Mike_M

I've seen some of the Gil Ash ones on Youtube. I need to see what else Steve has on the PowerFactorShow - been too long since I've watched those anyway and I'm sure there's some new stuff on there since I was there last. Got the Breaking Clays in the mail on Friday and am reading through that. Thanks for the help guys! -Mike

I think I've heard of Breaking Clays another time or two. I think maybe I'll start with that one. Thanks! UPDATE - It's in the mail! Still open to other suggestions if anyone has something that really improved their game... -Mike

HA! That's funny. I kind of thought that was the case! openclass - yeah, I am not at all surprised by that...

Stlhead - I'm too new to tell if you're serious about the facial hair! Like it helps them sense movement or something?! That's the most interesting tip I think I've ever heard! :-) openclasst - I agree, I shouldn't have to mess with it! Do barrel manufacturers also build the barrel extenstions or are those usually bought from another vendor? In other words, is this a BHW barrel extension, or do they just add it to the barrel before it goes out the door? -Mike

Thanks guys. Lots of good info for me here. I'll get some better targets for my set-up and won't worry about the ramps until I have proof that the gun is shooting poorly. Oh, and I'm using PMAGs. Thanks! -Mike

Wow! Very cool.

As for how the rifle groups - I'm really going to show my ignorance here, but I'm not really sure how to shoot groups with this thing! My problem is at 100 yards, my 1x scope makes the 15" square target look like a match book. I can maybe get 5" groups, but is that the rifle or the Indian?! To be honest, I have no idea how to shoot for groups without like a 16x scope mounted. Is that what people do when they say, "gun shoots 1moa"? Maybe I should try some different targets so I can see if I can get a better picture with my Prismatic for a consistent hold from the bench. How do guys shoot groups with open irons? I'd guess they'd have the same issue, no?

Doubt you can see the feed ramps but I tried...

See if these pictures work. The marks are definitely from the feed ramps.

kurtm, That's what I suspected might be the case too, so I did exactly as you suggest on the next round. As soon as I can get my finger in there, I hold the round straight forward until it clears the ejection port and then I let it swing to the side. Marks are there, so it's getting them on the way up the feed ramp. I'm 99% sure that the marks are on the bottom of the bullet but there's still 1%, so let me double-check that as well... -Mike

Last time at the range with my AR (my first build). I'm shooting for groups and for some reason I had a live round in the chamber and had to eject it. Well I notice scratches on the bullet. More like Dings actually. That CAN'T be good for accuracy, can it?! So I ask the guy next to me and he seems to think it looks like a pretty significant issue. He thinks it might be from the rifling of the barrel. I say no way. The gouges (there are 2 of them) are opposite directions. like a \ / rather than a \ \ if that makes sense... Anyway, I think it has to be feed ramp. I'm shooting plastic Magpul mags, so it's not feed lips. The barrel I'm shooting is a Black Hole Weaponry. I guess my question is if marks on the bullet like that are normal? It can't be good for accuracy, can it?! I don't have pictures of it, but all I have to do is drop the bolt and strip a round off the mag and it should mark it. So I could easily do that and take a picture later tonight if you need. Thanks, Mike

Thanks SV8. I'll look those guys up and see what I can find.

I'm really loving shooting sporting clays lately. I do OK, but would like to learn more. I'm sure watching videos and reading books will only help me so much, but before I pay someone for training, I'd like to maybe get a better understanding of some fundamentals. So any books, videos, or youtube channels I should be looking at? Thanks, Mike

I have this problem as well, but for me it's more related to hearing all the other hits on steel coming from one of the 6 other bays that are also shooting at the same time I am. I hear hits all the time and sometimes the timing of hits coming from the next bay over seem to confuse me. I don't know what would help that short of stepping up to a big enough caliber that I can see the plates jump...

Man that looks fun! I think I need to look for a revolver! -Mike

Is this event open to spectators? And if so, is there anywhere I can park my 30' 5th wheel? I looked at all the links on the CT website, but don't see any info on spectators other than required safety glasses and hearing protection. Feel free to PM me or post here in case some others are wondering the same thing... Thanks! -Mike

Haven't heard much on there about the 243G trigger from Hiperfire. Is it the same as the 24C but with a traditional curved trigger rather than the "red shoe" of the 24C? Otherwise the same trigger? Anyone running one yet have a review of it? Thanks, Mike

Finally! Just placed my order.

Where do you guys get Fire Clean?! I can't find it anywhere.

Cool! Sounds like I'm not the only one! I think the other thing that kind of drove me to the clay sports the past year or so is the availability of shells. I can walk into pretty much any store that sells ammo of any kind and I can ALWAYS walk out with some boxes of shotgun shells. Try doing that with .22 ammo, or anything else really. For some reason, the target loads of shotgun shells never seemed to get "horded" like everything else... So do any of you guys reload shotgun? I'd consider doing it, but I'm not sure it pencils out? Can I reload a box of 12 ga for much less than $6 (not counting the equipment to get into reloading for shotgun)? -Mike

HA! I'm sure I won't get THAT into it! :-) But crap they're fun! Looking forward to Daylight savings so maybe I can get a round in after work some night... Hey, you guys know Daylight Savings is coming this Saturday night, right?! -Mike

While I enjoy shooting anything with a trigger, something I like about clays is I can go to the gun club with nothing but my gun and shells. I walk up to the cage and start blasting birds. Any other range I visit at the club (rifle, pistol, action range, etc) I have to call or wait for a cease fire, go set up targets, walk back to the line, wait for others, etc. Then I have to wait for the next cease fire to collect the targets. Then I have to spend half my time picking up brass! Shotgun is just so convenient! Show up, shoot, and go home. I can rip through 2 boxes of shells in what seems like only a few minutes. I'm back in the car and on with my weekend chores and ready for another week. It's therapy for me! Anyway, my name is Mike and I'm addicted to shooting clays... -Mike

You got it AC! I was looking at a rifle they had on consignment with a Young Manufacturing National Match bolt and the kid (wasn't Curt) was talking about the bolt and barrel being the only things that really affect accuracy... So if the bolt DOESN'T affect accuracy, what is a "National Match" bolt for? Just more mass so it increases lock time or something? Has nothing to do with accuracy? I'm also confused by BHW barrels. Their website I think lists them as Wylde chaimbers, but my barrel is certainly marked 5.56! I think I got mine in Nov-13, so not that long ago...

PS - FWIW, I had basically the exact same build requirements for my rifle as your list. I wanted the most precsion I could get for the least amount of $. I jumped on a good deal on my BHW barrel and it's not exactly what I had spec'd out, but seems to shoot better than me anyway.

I'm not sure how you do "precision" on a budget but the local AR shop around here says that accuracy comes from the bolt and the barrel. So how much precision are you willing to pay for there? I ended up with a Black Hole barrel and it seems to shoot great, but I'm only using iron sights, so I'm not really sure. As long as it's not a chrome lined barrel, I'm sure you'd have to spend an exponential amount of money more for a "precision" barrel for it to shoot a little better over a more "budget" barrel. See what I'm saying? It's not linear.