dt1

Guys, This location has tremendous potential for a big time 3-gun match. The matches currently held on the property (near Auburn, AL) include a popular 1000yd match rifle match and the Practical Marksman Challenge. This will be the first time a 3-gun match will have been held on the range. There are lots of wide open shooting areas and the stages will lend themselves to a "natural terrain" format which is very nice for long distance rifle shooting. Bobby has put a lot of thought into this already and has reached out to several folks who have experience shooting and running 3-gun matches. This will help shorten the learning curve for him as a match director and should make the first match down there a very good one. We'll steer him in the right direction regarding things like number of stage design, format, round count, squad organization & size etc. I suspect it will end up being a so called "outlaw" match as opposed to a USPSA event. Other than Ft. Benning and Area 6, we don't have a lot of nice, big 3-gun matches in the deep SE. I think a June match would draw a good sized turnout. Stay tuned for more details, this might really be one to put on your calendar. David

Depends on how much you shoot Usually 125 - 150 will get you through the match. I'd bring a few extras just in case.

Keep your fingers crossed on the weather. Man, I don't think it got above 25 today.

Just a reminder, we'll be shooting rifles at Steel City in Birmingham, AL in a couple of weeks (Saturday, January 31st). This will be the last "regular" carbine match until the big one in May. 7 stages usual round count. Keep your fingers crossed for good weather and come join us. We're already working on the stages and they'll be FUN! No pre-registration necessary for this one, just come on out Saturday morning around 8:00am and join the fun. David

Nope, that's the great thing about the GAP reticle. It's most excellent for ranging, shooting groups, and shooting field precision matches. If you've got a FFP scope, dial the magnification down a bit and you'll have full view of any target you'd want to shoot. I have no experience with shooting people so I can't comment there. I have tons of trigger time with the GAP and it's definitely the heat (IMHO) for an all around practical/target reticle. Simple and very functional. The MDMOA reticle that Bobby suggests is also very nice if you're into MOA's. I prefer a mil reticle/mil turrent combo. If you don't like Horus scopes, you can still get their reticles in US Optics scopes. I've got an SN3 with a H25 reticle and love it! David

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh..... Yet another scope to consider when trying to find the holy grail of 3-gun scopes. Seriously, hope a NF 1-6x becomes a reality, They make some great stuff for long range and short range.

There are matches like this (long range rifle + carbine + pistol). They're kind of hard to find and take a large range or amount of land to put on. Sniper matches and LR precision matches are often shot at steel targets so there's no re-set. Targets are reactive or hits are scored by spotters. Most of this type stuff is out west. We're fortunate here in Alabama, there's one down near Auburn at Hardrock Range next month. It's a 2-gun (LR Rifle + pistol). So many matches, so many guns........so little $, so little time.........

Bryan, Unless you have some electronic muffs with you, I personally wouldn't hunt with any rifle with a muzzle break. My ears would be ringing for hours, but I'm a pussy...............

Ditch the stock trigger and get a Jewell. Then replace the barrel. Then replace the stock...............

I messed with .22's when I was 10 and about as tall as you are. Ouch!

It didn't go over their heads Sam, they're just trying to ignore it, hoping it'll go away........

Cause he has such GREAT FLUNKIES working for him!!!! Working with me, not for me!

Thanks for the help with the link Randal. I promise, I'm a better match director than link poster.....I could have sworn it worked when I first posted it? David PS: Yes, the prize table is shaping up nicely. Not to brag, but I don't think you'll find anything better anywhere for a $60 match. Affordable match + great stages + nice prizes = a good day of rifle blastin'!

Hey Greg, how do you carry the mini-gun and rocket launcher? Does the mini-gun have to have a sling

Hey Alan, be sure to drag "The Dan" down with you this year. Also, stay healthy and don't miss it!!

Happy New Year Folks! Well, everything's all set for the 2009 Steel City Tactical Carbine Championship. It'll be the last weekend in May with an option to shoot either Saturday or Sunday. This will allow us to accommodate more shooters and have more elaborate stages. A quick note, the name is changing from "Tactical Rifle" to "Tactical Carbine" due to the fact that there will be a new match at Steel City in the near future that will be refered to as a "Tactical Rifle" match where bolt/precision rifles will be used in a field match setting. The "Tactical Carbine" match is the one everyone's use to that we hold on the last Saturday on months with a 5th Saturday. If you're interested in helping run a stage for the match and shoot Friday, please send me a PM or e-mail. We'll need help and try to take good care of our RO's. Lastly, we'll plan to have our regular quarterly carbine match at the end of January. It will be the last one before the big May match, so plan to come join us. Thanks, looking forward to seeing everyone at the range soon. David http://www.scssa.org/new_page_3.htm

The early, early JP tubes were indeed greater diameter than the ones they make now. I don't believe they still offer them.

I discussed this issue extensively with John (JP Enterprises) a few years ago when I started playing around with AR-10's. He seems to know his way around a gas gun and told me the main issue you're fighting with the 308 gas rifle is bolt slam. The bolts on the 308's are really heavy compared to the 223 (I just hefted two of mine, the difference is huge) and most of the rifles are "overgassed" causing a lot of rifle movement and delayed shot to shot sight recovery. A comp will help. There are many out there, everyone's got their favorite and most of them are very good. Based on what John told me along with my subsequent personal experience with shooting AR-10's, I'd definitely look into an adjustable gas block. Decreasing the gas flow really made a significant difference in my rifle as far as felt recoil using the same muzzle break (a cooley comp). I believe I read in another post that Benny Hill will lighten your bolt carrier which may be worth considering as well. Good luck with it! David

Bryan, Anything with holes in it will work comp wise for an AR-10 IMO. The main thing you're fighting is "bolt slam", the .308 bolts are really heavy and most of the rifles are over-gassed resulting in a lot of felt recoil. I don't like adjustable gas blocks for AR-15's, but they are definitely worth exploring with a .308, again, IMO. As Charles said, a suppressor will definitely smooth things out, but it'll be similar to a good muzzle break, just not as loud (and a bit less expensive and not as much hassle to obtain) Give me a buzz, I've probably got something you can try out depending on your muzzle threads. David

Great news Sam! Got it on the calendar. Thanks for putting it back on. DT

Thanks Tod, should have known you'd have the low down on this topic! David

The JP website states that their low mass recoil carriers (there are 2 available) require use of the JP trigger system, specifically the JP hammer. JPBC-3 is the one I was looking at. Is this true? I was thinking about getting one, but I'm happy with my 2-stage triggers and don't want to go with the JP single stage (a very nice single stage trigger btw). I saw several JP low mass carriers on my stage at Benning this past weekend. I can't imagine all of these rifles have JP trigger systems also? Perhaps I'm wrong about that. Comments or suggestions? Thanks, David

Shhhhhhhhhhh, Mike I was trying to pay you back for all those times we used your timers! You let the cat out of the bag. A couple of minor corrections will be made to the scores before they're posted on the website based on feedback, no biggies (too many Bud Lites last night while scoring the match....)

Thanks for the kind words and for coming over to shoot with us Tod! Us locals appreciate you and Rob taking it easy on us yesterday and not giving us the usual arse whoppin"! Just e-mailed the results out to the shooters. They'll be posted on the Steel City website early next week. Hope to see everyone at the next one in January. David

We shot about a dozen through today who're going to run stages tomorrow. It drizzled and sprinkled on us, but we finished, no problem. The stages are a hoot. Unless there is a huge, driving rain expected for all day, we'll get the match in. Bring rain gear and a good attitude. See you tomorrow. David