Second Freeper Postal Match - Rifles

CapandBall | 05/20/02 | CapandBall

[CapandBall]

Hmmm, I got an old unaccurate S&W model 10 revolver, a smith said the forcing cone might be lead fouled. Is such a tool made to address that? Is this a similar problem?

Where did you get the "Merril" tool? How much?

[CapandBall]

Wow!, do that offhand with iron sights and you'd rate NM Hi-Master.

[Shooter 2.5]

There was an article in Precision Shooting magazine that mentioned it and the ammo store owner where I live contracted a machinist to make them. I don't know if they are commercially available beyond the owner selling them in his shop. I'll get more information Monday.

There is a device called a Lewis lead remover that's been on the market for years and it's in the Brownell's catalog. It's basically a wire screen that fits onto a special cleaning rod. That may be the item that you need for your forcing cone. It's made specifically for cleaning forcing cones and barrels. With the adapters, brushes and all the assorted pieces it's around 25 dollars. They're on the web.

[Shooter 2.5]

"In all cases, Shooter 2.5 is duly deputized to adjudicate any questions for this match."

With the final judgement from CapandBall. Thanks Cap!

[CapandBall]

I got my monthly match tomorrow a.m. and I forgot to order another case of 30-06 from CMP, so I've bought some $12 a box Winchester target 147 gr fmj. I believe CMP's Lake City is 165 gr, so I recon I'll have to come down a click or two.

I'm hoping to break 400, it is a big psycological milestone for me.

[Oberon]

While not a match barrel, it is a heavy barrel designed for above average accuracy and not allowed for this match.

All right, if that's the ruling, I'll abide by it. I've also got an iron-sighted Remington 514 that'll work.

But it would have been nice to use the Mossberg. It's my squirrel hunter.

[NY.SS-Bar9]

Targets arrived - now I just have to find a .223" diameter hole punch at Office Depot.

[Shooter 2.5]

If you shoot a Garand, the average is around 400 to 420 for the person who only shoots at the matches. With a M1A I started to shoot 420 to 440. With the AR, I'm shooting 450 to 468. Lately, I average 468. I'm within two or three points below 470 instead of getting the Master ranking. I used to look at all these people who almost pulled their hair out in frustration and I couldn't understand why they were so upset. Now I know.

I am very lucky to be able to hold onto my health at this time. I think that, physically, I have less than five years to make Master. My problem is that I want it too much. I was within a five points average to get a master rating in .22 silhouette pistol and I walked away from the sport. It just wasn't what I wanted to do anymore.

I think I did figure out why I don't pick up those extra points. I found that when I shoot, I figure out how many points I need and then shoot for that. I should try for perfect scores and not worry about the rest. I shot a 97 in standing, 99 in sitting, 97 in prone and 283 in the last 20/20. the problem lies in the fact that I have never done any of that all in the same match.

One of the best books that I read once in a while to get me to shoot better is, "Zen and the Art of Archery". I used to read that book just before my Silhouette matches. Actually, I think that's why I quit. I didn't need the title of Master so I walked. Maybe I need the title now to justify all the junk I've bought over the years and time I used up.

I hope this sparks an interest in competition for the people on this board. The person who nagged me into shooting matches was a bowler of all people. He asked me if I thought I was any good and asked if I competed. I said that I thought I was good but didn't want to spend the time to shoot against anyone. He said maybe it was because I didn't want to find out how good[or bad?] I really was.

[spunkets]

"I'll go back in a couple of days to see if they cut the grass so I can shoot at 100 yards."

LOL! Elephant grass?

Is Winchester Supreme considered match ammo? I consider it hunting ammo. It's a 34gr hollow point without the clad over the lead in the hollow and the jacket is pinched around the hollow like a silvertip to allow eaier expansion. Reg. Win. ammo is 40gr and the hollow point has a complete jacket. CCI is 40gr and is similar to the Win. Supreme, but the jacket is also complete and w/o crimp. CCI Maxi Mag and Win Supreme have equal precision as far as I've noticed.

[spunkets]

Got the targets. Thanks!

[Shooter 2.5]

Johnson grass and it looks like the beginning of a corn field.

I did a search on Winchester Supreme and found only round nosed lead in a 40 grain cartridge in .22 LR. The price is over 7 dollars a box and says MATCH right there on the box.

I looked for the 34 Grain jacketed that you mentioned and only found it in .22 Magnum. I don't know which cartridge you're planning on shooting. Since the box on the .22 magnum doesn't say Match, I guess it isn't.

[in the Arena]

Ready on the left...Ready on the right...

The targets arrived today (31 May).

[CapandBall]

Thanks for the tips Shooter2.5. "Zen and the Art of Archery" sounds like what I need.

I did about my average today, 358. I blew it on the slow standing. We do 20 shots on slow standing and only 10 on the slow prone. Anyway, it was 98 in the shade and 90% humidity, blah, blah, blah... I scored an X, 2 tens, 4 nines, 4 eights, a few 6s and 5s... and 4 misses. I lost it the last 10 shots. I was using the stool to rest between shots, which was good cause I needed a free hand to wipe sweat. When I took my shooting jacket off my tee-shirt was soaked

I did very well on rapid sitting - 86 with an X, and my average mid 70s on the rapid & slow prone. The cheap commerical ammo was ok, but I didnt expect it to throw right as well as high, I was still adjusting during the shoot. I'm ordering some more LC ball from CMP Monday.

Hope your '03 gets to you in time.

[Shooter 2.5]

I'm so sorry about the four misses. The camp stool has been a lifesaver for me. Since I have a 45 degree angle on my scope, I use only the two rods for the stand. When I look through the scope, I lean downward and let the stock butt rest on the stool. Pick up a copy of "The M1 Rifle" pamphlet from the NRA. It will give you accuracy tips for your rifle. I wear combat boots for the standing and the jacket and the mitt type glove. Your shooting stance shouldn't look like you're hunting. The rifle should be over your hips with a slight rear bend. Study that Jim Owen's website. First get your natural point of aim by closing your eyes. When you start go to the target, I start from the left side and gradually bring it to the black. I practice dryfiring with a scoped rifle just so I can quit hitting the trigger. I think that's what you might be doing. I accidently got in the habit of getting excited when I had a good sight picture and hitting the trigger.

You'll notice that the rifle is over my hips and my head is as level as I can make it. If you bring your head down to reach the rifle, It throws your equilibrium off. My right elbow is high to lock in the rifle. This is from a Garand seminar beause I wanted to give the guy with the blue hat some company. I still learned a lot.

[CapandBall]

Good stuff. I watch the experts & masters and try and copy their style - but I'm not always sure as to the whys & whens of what they do. I think the books & pamphlet you have recommended will help answer those questions. I got a good spotting scope with the 45 degree angle, got the mitt and jacket. I still need a good sling, I'm using the stock web sling right now. I usually shoot 70-80% on the slow standing, yesterday just wasnt my day.

[Shooter 2.5]

The only advantage that the leather sling has over the cotton one is that the leather is marked and it can be used while it's on the rifle as a regular sling in seconds. The cotton sling has to be dismantled so that the sling is clamped onto the arm and there isn't any reference points. When I used the cotton sling, I removed it from the rifle, used the clamp on my arm and the single buckle adjusted. The sling was never used with the butt swivel.

The pictures in the Jim Ownen's books are next to useless and he tries to talk you through the sling arrangement.
If I can, I'll try to find a good picture of a sling arrangement.

[NY.SS-Bar9]

Got to the range this weekend to practice before shooting the match.

Learned the follwing

• I haven't shot competitive rifle for so long, I forgot how to use a sling. (Thankfully, I brought my Brother, the ex Army armorer along)
• South African surplus ammo shoots really well out of my AR. I had been shooting XM193 and getting 2" groups at 100 yds. this stuff was well under 1"
• A .22 LR will drop over 12" from 50 to 100 yds.
• I can shoot offhand and kneeling but not prone???
• I've got a long way to go to get to Master

[Shooter 2.5]

http://www.seidata.com/~adking/use_of_the_rifle_sling.htm

Use of the rifle sling. I thought that the information was outdated but I studied the steps and that is the correct way to use a leather sling. The leather loop keeper is between the arm and the hook. That way the leather doesn't slip on the arm. On the cotton sling like I said, it's disassembled until the clamp is on the arm and the buckle adjusts.

[CapandBall]

A .22 LR will drop over 12" from 50 to 100 yds

Glad you confirmed that, I thought maybe I was in some weird downdraft...

[CapandBall]

Got to love the Field Manuals. My favorite is FM 5-34, you never know when you will need to lay a minefield, build a bridge, or construct a latrine for 800 men.