Rifle marksmanship is a civilian attribute which is alien to the military environment. It must be introduced into the military by force and can be kept in the military only by ongoing active measures, else it will be eradicated and replaced by equipment familiarity.
– 14th Iron Law of Marksmanship
The .223 round is a marginal performer against humans. Although it offers advantages over handgun rounds or shotgun rounds, you must be careful to not expect too much.
~Gabriel Suarez, The Tactical Rifle, p. 40 (1999)
The large wound cavity of the 55gr is produced by the bullet fragmentation (usually at the cannelure), which occurs only if impact velocity is at least 2800fps. Such velocities may be expected only within 150yds (for 20" barrels) and within 75yds for 16" barrels. After farther ranges, no bullet fragmentation will occur and the rounds lethality (marginal at best) is significantly reduced.
The .223 is also a poor penetrator, which is good or bad depending on its intended use. You'll be surprised to learn that the 9mm, .40S&W, and .45ACP better perforate walls, care doors, and windshields. The .223 simply breaks up too easily (it was designed to fragment without Geneva Convention-prohibited (sic-actually Hague Convention) hollowpoint construction).
~Boston T. Party, Boston's Gun Bible (revised), p.9/5 (2002)
FMJ is for practice fellas.
And I believe that is the ammo both Boston and Suarez are referring to with the above quotes.Hornady Frontier carries 5.56 mm rounds in a few hollowpoint variations. It will be spring though before I will be able to try them out. Supposed to be a cold winter up here in Alberta, or at least parts thereof. Still have to sight my Ruger Ranch 5.56's new scope.
I don't know of any 5.56 that isn't FMJ (even the 'Green Tip" penetrators are FMJ). And FMJ is about the only .223 Rem ammo one is going to find in bulk. Otherwise, bring a wheel-barrow full of FRN's if you want to stack non-FMJ deep.
OR.... start getting the components and rollin' yer own.
I hear the 62gr SP-BT's are the Bees Knees in that regard.
YMMV
For the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force, this is most likely true... For the Marine Corps, however, it's a different breed altogether.
For starters, every Marine is a rifleman - from the mess hall attendant to the scout sniper. I didn't serve in Vietnam, as I wasn't even born yet, but I did serve 8 years on active duty from 1996-2004. During those 8 years, every Marine was required to qualify with the M16 A2 service rifle on a KD range with the last qualification period on the 500 yard line with open sights...yeah, 500 yards with open sights. I'm pretty sure nothing has changed since, with the exception of the improved GI service rifles.
That last sentence of the article is total BS... I can put 10 rounds in the black on a "B" Modified Target at 500 rounds with the M16 A2...open sights - and so can 80% of the Marines I served with.
I'd be happy to duel it out with ANY goofball and a flintlock rifle against my M16 A2, anytime and anywhere...
80,000 psi and steel/brass hybrid (metals of different dielectric constants).
You first!
https://www.tactical-life.com/gear/ammo/277-sig-fury-hybrid-case-design/ (https://www.tactical-life.com/gear/ammo/277-sig-fury-hybrid-case-design/)
And another new round. So many firearms, so little time.I'm going with the BIG 13.2mmSR TuF Mauser… https://www.firearmsnews.com/editorial/first-antitank-rifle-cartridge-132mm-tuf/370681 (https://www.firearmsnews.com/editorial/first-antitank-rifle-cartridge-132mm-tuf/370681)
However, sometimes I think the Mausers simply got it right the first time with their 7mm.
Some of you may be on the same mailing list and already saw this, but it tickled my funny bone enough to post it.Are all out of bubblegum? ;)
…fake Red Sea pedestrians :cowboy:(http://judaism.is/images/2.jpg?crc=4244825213)
(http://judaism.is/images/2.jpg?crc=4244825213)good clip!!!
Can somebody recommend a video demonstration on learning to reload ammo?I cannot vouch for any of these: https://www.google.com/search?q=video+begnning+reloading+ammunition&oq=video+begnning+reloading+ammunition&aqs=chrome..69i57.7249j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 (https://www.google.com/search?q=video+begnning+reloading+ammunition&oq=video+begnning+reloading+ammunition&aqs=chrome..69i57.7249j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8)
good clip!!!If you liked that page, you can see the entire comic here: http://judaism.is/h0Ɩ0cαųst.html#talesoftheh0Ɩ0h0αx (http://judaism.is/h0Ɩ0cαųst.html#talesoftheh0Ɩ0h0αx)
Can somebody recommend a video demonstration on learning to reload ammo?In addition to what has been said, it can not be stressed enough that reloading is something that one should not simply do on their own w/out any mentoring guidance. In that regard, I would advise you to seek someone in your area that has at least a basic understanding of how to run single-stage press and show you the ins-and-outs of it the entire process. Watching videos is helpful, but rarely will you find a video that covers your exact setup. And sometimes, it's the little things that can lead to larger frustrations.
If you liked that page, you can see the entire comic here: http://judaism.is/h0Ɩ0cαųst.html#talesoftheh0Ɩ0h0αx (http://judaism.is/h0Ɩ0cαųst.html#talesoftheh0Ɩ0h0αx)After looking at this cartoons, yes, I can see why the Synagoggies would throw more than a hissy fit.
The comic is really well done, so well done that the artists went to jail.
Mark79, thanks for your input. I like shooting various revolver cartridges and non-magnum rifle cartridges that shoot flat and still reach out at a distance. I live in the midwest. Mostly target shooting & plinking, but also prepping self defense rounds for SHTF and carry.Well then… you are straddling the fence, needing both "mass quantities" (plinking) and "precision" (non-magnum rifle cartridges that shoot flat and still reach out at a distance).
Just as a funny side note, I remember getting Portuguese 308 ball delivered to my house for $120/1000. That's 12 cents a pop...literally.Stack it high and deep!
Just as a funny side note, I remember getting Portuguese 308 ball delivered to my house for $120/1000. That's 12 cents a pop...literally.
Would .270 Winchester be worth reloading or should I stick to buying in bulk? Regarding the reloads, I would be completely satisfied if the reloads have about the same performance as Remington CoreLokt. Are there reasonably priced reloading equipment that can make reloads with that level of performance?
How about .357 magnum?
Well then… you are straddling the fence, needing both "mass quantities" (plinking) and "precision" (non-magnum rifle cartridges that shoot flat and still reach out at a distance).
As a competent reloader, I would approach "mass quantities" with a progressive reloading press (e.g., pick your price point with the Dillion line https://www.dillonprecision.com/ (https://www.dillonprecision.com/) ), but approach "precision" with a high-end single-stage coaxial reloading press (e.g., Forster https://www.forsterproducts.com/ (https://www.forsterproducts.com/) ) and a bevy of high-end (viz., expensive) accoutrements (e.g., magnetic restoration scale https://www.accurateshooter.com/gear-reviews/sartorius-magnetic-scale-is-fast-ultra-precise/ (https://www.accurateshooter.com/gear-reviews/sartorius-magnetic-scale-is-fast-ultra-precise/) ).
In the decades when I was active in "3-Gun" competition, I typically shot 1,000-4,000 rounds per month in practice. I decided to reduce my costs, so I scrounged my brass and was gifted brass and reloaded it all. It took me about 2 weeks of evenings to reload about 2,000 rounds (clean, lube, re-size, case-length trim, de-lube, inner chamfer, outer chamfer, prime, charge, seat projectiles, box). I tallied my receipts and discovered that for giving up two weeks of evenings I had saved—wait for it—about $50 for the 2,000 rounds compared to the cost of buying milspec in bulk.
Speaking for myself, It was worth $50 for me to re-capture 2 weeks of evenings with my family. I gave my Dillon to a buddy and ever since, for "mass quantities," I shop price commercially and carefully (https://ammoseek.com/ (https://ammoseek.com/) http://www.gunbot.net/ (http://www.gunbot.net/) and am on several email lists for bulk ammo distributors).
XLR, however, is entirely different. With one possible exception (vide infra), nothing commercial "Match" shoots as precisely as my handloads, not Federal Gold Medal Match, not Black Hills Match, not even Lapua Match. I have selected components, powders, projectiles, charge weights, and "jump" based on OCW ladders proven at distance. My reloads outperform them all… except…
…the Berger line of ammunition (formerly Applied Ballistics Munitions), https://bergerbullets.com/product-category/ammunition/ (https://bergerbullets.com/product-category/ammunition/), the brainchild of the well-known ballistician Bryan Litz. For the life of me I do not understand how they mass produce ammunition that shoots as well as my flake-by-flake meticulous handloads. That said, my reloads beat the very high price of the Berger ammunition—for example, .338 Lapua with Berger's 300gn Hybrid OTM Match runs about $5/rd, (Lapua 300's are about $7/rd) not quite twice what my equivalent reloads cost. What is your time worth?
I hope this has been helpful.
If you liked that page, you can see the entire comic here: http://judaism.is/h0Ɩ0cαųst.html#talesoftheh0Ɩ0h0αx (http://judaism.is/h0Ɩ0cαųst.html#talesoftheh0Ɩ0h0αx)
The comic is really well done, so well done that the artists went to jail.
I share your spurning of progressive presses for reloading accurate ammo.… Yet… There are even PTR (Precision Tactical Rifle) champions who use heavily-modified Dillons to produce their competition and practice ammo. That's not for me. Single-stage coax!
Point of clarification: I do not spurn progressive loaders because of any inherent inability to produce accurate ammo. I shy away from progressive loaders when loading for service rifles (e.g., M1 Garand, M14 clone, AR-15), all of which are gas guns and have floating firing pins, wherein a single primer seated slightly proud could result in an out-of-battery ignition, or a slight overcharge in powder could damage a gas system. Not good. I tend to hand-prime and individually weigh the charge for each cartridge when loading for service rifles. This isn't to say that a Dillon (or other progressive presses) need be avoided; I just choose for my own reasons to use a single-stage press, and I don't load enough handgund ammunition to justify getting a second progressive press. YMMV.Ahhhhh!
Since you mentioned "ladders" and I mentioned "OCW," I thought it would be good to give Immaculatam Hostiam (Should I use the dative case since he is the indirect object? :-) ) this reference:
Dan Newberry's Optimal Charge Weight Load Development..
http://www.ocwreloading.com/ (http://www.ocwreloading.com/)
Ahhhhh!
I prime cases by hand.
In the above link, Newberry states: "I cleaned the rifle, and shot two fouling shots...."I have tried the different schools and have not found a statistically significant difference among the results. There may be a difference, but, if so, is lost in the "noise" of my abilities.
This brings up an interesting point, one of which I'm not sure if there is a correct answer. Also, this is in relation to precision rifle shooting (not necessarily service rifle).
There seems to be two schools of thought. The first is the above, wherein a cleaned barrel needs to be fired a few times to create some fouling in the barrel. Only upon building up this fouling can it be expected to shoot in a consistent, repeatable manner. Obviously, if one is shooting a match, where many shots may be fired in a single day, this method seems to make sense. The bore is only cleaned periodically, and thus there is always some fouling contained therein, even on cold-bore shots.
The second school of thought, and one advocated by certain snipers, including Carlos Hathcock, was that the first cold-bore shot is the one that counts, and as such, it must always be taken from a cleaned barrel. As one "student" of his relayed, Hathcock would meet him once per day at the range (this was on a military base), wherein he would take only a single shot at a target, noting the weather conditions and where the shot landed relative to point-of-aim. After that one shot, the student was instructed to go back to the armory, and thoroughly clean the bore of the rifle. The student would come back the next day, and repeat. This was done for several weeks/months until the student had built an extensive D.O.P.E. for that rifle/cartridge combination.
I suppose there is a third school of thought, which is as described in the below video, which is to clean only with a solvent after every shoot; no brushes.
From a practical standpoint, my shooting falls into either the first or third school. As I don't have quick access to a range, it would take quite some time to build a D.O.P.E. using the second school of thought. That being said, I have not had a chance to compare either of these methods with one another to see which one is actually better.
https://youtu.be/ltpIdTieQT8
I have rarely used bore snakes. Based on that minimal experience, I think they are OK, but I didn't become a "convert."I will never come close to shooting your volume of ammo! If I did, I would probably use the traditional approach. I do like using patches as a finishing touch though. I found also not all boresnakes are equal. Pays not to cheap out. :cowboy:
Rods, brushes, jags, and patches are my routine. I have used the whole gamut of products and, for the last several years, have stuck with the KG-1/KG-2/KG-12 products: https://shop.kgcoatings.com/kg/product-category/cleaning/ (https://shop.kgcoatings.com/kg/product-category/cleaning/)
Since I began using that product line, I have not had to resort to Butch's Bore Shine for copper removal.
Remember, I am a reprobate about gun cleaning, so take my advice with a grain ofleadsalt. When I used to shoot 1,000-4000 rds/month I would go months between cleaning marathons. In one sense that is a tribute to the reliability of my preferred competition guns.
...what are your thoughts... on boresnakes?
I have a few in .30 cal, but have never used them.Had one 12 gauge boresnake that was plain useless, in terms of pulling it through. Bought a Realavid after that, for all my calibres thereafter, and what a difference. Have a few Hoppes Viper ones too for heavier clean up duties.
From what I recall reading, though... make sure that whatever cord is attached to the snake, that it is of good manufacture; I've read threads on other boards where the cord broke with the snake in the bore, and they're not easy to get out.
I will never come close to shooting your volume of ammo! If I did, I would probably use the traditional approach. I do like using patches as a finishing touch though. I found also not all boresnakes are equal. Pays not to cheap out. :cowboy:
For an extra $30 why not get a nicer looking piece for the ladies you love?I'm new to this thread, but I assume that this would be in addition to some pepper spray, and perhaps a good taser device or would these things in your opinion be more likely in many situations to end up jeopardizing the woman even more?
(https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-admq3scrtq/images/stencil/500x659/products/7647/18193/F1BER81STDX__34025.1565725271.gif?c=2)
I'm going with the BIG 13.2mmSR TuF Mauser… https://www.firearmsnews.com/editorial/first-antitank-rifle-cartridge-132mm-tuf/370681 (https://www.firearmsnews.com/editorial/first-antitank-rifle-cartridge-132mm-tuf/370681)
(https://content.osgnetworks.tv/firearmsnews/content/photos/First-AntiTank-Rifle-Cartridge-4.jpg)
Shoot, …"Shoot"? You're funny!
"Shoot"? You're funny!Well it does keep me a little saner :laugh1:
Here's an informative video with high speed image analysis, explanation of the use of pistons (a.k.a. boosters), and a preview of the next-generation Maxim prototype.Ooohh... (crying)... I miss Mark :facepalm:
https://youtu.be/LZ__Uq6dlJY
Ooohh... (crying)... I miss Mark :facepalm:
3-Gun proficiency requires that kind of dedication. Our local 3-Gun group does some weird (dare I say, "unrealistic"?) courses of fire, so weird (like the spinning mini-ferris wheel with clay pigeons as targets) that I stopped competing in 3-Gun, but we have a really amazing PTR (Precision Tactical Rifle) group. We have at least 5 nationally ranked and sponsored shooters, so I am not the "big frog" in that pond. Your jaw would drop watching them—mine does every time. I am competent, but not at all in their league.What is this spucatum tauri, "Federal Firearms License Required"? Do they single out this specific gun for some reason?
PTR does not typically require the same volume of fire (whether in practice or competition), so I am probably burning about half a case per month.
BTW, if you have any small or recoil shy women in your family, these are a solid deal at $229:
https://aimsurplus.com/beretta-model-81-32-auto-pistol-standard-grade/ (https://aimsurplus.com/beretta-model-81-32-auto-pistol-standard-grade/)
They are only .32 ACP, sort of an anemic cartridge, but Speer Gold Dot (https://www.speer-ammo.com/products/ammunition/gold-dot/gold-dot-handgun-personal-protection/23604gd) (for expansion) or Buffalo Bore +P hard cast flat nose (https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=132) (for penetration) are reasonable choices for personal defense.
They are available elsewhere (https://www.classicfirearms.com/beretta-mod-81-pistol-surplus-used-good-very-good/) for $199, but appear to be of inferior cosmetic condition. For an extra $30 why not get a nicer looking piece for the ladies you love?
(https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-admq3scrtq/images/stencil/500x659/products/7647/18193/F1BER81STDX__34025.1565725271.gif?c=2)
What is this spucatum tauri, "Federal Firearms License Required"?
That ad is more than a year old; doubtful any are for sale anymore.Been there, done that. Bud's Gun Shop in Lexington KY does a great job and has an amazing selection at fair prices. I've been wanting to take my son to the Ark Encounter between Cincinnati and Lexington (that would be a road trip of several days), great fossil-digging area nearby in southern Ohio that puts the lie to evolution, and I told him I'd like to stay in Lexington overnight and go to their range in addition to shopping. There is a cluster of budget-priced hotels near Bud's on I-75.
Regardless, as with all handguns (and most, but not all, long guns) shipped interstate within the United States, a FFL01 is required to accept delivery. In the case of that ad, if you were to put in an order, it would have to be shipped to a FFL01, who then notifies you when it arrives. You then visit the FFL01, fill out an ATF Form 4473, have a background check done through NICS, and if all clear (and depending upon the laws of your particular state), the FFL01 transfers said weapon to you.
Great short vid.yeah, me too, twice. that being said, just because you (and me as well) are not the best, no way implies that the best aren't there. they are I was one of the better ones, tho, as a former state champion service rifle shooter. I was also a U.S. Marine 30+ years ago the best is typically their rifle team, and yes, they are at Camp Perry every year.
I will add one caveat though... When it is said... "There is no higher level than here. The best shooters in America come out [to the CMP National Matches at Camp Perry] each year and aim to be the best of the best." This is not true. How do I know? 'Cause I've competed there, and I'm no where near good, let alone the best!
:cowboy:
This is on my checklist for 2020.
Enjoy.
https://youtu.be/7AEuewtFQBE