Cliff R

Deb has instructions to cremate my ass and put the ashes in a Mason jar. There will not be a service either, we're going el-cheapo on my final send-off. Instead of wasting all that money with all the sad stuff I want her to pull out the pig-cooker and have my son-in-law smoke a hog, couple of kegs of beer, some Four Roses Small Batch, a bottle of Bookers, and throw one hell of a bash. I absolutely HATE viewings, formal ceremonies etc for death. I'd rather have all my friends and family over and celebrate life, it sure has been one hell of a good ride so far!........Cliff

Thanks. It's tough to loose a good friend (although I have very few of them). I actually have quite a few "acquaintances", but very few close friends. That's probably because I tend to rate my friends by who I'd want beside me if we were in country, outnumbered, out gunned, and getting ready to be over-run by the enemy.......so the list is pretty small! A good dogs love and devotion are also unconditional. They don't have "bad hair" days and treat you like chit, and are always glad to see you when you come thru the door. They don't spend all your money, and never mind tagging along and hanging out no matter what activity you've chosen for the day, hunting fishing, cutting firewood, sitting by the pool, playing in the yard with the grand kids, or just taking a walk in the woods. Find me a woman with those traits and I'm going to marry her, if you are lucky enough to have a wife with those traits....hopefully she's got a sister I can marry!.....LOL......Cliff

Just curious. What do the primers look like in the fired cases that don't puncture? Are they showing you signs of high pressure, heavy "crater" and material rolling back over the firing pin to a point where it's raised up or you can catch it with your fingernail? Factory loads or not the rule of thumb should always be to stop shooting any ammo that gives you troubles until you find the culprit. I'd start be looking very closely at all the fired cases. Then I'd yank a few bullets and measure the powder charge, mic a few of the bullets, check overall length, etc. Factory ammo is typically loaded to be well within standards for pressure, but keep in mind you are dealing with a "high performance" cartridge, and it's in an auto-loading platform. It's also a damned long bullet so has considerable resistance or "drag" in the barrel which can cause a pretty rapid pressure rise in some weapons. So it changes the game a bit as there is a lot more going in the AR than just closing the bolt, firing a round, then ejecting the spent your manually. In any and all cases, what I would do here, just like I did way back in the mid 1980's when we got our first batch of M-9 pistols and started having issues with them. We STOPPED firing them until we figured out the problem. The problem in that case was the ammunition. I noticed that on night fire sessions or even late in the evening the TZZ ammo produced a HUGE fireball, much larger than the Winchester/Olin ammo we had available. It also came in 64 round boxes, not 50 rounds. I suspected at that time that it was loaded for UZI's as they have 32 round magazines. In any case we stopped shooting the Israeli Industries TZZ 9mm ammo. Sure enough it was a good call on my part as very soon after a couple guns malfunctioned on other ranges with minor injuries to the shooters. The rest of that story is history, some may remember it, some may not, depends on when you served and what your job description was........Cliff

When I lost my Chocolate Lab Missy back in 2003 I told myself I wasn't going to get another dog. I was a few months from retiring and moving back to Ohio to build a house on the new property we had recently purchased. I so much wanted Missy to enjoy it with us, but knew that here days were numbered as she was supposed to die 3 years earlier and the Vet told me that I should put her down (cancer). I looked at him and told him to cut all that cancer out of her and give her back to me, and the cost isn't even part of the equation. He did what I asked and she was cancer free for the next 3 years, then it came back just like he said it would. Missy was at my side for 15 1/2 years, never even knew what a leash was. If she was here today she'd be laying at my feet or in my lap. She was my dog from the first day we brought her home right to the end. Sure, Deb and kids could get some of her attention, but I even acted like I was going to get up she'd come running right over too me no matter what was going on elsewhere. I took it really hard when she passed, and Deb offered to get me another dog but I told her I didn't want to go thru that again. My daughter Stephanie came in here at Christmas 2004 with Duchess. Really surprised me as it was totally unexpected, and I really didn't think I was ready anyhow. She didn't weigh 2 pounds, and fit in the palm of my hand. She took to me instantly, and worked and worked to crawl up my pant leg to get in the chair with me. She fell asleep in my lap that night, and till a couple of weeks ago that's where she was every evening. She didn't pay anyone else around here much mind, was my dog and my dog alone her entire life. Some things just happen that way, and it makes it difficult to move on to another one knowing one day you'll have to go thru it all over again. I'm sure you felt much the same way about Kona, it's hard brother, hope you get another good one.........Cliff

Many thanks to all for the kind words. Still somewhat in mourning here and probably will be for a while. I'm reminded of her a lot especially when me and her "puppies" take a walk. Duchess had a good life and a long one. She enjoyed her time here with us, no regrets. Before she had here last seizure and didn't recover it was the last thing I said to her, "we sure had a good run didn't we girl?" Anyhow, waiting for things to cool down here so we can check our 308 AR's at the range before heading out to Colorado in a few months. I'll make sure to post a few pics from the range........Cliff

Not sure if any of this helps with the topic at hand, but a few things come to mind reading following this thread. A good crimp is essential in any auto loading platform. Just make sure the doesn't happen just a fuzz-nut before the bullet seating operation. This can and will bulge the cases just a tad, which may cause feeding issues and near impossible ejection if you try to unload without firing the round. Unlike a bolt gun full length resizing is pretty much required with auto loading weapons, even if you only own one in a particular caliber and plan on shooting all your hand loads in it. Another advantage to the bolt guns besides being able to neck size only you can also push the bullets out further for less "jump" into the rifling. You'd be surprised the little things you can do here to improve accuracy. So right from the start our auto loading AR platform weapons have a few things working against them in the accuracy department, but that does not mean that you still can't get them to shoot excellent groups. From what I've found since moving from bolt guns to auto loaders, I have to work a little harder to get them to group well. The only exception to that is my 450 Bushmaster. Whatever Hornady and Bushmaster did with that marriage, they did it right. IF the shooter isn't punching out one jagged hole at 100 yards....it is NOT the weapon! I don't have a single AR platform weapon here that doesn't scratch the case and bullet to some degree, just goes with the territory. I frequently and quite successfully shoot pointed soft point Sierra 150 grain bullets in all of my 308-AR's. They are actually extremely accurate despite the fast twist, but they can and will get beat up and tips smished up a bit if you find yourself unloading them without firing the round........Cliff

They aren't so great in low light situations either. Decades ago I had the buck of a lifetime get by me during the muzzle loading season. It was right at first light and I just couldn't see chit thru the peep sight as he worked his way across the clear cut I was watching. He'd have been easy pick-ins with a low powered scope, but I just couldn't pick him up in the peep sight I had on my muzzle loader at that time. The older you get the more you learn to appreciate modern technology. I've outfitted most of my hunting rifles with scopes, but I use and prefer low powered and small/compact models. This cuts down on size, weight, and makes up close shots at moving game much easier due to the wider field of view and less magnification. Jump up a big bull Elk off a thick mountain top and try to get on him with your high powered long range scope when he's moving thick thru heavy cover. Then do the same thing with a 1-4x Leupold set on 1X. You may not find the mark either way, but for sure you'll be able to pick him up and stay on him with the 1X scope as he makes his escape........Cliff

I was looking for compact and weight reduction. You'd be surprised how much lighter the 14.7" barrel rifle feels in comparison to the 18" versions......Cliff

"A 16" will still get you out to 500 yds with little trouble" +2 One of my 308-AR's has a 14.7" barrel and shoots equally as well as the other two I have with 18" barrels. I'm not seeing any measurable difference it accuracy or bullet drop out to 400 yards. I suppose at really long ranges the slight loss in velocity would start showing up and require a little more hold-over, but at least within reasonable shooting distances for game (I use these weapons for hunting) I don't even give the barrel length a second thought........Cliff

I've assembled 3 Palmetto PA-10's and helped a few folks out with them. That was before I was a member here. I converted all of mine to the A-2 stock and purchased rifle buffers/springs for them. Pretty sure I used DPMS rifle buffer/springs. They are all flawless to date. My PA-10 is a 14.7" barrel they released briefly a few years ago. Haven't seen any on their website since. I've built quite a few AR-15's using Palmetto uppers and not overly fond of their stainless steel barrels, at least in the accuracy department. The do make higher end hammer forged chrome lined barrels but you don't see them advertised nearly as often these days. Most are the lower end standard barrels or stainless. For sure it's difficult to beat their price on PA-10 stuff. I dabbled around in the dark with the first couple of 308-AR's I built and very quickly found out that there are some parts interchange/compatibility issues between the different platforms. I've got a nice bag of left over parts to remind me of it. You've got to really pay attention with Palmetto, I've had a few issues, but if you bring it to their attention they will have parts out to you so fast they'll be there shortly after you hang up the phone with them!.....Cliff

Decades ago when Red Dot type optics first became available I installed one on my 870 slug gun for deer hunting. I actually think it's from Tasco but haven't looked at it in decades, it just flat works and has only needed a couple of battery replacements in all these years. It is absolutely the BEST set-up you could want allowing super quick acquisition and easy to keep on them for running shots compared to iron sights or even a low powered or 1X scope. I've piled up more deer on drives that blazed past me than I can count. Matter of fact it's rare if I miss one under about 50 yards, even when they are moving quickly. Trying to do the same thing with iron sights, especially in heavy cover is difficult if not next to impossible.........Cliff

"I seen your post on Arboristsite, seems like you joined the same year as me." Yep, I only have a couple of websites that I belong to. Cut a LOT of wood here, and just cleared a new piece of property I just bought so have another 70 tops to take care of this Fall. Dutchess was always with me cutting wood or on the range shooting. Damned good squirrel dog too. She never grumbled much, and if she could have I'm sure she would have loaded all that wood in the trailer for me.......Cliff

When I was on active duty the Basic Rifle Marksmanship Course was always fired with iron sights. In the early 1980's we still had some Viet Nam era M-16 A-1's around with the slower twist barrels and harder to adjust sights and they did fine for beginners. Can't remember anyone I couldn't get qualified. We also had 1000" targets when longer ranges weren't available.......Cliff

Thanks guys. I've had some good dogs over the years but Dutchess was the best, and she will surely be missed around here. Doesn't help that I like my dog more than most people. If you ever think your wife loves you more than your dog.......lock them both up in a trunk for half an hour and see which one is glad to see you when you get back!....LOL........Cliff

Don't think she's missed an outing in the last 15 years, and loved to chase groundhogs, deer, or any other critters off the range we have set up on my brothers farm. Last two pics are from our last walk in the woods yesterday. She will truly be missed.......Cliff

In the late 1980's I shot a 19-10/4X on the slow fire course at a Military only match. I was around 30 years old at that time. As good as my score was I ended up 6th overall. I was using an US Navy Armory built M-14 custom Match Rifle converted to semi-auto. That weapon would literally put every single round in the SAME hole with just about any batch of Lake City Match 308 I put thru it. It was one of the few weapons I've owned over the years that truly shot better than the jerk-behind-the-trigger!.......LOL.......Cliff

+ 2 or 3 on that deal. I can't hear chit, can't see chit, and don't much give a chit these days, and I'm only 60!.....LOL......Cliff

I'm retired Military and was a small arms instructor for my 19 of my 20 years of service. Difficult to beat the peep sight set-up on modern military platforms. They work because your eye will automatically center the post in the center of the aperture almost like it's instinctive. The size of the hole and how fine the post is will have some effect on accuracy, especially at longer distances. Something few folks factor into the deal is the position of the sun when sighting in (or other light sources in position to the weapon). Unless it's directly overhead the sun can light up one side of the post a tad more than the other and make rounds go slightly left or right depending on how your eye picks up on that deal. So it is always best to sight in on a day when it's cloudy or directly overhead putting equal amounts of light on both sides of the post. The downside of peep and other types of Military sights is that you are having to line up two things, so they are not as quick for acquisition like Red Dots and holographic sights. They are also not as good in low light conditions. Even with all that said if you ever doubt the capabilities of the peep sight attend a 1000 yard match one day and watch shooters punch the ten ring with deadly consistency with those "primitive" sight set-ups........Cliff

+ 2 or three on sight dope. When the problems are at their worst have you tried dropping back to 100 yards to see if you are still holding 1MOA? That's a pretty big deal too and not much has been mentioned about wind drift and shooter error. The smallest things done to the weapon before the bullet exits the barrel are greatly multiplied at long distances. Shooter error is multiplied by frustration, especially on hot days. We tend to push harder to get the rounds off sooner without repeating everything required for best accuracy. Have seen that deal play out many times locked into a sling on the 1000 yard line getting baked in the sun and the damned wind is shifting around a bit........Cliff

How tight are the groups with these weapons at 100 yards? Of course things start to move around some as things heat up, but if you aren't just about one holing the rounds at 100 yards right out of the box then things aren't going to be all that great at 600 yards before you add heat to the scenario. I'm not or ever have been a fan of Wolfe steel case ammo. Tried some WAY back when I built my first AR-15 and it didn't show me much in the accuracy department. Can't image it being much better in 308........Cliff

Even though I shot High Power matches for several years back in the 1980's to this day it simply AMAZES me how much effect a little wind can have on the path of a bullet, even bullets at high velocity having excellent ballistics. Around these parts if you are on to 300 yards or so you're in for ground hog hunting. There are so many houses these days scattered about on 1-5 acre plots you're lucky to find anyplace you can shoot anyhow. I'm sure you'll find a much calmer day and have a better report for us on the longer distance targets........Cliff

You never, ever need "a bigger safe." You just need "another safe." +2 I bought a second safe and use it for shotguns and ammo. I thought 16 years ago when I retired from active duty/settled in here and bought the big 1000 pound fire safe that it would be plenty....then I got into black rifles and quickly found out that it was not!.........Cliff

I've been dragging deer road kills to a large pasture field across from my property hoping some Coyotes will get on them and we can have some target practice. I took one over there a few weeks back and within a half hour a young bald Eagle was on it. A "gang" of vultures arrived soon after and waited with great patience and respect as the Eagle got his fill before leaving. As I watched thru the scope about 350 yards away I noticed they didn't even try to run him off the carcass, even though they had greater numbers and pretty close in size to him. Something in nature must tell them that fucking with his is a bad idea........Cliff

You simply can't fix stupid and I'll add here that Darwinism is certainly alive and well these days. Ask me how I know this? (Chief CSI for the County).........Cliff

+2 or 3, good stuff to know. It's been a few years ago, but PSA assembled my AR-47 bolt with an AR-15 firing pin. It was as mentioned a tad too short and wasn't hitting the primers well. I took it apart and modified the firing pin (can't remember the details at the moment but can't remember what I had for breakfast either...LOL) and it went from about 20 percent to 100 percent. I also called PSA to tell them what I found and had done, and they shipped me out a correct firing pin at no charge. I went ahead and put it in place even though the modified pin was running fine. I also checked the mag's I'm using, talk about bad cases of CRS, two are AR-Stoner and four of them are ASC.......Cliff