Zak Smith

I finally pony up for an AWP and no sooner have I broken it in that AI announces bankrupcy, 24 of its 28 employees are fired ("redundancies"), and the AI rifle system's future is unknown. Turns out I got the last one shipped from TacPro before AI-UK's announcement last Friday. Anybody got any extra mags or a hand stop they want to get rid of? GRR!

Trooper class is like that, except guns are "safed" like in regular 3Gun/IPSC.

The SN4 I looked at was brand new, just mounted. No idea how old the batteries were.

At work we just got IBM T42p's and I couldn't be happier (except they force us to use XP instead of Linux). -z

In the "PF Required to knock steel" thread, I computed the MOMENTUM (ie, PF) of typical 308 and 260 loads at 1000 yards, assuming 175 @ 2700 for 308 and 140 @ 2900 for 260. 1000 yards, 175SMK = 219.8 PF 1000 yards, 140VLD = 226.1 PF So the 140gr 260 actually has more momentum at that distance than the 308. ETA: In 308, the factory Lapua 155gr (155gr Scenar with an advertised 0.505 BC) shoots just shy of 2900fps from my 24" barrel. Here's a table I calculated using Exbal at my environmental conditions (Denver altitude) comparing some different calibers/loads: http://demigod.org/~zak/tmp/ballistics.html Numbers for elevation and wind drift are at 800 yards. Sort order is best to worst by wind. -z

By less than 1x, I mean that when the power was all the way down, objects were smaller through the scope.

I just handled a new SN4 last week. Glass is nice. It's BIG and HEAVY. The illuminated reticle is NOWHERE near the brightness of a TA11/31 during the day. If you rely on a brain-grabbing-bright daylight reticle, this isn't it. It actually went down below 1x magnification. -z

Wouldn't it count as two optical sighting devices?

7.62 NATO vs. 308 links http://www.fulton-armory.com/308.htm http://www.thegunzone.com/30cal.html http://www.armalite.com/library/techNotes/tnote45.htm http://www.cruffler.com/trivia-June01.html Summary: 7.62 NATO headspace is longer 308 SAAMI max pressure is 62,000 psi while NATO is 50,000psi "They are the same, 'cause nobody makes 7.62mm (NATO) ammo that isn't to the 308 "headspace" dimension spec. So 7.62mm ammo fits nicely into .308 chambers, as a rule." For practical purposes they are the same because of headspace interchangability, except commercial ammo may be loaded to higher pressure.

[ link to LARGER image ] Now I just need that other barrel and new optics!

re: chamber. I don't know. It's a JP barrel.

Nice mag catch mod? Why did you go with the standard knobs instead of the EREK knob on the SN3? For anyone interested, there is a SN3 group buy going on on SH: http://www.snipershide.com/ubb/ultimatebb....c;f=19;t=002036

FWIW: With 200gr West Coast plated RN, I use 5.1gr Titegroup for major .45ACP. In .40SW, switching to small rifle primers reduced my S.D. by 2-3x.

A 700 in 260 with a fixed magazine would be perfect for our sporting rifle matches in Raton and the ITRC. And the Blue Steel Ranch match.

N340 is pretty slow compared to TG. TG is very similar to N320. My last batch of "hot" 40 was a 180gr JHP with 5.3gr TG loaded to 1.230. 1020fps from my SV. It makes 165PF closer to 4.8-4.9gr TG. -z

In my AR10, BH175 shot about 2570fps. I thought it was closer to 2650 in his PSS, but I don't remember for certain.

Surprise, they're selling 18 & 20" rifles. And they provide no data. My friend's PSS shoots BH 175gr much faster than it goes in my 20" AR10. But yes, they are different barrels. FGMM 168 is a lighter load than the BH 168, however. I can believe that it gets done burning faster.

Finally saw it (THANKS!) I wonder what happened to Jimmy's footage in the shoothouse, and mine on the HMMV? For the volume of shooting, it seemed like we saw only a few people and not very much action.

Somebody on SnipersParadise said N550. According to QuickLoad, W760, IMR4350, and N550 are the top 3 available candidates, 26" bbl. I might go 28" just for the extra oomph.

Well, that's part of the issue. It is unlikely that I will be shooting a real USPSA MOR match soon, but I shoot a variety of other 3gun/tactical matches with long range components.

I'm talking about momentum, not energy.

I've seen a few comments about how 260Rem isn't always enough to knock steel over at 1000 yards. Is this really a problem? Let's say we're comparing a 175 SMK @ 2700fps with a 140gr VLD @ 2900fps, _BC_ _MV_ 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 | YARDS 0.496 2700 > -1.56 -3.90 -31.68 -93.78 -202.90 -377.02 -639.69 | > 308 175gr SMK 2698 2348 2025 1730 1470 1256 1101 | fps, velocity 0.627 2900 > -1.56 -3.01 -25.03 -72.82 -153.17 -275.16 -450.88 | > 260 140 2898 2606 2331 2074 1835 1615 1420 | fps, velocity If we agree that momentum is what knocks steel over and that PF is a measure of momentum (only a constant ratio off real momentum units), then: 1000 yards, 175SMK = 219.8 PF 1000 yards, 140VLD = 226.1 PF If I need to reliably knock steel over at 1000, should I be looking at something more than 260? Comments?

The problem won't be so much stabilization as powder volume. A 140gr bullet is going to take up a LOT of volume. Hopefully PaulE will chime in-- it sounds like the 115gr will eventually make Major from a 20" barrel. Our handloads to date with currently available powders are around 2625 - 2660fps from an 18". -z

The VFG rifle was faster for me when I was re-engaging targets more than transitioning between targets. YMMV.

I guess I figured the enlightened BE crowd wouldn't require this disclaimer: I don't mean to present this as true for everyone, just some things I learned for myself at the range with a timer.