Carlos

Looks like Ruger makes: both receivers, barrel, BCG and piston system. they farm out: rail handguard, grip, sights. Dunno about the rest.

Sure thing. My belief is: longevity. Here is an article on the Ruger AR barrel years before Ruger created it (see inside for details) http://technology.calumet.purdue.edu/met/h...elsonAR-15s.pdf Here is an article showing the process (which explains why so few US companies use it: not enough start up dough) http://technology.calumet.purdue.edu/met/h...%20No_%207).htm There are more articles at that site on hammer forging. Other articles I have lost track of over time. My own impression is that forged barrels are incredibly tough and need little break in. As far as the HK forged barrels, they used to do a demo with their LEO/mil belt fed HK21 where they'd run a ridiculously long continuous belt through it without stoppages and not destroying the barrel. Sure, steel has a lot to do with it too, but I think the process is certainly sound - and probably makes for a longer-lasting barrel (though I've not shot out any of mine yet). At any rate, I think Ruger's new offering could surprise some folks. As to cost MSRP cost: true - the MSRP cost is approaching a "built-for-uspsa" JP rifle - and the features of the new Ruger are not really features that our sport needs (as in "not required to win competitions"). Nevertheless, if you compare apples to apples by comparing the Ruger to other piston-driven, railed handguard ARs, I think it will stack up and be priced competitively. And the price at your local store bight be a whole lot less than MSRP. I also view this as good news because so many shops carry Ruger rifles; these new ARs might just expand the field of AR owners quite a bit and that is a win-win situation for all.

You are 100% correct; the new Ruger is NOT over-priced for ars with 1) piston system and 2) rail system. Plus, it has a HAMMER FORGED barrel like the HK 416. HK won't sell you a 416. Nor will they warranty one. If you can find one from a private seller, it will set you back $3000 to $4500 for the upper alone! Here is an example of a ar with 1) piston and 2) rail system: MSRP: $1995, only 1 magazine and NO hammer forged barel: http://www.lewismachine.net/product.php?p=...2095b69df9755eb Here is Colt's $2000 model 6940 - which is very difficult to find & costs up to $2500 - WITHOUT a piston system at all: Sure - you can still find lots of models WITHOUT a piston and WITHOUT a railed handguard for under $1000. If those features don't appeal to you, then you should not pay for them. But please understand that these features are desirable to many, are expensive, & thus, the Ruger is NOT over-priced.

Luck - my foot! Ed, you got talent. No mistake here: you earned that win. Combine talent with lots of dry-fire, and it's all coming together for you. Next tasty beer is on me. d

Ruger just announced the introduction of this: Here are some specs, in addition to the (IMHO) all important COLD HAMMER FORGED barrel: Adding to the rugged reliability of the SR-556 is the four-position, chrome-plated gas regulator. The regulator and piston driven system puts the operator in control, allowing the shooter to tune the rifle to specific ammunition conditions, which in turn minimizes recoil and maximizes reliability and long-term endurance. The gas system may be closed completely for manual operation during training or when using a suppressor. The compact 16-1/8" chrome-lined barrel is cold hammer-forged from Mil-Spec 41V45 steel, providing outstanding accuracy potential and longevity. These barrels are made to exacting tolerances in-house at Ruger, which offers some of the best barrels available anywhere, at any price. When it comes to high-quality accessories, Ruger didn't cut any corners. ...More The SR-556 comes standard with Troy Industries Folding BattleSights™ - a $260 value. The windage adjustable rear sight and elevation adjustable front sight co-witness with Mil-Spec optics and can be easily removed to make room for high-power scopes. The sights can be folded down with the push of a button, or quickly flipped up with your thumbs. The robust sights are constructed of aircraft grade aluminum with stainless steel hardware and feature .5 MOA positive click adjustments and instantly convertible short and long range apertures. The following accessories also come standard with the SR-556: **Troy Industries Quad Rail Handguard - Made especially for Ruger, this one-piece, ten-inch quad rail handguard is pinned to the upper receiver and provides a rigid mount for the piston driven transfer rod. ** 6-Position Telescoping M4-Style Buttstock - This collapsible stock allows the length of pull to be adjusted from 10.25" to 13.50". It also house a mil-spec buffer and spring and includes a rear sling swivel. ** Hogue® Monogrip® Pistol Grip - Hogue's industry-leading black, rubber grip with finger grooves provides comfort when carrying and shooting. ** Three MAGPUL PMAG™ 30-Round Magazines - PMAG magazines feature a pop-off storage/dust cover that allows for long-term storage, and utilizes a stainless steel spring for corrosion resistance, and an anti-tilt, self-lubricating follower. ** Three Troy Industries Rail Covers - Rail covers provide a comfortable, ergonomic hold on the unused portions of the handguard's Picatinny rails. Here is the best part: it comes with THREE Magpul 30 round magazines. And it is all US-made. In honor of Ruger's evolution since Bill passed on, I am modifying my tag line here in BE.com; Bill's actions cannot be explained nor defended, but its clear Ruger has changed (for the better).

- I agree with that portion. OP specified "1911/2011" If we are talking STI 2011 Edge, the base price of admission is over $1600 - and that is BEFORE you buy all the mags you will need. My stock Edge 5.0 was not 100% reliable as it came from STI. Question is: how much over than 1600 do you have to go? As for "other platforms" - Sevigny wins with a $650 G35 & AAA ammo - proving it can be done; it might take practice. But what platform does NOT require a ton of practice? -For about $900, you can find CZ Tactical Sports .40s with a from-the-factory 1.75 lb trigger (I owned TWO of them. Consistent, reliable triggers). $1600 would get you a nice custom TS from Angus. -Our own Henning could set you up with a custom Tanfoglio like this one, starting with a base price of about $1250: In closing, no, I do not think spending $3000 for a custom is "worth it" as far as progressing in the sport. But like the custom choppers you see built on cable TV, it is all subjective. If you want a custom and you have the money, I guess you need it.

Dunno which one he means. But I leased a BMW for 2 years. The dealership changed the oil when the car indicated it: just over 14,000 miles. -their car, their rules. And THEY pay for the oil change under the lease program. You gotta wonder: if it is their car, why wouldn't they take the best care of it possible? (unless, 14,000 miles + synthetic + listening to the on-board oil condition monitor IS the correct care needed for optimal performance?).

It was a no-brainer back when I leased a 3 series BMW - the car had sensors that measured the precise interval for the oil change (full synthetic of course). Based on my driving, the correct interval was just over 14,000 miles. I leased for 2 years & did not ever have to bring it in for oil change #2. BMW has the answer: the interval should be measured individually by each and every car as no two are alike, nor are they driven alike.

Please lock your gun TO your luggage. Off topic - I realize - but thefts of guns have only increased since the economic downturn, and airport thefts by baggage handlers are RARELY solved. Here is what you need to do: your handgun must be in either: 1) a hardcase inside your soft luggage or 2) in a separate hard case. YOU want option #1. Next, you have to drill a hole in the case. Sorry - no way around it unless you use one of the older Glock cases. Next, put a cable lock through the triggergaurd/magwell AND through a hard/solid part of your luggage so that the gun CANNOT be taken out of the suitcase. Why does this work? Because - handguns are stolen when a baggage handler sticks down his/her pants & walks out. Its much harder to stick a whole suitcase in your pants. What about TSA? TSA won't cut your cable lock. TSA has NO reason to separate your gun from your larger suitcase. Please take this seriously - we all have to pitch in to prevent gun theft and all its implications.

I would shoot them at Minor/Production power factor & see what happens. The jacket might come apart in flight; that bullet will be spinning rather fast once it leaves the barrel. But I would not worry about sealing the gases in ; remember, black powder guns used cloth or paper as a patch (imaging how poorly THAT seals). I would not use them at the higher pressures of Major because I would be concerned about tearing the jacket off on the ports, damaging the compensator, etc.

Everyone knows that gun-nut Phil Specter; I am not surprised you ran into him at a shooting event (thought I thought he was in jail??!?). Here is a photo of him and he is even holding a gun! You got spanked by HIM?!?!!?

Quite a can of worms, there. Few thoughts to keep in mind: -there won't be one clear answer at the end of this. -keep in mind "where" the advice comes from. Around here, we don't shoot 350 yard stages very often - there simply is not that sort of open land "around here" (near D.C.). You are in TX. Lot of open land out there I hear. My ideal rifle for "here" ain't the same as it might be in your neck of the woods. -Reliability is critical. Thus, mid-length at a minimum; rifle length if you can. -Finally, didn't one of our resident experts post something a few years back about how even his beat-up, rarely-cleaned Bushmaster still kept almost all of them inside the A at hundreds of yards? Point was: even the most basic ARs have the accuracy & that the game was won/lost elsewhere (ie don't sweat the barrel choice too much).

Further discussion of Nordyke, the future of Heller, & the upcoming challenge in the 2nd Circuit: http://reason.com/news/show/133331.html As to challenge to arbitrary "CLEO" for Title II firearms, it is my understanding that the original NFA (now incorporated into GCA '68) simply said that Title II firearms were federally licensed, and therefore permitted, PROVIDED they complied with all local laws. Without a mechanism to check all local laws in 1934, they simply added the "CLEO" sign-off as a compromise. I also understand it has been challenged in court - and plaintiffs lost - though that was PRE HELLER. A renewed challenge might be ripe.

I'd avoid "antique" (er - meant to say "unique") at all costs. Burns too slow, dirty as hell, smokes, temp sensitive and it stinks. Designed before 1900, Unique might technically "work" - but like a Model T Ford that still "works," there have been superior developments over the past 100 years which accomplish the task better. I prefer Solo 1000, Clays, and if you cant find either, then as a last resort, W231/Hodgdon HP38 or bullseye.

My early SP01 eventually did the same thing (it came through custom CZ channels). EERW's fix is 100% on the money. d

Mine is a MKI I bought around 2004. Springs: Mine sometimes releases 2 shells at once; one gets loaded and the other sits on the carrier. So long as you keep firing, the gun works. BUT, that shell prevents loading the tube. There is supposed to be a stronger spring for the tube's "keeper" (dunno what you would call that part - but it keeps the rounds in the tube). Anyone know where/who for that Spring? (Wolff I imagine. Got a part #?). Also, I began having light strikes some time ago - even with Federal ammo. A heavier Wolff hammer spring solved the issue - though the trigger is much heavier now

Brass-plating steel cases is, I agree, a low-down, underhanded, sneaky rotten thing to have done, and I do not blame anyone for trashing such brass on that basis alone. AND, that sharp edge on the pocket of all S&B brass bites me in the butt from time to time too - just not enough so that I skip S&B altogether. Maybe after my 650's priming system blows up someday, I'll join the "S&B is scrap!" band wagon.

I agree with you Larry & congrats to you and all our members in California. Finally, groups are seeking to secure citizen's firearms rights and freedoms under the Constitution (especially as those rights pertain to competition handgun/3gun competition in California). Too often our community nationwide only focuses on the negatives in California; it is nice to finally highlight some progress and hope in my former home state. Here is what I believe Larry is referring to (these can also be found in the Firearms laws section - thnx): 2 lawsuits have been filled in the wake of the Nordyke decision w/ the assistance of lawyer Alan Gura / CATO Institute. Here are 2 brief summaries I located on the site for the Calguns Foundation (provided for information only; please keep this thread open by avoiding any political comment - thanks, D.). 1) Sykes-v-McGinness (filed 5/5/2009) "BELLEVUE, WA and REDWOOD CITY, CA – The Second Amendment Foundation, The Calguns Foundation and three California residents today filed a lawsuit seeking to vindicate the right to bear arms against arbitrary state infringement. Nearly all states allow qualified law-abiding citizens to carry guns for self-defense, but a few states allow local officials to arbitrarily decide who may exercise this core Second Amendment right. In the action filed today, Plaintiffs challenge the policies of two California Sheriffs, in Sacramento and Yolo counties, who reject the basic human right of self defense by refusing to issue ordinary people gun carry permits. Of course, violent criminals in the impacted counties continue to carry guns without police permission. State scientist Deanna Sykes believes her sexual orientation and small stature makes her an appealing target for criminals, particularly as she often transports firearms as a competitive shooter and firearms instructor. “I am highly qualified to defend myself against the sort of crime that the Sheriff cannot, despite his best efforts, completely eradicate,” Sykes said. “Violent crime is a real risk in our society, but happily, we enjoy the right to defend ourselves from it.” Andrew Witham has over 15 years experience as a police officer in Britain, and is licensed to carry a firearm while working as a private investigator and campus public safety officer. But despite having been the target of death threats stemming from his work in security, Sheriff John McGinness saw to it that Witham’s license to carry a gun while away from work was revoked upon Witham’s relocation to Sacramento. “I’m allowed to defend other people,” said Witham, “so why can’t I defend myself, where the Bill of Rights guarantees me that right?” Adam Richards, a Northern California attorney, would also exercise his right to bear arms in self- defense. But the Yolo County Sheriff’s policy on gun permit applications is: don’t bother. “How can the Sheriff tell whether I am capable of responsibly exercising my Second Amendment rights, when he doesn’t even acknowledge that these rights exist?” Attorney Alan Gura, representing the plaintiffs in this case, said, “It’s a shame that these Sheriffs don’t think that self-defense is a ‘good cause’ to exercise the right to bear arms, but we’re confident the Second Amendment reflects a better policy.” Added co-counsel Donald Kilmer, “The California carry licensing system is being abused by some officials who are hostile to self-defense rights. The police can regulate the carrying of guns, and that includes preventing dangerous people from being armed. Complete deprivation of the right to bear arms, however, is not an option under our Constitution.” “The Supreme Court’s decision last year in the Heller case shows that there is both a right to keep arms and a right to bear arms,” said SAF founder Alan Gottlieb. “In most states, authorities do not deny a license to carry an operable firearm to any law-abiding applicant that completes training and a background check. This is also the practice throughout much of California. These two Sheriffs must respect the constitutional rights of their citizens to bear arms.” “California is often a leader in so many ways, but our state lags badly in streamlining its firearms laws,” said Gene Hoffman, Chairman of The Calguns Foundation. “We need 21st century gun laws that respect our Constitutional rights, and adopt modern, widely accepted practices that work well throughout the United States. Hopefully this action will serve as a wake-up call to our legislators, and to those officials who stubbornly resist accommodating Second Amendment rights. If they don’t reform, reform will come through litigation.” The Second Amendment Foundation (www.saf.org) is the nation’s oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 600,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control. The Calguns Foundation (www.calgunsfoundation.org) is a non-profit legal defense fund for California gun owners. The Calguns foundation works to educate government and the public and protect the rights of individuals to own and lawfully use firearms in California. A copy of the complaint is available: http://www.hoffmang.com/firearms/sykes/Syk...-2009-05-09.pdf 2) Pena-v-Cid (filed 4/30/2009) BELLEVUE, Wash. & REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Apr 30, 2009 -- The Second Amendment Foundation, The Calguns Foundation and four California residents today filed a lawsuit challenging a California state law and regulatory scheme that arbitrarily bans handguns based on a roster of "certified" handguns approved by the State. This case parallels a similar case filed in Washington, D.C., Hanson v. District of Columbia. California uses this list despite a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court last summer that protects handguns that ordinary people traditionally use for self-defense, and a recent ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that the Second Amendment applies to state and local governments. The California scheme will eventually ban the purchase of almost all new handguns. Attorney Alan Gura, representing the plaintiffs in this case, noted that California "tells Ivan Pena that his rights have an expiration date based on payment of a government fee. Americans are not limited to a government list of approved books, or approved religions," he said. "A handgun protected by the Second Amendment does not need to appear on any government-approved list and cannot be banned because a manufacturer does not pay a special annual fee." "The Para Ordnance P-13 was once approved for sale in California," Pena noted, "but now that a manufacturer didn't pay a yearly fee, California claims the gun I want to own has somehow become 'unsafe'." "The Glock-21 is the handgun I would choose for home defense, but California has decided the version I need is unacceptable. I was born without a right arm below my elbow and therefore the new ambidextrous version of the Glock-21 is the safest one for me. The identical model designed for right hand use is available in California, but I can't use it," said plaintiff Roy Vargas. Added SAF founder Alan Gottlieb, "The Supreme Court's decision is crystal clear: Handguns that are used by people for self-defense and other lawful purposes cannot be banned, whether the State likes it or not. California needs to accept the Second Amendment reality." Co-counsel Jason Davis remarked, "The California Handgun Roster has always been about making the possession of handguns for self defense more difficult by imposing arbitrary and unconstitutional restrictions that limit choice and increase the cost of exercising a fundamental right." Joining plaintiffs Pena and Vargas are Dona Croston and Brett Thomas. Dona Croston's handgun would be allowed if it were black, green, or brown, but her bi-tone version is supposedly 'unsafe' merely based on color. "I didn't realize that my constitutional rights depended on color. What is it about two colors that makes the gun I want to purchase 'unsafe'?" Brett Thomas seeks to own the same model of handgun that the Supreme Court ordered District of Columbia officials to register for Dick Heller. However, that particular model is no longer manufactured, and its maker is no longer available to process the handgun's certification through the bureaucracy. "There is only one model of handgun that the Supreme Court has explicitly ruled is protected by the Second Amendment and yet California will not allow me to purchase that gun," said Mr. Thomas. "The so-called 'safe' gun list is just another gun-grabbing gimmick," said co-counsel Donald Kilmer. "California can't get around the Second Amendment, as incorporated, by declaring most normal guns 'unsafe,' and gradually shrinking the number of so-called 'safe' guns to zero." The Second Amendment Foundation ( www.saf.org) is the nation's oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 600,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control. The Calguns Foundation ( www.calgunsfoundation.org) is a non-profit legal defense fund for California gun owners. The Calguns foundation works to educate government and the public and protect the rights of individuals to own and lawfully use firearms in California. You can find the complaint in the case here: http://www.hoffmang.com/firearms/pena/Pena...d-complaint.pdf

Interesting. How does it compare to the 147 grn over V V N310 @ 875 FPS??

There is a misunderstanding in the posts above: S&B's primer pockets are NOT crimped in any way, nor are they any "tighter" than most US produced brass. Before anyone asks "so then why did I have such trouble seating primers?" - look at the manufacturing process. S&B = primer pocket machined into the case. The pocket has a left-over, sharp-edged shoulder from where the brass was milled away when they machined the brass in the Czech Republic. If you are crushing primers during seating with S&B, then your priming set up is not perfectly centered, or it is loose enough that sometimes a primer catches on that shoulder (happens in my old 650XL from time to time). U.S. brass = punched pocket. The US makers simply forge or punch the pocket into the brass in a rather crude (though effective) way. This is why there is a lot of left over crap around the flash hole inside the case. Punching also leaves a nice, forgiving chamfer around the pocket - which is why you never have priming issues with it no matter how sloppy your priming set up is. The S&B case is actually a higher precision case than most US brass. I use it for 9mmMajor because its strong and easy to tell if its once-fired (factory primers are sealed). And, if you simply use a Dillon 1050 with a built in swage station, then S&B (and actual crimped pockets from .mil brass) do not slow you down at all.

Well, lets be clear here. It has no place being on the course of fire. The Range Officer isn't part of the shooting problem. Most of us wear electronic hearing protection --- and as a result can hear most of the squad in the bay at Make Ready. So how is a phone in the ROs pocket different than a phone in a squadmember's pocket, when that squadmember is standing close enough for the competitor to hear the phone? It seems to me that we have rules in place to deal with this situation, so why are we still having the conversation? And why are some folks advocating either chucking the phone (which is an inanimate object that didn't do anything) over the berm, or advocating violence against the RO? (And I'm pretty sure that was tongue in cheek......) Man up and shoot! :roflol: No comment beyond: good reminder to avoid the issue entirely by setting my cell to vibrate next match. AND - please continue you two; this is quite entertaining.

Since we are also disclosing negative side effects, and I happened to have mentioned the ephedrine tablets once sold at truck stops (think it was called "Max Alert"??) - I thought I might add: -one of the possible side effects of ephedrine is: death. There is good reason that the pure ephedrine stuff is banned now, and even the psuedo-ephdrine in cold remedies is kept behind the counter since its used by junkies to make crank! School kids sometimes got ahold of ephedrine & when too much is ingested, it can cause heart attacks. It is not suitable for our sport. As for Mate tea, if it has any bad side effects, I am not aware of what they might be. Supposedly it even kills all germs (though I believe that is a myth).

There was a discussion of the new "5 hour energy drink" that is all the rage now. Consensus was: its a massive dose of B12. Since then, I take 2 tablets of B12 & a regular multivitamin in the morning before work. Keeps me awake at the office after a sleepless night taking care of the little princess (10 months old now & still the best baby ever!). As far as stimulants? Back when I drove interstate between courts, I used the ephedrine tablets they used to sell at truck stops; though I think its banned now. I also used to drink Mate tea back when I lived down south. THAT will wake you up!

Yeah yeah, winchester/St Marks - same thing. everyone knows that. Look at the other replies above; they say the exact same thing I did: its a commercial grade powder that St Marks does not sell to the public. AAA is great ammo, whatever they use. Personally, I like single base Solo 1000 for 147s.

Shelf life. All of the current "non-toxic" or "lead free" primers made anywhere have a limited shelf life. Speer training ammo for LEO come in cases marked "Use by 20XX" - within 5 years of manufacture. After 5 years some of the ammo will still work. Some won't. In contrast to the new "unleaded" primers, our old stand by "leaded" primers last indefinitely. I am all for keeping down our lead exposure, but I am against any wider use of these primers. Please draw your own conclusions as to the gun control ramifications of a primer with a shelf life since any further discussion of gun control is a forum violation (& thus would not be respectful to our host or our mods). D.