Scratched the Itch

The Bosses knee replacement surgery combined with the weather has kept me away from the range the last couple of months. Today I scratched that itch.

I have a pump action 30-30 purchased back in the 70s. It seems to be a good choice for my left handed, non-gunny son. I had it repaired after sitting idle for a few decades. It has a 3-9X scope mounted which I zeroed at 75 yards today. The longer range positions were all occupied. It seems reliable with the 110 grain varmint bullets I loaded for it at least 40 years ago. With zeroing and plinking I used about 20 rounds. I have another 40 old rounds loaded and ready.

I put a new & lower scope mount on the CETME which today I also zeroed. It will need to be adjusted again at a longer range. I bought it maybe 20 years ago along with 2 crates of South African Mil. Surp. 7.62x51. I still have 600 rounds remaining. Today I used 20. I've started working on hand loading for the Enfield bolt gun with the same chambering. Will probably do the first experiment during the next range trip.

I have some Magtech 7.62x51 that I've fired in the Enfield bolt action. I found it to be significantly less accurate than the old South African stuff, despite having a tighter velocity spread. Bullet weights are the same.

The new Hogue tamer grip installed on the Super Redhawk 454 does help reduce hand punishment. Unfortunately the grip did not help my marksmanship. 

Also have new grip on the Charter Arms Target Bull Dog. Fits my hand better than the original. Instead of shooting my hand loads I tried a few Magtech factory rounds. Out of 15, I had 3 that didn't fire. They looked like light pin strikes. I've never had that before. Hard primers? Thin rims? I need to look into that some more. 

I also tested an old Llama Micromax 380. It was on loan to a daughter-in-law for about 15 years without being fired in that time period. It occasionally failed to feed with my hand loads and Fiochi factories, all FMJ round noses. I need to look into that  as well. I cleaned and lubed it last week. Maybe a magazine issue?

Just for fun a put some rounds through the lever action 454 consisting mostly of 240 grain Hornady XTP Mags. Plenty of fun. The same load I use in the Super Redhawk. At 75 yards the heavier 300 grain version hit about 12 inches lower.

1911 Anniversary

Happy anniversary 1911.  Feb 14, 1911 J. Browning was issued the patent for what has become the iconic semi-auto 45acp.  Might be the most popular pistol in the U.S. By todays standards it's a bit overly complicated, but fits me well.  It's easily modified to fit my hand by installing thin grip panels and a drop in short trigger. 

My second favorite is another design started but not finished by JMB, the Hi-Power. Again due to small hands I remove the magazine disconnect and block the trigger back.

I find both pistols, once modified, very easy to shoot well.

Bore Sight

 Many years ago I bought a CETME for $300. Shortly after my boys gave me a claw scope mount, aging eyes and all. The issue with the claw mount is that with recoil it slides forward and eventually needs to be repositioned. Apparently that was the only type of mount available at the time, designed for the HK variant.

Several months ago I ran across a scope base designed specifically for the CETME. Not only does it sit lower, there is a feature that loops behind the rear sight that keeps it from sliding due to recoil. This should be much better. Now I need to range zero the scope.

Way back in the 70s I bought my first center fire rifle for a Michigan deer hunt. I had a 20ga pump that fit me like a glove and I used it for small game hunting. I happened to find a 30-30 pump action rifle that fit me just like the shotgun. It was like both were made just for me.

I haven't shot that rifle in decades so decided to give it to my left handed son. At the range checking function and zero it failed to fire after about 5 rounds. I was unable to drive a pin out to check the interior, so I took it to a shop for repair. Now that it's back I need to remount the scope and zero it. Later we can check it for fit to my son.

I recently purchased a laser bore sight. In the past I never bothered with a tool like this because ammo was less expensive and I had more range time available. There's basically 2 types. One fits into the chamber and the other mounts in the bore. The chamber type is probably more accurate but not as versatile per $ spent for those of us with multiple calibers. I bought the bore mount kit. Hopefully I'll soon find out how well it works. 

USA Destroyer

 I've never heard of a newly elected president in such a hurry to destroy this nation as I know it, other than in some third world country.  

Open borders. In other words no independent country.  Those of us that work for a living are expected to pay to help the world.

Equity. The socialist dream where the goal is all of us subjects have the same life results whether we work for it or not. Boy has that worked so well in the rest of the world. This is very different from equal opportunity.

Reinstate multiple regulations. At best the economy will flatten to practically zero growth like in the Obama years.

Spend & spend some more. Typical of all D's. Very good at spending other peoples money causing high inflation hurting everybody. Actual inflation and unemployment are always higher than reported due to the method of determination.

Increase taxes. Promised to come. The Ds always want to do this with the excuse of needing to pay for their utopian dreams. Historically the actual effect is a reduction in revenue probably due to increased unemployment.

Eliminate fossil fuels. This will have approximately zero effect on the worlds climate, and kill our economy. There's not enough renewables, solar or wind in this country to to supply the power requirements. And only the ignorant thinks that solar or wind has no effect on climate. 

Disarm the population. That's what's wanted, but not totally achievable. About 1,000,000 firearms were sold in January. A disarmed people are much easier to control by the powerful elite.

 The above are just off the top of my head, and not close to being inclusive.

BTW I've increased my supply of magazines holding more than 10 rounds. I know what's coming.