SteveT-NV
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Posts posted by SteveT-NV
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3 hours ago, ffgats said:
Steve,
At what distance you zeroed your scope, just got the scope a day ago, was scanning all the papers/ info manuals from the manufacturer, and base on their BDC the scope zeroed at 100yrds/ meters.
I'm one of those weirdos that Zero at the Maximum Point Blank Range (MPBR) for the load I use. This ends up being 265 yds for my preferred load. With this load I'm never greater than or less than 4 inches high or low for any target out to ~315 yds.
I like the lighter faster bullets for long range and use a 55 g VMax. This has served me well at RM3G and any other match that pushes the ranges out to 500-600 yds.
I use the JBM Ballistics page to figure all of this out.
While the manufacturers BDC data will get you close. It really only works well if you use the exact load with the same velocity that they use for their calculations. I wouldn't really consider the BRT reticle a BDC reticle since its markings are Mil based.
Steve
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I just heard that the match can be shot Thurs, Fri and Sat. Is this true? Due to work obligations I cannot take off major holidays, but I could shoot the match those days. Could I still register and shoot those days?
STeve
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On 12/4/2016 at 6:31 AM, ffgats said:
Any updated info on this scope, Actual experience in the range. pretty close in pulling the trigger on this one,
I've been using it in practice sessions for the last couple months. Pull the trigger! You will not be disappointed. See the above post on my initial impressions. Nothing has changed since that post, other than I like it even more.
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On 10/11/2016 at 0:47 PM, BigBets said:
Is this really going to be on Easter weekend?
Hate to complain, but having this on a Holiday weekend is a bummer for many of us. Family obligations are going to make this tough, may have to miss this one!
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On 8/31/2016 at 5:21 PM, SteveT-NV said:
It looks like there is a focus/parallax adjustment on this scope? If so, did you get an impression that it would affect transitions between targets at different distances? ie if it's on focus at 200 yds, will it be "blurry" at 600 yds? Or if you are at 1 power shooting close range targets, then go to 8 power for long range?
Steve
I can answer my own question now. I just got this scope a couple days ago and was able to get out and sight it in today. There is no parallax adjustment on this scope, while you may see that mentioned in the scope description on some of the websites, the parallax adjustment is only in some of the scopes in the Z8I lineup.
My impressions so far:
- This scope is awesome!
- The optics are excellent, just like any other Swarovski product.
- It is only slightly larger than the Z6I 1-6.
- It has an excellent field of view, though a little smaller than the 1-6
If you are looking for a new scope, you can't go wrong with this scope.
Steve
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On 9/1/2016 at 7:34 AM, HogStalker said:
Do we have an anticipated round count yet?
I had heard:
500 Rifle
500 Pistol
300 Birdshot
100 Slugs
Is that minimum or recommended? Last year the actual count was ~ 1/2 of that.
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On 8/11/2016 at 11:04 AM, opticsspecialist said:
I got to check out the new Swarovski Z8I this morning and I was pretty impressed. The optics are what you expect with Swarovski, the 1x is true 1x or as close to it as you can get. 8x was clear edge to edge, the eye box is generous. there are some new features that really stand out, a ballistic turret can be added at anytime via the new ballistic flex turret flex. It can have normal mil hash marks, a custom dial, or my favorite the ballistic turret. it also has a zero stop and a lock. This feature can be removed or attached in seconds. clicks are in mils. the clicks felt good, they were deep and audible. This particular scope currently has two reticle options, the new 4A-IF and the BRT-I. the BRTi has been a popular reticle with multigun shooters and the like for a few years. the scope I saw featured the new 4A-IF, which has a really awesome feature. when illuminating the reticle, you can have 2 options; just a dot in the center, or by pressing the two buttons at the same time for 3 seconds, you can turn an illuminated circle on or off, which would certainly speed things up when shooting that scope at close range. I think this scope would be an awesome scope for a variety of purposes.
I liked this scope and I can see lots of applications in both hunting and competition with this scope. I'm sure the rest of the line will not disappoint. Hopefully I'll have one on a rifle soon and i'll have more to report. until then let me know if you have any questions or need anything.It looks like there is a focus/parallax adjustment on this scope? If so, did you get an impression that it would affect transitions between targets at different distances? ie if it's on focus at 200 yds, will it be "blurry" at 600 yds? Or if you are at 1 power shooting close range targets, then go to 8 power for long range?
Steve
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I pull the rifle up into my shoulder snug, but not trying to force it. If you force the position, the tension can cause more problems. I also prefer my arm out as far as I can on the hand guard.
To me the critical thing in off hand is learning to accept the wobble and work with it. If you panic when you see the cross hairs bouncing around, then it will usually just get worse. Everyone has some amount of wobble and the wobble can often change from day to day depending on you. The wobble can sometimes change from side to side, or up to down. Sometimes creating a controlled wobble can be helpful. This can be done in a side to side, up and down, down to up or a figure of eight.
Practice breaking the shot just as the cross hairs are coming over the target. When you break the shot will depend on the speed of your wobble and the distance to the target. You absolutely have to practice at different distances to get an idea of when you need to break the shot.
Accept the wobble, work with it and the wobble can be your friend!
A drill that I like to practice offhand shots is to set up 3 shooting positions ~ 5 yards apart with a MGM Flasher or similar target at ~ 100 yds. From the first position shoot until you get 3 hits, run to the next position repeat and then repeat in the last position. When you get comfortable at 100 yds move the target out. Try and get comfortable out to 175 yds or so.
More tips in this thread - http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=201142&hl=%2Boffhand#entry2237085
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I have a mobile app now, currently for android (coming soon to ios, I hope) - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.azshooters.calc
It's only the classifier calculator piece, but it works offline so you can use it at a match, even without internet access.
Thank you! Just downloaded the app. Works great.
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Does this Google Maps location look accurate? Looks good with the satellite option displayed, (can see the bays) but would just like to make sure.
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When using the cardboard 3 gun targets, I understand that 1 hit in within the center perforation is considered neutralized. Is it 2 shots anywhere on the cardboard or 2 within the secondary circle to be considered neutralized?
9.1.4 Any 3GN Official paper target designated as a "Shoot" target must have either one "Center" hit in the 8" circle OR have two hits anywhere inside the border perforation. The hit or hits only need to touch or break the perforation to avoid penalty.
I guess my question is what is considered the "boarder perforation".
The "1st Gen" 3GN Club Series Targets had 2 circles on them, an inner 8" circle and an outer circle (not sure the diameter). These targets did not have a outer perforation on them. The newer targets have a single 8" circle, then a perforation on the outer edge of the square target. Unless things have changed again, any two hits inside that square perforation will neutralize the target.
See attached photo
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Excellent match, great stages! Thank you to Pete, all of his crew, the RO's and the rest of the match Staff.
My wife took some photos of Squad 5 and they are posted at this link - http://rohirrim.smugmug.com/Shooting/USPSA-2015-Multigun-Nationals/
Match video
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It sounds like there is a spring issue and MBX has a solution.
One thing that I want to point out, is that the life of the springs is dramatically affected by how many rounds you cram into the magazines. If you cram the maximum amount of rounds into the magazine every time you use it, then the spring will not last as long. That is not a unique fact to MBX stuff, as that applies to pretty much all of the aftermarket spring/follower manufactures that provide a spring/follower setup that allows the spring to be compressed to coil bind. For me, I am using the 140mm 40 caliber magazines and I will ONLY put 20 rounds in them unless I absolutely need the 21st round. Then when I actually DO need the 21 rounds, I will only cram that 21st round in there right before my stage run, so the spring isn't being crushed into coil bind for an extended amount of time. Doing this preserves the spring life a lot longer than cramming them full to 21 rounds every time I reload the magazine.
There is no getting around the fact that if you crush a spring to coil bind that it will fail/weaken a lot faster than another spring that is not brought to coil bind. This applies to all after market magazine parts manufactures (MBX, TTI, Grams, etc). Factory magazines usually have very tall followers that bottom out well before the spring gets to a coil bind state. This is how you can keep your trusty home defense blaster magazines fully loaded for years on end and they still continue to function properly.
You also need to keep an eye on how "Beat Up" the magazine spring is getting. These springs are mass produced parts that probably cost .25 cents a piece to make. How much quality control are you really expecting there to be in a mass produced part like that? I have seen Grams, Taran, Bolen, and Wolff springs all fail/weaken very quickly for whatever unknown reason other than cramming rounds into the magazine to coil bind. The MBX springs will be no different. All you can do is keep an eye on it and proactively replace them once they reach a certain level of "Beat Up". I have probably proactively replaced and thrown away more functional magazine springs in one year than most shooters will ever buy in their life time. Have I replaced springs before they are truly bad and incurred an extra expense in doing so? Hell yes I have. But to me, a $10 spring is chump change when I have already spent $1000 to attend a major match. I would gladly replace a $10 spring proactively before it starts causing issues and NOT have match ruining feeding issues. If others would prefer to throw away a whole match because they want to milk a $10 spring to get every single load life out of it then more power to you.
The spring and "overloading" the magazine may be part of the problem. But, in my case I don't think it explains the entire problem. I purchased 2 MBX 40 cal, 140 mm mags. I only loaded the mags to full capacity a couple times. The mags did not function reliably from the start. I used them for ~ 500 rounds and was getting a nose dive malfunction every 100-200 rounds. MBX sent me a replacement mag and that mag would not feed reliably either.
I'm glad they function well in some guns, but it doesn't seem like that they will function reliably in every gun.
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I'm probably in the minority in that, while I had a lot of fun, I was a little disappointed in the stages. Some of them seemed a little "simple".
A few observations/opinions:
- Stage 1 was almost the same stage in that bay 2 years ago, switching out shotgun for rifle.
- Stages 10 and 11 were nothing more than 3 shooting boxes with some targets thrown out in front of them. Both of those areas are pretty big, seems like they would be perfect for setting up some stages with some movement in them.
- I don't really care if there is one gun or all three guns on a stage, I do like to see lots of options on a stage. i.e - Do I shoot that target from here, or there or ??
- Target variety was good
- Round count was good
Overall the match was fun and I could tell that a tremendous amount of work was done both before and during the match. Thank you to all the staff for your work.
Respectfully,
Steve
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+1. I only run major PF in my 40's and 45's. Too complicated changing loads.
+ 2
But to be fair it doesn't matter what your power factor is when your name is steve ting...
And here I thought you were a nice guy!
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As for the guys having Nose Dive feeding issues, its time to start looking into your reloading practices or feeding tuning of the gun. Out of spec or poorly reloaded ammo, or poor feeding tuned guns are going to jam regardless of what mag you use. There are no "Magical" magazines out there that are going to function 100% of the time if you are feeding it crappy ammo or have a poorly tuned gun.
I'm not sure I agree with this. Before I tried the MBX mags I had over 14,000 rounds through my Brazos Custom without a malfunction. I think that most would agree that this is a well tuned gun. I case gauge and have run the same OAL and the same powder for those 14,000 rounds. I bought 2 MBX mags and they will have a "nose dive" malfunction every 100-200 rounds. The only difference here is the mags. I've not changed my reloading practice and my gun ran just fine before those mags and as long as I run my "other" tuned mags the gun runs fine.
I'm not saying that the MBX mags are bad, they just don't run well in my gun.
Edit to add-
FWIW - Gun is a Brazos Custom, 40 cal, 6 in with a Bar-Sto Barrel. I should have left things alone, but the the thought of getting 21 rounds in the mag, instead of 20 was too temping! MBX was kind enough to replace one of the mags, but unfortunately, that one didn't work either.
Respectfully,
Steve
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Anyone tried to use an Eberlestock Hunting Pack, like the X1E with an AR? I'm not sure that the scabbard is large enough since it's made for a hunting rifle.
I have a Eberlestock Gunslinger 2 and it accommodates an AR very well. The photos of the two packs look similar, but you may have to call to get dimensions.
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Anyone using this because it looks great? http://www.eberlestock.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=E1&Product_Code=R3&Category_Code=RA
Buying one for personal T&E, then hopefully permanent use.
Looks awesome! I want one too!
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My job and the support of my wife are my sponsors!
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+1. I only run major PF in my 40's and 45's. Too complicated changing loads.
+ 2
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I agree with Chuck, this match was not anything like Hard as Hell. This match was more physical than last years West Regional Match, but not even close to Hard as Hell.
3GN listened to all the complaining last year and really changed things for the better. The stages were great! Most were 90 second plus, challenging both mentally and physically, and really fun. My understanding is that the Regional Matches will each take on a "local" approach, so each match will be different.
Thank you to all the Sponsors (esp Barnes), 3GN, Ken Nelson and the rest of the staff at SUPS - you guys put on a GREAT Match!
Some video of 6 of the 8 stages.
Thanks for the video! Those stages looked fun as heck!!!
What was the longest rifle shot?
325 yds was the longest rifle target.
Their was also the dreaded 150 yard slug shot. Donavon Montross was the CRO on that stage ( and I believe the designer of that stage), he said that ~ 80% of the shooters were able to make that shot, many on their first attempt.
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I agree with Chuck, this match was not anything like Hard as Hell. This match was more physical than last years West Regional Match, but not even close to Hard as Hell.
3GN listened to all the complaining last year and really changed things for the better. The stages were great! Most were 90 second plus, challenging both mentally and physically, and really fun. My understanding is that the Regional Matches will each take on a "local" approach, so each match will be different.
Thank you to all the Sponsors (esp Barnes), 3GN, Ken Nelson and the rest of the staff at SUPS - you guys put on a GREAT Match!
Some video of 6 of the 8 stages.
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Just got word our last ditch effort to have additional help from COSSA has fallen through so as of today, the Northwest Multigun Challenge for 2015 is canceled.
Doug
Sad to hear this. This match is one of my favorites. The stages have always been awesome! I hope you will be back in 2016!
Steve
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Leave the hammer cocked, load 8, pull trigger to spit one onto lifter, rack and go.
Also, in partial reply to CJW's post.This method gives me a little pause. While the shooter "knows" their isn't a round in the chamber, the method has the potential to violate at least two of the laws of safe gun handling.
Rule : Treat every gun as if it is loaded.
- When you pull the trigger to get a round on the lifter, you are treating the gun as if it is unloaded.
Rule: Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire.
- If you are pulling the trigger in a rush to get the gun loaded, are you ready to fire and are you sure the gun is pointed in a safe direction?
I know these are technicalities, but if you train to pull the trigger while you are not truly ready to fire, then this could lead to an AD under pressure.
I prefer to quad load four, use my forefinger to hit the shell release button, then rack the slide. For me, using the forefinger is a little more reliable than using my thumb. I don't think you lose much, if any time when doing this.
Swarovski Z8I first impression
in Rifle - Technical
Posted
I did switch from a Z6i to the Z8i, and while I like the extra magnification and am very happy with the scope, I don't think the extra magnification makes that big of a difference. Especially at the ranges that are shot at most 3-Gun Matches. That being said, I would buy it again.