MarkTheNewf

Yeah, I think I've got a long base optic mount I can try. I haven't looked at it, but I'm assuming that all I need to do is loosen all the screws at the receiver end, clamp on the optic, and then re-tighten. Seem about right? Any recommendations on torque or the use of some blue loctite or something?

Ignoring handloads, I've had good results with German NATO 147 grain (MEN or DAG headstamp) milsurp ammo. It's those with the copper/nickel bullet. The target below is me sighting in using this stuff, and then the group is up to the right. Yeah, I pulled one, but seriously....milsurp....giggity. As for store-bought, I've found the Nosler 165gr ballistic tipped ammo (marketed as a hunting round) very good and the Corbon 200gr subsonic FMJ was good stuff as well for suppressed pew-pewing. The Hornady 168gr HPBT match ammo works well, but not as good as that Nosler stuff. All of this ammo has worked well in my bolt and semi-auto 308s. I've got buddies who love the Hornady 'Black' 168gr ammo in their 308s.

Not sure if that's the case, though. It may be just a visual trick with my crappy cell phone camera. FWIW I thought I tried a full-length scope mount that spanned the reciever and handrail without issue. I'll go back and have a second look. Not sure if I still have the scope mount to span it again. Not sure how I would fix that other than releasing the hand guard, re-aligning it with something like that scope mount, and then tightening it up?

It's a SilCo Omega. It's a pretty nice can. It's a newer design so it's pretty quiet and is shorter than most 30-cal ones I've been around. Not sure if it's the can or me making the better groups! I'm pleased with it so far, so now it's just a matter of trigger time to find my rhythm with it. The trigger will take a bit of getting used to since it's got equal first and second stage pulls. It's nice, but I'm kinda used to a heavier second stage.

I replaced the trigger with a Geissele 2 Stage (G2S) trigger (both stages are 2.5 pounds according to Geissele) and added a Magpul STR stock. The bipod is an Atlas, and the scope is a Leopold VX-r 3-9x40 scope in an American Defense recon QD mount. Magpul MBUIS fore and aft. Ran about 120 rounds down the pipe today as I was sighting in and getting things worn in. I'm using good 'ol de-milled German NATO MEN 147 grain ammo, which has proven to be pretty damned good in everything I've run it through (FAL, M1A, Rem700). It took about 40 rounds for me to get used to it all, but I did have a helluva time trying to get the irons sighted in. I started at 15 yards, then went to 25, then to 100. In all cases, the elevation adjusted fine, but the windage is waaaayyyy over to the left and I can't figure out why. (see pic). Damned peculiar. Anyways, after all the farting around, I was able to grab a few pics of my targets for future reference. 100 yard sigting in. FWIW, the actual first 3 shots weren't even on paper until I got it adjusted correctly, after which I was able to hold "my typical" 1.5 to 2.0 MOA shooting. I'd like to refine change this to about 2" over the bulls eye in order to be closer to a 200 yard zero. Next up was the scope at 100 yards. Shots 1 and 1a were initial rough adjustments. 2 and 3 got me close. Groups 4 and 5 are the final set at which point I wanted to do a multi-shot set, which is up at the top right. I thought I had 5 rounds left, but actually only had 4, and one I flinched! DAMMIT! Either way, it's looking to be at least MOA with this MILSURP goodness! At this point, the wind is getting a bit blustery, so no better time to go to 200 yards, right? Anyways, I decided to try it and to also see if there was much of a change with and without the suppressor on there. Using the scope, and 5 shots with and without the suppressor. Looks like there a slight change of point of impact (lower and to the left) and I did pull one (unsuppressed). That being said, they're still grouping fine for MILSURP ammo and a mediocre shooter. And since I"m at it and had 3 rounds left, let's pop them off with the irons. Not bad for an oldish fart. So my initial impressions is that the rifle is a keeper. I'll be curious to see how it does with some quality ammo, including some hand loads.

Brownells.....they're already on sale, but plug in the code "M3P" at check out and get another 10 bucks off, which basically makes shipping free. $170 for ten 25-round windowed mags, which is decent. https://www.brownells.com/magazines/rifle-magazines/magazines/ar-308-pmag-lr-sr-gen-m3-window-mag-308-win-25rd-blk-10pk-sku100015748-99109-151018.aspx

Heh....

Howdy, dammit!

I've been getting my holsters and mag carriers from Concealment Solutions up in Utah. Jason's a nice guy and makes quality products. I think I've got 3 or 4 from him. I like his IWB better than the crossbreed I had, and his OWB rigs are holding up well. He'll do custom work as well, including rigs with additional light carrier options. Check him out at http://www.concealmentsolutions.com

The casting area works well. I crack the window and I get a cross-breeze sucking the heat out as well as the smoke when I flux. . It's also kinda nice when you're doing stuff with some smelly chemicals. The only time I do anything outside is when I'm smelting down bulk lead from scraps. Yeah, I have just the single stage for for a few years for working up loads and for rounds like 45/70. I only got the Dillon perhaps a year or two ago. You can pump out heaps of ammo with that thing and it's decent. The computer is also great as I have spreadsheets for tracking stuff. It's also set up with media center, so I can have TV or music running in the background whilst fiddling with boolits and stuff. At the end of the day, you never have too much bench!

Yup. I heard of Cowboys and Texans as well. Just remember, most hockey game attendees usually sing the national anthem(s), and there's no kneeling or any of that horse puckie at NHL games. Maybe they need to have fighting in the NFL. Might clean some of the trash out of there.

I s'pose. I'm just sitting back wondering if they really will bring a NHL team here. I can manage to watch football, but baseball is up there with golf and grass growing.

My wife has taken her Joos on international flights.

That's funny. Back home in Canada, we'd wait until the most calm day and pull the grill up next to the house so that you could just open the door, flip whatever was on the grill, then get back to the warm. Oddly enough, we just don't have garages or car ports where I'm from so we can't just do it out there.

All I'd say to that is I would need that in 45/70. Looks like a SiCo harvester on the end of it....man, that just looks like it's part of the gun. Yeah, that's kinda cool with the fore end looking like one of those full length CZ or Enfield stocks. So, uhhhhh....how much? Asking for a friend.

I was recently looking into some types of solar (home, portable, etc.) and one thing I did find is that the 'soft' or flexible panel systems are significantly less efficient than the 'hard' panels. I had the same issues with my wife: couldn't keep her toys charged....wait...that doesn't sound right.....anyways, I got her a Solar Joos a couple of years ago. It's not as high a charge rate or output, but it's almost indestructible by all reports. She's had it all over the place (camping, trip to Australia) and it's still going strong. I *think* the batteries are replaceable in it as well. Here in Texas, I'd love to have a grid-tied home system as we get heaps of sun even in the winter. Being oringally from Canada, I chuckle a little when I say "winter" and "Texas" together :) . Sadly, it would be another massive loan to do it right with batteries and auto-switches.

I moved into a new house a couple of years ago with a large detached garage. Lots of room for the truck, lawn mower, and a 12x14 ft workshop. The wife can have the rest of the house. Giggity.

Hmmmm.....what you guys are seeming to discuss is an "Optimal Charge Weight" (OCW) test where you have several increments of charges. You then fire each charge group and see what gives you the best or most consistent grouping. You then tweak the charge around that best group again to see if you can improve on it. Ladder Testing with multiple charges identifies the charge(s) giving minimal vertical dispersion at long range. Basically you're finding the resonant nodes of the barrel, so the minimum recommended distance is 300 yards if you want to be able to see this vertical offset. This is why I asked if 100 yards would be enough. You do your ladder test to get the best range of charges for minimum barrel vibration interference and then work up a more tighter and consistent optimized charge. I agree with the comments above that you can definitely eek out some pretty impressive grouping when everything falls into place. If Varget doesn't give you what you're looking for, I'd also look into Reloader-15. I had great results with it when Varget was hard to come by. Let us know how it shakes out.

Is 100 yards enough of a distance to give a good visual spread? I thought 300 was a minimum and more is better.

I'm having to do the same thing. I do clear my cookies (is it just me or does that sound kinda dirty?) every time I shut down my browser, so I don't think this is the issue.

Heh....it's flooded in and around me 3 times the past two years. However, don't mistake ugly for stupid! We looked at maps and whatnot before we got the house and even though we're near the Brazos river, we're on the high side of the flood plains' ridge. In other words, when it floods, it floods away from us east towards Houston and south. We can sit on our back porch and watch air boats zip along what used to be dry land a couple of hundred yards away. I won't like, though.....we did get flood insurance for the past few years just because!

Geeze, that feller is friggin' rough. Good thing Cape Breton isn't Newfoundland or I'd be TYPING ALLLLL MY REEEPLIES LIKE DIS. EEEEYEAAAAAAAAAH. ;) For future reference should you ever need to have a speak with a Newf.

I'll play: It's the weekend, so..... .

PSA is very hit and miss. Their 223's seem to do ok, but thier 308's can be finiky from what I"ve read. FWIW, I had an AR45 (45ACP) from them and it was a massive turd, as was their support for it. It's completely turned me off their brand, though I will continue to get my add-on goodies from them. Nice shooting BTW. What distance will you be doing your ladder test at? I've only got a 300 yard max for me at my range, so I'm not sure that's enough for a ladder test.