dynamics picked up their challenge.

Long-Range Hunting: Ballistic Ties It All Together

By

Keith Finch

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October 10, 2018

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

By

Keith Finch

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October 9, 2018

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

By

Keith Finch

-

October 8, 2018

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

By

Keith Finch

-

October 6, 2018

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 1^st, 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

By

Keith Finch

-

October 5, 2018

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.

XD(M) OSP W/ THREADED BARREL & VORTEX VENOM

XDMT9459BHCOSPV

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

XD(M) OSP W/ THREADED BARREL

XDMT9459BHCOSP

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

By

Keith Finch

-

October 5, 2018

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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