It is probably better that I did not end up purchasing the Bullitt – this looming election is convincing me to spend far too much money as it is. Current shopping list is:
1000 rounds of 9mm
1000 rounds of .308 (Yes, I know, 1000 rounds is not even enough for a year of monthly practice shoots, so maybe those numbers will increase after due consideration.)
A normal-capacity, 20-round magazine for my M1A. Either this, this, this, this, or the one sold by Fulton. Oh, the choices.
An 8-round magazine for my PPS (as big as they come for that particular firearm). Either this or this.
A vertical picatinny-mount grip and flashlight mount for my M1A, either in a combo like this, or individually. Current vertical grip options include this, this, and this, and current flashlight mount options include this, this, this, this, or this.
A scope for my M1A, which, unfortunately, requires about 10-12 inches of eye relief. If I was looking for just a no-or-low-magnification red-dot or holographic, the shopping would be relatively easy. Unfortunately, I am looking for something that might help me stand an actual chance of hitting the targets at Boomershoot, so some decent degree of magnification is required. I guess, from some perspective, the shopping for that particular item is even easier – the only option I have found thus far is this. [Update:]After some nudging from Joe, I was able to dig up this alternative. It, at least, meets the 10x recommended minimum.[/Update] Of course, it will need rings, so these or these should do the trick.
And, finally, the biggest annoyance I encountered at the GBRIII shoot (apart from the frakking cold weather), as well as a shoot this past weekend, is shooting at a target 25-50 yards away, and not being able to tell if/how I hit it until I approach it in person. A spotting scope would, indeed, be nice, but I think I could probably live with one of these. (And it would probably be fairly useful at the upcoming Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert.)
Oh, and this is all without even opening the can of worms of what lowers to buy and in what quantity.
*sigh* It is only money, right? Granted, some of those items are probably not going to be problematic under the possible regime of Senator Barack Hussein Obama – for example, the optics, its mounts, the binoculars, and the flashlight mount. However, the vertical foregrip has always been a staple of “assault weapon” bans in America, as has any magazines over 10 rounds in capacity (possibly only five rounds, by Senator Barack Hussein Obama’s definition, which would then cover my PPS magazine as well). As for ammunition, the recent “armor-piercing ammunition” ban that Kennedy proposed (and that Senator Barack Hussein Obama supported) would ban all ammunition that has higher-than-”standard” penetration capabilities… and the same bureaucrats who designed the joke of an “assault weapon” ban would have free reign to define “standard”. Of course, it goes without saying that my baseline, el-cheapo, milsurp .308 ammunition (one of the more-common hunting rounds, by the by) can penetrate Type I, Type II-A, Type II, and Type III-A armor. Guess that makes it armor-piercing, eh? And something Obama, his “assault weapon” ban, or his “armor piercing ammunition” ban would be against, eh? As for the 9mm ammunition, it will not penetrate nearly as much armor as the .308 will (rifle versus pistol), but Senator Barack Hussein Obama has already endorsed ammunition serialization and a $0.05 tax per round in Illinois… why not just make it easier and go national with it? And as for the lowers, they would also be part and parcel of Senator Barack Hussein Obama’s desired “assault weapon” ban.
So, suggestions, thoughts, comments, and ideas for any of my above shopping list items would be greatly appreciated. *sigh* Going to be an expensive year… guess I am just doing my part to revitalize the American economy, right?
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questioning the future | i must be racist | presidential prevarication |
An 8X scope is consider a little marginal for Boomershoot. I have hit a few targets with a 3.4X scope but that was only the closest targets. Most people regard the minimum magnification to be “competitive” (it isn’t really a competition) is 10X.
But 8X is better than no scope at all.
… crap.
The problem I am encountering is one of hardware – the M1A I have simply cannot mount a scope far enough back for 10x+ levels of magnification. (Well, I could, but it would require dangerously cantilevering the thing over an area where pieces of hot brass would be repeatedly launched into it.) And the cutoff for extended eye-relief scope seems to be about 8x. [Update:] Seems as though I was a little off on that… might just find something usable yet.[/Update]
Of course, I could use this as leverage to acquire a new firearm more suited to long-distance work… however, considering the projected costs I am already looking at, I would have to get used to sleeping on the couch.
Eh, I figure a 8x scope would at least put the closest of the boomers at around 50 yards, and I can consistently manage an inch group at that range. Ideally, that would mean I might hit somewhere around half the time…
Yeah, I am not holding my breath either.
*sigh* It might really be 2010 before I can make it.
My interests have turned towards fore-grips also, but folding ‘em hasn’t been one of the criteria.
However a QD release and metal in the mechanism has been and also I didn’t want a huge one, so I got as far as the LaRue FUG:
http://www.laruetactical.com/pics/FUG/FUG.html
The Bobro:
http://www.rainierarms.com/?page=shop/detail&product_id=808
and the TangoDown BGV-MK46 short:
http://tangodown.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=26&products_id=101
From my understanding the VFG isn’t for carrying or hanging onto so much as directing the muzzle quickly to the target.
I still don’t have any scopes besides the Aimpoint dot.
FYI,
20rd USGI M1A mags at 44mag.com for $19.99 ea.
http://www.44mag.com/prodinfo.asp?number=CM20
I have five of these myself and so far have never had any issues with them.
8x will get you a few boomers.
My general philosophy on gun purchasing is to use something cheap that will still work. Then I use it enough to reach the point where I know the equipment is holding me back. By that time I will know emough about the problem to buy the right equipment or perhaps know that I don’t want to participate in that shooting sport.
Basically, first I explore, then I get serious. Your 8x (or 10X) scope and the M1A will be enough for you to play the game even if you aren’t going to impress the oldtimers.
Dirtcrashr: Ideally, I would like to be able to mount both the foregrip and my bipod, and then flip between the two as necessary (hence the foldy requirement). The FUG certainly looks like a fairly good piece of eqiupment, though I do like the ones that have internal battery storage. And, no, the VFG is definitely not meant for manhandling, but that is why I am also looking for sling and attachment options (forgot to mention that). Speaking of, where did your little plastic doohicky come from?
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Shane: Awesome find, Shane. I am always somewhat afraid of buying magazines that far below the market average price, so it is good to have a recommendation
Joe: Trust me, my goals at a Boomershoot would basically amount to hitting a boomer about one out of every ten shots. I simply do not have experience at that range, and I would just be there for the fun of it (and what is more fun than exploding targets?). In reality, that is the path I should have taken with my rifle, but the M1A just caught my eye, and I have been (thankfully) happy with it since. Its only shortcoming will probably be extended range work, and as long as it can reach 400-500ish (which, supposedly, even its abbreviated barrel can), I will still be happy. Thanks for the insight, though.
Senior moment – what doohicky? Or…which one, oh the chamber flag converted to “tool” that must be used?
The little plastic doohicky you use to mount the sling on the front part of your AR15. Sling-mount-doohicky. To replace the one that is spazzing out on you.
strike the colors
As if I did not already have enough things trying to steal my money away, I go and stumble across this. I do not know about you, but I definitely could do with the Unknown Soldier photo, or the Raptor…