Zak Smith

Heinie fixed sights have a sight picture nearly the same as Bomars. The old style are slanted backwards like Bomars, and the new style ("Slant Pro" or something like that) are slanted a little bit forwards. FWIW, I will most likely have fixed sights put on my Limited gun when I get it built. I'm tired of having adjustable sights break or worrying about if they have come out of adjustment. -z

I agree. Give JP a call and see what you can get in your price range. I looked at their demos at Raton and they were impressive. I'm currently running a 16" Rock River flat-top with a mid-length gas system and semi-bull barrel (it's bull behind the gas block and Hbar in front). It's nice and compact, but HEAVY. Next time around, I'll go the opposite direction and get a 18 or 20" lightweight barrel. JP's ultralight barrels were real nice. If you go 16", some factory 55gr ammo will not make "Minor" power factor. -z

I was just going to use this load at a couple local matches until my AR upper is back from JP... so I probably won't have any shots over 150 yards. Even at only 2300fps, the 150 will only drop about 4". I can live with that. -z

Hmm. I am a little surprised by these suggestions. I had this impression that for the same PF, a heavier bullet would produce less recoil. Which will have less recoil? A 125gr at 2720fps or a 150gr at 2267fps? (OR going heavier, it's 175gr at 1943fps.) I'll give the 125's a try, though. -z

I ended up finding a TA11 in stock at a screamin' price just a week before the RM3GM. I'm totally impressed by this scope and it worked very well at RM3G. As for the eye relief, I'm mounting it on a ARMS #19S (single-wide throw-lever), and the front end of the base "rail" of the TA11 is about even with the forward end of my upper receiver. This puts the rear lens of the scope about an inch in front of the charging handle. It could stand to go a little further still, but this works well enough. -z

Are results posted anywhere? -z

I'm going to shoot my FAL (21") at a couple local 3Gun matches, so I'm looking for suggestions for a good reduced-recoil load that will still make Major (340PF). I figure I'm going to be using a 150 or heavier bullet. So far, I've tried 150gr Nosler BT's with Win748: 44.0gr W748, 150gr BT: 2558 fps 41.0gr W748, 150gr BT: 2487 fps 38.0gr W748, 150gr BT: 2340 fps The 38.0gr load has low recoil and still ejects cases over 15'. The stddev was around 30fps. What loads do you guys recommend for this purpose? I also have some 175gr SMK's and 155gr Palma's on hand. Since local matches don't have shots over 200 yards, I can live with the 4 or 5 inches of drop. -z

They posted scores on the web-site on the "Updates" page in the form of the XLS spreadsheet. For those of us who are Microsoft-free, here is the results summary converted to plain text: 2003 ROCKY MOUNTAIN 3 GUN MATCH TOTAL PLC NAME CATEGORY RIFLE S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 TOTAL 1 "NEAL, KELLY" HE-MAN IRON 100.00 86.20 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 82.65 768.85 2 "RHODES, EDDIE" HE-MAN IRON 85.74 98.60 70.44 80.83 93.20 87.71 67.30 100.00 683.82 3 "LATHAM, TAYLOR" HE-MAN IRON 75.08 76.39 72.79 54.59 82.03 71.07 62.12 88.74 582.81 4 "DOWD, MIKE" HE-MAN IRON 82.26 100.00 62.01 55.31 56.91 75.24 63.62 82.19 577.55 5 "HORSEMAN, STEVE" HE-MAN IRON 61.64 57.15 39.07 57.09 91.18 54.52 68.45 75.22 504.32 6 "KYNOCH, DAVE" HE-MAN IRON 77.22 60.81 67.02 50.36 67.26 65.12 55.71 59.70 503.19 7 "KOCHAN, JOHN" HE-MAN IRON 61.76 36.60 55.86 32.79 63.76 57.30 52.99 68.93 429.99 8 "HAMEL, BOB (SCORE)" HE-MAN IRON 55.10 74.91 39.61 45.39 66.92 62.43 44.61 29.86 418.83 9 "HARRIS, JOHN" HE-MAN IRON 56.16 57.56 51.97 27.51 55.81 52.13 38.80 67.72 407.66 10 "HILL, MIKE" HE-MAN IRON 42.32 53.11 52.41 45.16 45.01 43.71 48.89 49.94 380.55 11 "MERTES, DAVID" HE-MAN IRON 48.17 48.90 34.56 35.20 44.55 54.53 36.80 63.63 366.34 12 "BERRY, BRIAN" HE-MAN IRON 44.81 68.50 36.02 41.82 41.53 45.35 35.33 48.76 362.12 13 "GUTHRIE, HOWARD" HE-MAN IRON 44.96 52.51 39.21 43.82 54.63 34.67 40.94 43.05 353.79 14 "HOBBS, JEFF" HE-MAN IRON 47.97 52.63 38.25 39.92 39.76 39.56 46.71 44.55 349.34 15 "KUHN, MELL" HE-MAN IRON 46.68 34.12 32.04 33.24 75.48 35.74 49.63 40.23 347.17 16 "HALL, PALMER" HE-MAN IRON 48.86 39.12 39.41 34.19 52.11 23.41 43.25 52.25 332.61 17 "RYCKMAN, BOB" HE-MAN IRON 72.09 64.12 38.36 29.19 12.87 12.09 9.95 52.34 291.01 18 "KING, DAVID" HE-MAN IRON 29.37 40.86 37.36 29.92 37.60 34.11 42.28 26.40 277.89 1 "RAGULSKY, GENE" OPEN SCOPE 67.49 100.00 100.00 100.00 77.43 97.05 91.72 88.02 721.71 2 "BEDNORZ, DON" OPEN SCOPE 74.87 56.02 98.76 65.12 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 694.76 3 "KEMPTON, JAKE" OPEN SCOPE 100.00 87.70 83.58 73.81 89.90 95.45 85.04 76.86 692.35 4 "WALTER-FILHO, RON" OPEN SCOPE 73.46 87.34 80.85 63.48 99.66 99.89 94.31 68.60 667.60 5 "CARLSON, ADAM" OPEN SCOPE 86.61 89.79 79.92 69.58 61.60 89.74 86.48 74.48 638.20 6 "ENDERSBY, CHRIS" OPEN SCOPE 69.55 82.58 63.48 56.43 82.66 82.45 90.88 77.84 605.88 7 "ARREDONDO, RALPH" OPEN SCOPE 66.26 81.16 64.56 56.35 79.03 73.16 72.68 85.77 578.96 8 "KRUSE, RUSSELL" OPEN SCOPE 49.17 89.55 53.93 59.29 71.86 65.02 87.77 84.11 560.70 9 "MOODY, DAVID" OPEN SCOPE 69.63 64.53 55.75 60.23 70.66 77.33 73.89 55.68 527.69 10 "MOSIER, DAVE" OPEN SCOPE 60.72 69.89 44.58 85.87 74.25 77.06 24.56 69.24 506.18 11 "STUTZ, GREG" OPEN SCOPE 51.07 76.58 51.25 55.41 69.68 47.76 84.56 51.14 487.44 12 "STUTZ, ALEX" OPEN SCOPE 44.41 57.14 53.19 37.30 67.23 51.54 85.62 53.91 450.34 13 "ANDERSON, WYNN" OPEN SCOPE 55.59 60.16 29.92 48.21 53.19 64.40 55.67 52.75 419.89 14 "LINDER, GEOFFREY" OPEN SCOPE 44.04 46.08 49.87 63.34 59.47 48.09 62.04 44.47 417.40 15 "MURPHY, GEORGE" OPEN SCOPE 39.41 46.92 44.53 41.70 58.26 35.64 43.37 44.02 353.85 16 "BIELBY, JEFFREY" OPEN SCOPE 49.10 51.65 37.15 26.95 29.54 59.42 37.96 54.27 346.04 17 "SABIA, DAVE" OPEN SCOPE 41.72 46.47 34.56 42.80 38.12 43.10 47.67 47.50 341.93 18 "BACA, TONY" OPEN SCOPE 31.50 37.11 30.26 39.77 56.67 38.37 42.79 57.13 333.61 19 "WODACK, GREG" OPEN SCOPE 39.77 75.28 58.93 36.66 26.08 11.18 9.65 67.58 325.13 20 "FRANK, GLENN" OPEN SCOPE 29.07 30.04 47.41 33.94 41.82 36.84 51.80 37.00 307.92 21 "MAHONEY, JONI" OPEN SCOPE 25.14 38.12 26.09 30.55 38.16 32.92 27.30 34.45 252.71 1 "BUTLER, TARAN" TACTICAL SCOPE 86.68 100.00 100.00 69.74 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 756.43 2 "SALMON, TODD" TACTICAL IRON 81.99 92.55 86.83 100.00 77.48 83.46 100.00 70.53 692.85 3 "HAWKINS, GUY" TACTICAL IRON 76.93 100.00 100.00 76.39 79.20 76.12 94.03 75.25 677.93 4 "HILL, BENNY" TACTICAL SCOPE 77.70 84.43 97.52 92.15 79.02 72.15 80.26 92.57 675.80 5 "NETH, DAVE" TACTICAL SCOPE 87.95 81.12 89.32 68.98 78.79 76.61 85.27 85.95 654.00 6 "WONG, JOE" TACTICAL IRON 76.42 69.83 76.30 90.26 64.66 68.27 87.82 73.86 607.41 7 "PULTZ, BOB" TACTICAL IRON 71.62 74.78 63.24 84.88 68.83 57.22 92.41 67.79 580.77 8 "MOOTS, CHARLES" TACTICAL SCOPE 65.55 81.23 81.07 69.26 69.57 71.52 75.70 64.70 578.61 9 "MAHONEY, CHARLES" TACTICAL SCOPE 63.57 51.13 95.82 78.73 72.18 65.21 75.69 73.54 575.87 10 "HARRIS, MIKE" TACTICAL SCOPE 100.00 70.95 96.04 59.25 69.42 61.70 32.82 77.77 567.94 11 "GANGL, JOHN" TACTICAL SCOPE 74.55 76.69 95.98 55.80 57.08 66.35 66.20 70.29 562.95 12 "KELLEY, PAT" TACTICAL SCOPE 58.93 78.56 95.00 54.89 73.41 54.97 79.38 66.76 561.91 13 "FIELD, MIKE" TACTICAL SCOPE 61.11 66.36 86.93 81.35 70.99 65.69 68.78 59.62 560.82 14 "HAWKINS, GARRET" TACTICAL SCOPE 59.76 64.17 88.71 88.82 69.15 58.44 70.06 56.50 555.62 15 "PIERCE, CHAD" TACTICAL SCOPE 62.30 62.56 72.50 100.00 66.79 52.03 72.71 63.61 552.50 16 "HUGHES, MIKE" TACTICAL SCOPE 53.68 75.95 78.31 79.88 60.80 61.74 70.08 61.21 541.67 17 "HULET, STEVE" TACTICAL SCOPE 63.69 66.72 65.63 63.86 79.61 69.35 66.43 65.25 540.55 18 "CURRENT, ROD" TACTICAL SCOPE 56.98 62.36 69.16 67.68 69.00 69.46 80.33 59.21 534.19 19 "HECKART, ALLEN" TACTICAL SCOPE 76.35 56.94 74.62 80.89 55.55 60.04 62.00 67.17 533.56 20 KOLAR. MIKE TACTICAL SCOPE 55.15 68.78 76.98 82.75 67.46 51.76 66.27 57.40 526.55 21 "BODMER, JEFF" TACTICAL SCOPE 73.58 52.54 74.33 65.93 56.07 65.89 66.75 70.99 526.08 22 "BALMORES, KELLY" TACTICAL IRON 67.52 79.54 70.29 45.50 76.04 44.60 74.85 63.09 521.44 23 "CAUDILL, PAUL" TACTICAL SCOPE 61.01 59.27 57.78 60.93 70.35 67.11 78.52 63.43 518.41 24 "WONG, TOMMY" TACTICAL SCOPE 59.59 72.79 76.86 54.28 65.28 55.48 58.56 63.25 506.10 25 "BYROM, BILL" TACTICAL SCOPE 49.85 63.10 83.44 39.99 67.32 53.25 61.91 71.64 490.49 26 "CAMBRE, LOUIS" TACTICAL SCOPE 64.43 66.91 68.97 66.06 58.48 41.71 59.65 53.53 479.74 27 "LANE, RICK" TACTICAL SCOPE 59.39 70.23 69.66 63.36 51.82 44.31 59.06 60.15 477.97 28 "MARTIN, ROD" TACTICAL SCOPE 69.40 44.86 66.66 65.42 56.00 67.49 44.50 60.97 475.29 29 "MOWERY, GARY" TACTICAL SCOPE 58.07 66.54 76.96 38.53 58.42 51.06 59.81 64.64 474.03 30 "TOLLES, KEITH" TACTICAL SCOPE 59.50 64.97 58.44 53.74 64.89 63.64 57.18 49.89 472.24 31 "POWELL, DAVID" TACTICAL SCOPE 56.17 46.75 82.76 64.94 46.49 52.26 56.72 65.08 471.18 32 "DANG, HUNG" TACTICAL SCOPE 46.30 53.50 68.10 71.05 67.76 47.48 63.41 47.68 465.27 33 "SAMUEL, ALAN" TACTICAL SCOPE 35.33 60.45 66.06 61.81 75.34 43.09 62.89 58.70 463.67 34 "RUBEL, T.H." TACTICAL IRON 59.21 54.55 62.89 59.16 53.16 44.48 69.85 55.14 458.43 35 "SMITH, ZAK" TACTICAL SCOPE 59.06 52.92 78.58 40.31 58.10 52.37 62.64 53.09 457.07 36 "WILLS, RANDY" TACTICAL IRON 59.51 43.02 60.19 57.03 51.95 48.31 74.87 62.19 457.07 37 "HUMPHRY, DARRELL" TACTICAL IRON 58.58 56.41 55.93 73.07 51.51 50.44 63.38 47.01 456.31 38 "HAMEL, BOB (2ND)" TACTICAL SCOPE 54.73 72.52 61.64 52.51 59.06 55.48 42.47 57.32 455.74 39 "JOHNSON, JJ" TACTICAL IRON 53.57 58.77 59.57 47.85 58.78 56.50 72.63 44.05 451.72 40 "DOMINGUEZ, SALIM" TACTICAL SCOPE 36.17 59.93 62.92 41.18 63.50 43.26 61.90 69.81 438.67 41 "BRANDT, DAVID" TACTICAL SCOPE 55.95 53.93 76.96 52.68 45.64 50.35 52.52 48.78 436.80 42 "PRATT, RANDY" TACTICAL SCOPE 36.55 49.07 71.49 79.78 48.18 42.46 52.83 47.47 427.85 43 "FERNS, GARY" TACTICAL SCOPE 41.85 52.71 60.80 59.60 49.47 53.97 49.25 50.37 418.02 44 "GALLEGOS, RAY" TACTICAL SCOPE 49.12 35.37 65.65 58.60 54.99 50.95 51.71 50.33 416.72 45 "HODGE, BOB" TACTICAL SCOPE 44.67 52.19 70.30 62.16 57.68 40.87 47.00 40.35 415.22 46 "GULLEY, NICK" TACTICAL SCOPE 50.79 64.60 70.48 44.12 51.04 43.61 44.69 44.63 413.95 47 "POOR, JIM" TACTICAL IRON 42.06 43.09 52.64 37.81 66.01 33.71 66.32 56.21 397.84 48 "WHITE, FRED" TACTICAL SCOPE 57.47 45.06 58.29 44.34 53.28 43.56 36.33 45.89 384.22 49 "HEAD, STEVE" TACTICAL SCOPE 28.09 47.70 61.85 44.84 50.85 39.83 55.93 52.40 381.48 50 "CONKLING, DANIEL" TACTICAL IRON 44.71 41.25 51.10 57.25 55.39 37.89 41.07 50.75 379.41 51 "CARLTON, VICKI" TACTICAL SCOPE 55.24 56.71 60.50 29.84 33.92 48.00 42.47 51.65 378.33 52 "MONNIG, CURT" TACTICAL SCOPE 57.07 13.87 55.62 67.23 32.05 42.71 61.69 47.70 377.94 53 "FULTINEER, MICHAEL" TACTICAL SCOPE 39.73 45.33 61.56 38.94 39.78 38.77 52.46 53.86 370.42 54 "MANSIR, DARREL" TACTICAL SCOPE 40.85 40.54 50.11 52.34 42.24 43.13 49.02 49.08 367.30 55 "POINTER, GLENN" TACTICAL IRON 47.50 47.08 52.40 46.48 52.38 39.94 38.41 42.99 367.17 56 "STANFORTH, DAMON" TACTICAL SCOPE 49.67 59.46 58.37 44.65 40.47 42.13 37.27 33.60 365.62 57 "TOWNES, TIM" TACTICAL SCOPE 38.85 37.48 50.78 45.35 47.77 40.23 48.78 42.85 352.10 58 "CURRENT, CHERYL" TACTICAL SCOPE 44.13 55.21 38.52 48.22 37.58 25.22 43.35 42.51 334.74 59 "CULVER, DEAN" TACTICAL SCOPE 40.18 42.52 47.85 34.47 40.69 38.51 44.52 41.11 329.86 60 "KNEALE, JOHN J." TACTICAL SCOPE 48.20 35.75 41.58 32.25 42.65 36.99 44.89 43.10 325.42 61 "WHITE, STEVE" TACTICAL IRON 39.24 44.83 46.64 30.43 39.08 41.77 38.98 34.11 315.09 62 "PEARMAN, DENISE" TACTICAL SCOPE 28.80 39.70 48.42 34.47 42.98 32.99 37.86 34.55 299.78 63 "REIGAN, ROBERT" TACTICAL SCOPE 34.13 36.43 51.06 49.77 32.80 24.65 35.18 33.34 297.37 64 "LETSCH, DAVID" TACTICAL IRON 39.28 45.61 26.48 38.39 43.71 26.71 43.83 31.49 295.52 65 "WASSOM, DON" TACTICAL SCOPE 37.06 29.39 43.86 38.42 35.67 27.56 47.80 28.05 287.82 66 "FERNS, DEBBIE" TACTICAL SCOPE 38.05 35.66 45.65 36.59 34.86 22.20 38.46 34.09 285.56 67 "MAYER, STEVE" TACTICAL IRON 36.60 24.03 41.16 27.42 27.28 25.01 66.36 27.10 274.95 68 "GOGGIN, JOHN" TACTICAL SCOPE 33.73 44.11 47.02 27.77 23.05 30.35 37.58 30.54 274.15 69 "GERLACH, GARY" TACTICAL SCOPE 33.90 30.29 47.13 33.32 42.97 28.70 21.45 35.12 272.88 70 "PETRIE, CHRIS" TACTICAL SCOPE 36.24 34.77 31.78 28.16 48.44 32.72 19.18 34.63 265.92 71 "PECK, KEVIN" TACTICAL SCOPE 21.92 27.27 39.71 40.08 29.31 27.86 24.90 27.24 238.28 72 "ABRAMSON, ROBB" TACTICAL IRON 27.03 30.22 28.31 36.16 34.97 25.03 24.62 29.87 236.22 73 "PORTER, JOHN" TACTICAL SCOPE 26.73 18.64 40.04 23.25 30.55 25.38 19.84 24.91 209.34 74 "MAEDGEN, J.W." TACTICAL SCOPE 12.41 10.86 28.81 25.97 19.59 10.39 16.88 22.64 147.54 75 "PAULSON, JEFF" TACTICAL SCOPE 12.41 15.44 26.66 25.63 25.14 10.39 18.94 10.19 144.81

Thanks, Benny. From their web-site, it looks like I can drop in the low-mass carrier and spring/buffer for about $100 total. I'll try that after I get an adjustable gas block and comp. -z

I am under the impression that reducing the reciprocating mass in the AR-15 will reduce the rifle's movement during recoil. I also notice that the AR buffer (the thing between the bolt carrier and the recoil spring) has a weight inside it. When I take it out and shake it, I hear this "clunk." First, what is the purpose of the loose weight in the buffer? Second, can I remove the loose weight in the buffer to reduce recoil jolting without adverse operational effects? -z

PacMan, Do you know what bullet weight out of the 16" wasn't moving the flashers? -z

According to the information on fnhipower.com, the frames have been cast since around 1994. Here's what I was referring to with respect to slide changes: http://www.fnhipower.com/modules.php?name=...article&artid=2 There is no source listed for this information, though. -z

Does the 15,000 figure apply to the contemporary MKIII's? I had thought they beefed them up a little when they changed to the MKIII? -z

It rocked! This match was awesome! Thanks to everyone who made this possible. I will be writing letters and calling our sponsors to thank them, too. -z

VNGunfighter, I'm psyched. See you guys tomorrow! -z

Read the book. It's way shorter and much better. ISBN 0156027607 -z

Some more data, from my 16" Rock River (5000' elevation, 70-90 degrees): Black Hills 55gr "blue box" - about 156PF - failed. South African M193 55gr surplus - 167PF - passed. Black Hills 68gr "blue box" - 180PF - passed. IMI M855 62gr - 183PF - passed.

After reading a thread on AR15.com, I just - on a whim - checked for a TA11 ACOG scope at CS GunWorks. Not only did they have it in stock, but they had a great price. I called to confirm my order and mentioned that I was in a rush to get the scope due to an upcoming 3Gun match. Mike upgraded the shipping to 2nd Day Air on him and the scope arrived this evening. I had had this scope on backorder from somewhere else for 2 months - and service like this was a breath of fresh air. I highly recommend CS Gunworks. -z

I have a few words of advice: 1. You only have to buy quality once. (If you compromise, you usually end up buying the best later anyway.) 2. Live for "now" a little bit. Face it, you'll love a custom $2k - $3k pistol. When you take everything into account, $2 or $3k for the perfect gun isn't that much. The enjoyment you'll get out of it will be more than worth it. -z

Kelly, What velocity do you get with the 125's? I loaded some "light' with W748 and they came out at 2780 from the 21" FAL. -z

With regard to terminal effects, you're going to be hard-pressed to find a high-performing 9mm JHP that ends up with a PF less than about 140. I have compiled the FBI-protocol ballistic gel test data here: http://www.demigod.org/~zak/firearms/fbi-pistol.php Sorted by "wound volume": http://www.demigod.org/~zak/firearms/fbi-p...php?sort=grade1 The top 9mm contenders are the Win Ranger Talon 147gr (149 PF) and the CCI/Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P (152 PF). If you go down the list, you do find some more in the 130PF range, but in 9mm it seems like, as tested in ballistic gel, a 124gr at 1200fps is real effective, and speeding it up to over 1350fps (in .357SIG) doesn't increase the gel results at all over the 124/1200. -z

Hey all. I'm trying to sort out my gear for this match. How many pistol rounds would it be a good idea to be able to carry into a stage? I decided to bring my single-stack .45 'cause I can hit with it the best and it's what I shoot in IPSC. Are five 10-round mags likely to be enough for any single stage? Besides pistol, I can carry two extra 30-round rifle mags and about 30 shotshells. Does that sound about right? thanks Zak

A friend of mine who probably has good information said he expected to see AR-10's with the "IPSC Limited"-style double-aperture (front & rear) peep sights.

Team Sand Captain, Hey, no fair! I took that picture the day I brought the gun home. rhino, I'm fairly pleased with the "Patriot", for its price. It has been reliable with the following caveats: 1. Between round 500 and 1500, rounds would sometimes nose-up into the roof of the chamber and it would not fully return to battery. This went away as mysteriously as it began, with the possbility that the gun broke in fully, or I found the "right" OAL & bullet combination. 2. I started to get fail-to-extract failures. This was ultimately due to a bunch of crud in the external extractor's channel in the slide. I figure if I punch the pin out and clean it about every 2000-3000 rounds it will continue to extract perfectly. 3. The cross-pin on the Bomar-copy rear sight has broken 4 times so far. This is probably due in part to sight's high elevation. My latest fix was to replace the last broken steel pin with the turned-down titanium drill bit shank, and then sluice lock-tite into the moving parts of the sight. It doesn't move any more. I like how it shoots; rounds go where I want them to and the trigger is decent. I'm using CMC and Wilson 8 round mags, and Wilson 10-round mags with no problems. -z

(click for large version) I just started shooting IPSC matches this year. I'm using an off the shelf "$700" 1911 in .45ACP (Dan Wesson Patriot) for Limited-10. The only changes I made were to change the grips (personal preference) and to lock-tite the adjustable sight in place. -z