georgel

CZShooter, what part of NC are you in? There's IDPA in Wilkesboro that also has shotgun/rifle side matches. Good practice for 3-Gun. They have 3-Gun matches a couple of times a year. There's also 3-Gun in Walnut Creek on 5th Saturdays. I haven't shot Oxford yet, but I'm planning to some time this year. I hear it's a blast and unlike anything I've experienced up to this point.

kimel, the Boomer shoots DO sound like a blast! (Pun intented.) Dogma, you're right. It sounds like I want something in between. I was thinking I had heard of some "tactical" precision (I don't like the "S" word.) COF's being developed. Something with practical targets at intermediate ranges. Maybe I'll start something at one of my local ranges.

Thanks for all the replies and references. I'm already shooting 3-Gun. (And love it!) For a change, I guess I was looking for something a little slower paced and more precise than the 3-Gun I"ve been shooting around here. Less beat the clock and more emphasis on a well placed shot. Most of the rifle COF's I've been involved with have been short-range CQB style, 35yds or less with IPSC/IDPA type scoring, sometimes steel plates out to about 200yds. Standard paper punching isn't what I was looking for either, although it may be a good exercise. I did find one site that under the high power rifle catagory was listing things like dum-dum suckers, balloons and empty soda cans as targets at various ranges. Hmmm... What I would envision is a COF with ranges to about 300yds with most shots in the 50 to 150 yard range with targets 1-2MOA in size. Cover, concealment and hostages as obstacles. Firing from braced positions, maybe from around corners, under vehicles, etc. Does this describe any thing existing you guys have shot?

This is a two part question... I'm working on building a "precision" AR and I'm new to the idea. Does anyone know what kind of competitions are out there? Yardages and target sizes are what I'm intrested in. Basically, is MOA or sub-MOA the requirement? Are there any "tactical" precision events that don't regularly go out to 300+ yards? Second, how critical is parallax in a practical application? I was thinking about using a fixed 10x scope. I know parallax increases with power. This relates to the above question. For practial events, is it necessary? Thanks

Is it catching on the top edge? Have you tried rounding it off? Some of the Kick Eez pads are designed that way.

PACMAN, excellent info! Yes, I'm shooting a flat top. My center to center distance is about 3". I could lower it a little, but it sets up well when I mount the gun so I'd rather not unless I absolutely have to. You gave me exactly the kind of data and theory I was looking for. You've saved me a lot of experimentation and I don't have easy access to a range over 100yds. so I might not have discovered this setting. Now I have a clue. Seems this may be the least overall deviation from the sightline over the expected distances. Thanks! I'm still going to experiment some, if nothing else to get used to the holdover required at closer ranges and confirm impact at the various yardages to see what works for me. I am shooting 55gr., but it's slightly lower velocity, about 100fps.

Thanks for the early responses. I'm shooting a 20" .223 AR in local 3-Gun. Most of the COF's have been under 20yds and as close as 5'. However, I've had one COF that started at 35yds. and extended out along a tree line out to 180yds. So, I'm looking for the best universal setting. (Like there really is such a thing.)Increased precision at distance, adequate precision at closer range. I guess it's annoying me because the low impact caused me to drop a head shot at about 15yds. It was canted out, so I dropped the target completely and got a failure to neutralize. I'm using a shotgun scope with a circle reticle that works well for quick and close. I may use the edge of the circle as a holdover setting. I haven't had time to go and do a walk-out at the range to determine the trajectory/zeroing, so I thought I'd get ideas here first. PACMAN's recommedation sounds promising, although I'd rather hold point on at close range.

I hope this isn't too much of a newbie question... I only recently became aware of the issue of scope to bore stand-over distance. When I sighted in at 100yds., I shoot low at close range. (about 3" low at 10yds.) When I zero it at 15yds. it's noticeably high at 25 and assumedly much higher as distance increases. I never realized how significant it was. Now that I'm shooting widely varying ranges I see it. I tried a search here and gleaned a little info, but nothing that addressed this specifically. What are others doing? Are they setting zero at longer distances and holding high close up? Are they setting for close and holding under at longer ranges? Are they re-setting based on the COF? (My least preferred option.)

Just thought I'd add my 2 bits... The over-insertion problem basically happens when the slide is back and the only thing stopping the mag is the ejector, which was never design for that kind of abuse. Basically, the ejector bends or pulls out of the frame. If the slide is forward, then the mag stops on that. Chip McCormick makes add-on bases for their 8 round Power Mags specifically to adapt them to OM's. I haven't tried them though. I've standardized on their 7 round officers since they fit flush for concealed carry. I might end up getting some at some point.

Tex, that press that your friend has, would it by chance be a 450 Jr.? I have one and it works great. Mines's setup for .38/.357, 9mm and I have the parts for .45 Colt but I couldn't get a setup for .45ACP. Now I'm thinking about letting it go. Haven't decided yet. If your friend has the same press, maybe we could talk.

Yes, we discussed the BATF issues on the other board, probably not worth the risk. Technically, an ounce of weight on the carrier could be fairly significant, since it is a moving mass. (Or an non-moving mass.) I would think the 16" guns would benefit most from extra weight to slow down the unlock, due to the pressure curves. The lightweight carriers, I would assume, have a very fast cycle time, but I wonder about the impact on reliability. Easier to stop a lighter mass. Thanks for the replies.

Someone on another site heard that M16 bolt carriers might be more reliable due to the higher mass. Has anyone heard this? I noticed on a search here that someone offers an alloy carrier, which would be contrary to the concept. Thanks