Category: The Gun Thing

Not just the guns, but all the stuff that goes with them

ULD Rifle: Final Range Session

The Gun Thing

Earlier this week I went off to the range to finish sighting in the Ultimate Long-Distance Rifle:

I’d zeroed the thing at 100 yards (just to “put it on paper”), so now I was making the final adjustments to give it a 200-yard zero, and also checking to see which ammo it “prefers” (between the Federal “Non-Typical” Whitetail Softpoint 180gr and the Winchester SuperX Powerpoint 180gr).

The ammo part first:  on this day, under these conditions, using this gun, fired by Your Humble Narrator, the Federal stuff (my “premium” choice) was a bust.  I couldn’t get anything like the accuracy I got from the Winchester loads in the first couple of targets, and so I only fired five rounds into the target below (the last five rounds in the box).   It’s not bad ammo, of course:  but under all the above conditions, it wasn’t as good as the SuperX.

Next, I adjusted the Zeiss up 2 inches, and used a point-of-aim a little below the target bull, trying to land the bullets into the bull using a “hold-under”.  (I know, it’s a little wonky as techniques go, but it’s how I do this kind of thing, and it seems to work for me.)

Here’s a pic of the last targets I shot, suitably annotated, at 100 yards distance:

The bottom four smaller targets may require a little explanation.  Generally, once I think I’ve zeroed the scope/rifle combination to my satisfaction, I throw caution to the winds — all that precision stuff makes my head ache after a couple hours’ hard concentration — and I go for a “rapid” fire string — one bullet per target, holding on the bull because it’s just easier to acquire it when you’re shooting and working the bolt as quickly as you can.  From a precision perspective, it sucks — but as preparation for hunting, it’s pretty cool practice, and it’s always worked for me.  Also, I dialed the magnification down from 24x to 10x, to give me a wider field of vision and help me reacquire the target more quickly.

One last thing:  all these shots were fired through a “dirty” barrel — I’d already put thirty rounds through the gun while shooting at the previous targets, I was running short on time, and the range doesn’t allow cleaning of guns in the bay anyway.  Gotta say:  that’s a pretty decent result, all things considered.  Oh, and I did allow the barrel to cool between target strings, except of course for the last four rounds fired.  (The flier in the central group was caused by the guy in the next bay letting off a round a split-second before I did.)

Okay, folks:  that’s about as much as my fading skills will allow me to zero the thing.  Over the weekend I’ll have the draw, and announce the winner next Monday, Sep 14 at 1700h Central.

The ULD Rifle will be shipped on Tuesday morning first thing.

Note:  I’d planned on also testing Sellier & Bellot ammo as well, but the cartridges set off the range’s magnetometer, indicating doubleplusungood steel somewhere in the boolet;  so, no S&B on this day.

Bird Time

Behind Enemy Lines, Friends and Family, Hunting

Because Mr. Free Market is a Foul Evil BastardTM, he decided to send me a few scenic pics from his current sooper-seekrit location in Scottishland.  Here’s the general milieu (note the complete absence of freezing rain, for the first time ever in this event I’m told):

(Note that Mr. FM is not wearing a face condom, despite Scottish law.)

Then it’s off to the “boxes”:

 

Note the careful arranging of reloads in pairs, ready for the old Load & Slaughter routine in his Beretta O/U (gawd help us, but the man has such terrible taste in shotguns).

The group shot down several hundred grouse and partridge, but here’s a pic of one brace, taken by Mr. FM with a single barrel.

When I say “taken”, I mean “shot”, of course, not clubbed out of the sky with his shotgun (which would be poor form, of course).

I am so jealous I could spit.

Stupid Ranking

Grooming, The Gun Thing, Travels

When I see articles like this, I just shake my head.  Go ahead, read it and see the glaring omission.

A well-built jacket will keep you dry in the field whatever the weather, protecting you from rain, wind and keeping you warm during the winter months as well.
It shouldn’t just keep the elements out though. The best waterproof shooting jacket will be made from a silent material too – keeping any noises that might disturb or spook your target to a minimum.
Other features to factor in are the number of pockets, which are useful for carrying cartridges in; a colour that blends into your environment; and good breathability.
Not all waterproof shooting jackets are equal though. Read on to find out our pick of the best you can currently buy.

Well, any such list which doesn’t include the peerless Barbour jacket isn’t a list at all:  it’s a fraud no doubt perpetrated by Commies*.  Here’s a pic which encapsulates all that is good about the thing:

I’ve owned a Barbour jacket now for about 12 years, and it’s still in excellent shape.  (I left it at The Englishman’s Castle after my last trip Over There because a) I didn’t have room in the suitcase and b)  I hardly ever wear the damn thing in Cuidad Tejas  because it only rains here about twice a year vs. twice a day in Britishland.  I left my wellies there for the same reason.)

Here’s the thing:  when I have worn the Barbour Over Here, I have had people comment favorably on it every single time  I put it on — whether at gun shows, shooting events or just visits to the supermarket.  They’re not only wonderfully durable, they’re also good-looking — and they never go out of style.

Mine is the shorter “Cowen Commando” style (almost like a bomber jacket):

…but I hanker after the longer “Bransdale” style as in the first pic.

Sadly, we don’t get the range of Barbour jackets Over Here that they offer Over There, but you could probably order the one you want (Bransdale or Beaufort would be my recommendation) through Orvis or Nordstrom.  They are not cheap (around $300), but you’re buying it for life, so it’s a bargain.  My Younger Readers could expect at least 30 years out of a Barbour — for the Olde Pharttes, it’s truly a lifetime purchase.

For the ladies, there’s the cold-weather Dartford:

The men’s equivalent is the Oakum:

Don’t thank me;  it’s all part of the service.

*That’s only mild hyperbole.  In class-obsessed societies like Britishland, Barbour is the absolute uniform of the upper classes — add a customized Land Rover / Range Rover and a matched pair of Holland shotguns, and the Labour Party will hate you on sight.

Makes you want to own one, doesn’t it?

Tight Times

The Gun Thing

No, I’m not referring to that Girl Scout Parking Lot Incident of 1975 (and she looked way older than 15, anyway), I’m talking about the Great Ammo Shortage Of 2020.

Right now, there’s no end in sight to this tight market.
“We’ve been talking with major manufacturers, for example, Magtech, which is one of the big ammo producers in the country. They’re telling us that they are on backorder throughout the rest of the year, throughout the rest of 2020,” Phelps said.

FFS, if Magtech ammo is in short supply, we’re all doomed.  But to continue:

Usually, that only applies to personal protection ammo, but right now, even hunting ammunition could be impacted.
“Usually shotgun shells are around, they’re plentiful, but we had another manufacturer telling us it’s the parts to make the ammunition … the primers are on a one-year backorder,” Phelps said.

Here’s the kicker:

South Dakota Game Fish and Parks says they’re not too worried about the ammo shortage impacting this year’s hunting season because most hunters are already well-stocked.

As should be all experienced shooters.  Personally, I start getting “shortage fear” when I’m down to my last 1,000 rounds (in any caliber except .22 LR, when it’s 10,000), so right now  I can afford to wait awhile till the shortage eases, as I think I have enough to last me a couple of years (lifetimes, according to the Son&Heir, who usually has to help me move the stuff from one house to another).

And they said National Ammo Day was a foolish invention…

Looks like it’s going to be a little more difficult to get that 100 round-minimum this year.  I can’t decide whether that’s a Good- or Bad Thing.

Recommendation

The Gun Thing

Longtime Reader And Total Gun Nut PatrickS was all butthurt that I didn’t include any of his works on my bookshelf backdrop — although, as I pointed out to him in my email replay, I didn’t even include one of my own books on the list.

That said, Patrick’s stuff has been a constant companion of mine over the past decade or so, and it requires a HUGE endorsement from this website, so get the hell over and buy a couple (ignore the first listing, that’s some other guy).

And Patrick:  if you have an old paperback copy of the 1911 book lying around somewhere… (the Son&Heir stole mine).

Probably Not

Bucket List, The Gun Thing

I’m sure that there are many people who would jump at the chance to own “the world’s most powerful handgun:

…I’m just not one of them.  Especially at $1.75 every time I squeeze the trigger.

Frankly, for that much money, I’d rather have two Ruger Super Blackhawks, in the more-manageable .44 Rem  Mag:

 

That falls under “not under-gunned” in the dictionary.

Tangential thought:  as any fule kno, I’m in favor of guns, whatever their caliber, action, or any of that.  And of course, I’m not a fan of the “Who really needs a gun like this?” question, as “Because it’s there” is good enough for me and should be good enough for anyone.

That said:  I just can’t get my head around the extra-large-caliber handguns like the above, or the Freedom Arms in .475 Linebaugh:

…or the Magnum Research BFR in .45-70 Govt, to give but two further examples.

I mean, they’re great as oddities or conversation pieces;  but I just can’t see myself ever carrying one out to hunt with.  Can anyone ‘splain to me why this should replace a rifle out in the field?

Maybe it’s just because I can’t see why anyone would want to go hunting with a handgun when there’s a perfectly good rifle for the job, e.g. a Marlin Guide Gun (which I want, very badly btw):…but I’m willing to learn.  Feel free to enlighten me.