Month: July 2017

New Shooters 101: The Elitist Mentality

Posted on by Kasey Chudy

Prick

The Elitist Mentality

I can only guess how discouraging it can be for a new shooter asking advice these days. The age of the internet gives everyone opinions about everything and often times new shooters receive information that they did not request. This as I have seen first hand only adds to the confusion. Even worse yet is when incorrect information is given out to someone who does not yet have the experience to know any better.

Possibly the worst thing that I have seen is what I call the elitist mentality. These are the guys who snub their nose at anything less than custom-built or top dollar. I think most of us can relate to not having an unlimited budget.  As much as we all want the most expensive rifle and the best new scope it is not an affordable option for most.

Whats better experience or the best gear?

The elitists of the world seem to think that only by having the best equipment can you shoot properly. Tell a group you have a $1000 budget for a scope and it won’t take long for someone to suggest a $2500 option. Some might even go as far as suggesting that you just save until you can afford something that isn’t “junk”. What I am here to tell you is you don’t need the new caliber or best stuff.

Experience

The only way any of us get better is practice. Live fire or dry fire practice are the only things that are going to improve your ability. The elitist mentality that only the best should be used is counterproductive at best. I know plenty of people who could give me their high dollar rig and use a stock rifle and out shoot me. Why? I know a lot of great shooters and their setup has nothing to do with their skill set. They have spent hundreds if not thousands of hours behind rifles to improve their skill set. Get out to the range and practice. You can always upgrade your equipment as you go.

Find people willing to help

It is amazing how quickly the internet turns everyone into a subject matter expert. Not only does this pump a lot of misinformation into the pipeline but it also stops knowledgeable people willing to help from doing so. A lot of the replies that I have seen are less helpful than they are ego boosting, it is the elitist way. However there are people with experience who are willing to share it to help the community. Look for these people and when you do find them pay attention. I learned the most from a friend who wanted to help people learn and had a lot of experience. He dealt with all of my questions and just wanted to give back to the community that taught him so much. I learned more from him then any internet group could teach because I didn’t have to filter through the clutter.

Stop seeking validation

Elitists create a problem for every sport or hobby. The better than you mentality eats away at those who want to help and pushes new members away in fear of humiliation to their honest questions. However we all need to stop seeking validation from strangers on the internet. The internet is a wonderful place and has a ton of information. Instead of asking people if this scope is okay to be given a million responses from people who have never even seen one in person do research on your own! Make your own decisions! The elitists of the world have their opinions and so do other shooters. At the end of the day unless someone else is paying for it for you it doesn’t matter what they think.  Please stop being lazy and do your own research and come to your own conclusions.

How can we sTop the cycle?

You can find a little bit of the elitist mentality in each and every one of us. We want to feel important and we want to be proud of what we own and use. There is no reason what so ever why we shouldn’t be. How can we end the cycle? Take a step back. Have you ever been new to something? Maybe a job or a hobby? Were you grateful to the guy who didn’t have the time of day to help you and acted like an elitist or the guy who took his time to help out? If you find yourself unable to help or can’t find something constructive to say it’s okay! Not a single one of us knows everything. Find another topic where you can help. Let’s build up the members in our hobby and help where we can and remember that we all start somewhere.

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The Science Behind Shooting: 7mm SAW vs the 6’s

Posted on by Kasey Chudy

SAW

West Texas Ordnance 7mm SAW

Wildcat cartridges are nothing new in the long-range shooting community. If there is a way to make something better or more efficient someone will make it so. I happen to be a huge fan of the Precision Rifle Blog and noticed that a 7mm cartridge made it into last years top 100 shooters. It is the 7mm SAW and it is West Texas Ordnances brain child.

PRS Applications

If you read the referenced article from Cal over at the Precision Rifle Blog you will see that PRS shooters primarily favor the 6mm and 6.5mm calibers. They bring a lot to the table shooting a high bc round with low recoil. In a competition where you will be shooting multiple strings a day and are required to spot your own misses for adjustments this makes them ideal. So what benefits do we gain with the 7mm SAW?

According to West Texas Ordnance

SAW
https://westtexordnance.com/7mm-saw/
Ballistic coefficients

So how do the ballistic coefficients compare from a 6mm to a 6.5mm to a 7mm? Using Hornady ELD-Match ammunition here is the data.

SAW
http://m.hornady.com/store/6mm-.243-108-gr-ELD-Match/
SAW
http://m.hornady.com/store/6.5mm-.264-140-GR-ELD-Match/
SAW
http://m.hornady.com/store/7mm-.284-162-GR-ELD-Match/
Terminal ballistics

Using the data from West Texas Ordnance on their barrel length and power tests of 7mm SAW as well as data from Copper Creek Cartridge Co for 6 and 6.5mm Creedmoor I ran the ballistics charts below. All data is run at a 0 DA with 10 MPH cross winds at 90°.

SAW
6mm Creedmoor 108GR ELD-MATCH 3080 FPS
SAW
6.5 Creedmoor 140GR ELD-MATCH AT 2810 FPS
SAW
7mm SAW 162GR ELD-MATCH AT 2911 FPS
SAW
Bullet Drop Comparison
SAW
Wind Drift Comparison
Recoil

Using Shooters Calculators Recoil Calculator and basing the results off of available load data we can see that the 7mm SAW does produce more recoil then both the 6.5 and 6mm Creedmoor. The rifle weight was set to 16 lbs for all 3 calibers and it is worth noting that this is without a brake installed. Most brakes on the market popular in practical precision matches can reduce recoil as much as 60%.

Overview

Looking at the data above we can see that the 7mm SAW does have advantages over both the 6mm and 6.5mm calibers. It has a significant advantage in bullet drop and wind drift. Another important fact is the barrel life. The 6mm and 6.5mm calibers are known to burn barrels faster than other calibers out there. The downside seems to be a higher recoiling rifle. Hopefully we will see more data as time goes on and be able to compare how it shoots with a highly effective muzzle brake installed.

West Texas Ordnance is currently working on bringing quality reloading tools to the market and according to their website they should be available soon. I can honestly say that I am impressed with the data and will be closely following this caliber as a possible option when it comes time for my next build or rebarrel.

So do you think we will see some changes in the PRS world in regards to the 7mm SAW? Let us know what you think in the comments!

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Review: Magnetospeed M-Series Grip system

Posted on by Randy Galvan

Magnetospeed

M-SERIES GRIP SYSTEM

Besides the Magnetospeed V3, Magnetospeed was also kind enough to send me their grip system to test. So far I absolutely love the grip. I have it installed on an AR-10 chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor currently. I find it extremely comfortable and really like the texture of the grip. Another very nice thing with the grip is it comes with a long allen key to install the grip screw. The grip is also designed with the grip screw held in place inside the grip with a plug. This sit one of the easiest grips I have ever installed on any AR!

Storage box

The grip also comes with a small storage box that fits into the grip. It is spring-loaded with a button on the bottom. When you push the button you release the dry box so it’s easy to get out. One thing I have noticed is that about ¾ of the time when you eject it, it removes the lid to the box. I’m not sure if this intentional or not. Now don’t get me wrong, it’s not a big deal as the dry box stays about half way in the grip so nothing spills out of it but you have to fish around with your fingers to get the lid out.

MiniLight

Next, as part of the M-Series Grip system we have the MiniLight. It is a very small but bright little flashlight. It runs off of 1 CR123 battery which is included. The light is very simple to operate with two buttons. A large gray button that turns on the main light with a simple on/off function. There is also a smaller red button that activates two red LED bulbs giving you red light.Each button will override the other so if you have the red light on and need the bright white light all you have to do is hit the button and it turns on the white light and automatically turns off the red and vice verse.

The light comes with two ways to mount it, one being a small hat clip that would be good if you need to make a repair to your rifle at night or need some hands free light. I would not keep it on my hat unless I’m using it at the time because it’s held to the clip by a magnet that will let the light fall with any quick head movement. I would like to see a little bit more robust attachment for the light to your hat.

Hat attachment

1913 quick attach

The other way to mount the light is with a 1913 rail adapter this would be great as a backup light it’s very fast to mount if you have the adapter on your rail just eject it from the grip and stick it to the magnets in the adapter. Keep in mind I would not recommend this as a primary weapon light due to the fact that if the light is bumped or you drop your rifle it WILL fall off. I have tested it with a lot of fast movement that you would expect in a dynamic environment and as long as nothing touches the light or rifle it has stayed on without any issues. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take much of a bump to knock the light of. I do think this would be a perfect backup light and that seems to be exactly what it was designed for.

Minimag

The last thing that they sent me was the MiniMAG. Like the dry box and MiniLight, it fits in the grip. The MiniMAG is a three round magazine. Designed for .223/5.56 and 300blk. This is a very different concept, and to be honest, I can’t think of any practical application for it. I mean it works exactly as advertised. I just can’t think of any situation that isn’t the last fight in an action movie that I would need three extra rounds stored in the grip of my rifle. If you can think of a good use for this magazine please let me know in the comments.

They also make a monopod for the grip that I would love to get my hands on to test but so far have been able to.

Overall I really like the grip and the storage and would definitely recommend the grip to anyone that is thinking about getting it. I think Magnetospeed is trying to be very innovative when it comes to this grip I like the dry box and think the flashlight definitely has a lot of potential, but could use a few improvements that I mentioned above. Now, I really think they missed the mark with the MiniMAG unless I am missing something.

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Review: Magpul PMAG 15 GL9

Posted on by Randy Galvan

Gl9

MAGPUL PMAG 15 GL9 REVIEW

The AR world has long been dominated by the polymer magazine and Magpul has been at the forefront. In the last few years we have seen more companies jump on with offerings as well. Magpul has made themselves a name for producing reliable and durable magazines and a decent price. Magpul has finally made a product for pistols but are they worthy of the Magpul Name?

First Look

I recently purchased a Glock 19 and was in need of spare magazines. If there is one thing that every Glock owner has experienced it is the price of Glock factory magazines. They are not cheap. Having used the AR PMAGs and never experiencing any issues i decided to give the new PMAG 15 GL9 a try. The biggest benefit with Magpuls new magazine is the price.

 

Pen dot Matrix

Another favorite of mine from the Magpul line is the use of their pen dot matrix system. On the GL9 the matrix is located on the floor plate of the magazine. It allows you to mark your magazines and does not have the usual downfall of the paint or marker wearing off with use. For anyone running a competition or working with other shooters often this small feature allows you to make your magazines easily identifiable by you.

Reliability

Glock factory magazines have a reputation for reliability so any after market replacement should function just as well. The GL9 did not disappoint. On my trip to the range I fired over 500 round through a single PMAG 15 GL9 and not a single failure was experienced. I tossed the GL9 both loaded and unloaded about 20 feet in the air multiple times in between firing strings to add additional stress. The magazine kept on feeding with only minor surface wear.

Dislikes

While there is a lot that I really like there were a few things that I disliked. The factory Glock magazines give you the ability to quickly determine how many rounds that you have in your mag. The GL9 series of magazines only has an indicator showing when the it is full. Being a Magpul product I would like to see a window or other feature to give you a rough remaining round count.

I also experienced one other issue while loading the magazine. It seemed to be a little tougher to load than a factory magazine. I actually broke my Glock magazine loader at the range. This is not a bad thing as it indicates a stronger spring which will make a more reliable magazine, but i thought it was worth reporting.

I would recommend the PMAG if for no other reason than the price while I do prefer the Glock factory mags over the PMAG the factory mag is not better enough to spend the extra money over the PMAG. Unless you absolutely have to have the ability to look at the mag and know exactly how many rounds you have in the magazine pick up a few PMAG in you own a 9mm Glock.

For more information on the Magpul PMAG 15 GL9 you can look at their website here. It has an MSRP of $15.95.

 

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New Shooter 101: Data Collection

Posted on by Kasey Chudy

Data

New Shooters 101: Data Collection

Long range shooting is all about the details. The more we pay attention to and document all the variables the better we will become. Long range shooting explained simply is applying the fundamentals of marksmanship consistently while properly compensating for environmental conditions and effects. It doesn’t matter if you are a new shooter or an experienced shooter, recording all the data you can will help make you more proficient.

D.O.P.E. (DATA OF PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENTS)

D.O.P.E is a term used often in the long-range community. It refers to the data of previous engagements and is a data book used to track your rifles performance at different ranges with different wind speeds and values. As you collect and true your data you will have a reference to help get more accurate shots on target faster.  What data is important?

Density Altitude

When collecting data one of the first things I like to record is the Density Altitude where and when I am shooting. Living in upstate New York I can experience low density altitude in the  cold winter months and a much higher density altitude in the warm summer months. Density Altitude can play a large roll on your adjustments and knowing how your rifle will perform and having data for multiple density altitude bands is very important for getting first round hits at distance.

Magpul Core Density Altitude Band Graph

 

Density Altitude requires you to have the following information: Temperature, Barometric Pressure, Altitude, and Humidity. Apps like the Applied Ballistics Tool Box can then calculate your density altitude.

Data
Density Altitude at my position

Below are 4 range cards for my .308 shooting Prime 175 GR OTM ammunition at 2592 fps. All range cards use a 10 MPH wind at 90°. The density altitudes represented are 0, 3000, 6000, and 9000.

 

Data
0 DA
3000 DA
6000 DA
9000 DA

 

Wind

Wind is quite possibly one of the biggest factors to consider when shooting at long-range. The wind at your position and the wind at your target can be doing completely different things. The more data you collect on the wind the better you will become at shooting in the wind. Fine tuning you ability to read wind down range takes practice and documenting the times you are right as well as the times you are not will help you get more comfortable shooting in the wind.

I like the clock method of reading the wind as it helps me remember my full values, 1/2 values, and 0 value. The Magpul Quick Reference cards have a helpful card pictured below that also gives you the necessary data to gauge wind through your scope down range.

Magpul Wind Quick reference card

Below are examples of wind at a full value, 1/2 value, and 0 value. All winds are at 10 MPH and based off my .308 shooting Prime 175GR ammunition.

Full Value

1/2 Value

 

Shooting position

If you shoot in practical precision matches or find yourself out hunting having to set up hasty positions it never hurts to document things that will make you a more proficient shooter. While you are practicing shooting off a barricade you will quickly find what works and what doesn’t. Knowing how to build a stable position quickly can have a lot of benefits when you are on the clock at a match or when time is against you to get that trophy buck. Another great option is to have someone take video or pictures while you are shooting. You can review them at home and break everything down good and bad to improve on your next trip to the range.

Call your shots

Another common practice with data books is to call your shots. Using a data book you can document where you think the shot went before confirming where it actually landed. This can help you self-diagnose what you did wrong. Everyone pulls shots and misses, however knowing why we pulled the shot or missed is what will help us improve. Did you miss call the wind, jerk the trigger, or fire from a rushed position when you could have made it more stable? Knowing what to work on at the range is a lot better than wasting ammo with no game plan.

Data books

Having a good data book is obvious when we talk about collecting data. I personally recommend the Magpul Precision Rifle Data Book 2.0 as well as their Quick Reference Cards. I reviewed them previously here.

Catch up on our new shooter 101 series

The Introduction

Purpose

Caliber Selection

Reading your Reticle

Mils or MOA

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Review: Magnetospeed V3

Posted on by Randy Galvan

Magnetospeed

MagnetosPEed v3 review

Having good data is one of the most important aspects of both long-range shooting and reloading. The Magnetospeed V3 has everything you need to get all of the information needed for your data book and load development and it is affordable as well.

Packaging

I received my Magnetospeed V3 to test and evaluate. It came in a nice case reminiscent of a hard plastic pistol case. It has foam cut for each part that comes with the V3 and seems to hold everything securely.

Attachments

The “bayonet” attaches to your barrel and comes with multiple sized barrel attachments to use with different diameter barrels as well as a square aluminum rod that you use as a guide to get the correct spacing.

monitor

The monitor that it comes with is simple to use and with the provided cables either a six-foot standard or a four-foot retractable cable it sits right next to you as you shoot so you can see the speed of each shot without having to get up between shots.

The Magnetospeed also comes with a microSD card and SD card adapter so that you can use to save your shot data to your computer if you want to keep a digital log.

Rifle attachment

I must say I have always been very sceptical of the Magnetospeed not because I didn’t trust the data but because of changing point of impact and effecting grouping. I was pleasantly surprised that I was wrong to worry about as neither aspect was effected. It was also very refreshing not to get error codes because of clouds passing overhead or changing light conditions.

It’s also nice not to have to go down range while you set up the Magnetospeed. It is also a lot less work than setting up a traditional chronograph. Overall I was very impressed with the V3 especially going into the review expecting different results. However after multiple range trips I only had one error code and i was unable to duplicate it. I would highly recommend the Magnetospeed V3 to anyone who want to get accurate load data easily.

For more information on the Magnetospeed V3 checkout their website here. MSRP is $380 and can often be found for less.

 

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New Shooter 101: Choosing Mils or MOA

Posted on by Kasey Chudy

EDC

One of the most common questions new shooters ask is Mils or MOA when setting up their new long-range rifle. Today I want to take a more in-depth review of both Mils and MOA to help you make that decision for yourself. There is a lot of bad information and misconceptions around Mils and MOA as they relate to shooting. I will cover those below as well.

MILS ARE METRIC AND MOA IS IMPERIAL

Possibly one of the biggest misconceptions in the long-range shooting community is that Mils or MOA only correspond to a set measurement system. This actually has zero truth behind it. Both Mils and MOA are angular measurements. Angular measurements work with any system of measurement in existence.

Mils (MRAD)

One mil is 1/1000 of the unit of measurement (feet, inches, centimeters, meters, miles, ect) you choose to use. Therefore .1 mil is 1/10,000 of the unit of measurement (feet, inches, centimeters, meters, miles, ect) you choose to use. So 1 mil at 1,000 meters is 1 meter and 1 mil at 1,000 yards is 1 yard. .1 mil is 1 centimeter at 100 meters and .36 inches at 100 yards.

MOA (Minute of angle)

One MOA is 1/60th of a degree. At 100 Yards 1 MOA equals 1.047 inches and at 1000 yards one MOA equals 10.47 inches. At 100 meters 1 MOA equals 2.908 centimeters and therefore at 1000 meters 1 MOA equals 29.08 centimeters.

MOA IS A MORE ACCURATE ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM

The answer to this is not a simple yes or no. On paper MOA adjusts in smaller values and because of that it is seen as more precise by some but is the difference an advantage or is it a negligible difference? You can decide below.

Size of adjustments

Mil scopes are most commonly found with 1/10 mil turrets. This means that every “click” the turret is moves corresponds to a 1/10 mil adjustment to your point of aim. MOA scopes are most commonly found with 1/4 MOA turrets. Just like the Mil turrets 1/4 MOA turrets adjust your point of aim by 1/4 and MOA with every “click”. Some MOA turrets are set to 1/8 MOA values and are not as common.

1/10 Mil Vs. 1/4 MOA

Starting at 100 yards 1 Mil equals 3.6 inches and 1 MOA equals 1.047 inches. Therefore 1/10 of a mil equals .36 inches and 1/4 of an MOA equals .26175 inches at 100 yards. The difference of the adjustments is .09825 inches.

At 1000 yards 1/10 of a Mil equals 3.6 inches and 1/4 MOA equals 2.6175 inches. The difference between the two systems is .9825 inches. It is possible that the top 1% of shooters would actually be able to tell such a small difference in adjustments, however when we take into account environmental factors like wind as well as bc errors, shooter error, and rifle capability is the average shooter able to discern the minute difference or “edge” that MOA presents with a smaller adjustment value?

Number of clicks

Using data from my .308 and Applied Ballistics mobile app I have 2 photos below. Both account for the same distance of 1000 yards with a 10 MPH constant wind at 90°. One accounts for adjustments in 1/10 Mil and the other 1/4 MOA.

MILS
1000 Yards 1/10 Mil Turrets
MOA
1000 Yards 1/4 MOA Adjustments

The results above show an additional 40 clicks are needed to get the same firing solution while using MOA over Mils. Is the extra time spent dialing in your adjustments worth the smaller value? It depends on the style of shooting and personal preference and is for you to decide.

1 MOA IS CLOSE ENOUGH TO 1 INCH AT 100 YARDS

As we discussed above 1 MOA at 100 yards is 1.047 inches. A common trend is to round 1.047 down to 1 inch to make math easier. While this might have a minimal effect at closer ranges it will cause misses at longer ranges.

Using the example above at 1000 yards the .308 bullet drops 36.3 mils or 380.061 inches. When 1 MOA is rounded down to 1 inch instead of 1.047 inches the drop changes to 363.0 inches. This small and seemingly harmless error in math actually equates to 17.061 inches or 1.630 MOA that your adjustments are off.

 

WHICH IS THE BETTER SYSTEM?

Neither. It is a personal choice. If you shoot bench rest and the targets are in MOA then MOA makes more sense. If all your friends shoot Mils getting data for corrections will be easier if you to shoot Mils. I use Mils because it is what I was taught in the Military but instead of meters I range my targets in yards. No matter which system you choose make sure that you are educated and comfortable with making adjustments.

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