rboyes
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Posts posted by rboyes
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After discussing it on here I picked up a TAB Gear biathlon sling to give a try. It arrived today- seems well made and good cushioning on the shoulder straps. With a two point sling I had my qd cups on opposite sides of the rifle, but that doesn’t work with the biathlon style sling so I added another cup.
Just running around the house the biathlon seems to have less rifle movement compared to a cinched down Magpul or Vickers (I have both). Overall I think it will prove to be another good tool in the box; I’m thinking it will be handy on the longer natural terrain stages, but the traditional 2-point slings a better choice on bay stages for the extra quickness of employment.
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I don’t have any personal experience with one, but another option is an Olympic biathlon style sling.
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I’ve got 3 Criterion Hybrid barrels, 18” 223 chrome lined, 16” 308 stainless, and 20” 308 nitrided, all are rifle length gas. All 3 shoot well, and as has been mentioned previously, the profile is just going to shift the center of gravity back towards your body a bit which should feel nice. I would have gone with the core profile had then been available/in stock at the time. That being said, with a light hand guard and appropriately weighted stock, the rifles still balance out nicely.
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That’s exciting news about ETTS, hopefully it comes to fruition.
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The owner was setting up and running the match previously, but sounds like he is too busy with range operations now. An outside person or entity would likely need to handle running the match for it to exist again, like how the Cross Timbers group runs pistol matches there.
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TDSA (https://practiscore.com/clubs/tdsa_3gun) is currently the only place hosting 3 gun around DFW. With Triple C closing a few years ago and ETTS dropping 3 gun there just isn’t much left in the area. Last week at TDSA we had about 40 shooters and 5 stages.
Outside of DFW are Big Country, a great match near Abilene, and Arklatex, near Texarkana.
if you’re on Facebook then join the DFW 3 Gunners page for updates.
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A 12.5" barrel with mid-length gas doesn't give you much barrel past the gas block which means narrower window of operation. You can get more pressure at the gas port by using a slower powder for hand loads. The suppressor helps increase pressure a bit. You could try one of the Superlative Arms bleed off gas block (I don't have any personal experience with it but it sounds like it could help in your situation, and tune it to work with the weaker loads).
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My current .308 for use with optics is a JP with 16" rifle length gas Criterion with adjustable gas. That combo can cause issues if you use a very fast powder since you won't have enough port pressure in some loads. At He Man this year I used 125 SMK's going 2950fps with IMR 8208 and it functioned great, reliable, accurate and very low recoil. No issues on the far targets with a 16" barrel.
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Ejection pattern can depend on the load and how the gas system is tuned. If the rifle is reliable then don't overthink it.
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Check your gas block and gas port alignment. Some gas blocks/barrel combos should not have the block flush against the barrel shoulder. Example- I have a Criterion 308 barrel, and I installed the SLR gas block about a business card's thickness away from the shoulder in order to get the gas port holes to line up properly.
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A steak on your plate is worth two in the freezer.
My favorite is Boar's Head in Savannah. Rib eye, of course.
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But you get better fireballs with slow powder and short barrels! J/k I use IMR 8208 for .308.
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I have a fix I posted in another thread, let me take a look for it.
Edit: Please see this thread. Reducing the angle of the step I point out on the bolt catch resolved the bolt hanging back problem in my M2. http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=208201&hl%2Brboyes#entry2338094
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Powder selection also makes a difference in your rifle's operation. I've found that slower powders in my 16" rifle gas gives a wider operational window.
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Not much difference in the two lengths. Rifle gas port should see less erosion compared to midlength. Adjustable gas can make them feel the same. I'm currently using a 16" rifle length gas barrel in my .308. Works great.
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I used a mix of Carbon Arms, Invictus, and Taccom bought on my own dime before applying for a sponsorship with Carbon Arms. I like their Twins loading gear the best because of the shell retention and durability of the caddies. Besides just going prone, I've face planted in the middle of stage (see here: https://youtu.be/hhTYNOtgTDY?t=40s) and all that happened was my wife laughed at me later, since no shells came out. The shells release easy but the retention clips are robust and I've never broken one before.
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As long as your sights are steady, how you monopod on the magazine doesn't matter. If you have a mag that doesn't feed when monopodding then I would get rid of it.
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Use a little green or blue loctite to keep the screw in place.
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For close up .308 loads I use 110 FMJ bullets (ie from a M1 carbine).
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I wear my backbone even on shorter stages just because I load best from it, better than anything that is at my belt level (I keep the backbone on my stomach). I'm skinny and also load with my weakhand and have never had an issue with the first set of shells. I do, however, start by pulling shells from my right side (I'm a righty) instead of the left like you.
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I believe it is due to being designed to fit with standard M4/16 handguards that have the delta ring.
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Powerslide, PM sent.
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Here's an article I wrote last year regarding my thoughts on 3 gun 308 bullet selection:
Intro
There are so many .308 bullet choices, which one is right for me? In this article I will cover different genres of .308 bullets applicable to the 3 Gun game and help give some perspective on various bullet aspects. Proper bullet choice can potentially reduce costs and increase the He-Man/Heavy Metal shooter’s performance.
Why
.308 bullet choices can range in weight from around 100 grains to over 200 grains. Such a wide variety allows the shooter to tailor reloads to certain matches if they desire. For example, lighter bullets are superb in up close hoser situations as you will experience less recoil. Heavier bullets excel at longer range situations.
Every bullet performs differently and it is important to know what you want out of a bullet. Some factors that I consider when choosing a .308 bullet are wind deflection, drop, and cost.
Why is the wind important? Wind is one of the most chaotic aspects of long range rifle shooting. It can be consistent, it can vary, it can go one direction and speed near you and another direction and speed near the target. Therefore, the more a bullet can resist being pushed by the wind, the better. We always want to reduce chance in our game. For the wind, a higher Ballistic Coefficient (BC) is nearly always better. Nearly, but not always, because sometimes the tradeoff for a higher BC bullet is not worth it. Sometimes the additional weight, and therefore lower velocity, of a higher BC bullet does not provide less wind drift over common 3 Gun long range distances (such as 400 yards).
Drop is important because a flatter shooting bullet can make long range easier, especially without some type of ballistic compensation in your sighting system, such as in traditional iron sights or a red dot optic. Higher BC does produce less drop if velocity is equal, but frequently those higher BC bullets will be traveling more slowly. Therefore, the lighter bullets typically will drop less over our common 3 Gun distances. On the flip side, drop is consistent and repeatable, meaning you will experience the same drop within the same cartridge loading (barring extreme atmospheric conditions).
.308 bullets run the gamut of cost. The more I can save while reloading means that I can shoot more for the same money, and the higher performing bullet may not be worth the cost to you. I have separated bullets into weight categories below, and will be using a full value (90° to direction of travel) 10 mph wind and 400 yards as a reference for consistency. Remember that increasing range magnifies wind drift.
Ultra-Lights
Bullets in this class such as the Hornady 110gr VMAX can easily approach and exceed 3,000 fps in 16” and 18” barrels. Such a high velocity allows the 110’s to be very flat, though the lower BC means you should expect about 19” of drift in a 10 mph cross wind (full value) at 400 yards. The Hornadys are about $0.27 per bullet. I love the light weight bullets up close because they have the absolute lightest recoil, which can come in handy for short range bay based matches.
Lights
Several bullets in the 125gr-135gr weight class are the Speer 125gr TNT, the Sierra 125gr SMK and the Sierra 135gr SMK. Expect velocities in the 2900 fps ballpark. For about 2” more drop and a hair more recoil than the 110s your drift in a 10 mph cross wind at 400 yards drops down to about 16” (50 yard zero). The Speers are about $0.20 each while the Sierras are about $0.32 each. The balance of cost, recoil, and wind deflection make the Speer 125gr TNT an incredible value for He-Man shooters.
Mediums
There are lots of bullet choices in the 150 grain weight range; not just different manufacturers, but numerous bullet profiles even within the same weight. A few examples I will use are the Hornady 150gr FMJ and the Sierra 155 SMK. The Hornady FMJ is another bullet that is a great value. While it has a lower BC than the Hornady 155gr AMAX, it can also be found for only $0.20 per bullet. And don’t worry about the cannelure being above the case mouth; it is placed to line up with the case mouth of a 30-06 Springfield and it will work just fine with .308 Winchester. About $0.35 will get you a Sierra 155gr SMK, and at 2700 fps your wind drift at 400 yards with 10 mph of wind will drop down to about 13”. With some of the medium weight bullets such as the Berger 155gr Hybrid we start seeing potential overall length issues. The bullet is so long that you begin using a lot more case capacity to get the cartridge to fit into a magazine. For me, the 155s are best weight for maximum wind-busting ability for common 3 Gun distances. They really shine at matches such as Rocky Mountain, where you can expect to see lots of long range targets with varied wind.
Heavies
I’m lumping bullets weighing 168 grains and up together in the heavy class. While these heavier bullets such as the Sierra 168 SMK, 175 SMK, or Hornady 178 AMAX will get you a higher BC, that doesn’t always equate to less wind drift. The reason for it is due to the lower velocity we can achieve because of our barrel lengths and the distances we typically shoot. If we shot at much longer distances then we would start seeing the higher BC provide an advantage. Add in more drop because the bullets are travelling slower as well as cost at and over $0.30 and you see why I don’t bother with them. The only reason that I would choose a bullet of this weight for 3 Gun is if it is significantly more accurate from your rifle.
The Bottom Line
There are a variety of bullet weights for the He-Man/Heavy Metal shooter to pick from. Each has different attributes and it is important to pick the blend that best suits your needs and budget. In the below picture I have lined up a variety of .308 bullets that are currently in my reloading room.
Currently I am using Armscor 110gr FMJ’s and Sierra 155gr TMK’s. When I shoot longer range matches I want maximum wind busting abilities, though the TMK’s are quite pricey. To balance the cost, I save money and recoil with the 110’s. If I was not shooting past 300 or so I would likely stick with the Speer 125gr TNT as my go to bullet. Having two loads takes more time but I prefer to have the right bullet for the right target. I’ve never had a problem using both loads in one stage, or even one magazine.
From Left to Right:
Armscor 110gr FMJ
Speer 125gr TNT
Sierra 125gr SMK
Hornady 150gr FMJ
Hornady 155gr AMAX
Berger 155gr Hybrid
Sierra 155gr TMK
Sierra 155gr SMK
Sierra 168gr SMK
Sierra 180gr SMK
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I have PRI and Barrett 6.8spc magazines. Both brands have worked flawlessly. I believe the Barrett's are only 30 rounds but PRI has multiple capacities which can be convenient if shooting off a lower height bipod, hunting, etc. Sadly both brands are rather expensive.
2011 High Plains Shooting Challenge
in Multi-Gun, Rifle & Shotgun Match Announcements
Posted · Edited by rboyes
Be sure to advertise it in the DFW 3 Gunners Facebook group- we have a thriving community down here and you might be able to get some to drive up for matches depending on which weekends they are. We had a local carbine match last December and drew nearly 60 competitors.