ben b. Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 (edited) Shot my 1st 3G match and liked it. I want to do some more, but I will not be a full time 3G guy as the matches last all day; I have 3 little kids and that "gone all Sunday" bit causes more marital tension than the fun is worth. I am still active in IPSC/IDPA/Steel. So I will be an occasional 3G player for a while. The close shots with the rifle were new to me, but I adjusted to the hold over after the 1st stage. It seems like the accessory red dot would be a worthwhile addition for close rifle shots. I used a 20" HBAR Colt that I bought for CMP. CMP kinda put me to sleep and then died out locally anyway. The rifle is heavier than the other guys' 3G rifles. I am happy with the A2 fixed stock. I am shooting 68 gr Hornady match BTHP loaded with AA2230 powder. My Colt rifle has a Burris 1-4x TAC30 on it zeroed at 100 yds, seems fine. The barrel is not threaded. It has a YHM aluminum float tube. I am going to add an Ultradot L/T reflex to the side of the scope for close targets. I already have the red dot sitting around and so I ordered a low scope ring with rail on top to mount it to the scope tube at ~45* angle. I plan to see if the bottom (side intended to mount ring to gun)sticks out enough to be a problem, and if so I will cut off the bottom of the ring, so that part is probably a done deal. 1) Is it advisable to rebarrel or just wait until I have a shot-out barrel? I was thinking an 18" light-weight contour, 1:8" twist with a .223 Wylde chamber. Then I would add a Miculek comp. 2) If not rebarreling, is it worth it to thread my 20" HBAR for the comp? Or to cut to 18" & thread? Problems with cutting? 3) When/if I rebarrel, I will likely add a carbon fiber tube. Is there merit in not waiting? 4) What range is typically used to zero the accessory red dot at? 5) Other thoughts or considerations? I have disposable income for this, but I am also a penny-pincher, so opinions and reasoning on whether to spend money now or shoot now & spend later will be most helpful. thanks for any opinions, advice and reasoning, Ben Edited December 20, 2011 by ben b. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody_2130 Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 Depending on how many rounds you have run through the barrel that is on it now I would have it cut to 18" and threaded for a comp. The carbon fiber hand guard is something that you could use with the stock barrel or any other for that matter so that would be a good upgrade to make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkCO Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 If you add a dot to the rifle, then you will be in Open class. Lots more $ there. A little practice with the Tac30 and you will be fine. If you want to go Open, that is great, but you will have a lot of other important questions to figure out with the open pistol and shotgun. As for the barrel, yes, an 18" with a Miculek comp is a very solid set up. Make sure to get Rifle length gas. While just released, I have every reason to beleive that the new Nordic 18" barrel is going to be the hot ticket. I think selling your HBAR and going this route would be less $ overall. I would be remiss if I did not suggest you check out the Carbon Arms Carbon Feather handguards. You can see the info on them in our Dealers Tent here on Enos. I would also suggest you consider the JP LMOS carrier and enhanced bolt, an adjustable gas block and possibly some alteration of the buffer and springs. A good trigger is also very desireable. There are several threads here on Enos related to triggers. One thing I have learned about rifle...everything you do changes it. Chasing a constantly drifitng set-up can be frustrating and will not provide the best practice (if you practice). Getting the "hot" set-up is definatley recomended over changing stuff over a period of years. When you are able to not just call, but SEE hits, that does wonders for your game and practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben b. Posted December 20, 2011 Author Share Posted December 20, 2011 (edited) If you add a dot to the rifle, then you will be in Open class. Lots more $ there. A little practice with the Tac30 and you will be fine... D'Oh! Dagnabbit, that is just the kind of new-guy crap I did NOT think about, 2 optics on rifle = Open. I'm not really interested in going Open. Glad I only spent $26 on that ring. Trigger is good, guy who had it before me must have done work on it, have not looked to see if something else is in there. Barrel probably has less than 2,000 rds so far, so it likely has good life in it. Thanks for other tips, will consider them. Edited December 20, 2011 by ben b. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpeltier Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 I would send the bbl to Adco and have them turn it to .750 under the handguard and thread the bbl for that Miculeck comp. Additionally if you have not already done so, add a nice trigger like a jp. No need to cut down the bbl as 20" will do everything a shorter bbl will do, only better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArmdCtzn Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 You've only shot one match. I think I'd wait until I shot more matches to get a better feel for where you really want to spend. You haven't mentioned your shotgun or pistol, or your belt gear. That stuff can make a difference and get spendy pretty quickly too. If you have a reasonably solid set up, I'd get some more matches under your belt and look at other guys' gear and ask questions and develop a plan. Shoot first, spend later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben b. Posted December 21, 2011 Author Share Posted December 21, 2011 You've only shot one match. I think I'd wait until I shot more matches to get a better feel for where you really want to spend. You haven't mentioned your shotgun or pistol, or your belt gear. That stuff can make a difference and get spendy pretty quickly too. If you have a reasonably solid set up, I'd get some more matches under your belt and look at other guys' gear and ask questions and develop a plan. Shoot first, spend later. I'm using a Production 9mm (B-class) with full cap mags, don't own an Open gun. I have ample pistol belt gear, using some borrowed shot caddies, bought 2 Bladetech AR mag holders. Shotgun is a mildly gamed-up 930. I may send the Colt heavy barrel in for reprofile & threading for comp, & leave it alone until the barrel is used up, which should be awhile. Be nice to shave some weight off that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bamacrazy Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 Solid advise guys! Very informative!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dukeguy Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 I just changed out my barrel with a new Lilja-Nordic barrel with a mid-length gas system, Kies adjustable gas block and a Miculek compensator. The difference is amazing. I would highly recommend that you make those changes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berd Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 (edited) Coming from another noob to the sport (just over a year and half with one MGM Ironman under my belt) I would recommend the shoot now spend later option. The rifle that I was using (16" Sabre Defense midlength with an Eotech, Magnifier, Larue FF rail, and A2 muzzle device) wasn't typical of the rifles I saw at the multi gun matches I attended. That being said I learned a lot from my experience and I am building a more 3-gun applicable rifle strictly for the game. I say run what you brung until you get a feel for what would work better for you. Edited December 22, 2011 by Berd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fastarget Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 Shoot and see what you will like over the next couple of matches. Having the barrel threaded for a comp is fairly inexpensive and immediately noticeable. Otherwise, I would shoot it, and ask other shooters to let you try their set ups. Once you find the combo you like, pay once to build it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atomicferret Posted December 24, 2011 Share Posted December 24, 2011 As far as the carbon fiber handgaurd is concerned, if the barrel is already free-floated you can wait. Clark Custom makes a carbon fiber tube (available through Brownells) which is about as good as any you will find. Adding the carbon fiber handgaurd will reduce the weight a bit, which can be nice during a long stage . I had one for a while but i got rid of it because when shooting the gun, I found the handgaurd heated up very fast. I didn't like that. Luckily it also cooled very fast. n the end, I went with the VTAC forend. a superior handgaurd, imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Posted December 24, 2011 Share Posted December 24, 2011 I agree with adding the muzzle brake now to the barrel you have as it is the one thing you can do that will make a very noticeable difference in performance. You will be able to drill repeat shots in a whole lot faster with a brake and that means getting your points faster than ever :-) Learn to shoot with the heavier barrel to start, the extra weight will help damp some of the cycling impulse the heavy stock bolt carrier imparts to the rifle (you will be able to notice this once you have a muzzle brake). When you move to a lightened barrel later then you can add a lightened carrier/buffer combo and adjustable gas block to optimize things there and further stabilize the rifle during recoil. The only other things really needed to start getting competitive with your AR are a good trigger which you said you have and lots of ammo to practice using that trigger with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse Tischauser Posted December 24, 2011 Share Posted December 24, 2011 Shoot and see what you will like over the next couple of matches. Having the barrel threaded for a comp is fairly inexpensive and immediately noticeable. Otherwise, I would shoot it, and ask other shooters to let you try their set ups. Once you find the combo you like, pay once to build it. This is definitely the way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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