UnknownSailor
New member
Instructors:
Pat Rogers
Bill Dreeland
Willie Sampson
Equipment Brought:
Rifles (at class start):
Primary
Secondary
Equipment:
Ammo:
Winchester 3131A and PMC 55 grain mix.
223 Personal Lessons learned:
Observed:
I had lots of fun (took "1st looser" in el presidente), shot lots of ammo, learned a lot, and got burned to a crisp. What more could a person ask for?
Pat Rogers
Bill Dreeland
Willie Sampson
Equipment Brought:
Rifles (at class start):
Primary
- Bushmaster Dissipator A3 upper w/fluted barrel
- ARMS SIR #59m
- ARMS #40 BUIS
- ARMS #22M68 Aimpoint mount
- Aimpoint Comp ML2
- Dieter CQD vertical foregrip
- A2 fixed stock
- YHM single point sling mount
- Troy single point sling
Secondary
- Bushmaster XM-15 E2S (flat top)
- YHM 2 piece carbine length rail
- YHM rear BUIS
- LaRue EOTech mount
- EOTech 552 holosight
- A2 fixed stock
- YHM single pint sling mount
- Troy single point sling
- Tango Down foregrip (purchased from pro shop after rifle switch)
Equipment:
- CQB solutions drop leg mag pouches (both 2 and 4 mag versions).
- Surefire 962 throw lever weapon light.
- LaBelle USGI 30 round magazines (16 ea.)
- LaRue Aimpoint mount (empty and not mounted to anything at class start).
- Dillon electronic ears (purchased at pro shop on day 1).
Ammo:
Winchester 3131A and PMC 55 grain mix.
223 Personal Lessons learned:
- #59 SIR/dissy combination was no good – too heavy (NOTE: was functionally OK, just too heavy to hold up at Ready for more than 20 seconds). Switched to secondary rifle, used it for rest of class.
- I stopped using my EOTech after only other one in class went down without explanation. Switched to Aimpoint from primary rifle in LaRue mount. My EOTech still functions, but not trustworthy.
- LUBE YOUR RIFLE!
- Aimpoint is combat accurate out to 300 meters. (4 MOA dot)
- Fill trigger guard gap. Your strong side “social” (middle) finger will appreciate it.
- SUNSCREEN – long pants/long sleeves are a good idea.
- A lightweight rifle is good.
- Electronic ears save time and aggravation while on line.
- Check fasteners often. Use Locktite.
- YHM rail accepted the Tango Down foregrip without issues. Was solid throughout class.
- 2 mag leg pouch not enough “on person” ammo for class. Only used 4 mag pouch. Concept worked for me, though. 2 mag pouch should be good for non-school uses (think 3 gun matches).
- Never used either BUIS, not even to confirm zeros.
- The Troy sling was nice. To “unsling” from the rifle, all I had to do was unclip the sling. The pad helped during the times the rifle was hanging from the sling. My neck appreciated it.
- I had no issues with the A2 length stock. Caveat: I am big, with long arms. Were I to wear body armor on a regular basis, I’m sure I would go with a shorter/collapsible stock.
Observed:
- 2nd generation H&K Steel magazines had issues feeding in positions other than vertical.
- BlackHawk 782 gear sucks. Eagle isn’t much better.
- “Match” triggers are too fragile. (The sole class example lasted ONE SHOT!)
- Red dot sight out on railed forend is not viable in every conceivable shooting position (think supine, urban prone), and adds weight out on the front of the rifle.
- Had one ACOG Reflex sight user. Functionally was OK, but the dot was a hindrance on the long shots.
- Bring 15 or more magazines, and have a small bag to carry them in. This saves stuffing magazines during the day, and the bag saves running back and forth to the car during the day for more ammo.
- While 250 is not required, the experience of working with your pistol is a big plus. (Presentations, tac loads, etc.)
- Lake City “big fireball” syndrome is confirmed (like it needed to be, but I’d never seen a ball of fire that big before, so I took note of it).
- Solo house clearing with a pistol sucks, but it’s worse with a carbine.
- Class used KAC RAS or RAS II/LaRue railed forends, with my YHM/SIR and one other one (Surefire?) the oddballs. One student used the stock handguards. Who also happened to win the shoot-off.
- Pat Rogers is a great storyteller, and has a joke for every occasion (dare I say inexhaustible supply?). Oh, and an excellent instructor, to boot.
I had lots of fun (took "1st looser" in el presidente), shot lots of ammo, learned a lot, and got burned to a crisp. What more could a person ask for?