ShooterSteve

Thanks for getting back to me. I have one of the 1919s from the very first run, but I stopped shooting 3g about the time it came in. Starting back shooting matches and I need a couple chokes, so your replies will help me out. It throws a pretty open pattern so I need to tighten it up a little. Thanks again.

Hey guys, Is Firebird still in business? I tried to call them but no one answered and the recording said I couldn’t leave a msg. I’m trying to find out what chokes their 1919 SG runs. Any help would be great thanks.

I have several JPs, and while I use thermal dissipators on all of my big rifles, I don’t think they are necessary on 9mm. I don’t have one on mine, and don’t miss it. For fast shooting like uspsa, I don’t think the roller trigger is the right option. I would also go with a 14.5” barrel with a pinned comp, and the lightest hand guard that is full length. Also GET the extended mag release. I can’t say that enough! This is one of the weak links compared to something like a Lead Star. The standard mag release is very flat, stretched across a flat receiver, and you just can’t tell if your finger is on the flat button or not. If it’s half on and off, (and it’s really hard to tell without looking) you will not drop a mag to do a mag change. I actually took jb weld and built up a ridge along the top and bottom of the button to cradle my finger and let me know where I was in the mag release. You will love the rifle. I have #2 on order.

There is a reason that a ton of top shooters have higher magnification on their scopes. Yes, most stages are shot around 14 power, but occasionally you will have the opportunity and need to turn one up. You can use a scope in the 3-18 range, and most of the time it will be ok, but there will be a point where you will want more. During load development you will probably want more. I went with a more affordable model for my small AR, a Vortex HST with a max power of 16. It only had 5 mils on the top knob, so I was having to fight with remembering where I was revolution wise. This scope only lasted a few months on my rifle before it got passed to my son (fresh out of college and glad to get whatever he can), and the scope was replaced by what I should have bought the first time. This is no slam on Vortex, a ton of top shooters use the Gen II Razor, I just didn’t buy enough scope while trying to save a few dollars. There will be people who come on here and say you don’t need this or that, but there is a reason that the good shooters use the equipment that they do. I’m not an expert, but I have about 25 long range matches under my belt, including PRS matches, and have ROd several PRS matches this year, so I’m just passing along what I see. Bottom line-if you are going to play this game, you need to buy the best scope that you can. If you can’t afford something great, buy the best that you can, but if you DO buy something in the smaller magnification range, you will be looking for an upgrade before long. Go over to snipers hide and look in the for sale section for a used Gen I Razor or PST. You won’t be sorry.

Have a good bipod and a solid rear bag. Check out some of the videos tha Frank puts up over on snipers hide. The hide just changed home sites, so be sure that you aren't on the old Scout site.

You will need a 9-13" bipod. A bench size bipod will be too low for this class because of the angle that you shoot from. If you can't get a bipod that size, cut two pieces of a 2x6 about 16" long to set your bipod on to raise it up. You will need a good rear bag. When you get there, have your rifle zero'd at 100 yds. You won't need dope numbers, because Dan will work you through that during the first part of the lesson. Dan uses (or used to) jbm ballistics. Have a good little notebook to take notes. The most important thing to take is a willingness to learn. Dan is very laid back, no pressure, and is just a good guy. My lesson was very much like yours will be. I had a 6.5 Creed, with a mil scope, and the other guy had a 308 with a moa scope. Dan went back and forth between us and never missed a beat. I had a great time and learned so much. I would recommend this lesson to anyone who wants to learn to shoot long range. Solid lesson from a great teacher. Beautiful countryside. It just doesn't get much better than that.

Call Robbie. He has been three gunning for years, and is up to speed on what works good. Many smiths are good guys, but don't really understand our games. Robbie gets it.

PS- follow the instructions for that brake! Loctite is NOT an acceptable substitute for anti seize. Don't ask me how I know.

I prefer to bed mine. It really doesn't take that long. Save it for a rainy day and you want to do something. Go ahead and bed it, and remove one of the variables that could haunt you later. One word of caution! Do NOT get bedding compound in your threaded holes! My old rifle was "professionally" built by a well known smith, (I'm not sure if he is even still alive due to his age), but when I went to change out my bases and put a rail on, those screws snapped like toothpicks. It took me helping a very accomplished machinist to get those things out. Many Thanks to Jeff A.! I think the smith bedded it and put it together so that it would never come loose or apart.

Why don't you just run the numbers on jbm ballistics, and then you will have facts and not just opinions.

I used to work at the Amphib base in Coronado, and Mexico was slingshot distance away. There used to be a little grill down in Rosarita Beach, and the wife and I would ride down. We could get two filet dinners with all the trimmings and a couple Caronas (before it was even sold in the US), and leave a generous tip for about $20. Good memories. Of course this was in the late 80's.

I had a good time yesterday, but my shooting was below par. I have to quit making stupid mental mistakes that cost me time on the clock. For example, on the last stage, I had my bipod set to shoot prone. I simply didn't look at the platform and range and notice that it was all a little down hill, which put my rifle height too high in the back. You will struggle to make hits on a 7x12" plate at 700 yds if you don't have a solid position built, so setting your bipod incorrectly from the get go is just a mental error that I made and it cost me. Over all the match was fun. Shooting off stairs, out of vehicles etc. one thing that I liked was on two different stages, the had 8 or 9 different shooting positions to choose from, and you had to use 5 different positions. If you are a little taller, use higher, a little shorter, use the lower, you had choices. Paul has a boat there. It's not like Woodys or peacemaker, it's a dang bass boat hanging by straps. It was pretty fun, and a neat challenge that you don't see every day. We had some really stout shooters on our squad. If anyone tells you that they have heard bad stuff about the new Ruger, don't believe it. The guy one our squad with one was rocking that baby all day long. Great rifle backed up by a great shooter. Had a good day with Michael. I wanted to help someone, and be a teacher a little bit, so on the first stage, he absolutely kicked my ass with my own rifle and pretty much held his own for the rest of the match. He is a pretty smart guy, and it doesn't take him too long to figure stuff out. I'm sure that he will do fine if he ventures down this road. As for now, I'm off to the reloading room. Woodys is in two weeks. I just have to remember to properly set my bipod, along with 97 other things I have to remember while on the clock, to be a successful long range shooter.

Rigger JJ, I'm getting 2825 out of my 6.5 creed with h4350. I ran the 4451 up until my chrono speed matched, and stopped there as I was in a hurry, and had to go to work. I stopped at 42.5 gr of 4451. I did not have any pressure signs yet. The primers were very slightly flattened, but they were soft cci's and were no more flattened than the lower loadings. This my not be the most accurate load, or a good ocw load, but I messed up by thinking that I had more 4350 and I didn't. I had three matches in three weeks, so I had to do something fast. Initial testing of the 4451 is very promising, with some very good groups, so future testing is in order. This is out of a 26" Kreiger with 140 Hornady bthpm seated at the lands. For the guys with gas guns, you have to load those things to mag length, so the longer bullets will be back into the case, taking up room for powder. JP will tell you to run the 123s, or a small bullet so you can cram more go go juice in there. Trust me on that, as they helped me work out some kinks on my gas gun. By the way it was NOT a JP gun, and they still helped me. Incredible people over there at JP.

The Viper pst is a very good scope. I'm sure that you will be happy with it.

Most people shoot the 123s out of gas guns so that they have more room for powder. Most bolt gun shooters are shooting the larger bullets. H4350 is the go to powder, but it must be made out of unicorn horns, as it is hard to find right now. I just went to some 4451 for my Creedmoor and was surprised at how good it shot so there is an option. Get over on snipers hide in the reloading section of the forums. More loads than you can shake a stick at.