Range trip 9/13/09 (Long, pic-heavy - 56K GO HOME)

[shooter521]

Hey all! This morning, akaindy, GunInfected1 and I saddled up and hit the road for a long-awaited range trip.

I wanted to finish troubleshooting a couple guns, get the new RDS on my AK-105 dialed in prior to NFA Day, run some ammo through Saiga-12 #2 with its new gas reg and railed forearm, and play with the Gemtech MultiMount a bit more. akaindy had a new-to-him rifle to shoot, and brought his AR carbine, AK-74 and G17 to run as well. GunInfected1 needed to continue working on his pistol skills.

Beautiful sunny day, mild temps, and we all but had the range to ourselves. I AM NOT COMPLAINING.

It was a great time, everyone got done what they set out to accomplish, and all the guns ran well. Couldn't ask for better!

On with the pics...

akaindy with his Armalite AR-180B. Interesting gun. Extremely lightweight, has a sharp/fast recoil sensation like an AK-74 (it's a piston system), but zero muzzle rise. Plastic handguards have no heat shields, so the forearm gets smokin' hot pretty quick. Armalite is not currently building or supporting the -180B, as they are busy cranking out AR-15s as fast as they can. This is unfortunate, as the platform has potential if anyone would care to more fully exploit it.

akaindy empties his AR carbine (last case has ejected; bolt locked to the rear). This gun was built the weekend prior to a carbine course back in 2007, and has run impeccably from day 1.

Smoke on!

GunInfected1 gets infected with a dose of BRD compounded by the dreaded NFA bug...

The AK-105 got rode hard and put away wet. But who cares? It's an AK...

Everybody loves the Big Russian Hammer. Adding the railed forearm and vertical grip completely changes the gun's handling characteristics (for the better). Additionally, I got the settings on the new gas reg figured out, so the gun ran reliably with Remington "Gun Club" low brass (aluminum base) birdshot, as well as several brands of reduced-recoil 00 buck.

Two rounds (18 pellets) of Federal LE133 00 Flite Control reduced recoil 00 buck at 12 yards. I friggin' love this stuff, and have yet to see a shotgun that doesn't pattern well with it.

After the big guns were done, it was over to the plate racks for some pistol-caliber fun...

Running the plate racks

Finally, we ended the day running a little bit of Federal 147 FMJ subsonic through the Gemtech MultiMount on both the 9mm AR and the Glock 17.

The LMT, AK-105, 9mm SBR and G17 will now need a thorough cleaning before NFA Day, but I don't mind; it's a labor of love.

 

[esrice]

Thanks for the review/pics! Looks like the weather was awesome for you guys!

Aaron and I seem to have a similar taste in carbines. . . . or could it be a similar taste in carbine-building-gun-buddies?? I look forward to meeting him at NFA Day.

 

[Cwood]

Did ya run the 10.5? If so did you get the bugs worked out of it?

 

[shooter521]

Did ya run the 10.5? If so did you get the bugs worked out of it?

Yes, and yes (he said, crossing his fingers)!

 

[mettle]

Looks like my kind of range trip, one with purpose and drive. ! I like a purposed and 'structured' range visit.

 

[jontheturboguy]

What range was this?

 

[shooter521]

What range was this?

Wildcat Valley Rifle and Pistol Club

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Did you guys see the green SUV? That was me.

 

[Ruiner]

Wildcat Valley Rifle and Pistol Club

Wow! I just looked at all the requirements and rules to join... Sheesh. I don't think I am even going to try with my work and school schedule, plus expenses...




Looks like a nice range / setup. Nice pictures.

 

[waloidian]

lots of nice toys there! thx for sharing the pics

 

[shooter521]

Did you guys see the green SUV? That was me.

There was a guy shooting trap while we were there, and a non-member contractor doing some painting on the front gate. I vaguely remember hearing some shots from one of the other ranges once we moved over to the plate racks, but didn't pay it much mind and never saw the party responsible. Guess that was you, on the high power range maybe?

I find it amazing that the club has, what, 500-some members now, and on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon there were less than half a dozen shooters there. But people ask me why I have continued to maintain my membership after moving back to Indy, and drive "all that way" to shoot...

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Just sighting in an M14 in hopes of attending an Appleseed shoot.

 

[sporter]

RPK 74 mags rock!

 

[IndyGunworks]

looks like a very successful day.... thanks for the photo's.... shooter, what kind of belt rig are you wearing?

 

[shooter521]

what kind of belt rig are you wearing?

Belt = ATS MOLLE War Belt (sleeve) with ATS inner belt
Holster = Safariland 6320
Med pouch = Blue Force Gear TraumaKit NOW
Dump pouch = Maxpedition Rolly Polly
AR mag pouch = DBT Battlelab single (short)
Flashlight pouch = DBT Battlelab
G17 double mag pouch = Eagle FB

 

[akaindy]

The other belt is.

Belt = Eagle Molle belt, very comfortable with padding.
Holster = Drop leg Safariland ALS 6304
Med pouch = Blue Force Gear TraumaKit NOW (older version with shears pocket)
Dump pouch = Maxpedition Rolly Polly
AR mag pouch = Eagle pouch with Kydex insert.
Flashlight pouch = Specter
G17 double mag pouchs = Specter on both left and right sides for a total of 4 Glock mags.
AR mag drop leg pouch on left leg= TAG (total od 4 ar mags) will change later to a specter set up to allow 4 AR mags or two AK mags.
Edmon molle adaptors to hang the Drop leg holster and mag pouch from the molle on the belt.


Mark I still think you need to move your med pouch on one more loop and drop on a double specter mag pouch on the right side behind the pistol.

 

[GunInfected1]

It was a fantastic weekend!! And as I have friends like these with toys like these,... The infection is only getting worse!! I love it!

 

[Cwood]

Hmmm... wonder who can get Specter gear..........

 

[akaindy]

AR-18

The AR-18 was nice to shoot. I originally got it because I wanted to SBR it and machine a new aluminum lower for it. But after getting it in my hands a few months ago and reverse engineering it into solidworks I'm not sure it will be possible with the AR-18B becuase of the way they did the barrel trunion. I'll have to do more research to find out for sure. It is still a nice gun to shoot and could be a really nice peice if Armilite made it with a heavy profile 16" barrel, adjustable gas system, a rail on the top of the reciever, a forearm rail (doesn't really need to be free float), Billet or forged aluminum lower that uses AR stocks. With how handy the gun currently is, if the upgrades where added if would rival a fullly equiped AR-15.

Aaron