sinister

Guy, consider it yours (sorry, TSL). What I liked: If they had made the original 2011 with a metal frame I think this is about 90% of that. The slick frame needs texturing -- buy their version 2 or 3 with the factory checkering and cerakote and save yourself some ass-pain.. I used stair landing tape from Lowes (kinda like sandpaper with adhesive backing). What I didn't like: It doesn't fit a Gen 1. You're going to have to file off metal. Not a big deal if you're patient. I am not a gunsmith. For some reason the dimensions are a little off -- the disconnector was now too long and the sear wouldn't set. Two brand-new out-of-the-wrapper Gen 1 magazines wouldn't even fit in the grip without binding and would NOT drop free. I'm sure if you're handy with files you can make it work.

Bought one (with the smooth finish for after-market grip tape) -- wasn't a drop-in on an SAS-serialed Gen 1 frame. Took a LOT of filing to fit. Gun still fits Blade Tech and G-Code level II .mil holster. Feels really nice in the hand, shot OK (a little over a thousand rounds of .45 in 155, 185, 200, and 230 Ball). Took it off, put the original STI plastic back on. Anyone wants it, you pay postage and I'll send it to you.

Hard chroming is generally prohibited in the aircraft/parachute hardware manufacturing industry precisely because of hydrogen embrittlement. You certainly wouldn't want a piece of life-support hardware failing during load or after extensive vibration. Put it on a hobby gun and generally all you risk is a cracked frame or slide.

Eric, The kids will like the UFO Museum when you're going back thru Roswell. I'm not sure they have any north of town, but the prairie dogs are out in force down by Kirtland Air Base. My wife and son always get a kick out of watching them run around.

The Sandia Peak Tram. Skiing at the top. The Balloon Museum off I-25 towards Rio Rancho. Balloon rides. The Explora Kids' Hands-On Science Museum and the National Atomic Museum. The Zoo and the Aquarium. The Petroglyph National Monument. Indian Pueblos Museum. A little further out: Fly-fishing in northern New Mexico (the Jemez River and the San Juan River). Carlsbad Caverns. Los Alamos Bradbury Science Museum.

The rear sight is a standard GG&G flip-up for Picatinny rails. The front sight is the GG&G 1323 for AR-10s with a railed gas block, mounted on top of a LaRue 9.0. It was within 1 click of on-target when I got to the range this afternoon -- perfect! The Yankee Hill folding front sight for rails on top of a Yankee Hill 1/2-inch riser was too tall. To get a 25-yard point-of-aim/point-of-impact I had to turn the front sight down into the housing so far the blade was barely visible and within the flange thickness of bottoming out in the sight housing. GG&G AR-10 sight:

I see much potential goodness coming out of NRA's interest in 3-Gun in many ways (both for shooters and for the NRA). NRA, in my singular opinion, sucks out loud as far as attracting and maintaining a population or base of competitive and hobby shooters. The majority of the mailers, e-mails, and phone calls I've received from them over the last 25+ years are centered on fund-raising for ILA. Granted an important and noble cause, but they're like the in-law who only visits for hand-outs. NRA's promotion of the National Matches at Camp Perry sucks as well. They are being edged out for participation by Civilian Marksmanship Program matches and young shooter training and education (CMP has a well-defined mission of running the National Matches, regional matches, and promoting youth shooting). NRA charges too much, offers too little, and wonders why folks are supporting other disciplines (namely practical shooting and Cowboy shooting). Supporting and sponsoring a vital, healthy, and growing sport like 3-Gun helps to polish their image with the folks who actually spend (lots) of money pursuing their favorite activities of turning ammunition into happiness. 3-Gunners are already believers -- they've made the investment in 3 guns already for crying out loud (so have the Cowboys with a six-gun, lever action, and shotgun). I think NRA would do well to sponsor practical shooting. It would showcase high-capacity rapid-fire weapons in "Legitimate, recognized, and regulated national sports." It certainly wouldn't hurt us in the mainstream media with their already deep institutional bias. NRA promotion of the use of non-humanoid targets came about from the assassination of JFK and the '68 shootings of Martin Luther King, Jr., and RFK, most certainly high-visibility political targets. Fast forward to today's 9-11 era and the age of knuckleheads who want to blow themselves up or shoot up kids in school and the IPSC target argument is less an issue. USPSA should be helping NRA out. Whining like the weekend rule challenger does not help 3-Gun grow. CMP's rule book is complementary with the NRA rule books (they regulate the National Matches and Excellence-in-Competition matches and DO NOT replace NRA rules -- the CMP books in fact reference NRA rules). What could we do if everyone who owns a rifle, pistol, and shotgun 3-Gun set wanted to shoot every other weekend (alternating weekends doing family stuff or duding up in their Cowboy outfits)? Just my two cents.

Congrats! For a first-time match you did exceptionally well (a 450 is 90% in each event -- an NRA Expert score)! The secret is practice-practice-practice. The standing position, once you learn it, comes down to repetition. My winter regimen included between 30 to 45 minutes of off-hand dry-fire every night. Welcome to target shooting, and good luck on your pursuit of the Distinguished Rifleman's Badge -- quite the accomplishment for any shooter, especially an Air Force guy.

These from Brownells might work, too:

I'll bet a railed gas block flip sight clamped to the top of a 4-rail tube like a Daniel Defense or Larue might be close to the right height without having to buy a separate adaptor -- perhaps the one for an AR-10, as they're slightly higher than the ones for an AR-15: YHM 9584 YHM 9495 Midwest Industries for an AR-10

SFC Joe Harless at the AMU built my STI double-stack 45. He built the mags using STI tubes, followers, and springs and Bevan Grams' bases. After tuning, each of the mag tubes was sent to Robar to be plated with NP3. That seems to do the trick -- I've never had a stoppage with this pistol (only shot aound 2500 rounds through it, though).

Aaron, Remember we do these things not for ourselves, but for something bigger than self. I'm glad to hear the match was a success. Judging by shooters' comments I think it's taken root. LTC Connet told me you guys were dedicating the match for Tung Nguyen -- a dedicated gun queer who shot EVERYTHING from BB guns and IPSC 3-gun to one-handed bullseye and 1,000-yard rifle. I can't think of a better way to be remembered than by guys who love shooting. I'm sure next year will be even better and more imaginative. All the best, Dave Liwanag

Nope. Soap and really HOT water (Dawn dishwashing detergent is a good one) are the most effective in clearing off the corrosive salts, followed by your favorite petroleum-based cleaning solvent and lubricating/protective oil.

Match Teaser... Have visited the range and it is looking really nice. Brinson Range (its current name until paperwork is completed to change the name for an AMU Coach-alumni and Distinguished Service Cross awardee) was, until not too long ago a plain rutted and gullied field. It is now four 25 x 25-meter bays, four 25 x 50 meter bays, a 200-meter carbine/rifle bay, and a chronograph bay with nice grass. Everything is within easy walking distance (the bays are literally dress-right dressed the way the Army likes them). Without giving anything away, you are going to do things in this match civilians haven't done before in competition. Cool stuff. Hopefully fun stuff. Not necessarily ninja stuff, but bring cameras (you'll dig it). I like the way Hamp has not posted the courses (some of the stuff you ain't going to be able to rehearse anyways). Hamp, Travis, Max, Greg, Robbie, Joe, and Jim (and some Ranger Indoctrination Program studs) have been putting in buckets of elbow grease to get the props up. There will be an AMU Shop truck on-station if your favorite Roscoe bites the dust (no custom work, just emergency repairs to get you back in the fight). I think the farthest rifle shot is only 300 meters (limited by range space), so shoot what you brung.