MarkCO

Had it for a few weeks so far. I am impressed with it so far. For 3Gun (my opinion based on playing with them) the Circle dot is the better choice. Been running it on the .308, will move to the .223 next week and get a video up after that. From a weight perspective, can't really tell the difference between the 1-5 and the 1-8. The MAD knobs are very cool and a feature that a lot of folks will like.

There are some 3Gun matches that go out to 600, but not a lot. TAC is fine for 1MOA out to about 600 with 69s, 75s and 77s. Varget is a bit slow for the 16 and 18 inch barrels and even at the same velocity, will wear a barrel faster than some of the other powders. If ultimate accuracy is the only concern for longer barrel lengths, I can see where Varget could get top billing. FWIW, like someone else posted early on, I could never get the 68g Hornady's to group well in my ARs. The 75s, yep, but there is something with those 68s that many have had issues with.

I have 5 of them (I think) and I have only changed the battery in 3. They go years on one battery. Burris is always a tad slower in September and October with hunting season, but they will fix it for you.

I was told (by a Burris employee) that the new AR1X won't be out this year. Hoping for Spring 2017. Not scrapped, but not front burner either.

Pin and welded...I would go simple, maybe even get one melonited, and certainly one that has proven it can go at least as long as the barrel. No primary chamber either.

I use a polymer spacer. It is cut to give me about 1/4" of bolt travel past the bolt catch. QC10 Glock9mm lower.

Just as an FYI, I will go through the gear I used. Once they changed the rules, I shot my SMM3G "stealth" division gear, A Tac-Scope legal 16" AR15 with a Burris XTRII 1-5 and a sling I custom made that worked great (2" bungee strap is awesome). M2 Shotgun 23.3" tube and a front fiber optic. M&P Pro9 pistol. I used the excellent L.A.G. Tactical 3Gun holster and a Coyote tan and OD green Carbon Arms chest rig for shotgun. Loaded all Twins. I used a DSG competition belt (worked great) and Molle/Nylon/Bungee cord magazine carriers. Started pistol with a stock 17 rounder and loaded to a 170mm 28 rounder. Had two 140mm 23 round mags, carried them for three days, never used them. Used 3 30 round magazines. I did use a 20 round empty mag in the AR on the pistol standards. Pistol standards ate my lunch, but the bungee sling was nice. As Colin noted "Got greedy" and went for a bonus plate and as a result, only shot 2 of the 7 engagements. 5 of 7 strings not shot...you do the math...hurts too much. Shot 147 grain Xtremes at 142PF and 69grain ,223 at 190PF. Used B&P 3Gun slugs (one of very few who got 3 of the 4 100 yard poppers) and Fed 00 FliteControl Buck on one stage and Estate Low recoil 22 pellet buck on the other. Kind of opposite ends of the spectrum and both did fine. Boutique ammo did not matter. I will likely add a bi-pod next year. It would have helped on Roberts Ridge and rifle standards. I might shoot my He-Man rifle next year. I did not see any advantage to running a 8.5# .223 vs a 10# .308. More points would have helped on a few stages. Switching pistols seemed to hurt as much as it helped a few of my squadmates and focus on As seems like a better plan for me. A Kurtism..."Two hits on the rock" translates to "watch that muzzle boy".

I am going to modify the bump drill, 3 shots per position: 300 yards on IDPA paper with rifle, 100 yards on IDPA paper with slugs, 35 yards on IDPA paper with pistol. Goal is all 0s probably 100 seconds Par. PS. Practice over the winter, not "winner".

Everyone who went won. Everyone who did not lost. I honestly have never cared less about the match winner and focused on my own personal performance. I now have a few new drills to practice over the winner...not for the match performance, but because the stages pointed out some flaws in my technique and fundamentals. I shot no video either. Video can NOT do this match justice.

A small bit of reflection... I guess if I had to use a phrase to describe Resurgence, it would be this...Fundamentals stressed in a fluid environment. There were plenty of stages that had Virginia counts and par times, unknown target locations and distances added to the stressors. If your equipment, fundamentals and ability to think, process and adapt on the clock were not solid the penalties and misses came quickly. But no walkthroughs...YES. No "I'm special" shooter bogarting the walkthrough time was refreshing, even more so, no trying to find the loophole and arguing with the RO. . Full power ammo, managing pace and making sure the sights were on target for every trigger squeeze. The first day was a disaster on my scoresheets. I got some adrenaline dumps and butterflies I have not experienced on the clock in several years. Knocking off the rust (Have not been able to shoot much this summer) and adapting my mental processes took several stages to revert back to fundamentals and let the time be where it ends up. Day two was better and Day three, I finally got it hooked up and shot well. I expected to be challenged in a few areas that I was not and I was challenged in a few areas I did not expect. I think that is really the beauty of this match. Pick your tools and when they say go, figure it out and execute the fundamentals, not a choreographed drag race. With several Mil/LE guys shooting the match and watching them respond, I can see why SOF was THE match for these professions that rely on firearms in potentially lethal situations...you just have to figure it out. Loved that aspect. The people were amazing. John of JPRifles and his company promote the sport so much and were exceptionally generous and gracious as hosts. While I know most of the people who were running and ROing the match, their character and passion came out much more in the high desert of the Blue Steel Ranch. I felt like I was among family the whole time, a feeling I have lamented being lost in 3Gun from when I first started working/shooting 3Gun at Rocky Mountain 3Gun about 10 years ago. Jimmy, Zak, Kurt, Eric, and all of the rest of staff did a great job. The scoring was fast and accurate. While there were some "in character" comments and answers, you always knew that they wanted to see their customers enjoy the experience and do their best. If any of that sounds good to you, or if you chickened out, come be deplorable with us in 2017! Thanks to JPRifles, Blue Steel Ranch, Prime Ammunition and Lapua for the prizes I was given. I did well enough that the exact prizes I wanted were still there when I walked the exceptionally generous prize table.

We shot a fun and challenging match devoid of shenanigans. The old is harder than the "new". ?

Had a great time. Great people, great stages, great host. The roots of 3Gun have now been seen and enjoyed by those willing to step out and put their shooting skills to the test. Thanks to JPRifles, Blue Steel Ranch and Competition Dynamics! Thanks to all of the staff that worked for us, without shooting the match.

Humbling, different, having a blast.

You got what you got. Time to have some fun.

Keyholing pistol bullets has nothing to do with the twist rate. The vast majority of the time, coated (poly, moly, copper, etc.) bullets are tumbling due to the damage of the coating. This can occur, as others have mentioned, due to damage of the plating due to insufficient case belling or over crimping during reload. With some load recipes and some barrels, the coating can be damaged making the jump to the rifling, and in others, it just peels off due due to too much pressure at the base or too much velocity at the ogive. All of them have solutions, but you need to know what is causing the problem. Since it goes away when the barrel is fouled, it is likely not due to the reloading or too much velocity. It therefore could be due to the jump, or pressure spike. Seeing as how it is N310, I would start there. Go to a slower powder, a longer OAL or a reduced charge and see if you can get the tumbling to subside. Sometimes, the combination of factors just says "no" to a particular recipe.

Trying to find out what the scoop is. I highly doubt it was dropped.

Nope. That is where I run mine as well.

Sorry Tony, I must have missed your question. I don't shoot a lot of 75s/77s, but my velocity with TAC is right around 2700 fps.

Adding a bit to Kurt's post. Both will run 2 3/4 Dram (1 1/8 ounce) loads, both can be run a long time without cleaning. The M3000 is a tiny bit more accurate with slugs than the M2. The M3000 weighs a little more and that weight is a little more forward which I do not like. It can also have the stock shortened easier and the handguard is longer, both can be nice for smaller and larger shooters. I know a few guys over 6 foot that chose it over the M2 because of the handguard. The Benelli comes with the shims, spacers and offsets to fit the gun (which is a huge deal) whereas you have to do a bit more work to fit an M3000. I would say that in most cases, people pick the M3000 over the M2 due to cost. My son picked it because he shot it better than the M2 (and the 1301 and VM) and it was a lot easier for him to load. He has the P3K signature edition from MOA Precision and it is his favorite gun.

I work/run almost as many major matches each year as I shoot. I do it for a few reasons, and they have changed over time. Working majors, especially as a newer shooter is like taking a class for free. You get to see firsthand what the differences are between groups of shooters (in terms of skills). Now it is more about the fact that this sport was built on volunteers and they are still the backbone of the sport. Staff is needed and necessary to play and if everyone is a consumer, no one gets to play. I will do more than my part to make up for those who won't ever lift a finger to promote the sport or matches by giving of their time and energy because I love the action shooting sports. It will, in most cases, hurt your score, be tiring, and frustrating at times as well. You also get to hear all kinds of excuses from would be match winners...if only they had done...:)

KurtM, I would take the shot myself, sure. That was however, an exceptional play on words my friend.

Nope, I do not like random draw for any major match in any discipline, never have, never will. State or local, maybe.

Payne or Johnson would be fine too.

NW Regional complete, 2 left.

Yep, why I use Sketchup.