I think I have it!

[stubbicatt]

Well, after much struggle and gnashing of teeth, I think I have my 3 gun rifle. To some it will seem idiotic, and to others maybe "OK", but to me, after half a year of saving and working on it, I think I'm just about there. Since it is all in fun, and I am definitely NOT competitive, I don't see any equipment choice I might make as a hindrance in any possible combination of worlds in which I live.

I bought a Vector V93 rifle, which is a clone of the HK 93. There are good points and not so good points about this choice over the AR15 series which dominate the sport.

First good point is that it is not an AR15. I know that you guys with the AR platform can shoot rings around me, that there are a gazillion parts and accessories for that platform, and that there are many other virtues of that rifle from an objective standpoint. It's just that I don't like 'em. Never have. They just don't do it for me.

Second thing is that this platform has nearly indestructible magazines. True the AR has inexpensive magazines, but these are really solid by comparison. Unfortunately they are also expensive. Ugh. Oh well, buy quality once and forget the price, buy poor quality and be reminded of the price each time you use it. Mag changes are anything but fast, as you sort of have a miscegenous union of the AR magwell and an AK or M14 "rocking motion" insertion of the magazine. Again, this is not a huge issue, and if it should become one, there is always a Beta C mag. LOL!

Third point is the neat arrangement for the fitment of a bipod on the forward handguard. The bipod is a really handy setup and folds back neatly into the handguard when not in use. I really like the delayed roller blowback design from an engineering standpoint also, and the rifle is quite light with that narrow profile barrel.

The not so good points are some unique aspects of the rifle, the fitment of scope bases, the sometimes awkward reach for the charging handle up by the front sight, and the gawd-awful trigger. For some the ergos just don't work right, but for me they seem to do ok.

I purchased one of those Millett DMS scopes for the rifle, which is really nice, and placed it in a LaRue Tactical extended eye relief scope mount to be in turn mounted on a weaver style base for the rifle. The scope mount gave me some fits and starts, but I think I have it nearly figured out. The Bill Springfield trigger job has to be felt to be believed, and it rectifies one of what I perceive to be the biggest "minuses" that go with this rifle.

All that is left to my way of seeing things is a rubber buttpad so it stays put in my shoulder and a muzzle brake of some sort. This latter presents some problems due to the way in which the flash hider attaches to the barrel on this rifle. It has a little spring like gizmo protruding into the threaded portion of the barrel, which engages some teeth machined into a ring machined into the barrel. It is easy to remove and reinstall by hand, which is a plus in someone's book, but it is unique, which is a minus when you try to find parts to work in this application. The replacement brake will necessarily need one of these engagement methods I think. The HK 3 point sling is sort of strange at first, but on those stages where a sling is required, it is a good choice, easy to use, and durable.

Anyways, enough of the blabber, here are some photos. They hopefully they convey an idea fo where I hope to go with this project.

[GentlemanJim]

Solid dependable gun...dont see why it would not work well.

Jim

[Merlin Orr]

That is Don Quixote as your avatar...Isn't it?

[John Dunn]

I love any rifle with a wire cutter on the muzzle brake! Very nice.

[George]

Do the mags drop-free when you depress the release? If they do AND they go directly in with no rock-in-place routine like some other non-AR's, then you may just have a little winner once you get a brake on it.

Cool :-)

[SiG Lady]

What's that round thing in the background...?..... the light fixture you shot down while testing the rifle...?...

[J-Ho]

I've shot one. Good rifle. Like you said, if you're shooting just for fun, why not. I wouldn't compete with one but would love to have one. My only question is why not go with the .308 instead of the .223? I think if you shot heavy metal with the hk clone you would be up there with the m-14. At least in reload time.

Regardless of weather I'd use one in 3 gun, It is still a cool gun.

Good luck with it!

[stubbicatt]

I've shot one. Good rifle. Like you said, if you're shooting just for fun, why not. I wouldn't compete with one but would love to have one. My only question is why not go with the .308 instead of the .223? I think if you shot heavy metal with the hk clone you would be up there with the m-14. At least in reload time.

Regardless of weather I'd use one in 3 gun, It is still a cool gun.

Good luck with it!

This is my other one in 308. It is quite heavy by comparison, and unbelievably expensive to shoot these days. Thing is bloody accurate though.

Muzzle brake makes a difference.

The magazine change speed detriment lost to the AR series is really pretty minor from my perspective. I'm still trying to hit the targets, and transition from one to another quickly. And Jerry Miculek I am definitely not. It is fun to watch those really fast guys, and I can admire their game. But as Michael Jordan is to the playground orangeball player, is Miculek to me. -- Besides, once it starts to become competitive, it becomes more work than play.

[stubbicatt]

What's that round thing in the background...?..... the light fixture you shot down while testing the rifle...?...

Nah that's bachelor home decor... no need to dust, just place it in the dishwasher occasionally with the cat bowl and your Glock.

[benny hill]

Welcome to open class. The folding bi-pod will bump you up there unless you shoot there anyway.

[mpeltier]

Nice scope mount (LaRue)!

[jobob]

Welcome to open class. The folding bi-pod will bump you up there unless you shoot there anyway.

I was going to say that about the bipod. Is there a way to remove it or make it somehow unuseable so you could shoot in scoped tactical? It would be a shame to be bumped to open class without having full-ou open equipment. Looks like a neat gun, though. Personally I love ARs (especially the piston operated ones that are easy to clean). But, whatever floats your boat! What you like is what's important.

[stubbicatt]

Welcome to open class. The folding bi-pod will bump you up there unless you shoot there anyway.

I was going to say that about the bipod. Is there a way to remove it or make it somehow unuseable so you could shoot in scoped tactical? It would be a shame to be bumped to open class without having full-ou open equipment. Looks like a neat gun, though. Personally I love ARs (especially the piston operated ones that are easy to clean). But, whatever floats your boat! What you like is what's important.

The bipod is easily removable. As far as classes, you know what? For me, this is all about the fun. I will be in the bottom 10 percent of any classification, any tactical, open, iron sights... regardless of the class I shoot in. It's not like the equipment will make me any more competitive than any other equipment: the limitation is my own skills, which are not all that great, nor am I particularly inclined to let that get in the way of me having fun shooting these games.

It is so funny how pride and conceit often work to deprive one of his best performance viewed from within, and deprive one of the moment. I don't have many "moments" left in this life. I appreciate the equipment advice, really I do... but the advice assumes several "givens" which are not part of spherical geometry, only of planar geometry. Each win only creates another potential loss, and the need to prove oneself at something that really doesn't matter on the grand scheme of things over and over and over again to an audience of judges who really don't matter, IMO.

If I want to win at all costs, I go to work. If I want to have fun, I go shooting. This is simply a game. A game where I see how well I do, laugh at my mistakes, greet old friends and BE HAPPY. When any of these ingredients ceases to accompany my trips to the range, I'll sell my stuff and take up fishing or flying kites. Maybe macrame or gardening.

You all are great competitors. I am not.

Namaste.

[jobob]

No, YOU are a great competitor! You have a great attitude about this stuff. It's for the love of the game, and people you get to know. I love it. I love to compete and try to improve and do my best, but I'll never compete with the "big boys". I'm too old. I don't want to practice to the point of it becoming a job. The last match showed me how slow I am to get into, and worse, out of prone position. Prone was needed on one stage to make good hits, at least for me. Problem was, you had to do it from 3 locations. I have fun at this stuff, and do what I can, but I'm no Jack Bauer! I can get to prone, with knee pads, but I need a lift to get out of it with any kind of speed!

It's fun, and that's what counts! Besides, without us, there would be nobody for Benny, Taran, Dave, Carl, Shawn, etc. to beat! Of course, my dream is to trounce those guys some day, but I think I'll have to wait till they get to be my age!