Ironsights & Ballistics

My ventures in Service Rifle and other High Power Rifle competitions.

[ironsightballistics-blog]

The wife decided she wanted to take over my reloading bench this winter.

[ironsightballistics-blog]

Wow, been a while. Just got married and returned from a stint overseas. CA has also had changes recently so look to see plenty of reloading posts. Actually brought the wife into the hobby now too. She just likes her new shotgun.

[ironsightballistics-blog]

I thought this 9/11 would be normal. I would remember how I woke up, ate my waffle and turned on the TV only a minute before watching the live feed of aircraft two hitting the trade center. I remember watching the news coverage all day in class, not one teacher hiding the significance of the day. However on Wednesday that changed. I met a contractor based in Livermore - Thomas Salias, his motto: 'We Show Up' - to discuss the possibility of me funding his latest project. He made this odd wheezing sound, coughing like clockwork. It was annoying enough that I offered him water, twice. Before I could do so a third time, he asked if I remember 9/11. Obviously I do along with that waffle and told him so. As he coughed again he signaled to me and I understood. His 9/11 is different. He proceeded to tell me a story of a young, rambunctious man working at the port of New York and drinking his life away. That day, it all changed. He spent months helping to clean up the aftermath in a way many of us wished we could while trying to find his friends and those people he normally ignored. After all that, he developed respiratory issues; moving to California for care. Take what you wish from this true story. For me it's remembering the attack, not on two buildings, but on thousands of lives just like those we care about. Disclaimer: I cannot speak for this person's contracting work. I have never worked with him before.

[ironsightballistics-blog]

Happy 4th of July!!

With the Model 85 project and competition shooting on hold, I spent a couple weekends leading to today refreshing this Winchester bolt action 410. I refinished the stock, removed surface rust and polished the barrel, and today I will pad the recoil lug. I may redo the bluing later, but this is a working gun.

[undercoverlandscapes]

A friend practicing his shots while I practice mine at another friend’s ranch.

Note the completely dry lake and boat sitting on a meadow.

Camera: iPhone 5S

[bad-company-till-the-day-i-die]

[twcgentleman13]

“He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.”

― Francis of Assisi

[ironsightballistics-blog]

Had to share this.

Happy Easter!

[ironsightballistics-blog]

First match of the new year! A lovely frosty morning. I've been out all of December with family events.

[ironsightballistics-blog]

Spent some time after work sealing the stock of the model 85 project rifle with danish oil I mixed up. The tea/iron acetate stain came out a little lighter and more brown than I thought, but looks like walnut. I’ll fill the grain/pores by wet sanding in the morning. A couple hand rubbed coats and paste wax should finish it off. Just a couple more days...

[ironsightballistics-blog]

Precision rifle build is coming together! Only three parts left.

[ironsightballistics-blog]

340-4x. Good score today.

[ironsightballistics-blog]

Morning at the range. Setting up to shoot a national match course.

[ironsightballistics-blog]

Relaxing day ironing out stain

[ironsightballistics-blog]

Range Report: I spent Saturday morning at a practice match with the local club. Unfortunately, we can only shoot out to 200 yards and use reduced targets for simulated longer shots. Well only scored 171-0X. I think that's pretty good with an AR carbine M4gery and M193 ammo first time out. It took two stages just to get the rifle sighted in. The huge groups from the plinking ammo didn't help. Next time, I'll be ready with a rifle that's shooting where I expect it to. Reloads will tighten up the groups a lot, but again I have so much M193 laying around that I may as well use it for practice instead of precious powder. There is so much that can be learned before spending thousands of dollars.

[ironsightballistics-blog]

Matching… What color stain for the stock? I’m thinking something deep and tinted red.

[ironsightballistics-blog]

Old timer trick: vinegar removes blueing and surface rust… More progress on model 85.

[ironsightballistics-blog]

So, I just got a clarification. I’m allowed to shoot my M4 look alike at the practice matches, but official club matches I need to conform to some rule. Therefore M48 Mauser Foreign Service Rifle it is…

[ironsightballistics-blog]

My plan was to remove the uneven blueing and rust, then reblue. Well, the shiny shark gills are growing on me. In other news the barrel channel is relieved. Time to float the action too. This rifle only has one hold down screw so my course of action is to bed the few inches around that screw. Mostly the barrel itself.