Musical Scopes

Got the 3-18X IR mounted on the Grendel and bore sighted without a problem.

Put the 6-24X IR on the swede, and sort of bore sighted.  It has an old scope mount without a rail for separate rings, and almost at the limit of the scopes horizontal adjustment. If I can't get it zeroed where I want, a whole new scope mount will be needed. I've shot groups as small as 1/2 MOA at 10X with that rifle, so it deserves the higher magnification.

Took the old 3-10X IR  from the Swede and used it to replace the ancient 3-9X on the 303.

That leaves the 1-10X IR without a home. Thinking about putting it on the CETME

Gonna leave the 3.8-12X on the 7Mag.

Scope Switch

 Ordered and received a 3-15X scope for the Grendel. Think I'll install it and adjust zero, then shoot a group or two, before fooling with barrel harmonics. I think it deserves a higher magnification than 10X.

I'll move the 1-10X to the 303 replacing an old beat up 3-9. 

Also ordered a 6-24X (not yet received) that will probably end up on the 6.5 Swede or 7Mag. Both are capable of sub-MOA groups and shoot rather flat. 

Grendel Again

 Went to the range today to confirm I have a decent load using the 120 grain Sierra Game King. I have determined the load is more consistent than I am. Four out of 5 at 3/4" and 1-1/8" with one flyer each (the first shot). Muzzle velocity is about 2500 f/s, maybe 150 to 200 slower than my Swede shooting the same bullet. The Grendel shoots flat enough (1" high at 100yds) to hold dead on at 150 and 200yds. to hit steel plates. The smallest about 4" at 150 and 8" at 200, I think. Too much walking with my bad knee to put up paper targets or measure the plates.

I went with 5 shot groups this time. I determined that the first shot with a clean barrel hits about 1" lower than the rest. That's a lot better than my 303 Brit.

Next time I'll play games with the position of the linear compensator. That will effect the barrel harmonics and possibly group sizes. It has a heavy barrel so I'm not expecting a big change.

Also considering a scope change. Now using a 1-10X, but it might deserve a higher magnification, maybe up to 16X or 25X. I have a 4-12X laying around, but I don't think that's enough difference.

Lesser Evil

 It seems that every election cycle I end up voting for what/who I consider the less of the evils. Decades ago I was middle of the road between the 2 political parties. Then both parties moved left, The democrats more so. The last decade or so I've been voting for the lesser of 2 evils. I really want to vote for anyone that resembles libertarian, but I end up voting republican across the board. Voting for who I want ends up helping the commie democrat.

Grendel Success

 So I made it back to the range with my 2 problem rifles. Despite limping to the 100 yard target stand and back a few times, finally had some success. I now have a load for the Grendel using the Sierra 120 grain game king that produced sub-MOA 3 shot groups. I didn't even have to mess with the barrel harmonics to get there. It has a 1-10 scope and a mediocre shooter. A higher magnification and/or better shooter would most likely produce tighter groups.

The Ishapore Enfield is still a problem. More experimentation is required.

Bad Knee

 There was a time when my father-in-law asked if I knew then what I know now now about the effects on my body would be, would I still do that stuff. I answered absolutely yes.

I twisted my left knee wrestling in high school, fell on my left knee cap when I slipped coming out of a semi-truck trailer working my way through school. Then bent my left leg backwards playing softball. Blew out my right shoulder working on an old car.

I was on the high school wrestling and golf teams. Had to quit golf and move to second base playing ball due to the shoulder injury. Sold my dirt bike because after a day riding I limped for a week. Played soft ball until I was 45. Then my eldest returned from the marines and got me hooked on paintball. Had to wear a knee brace to walk after playing. Finally had to quit paintball when I was 65. That was ten years ago, and I still miss it. I also miss the Boss and I riding our horses.

Over the years I've tweeked the knee a few times, but a couple days wearing a brace got me back to normal. Not this time! Three weeks ago, after mowing grass, the left knee was hurting and it still does. Got another three weeks to see a bone doctor.

In my old age my activities are a lot less physical. I used to be a hunter, now I'm a gun guy.  Walking 100 yards to set up a target is now painful. So I still haven't found the right load for the  Ishapore or the Grendel.

Fuel Prices

 Everybody seems to be concerned about gas/diesel prices. And the direct impact on the cost of everything. The theory is that this is directly proportional to the price of crude oil. I don't think this is entirely true. 

Years ago crude oil was as high if not higher than it is now, and gas prices were much lower. I believe the price issue is mostly due to refineries. For years the government waged war on fossil fuels, so why would any company invest money in refineries when being fought by the government.

In addition, I recently learned the the same refineries that process diesel also refine heating oil. Those refineries are running at maximum capacity.