Yet another Bite the Bullet update! Scope Time

Well I finally decided on a scope. I ended up with the Barska Swat Tactical rifle scope. It features a 3.5x10x40 with a 30mm tube. A first focal plane glass etched mil-dot and illuminated. Also has a side wheel parallax adjustment that ranges from 25m to infinity. I also purchased the Burris Xtreme Tactical rings and Butler Creek flip up caps. This should all be delivered on 5 Jan, 09! I cant wait to get it here and mounted on the rifle. I've read reviews on the scope that are quite favorable. In fact one individual reports being able to shoot nice groups with his .308 at 1000 yards! I can't wait!

The newest Shooter of the Fam!

Well what can I say, I wanted to start her young! She's a natural so I guess that it is time to get her one of her own! What do you guys think? a pink cricket?

Hey everyone...... MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Another Bite the Bullet update

Ok, I couldn't stand that cheap Bi-pod, so as promised here is the Versa-pod! I mounted the stud directly into the stock so that the flat forearm could still be used and so the rifle would be more comfortable when shooting it in the prone position. I went with the metal feet on the legs just because it was on a killer sale. Remember that this is a bargain build! The only down side or up side how ever you want to look at it is, this bi-pod has a bit more movement than say a Harris bi-pod. More freedom in movement might make it harder to get locked into the gun when firing.

If you compare this picture with the lost post picture you will see that the rifle sits lower and is much easier to hold it in the prone position.

Make sure to click on this picture. You will see the bi-pod stud in relation to the barrel. One benefit of this stock is that it is SOLID! Not hollow like cheap knock offs. This is the only way you could mount the stud in the stock and have any strength. All you have to do is drill a hole in the diameter of the stud and secure it with a strong bonding adhesive.

Bite the Bullet UPDATE!

So what do you think? I'm quite happy with the Bell and Carlson stock. It has a great feel and balance whether using the bi pod or standing. The bi pod must go though. It is a cheap one that I've had on some other rifles and I think a Versa-pod will find its way onto this fine rifle.

No optics yet..... I have no idea of what I really want as far as optics. What shall it be? High power, fixed power, large optic like 50mm, or just the standard 40mm? Any ideas? I know that I will be using the Burris XTR rings for the added strength and they look beefy. The XTR rings come in 1" and 30mm in three different heights, 1/2", 3/4", and finally 1". With the base that I'm using I hope to be able to use the 1/2" high rings with a 40mm scope maybe even up to a 44mm.

OK now with the detail of this build. Would you believe that as the rifle sits now I'm into this build $550.00? The only thing left for this build are the optics and rings. The barrel has been hand lapped. The locking lugs have been lapped. Trigger has been adjusted to a light 1 3/4 lbs without creep or over travel. Bell and Carlson stock free floats the barrel and with the full aluminium bedding block the receiver mates up nice and tight. The rifle weighs approximately 7.5 lbs, maybe more like 8 lbs. I'll post more shots as my wife decided that she wanted a photo shoot and I have several shots. So if I decide that this is not the rifle for me does someone out there want to buy it from me? Hey now that's a joke but if someone out there wants me to assemble one for them just drop a comment and we'll get together about it.

Update on test fire of Sniper rifle

Well the hour at the range was not long enough but it was very enjoyable. I went with my father, well he invited me to go with him to shoot the rifle. He shot it a total of five times and I shot a only three shots. We started at 25 yards just to check the zero on the rifle. The bullet impacts were extremely close at 25 yards. Just a little to the right. I adjusted the scope 4 clicks to the left and we then moved the target out to a 100 yards. My father then shot a three shot group with one flier do in part to not being used to the trigger. He then turned the rifle over to me and I shot my three shot group and I too had a flier. Lets just say that this rifle can shoot! When we got home I measured the two groups and including the fliers our groups were under 3/4 of an inch. I thought that it was a great rifle.
Now the pros and cons of this rifle. What shall I start with first, the pros or the cons? Well lets start with the pros.

• Trigger was set at approximately 1 1/2 lbs.
• Length of pull was very comfortable.
• 24 inch heavy barrel.
• Nice optics, Leupold scope.
• Parkerized finish.
• .308 caliber

Now on to the cons.

• The grip on the stock was very large and hard to grip.
• Weight of the gun was on the heavy side.
• The receiver opening was on the small side and ammo had to be loaded at an angle and with practice you could load it without looking.
• The stock was a little wide from butt to forearm.
• Price of the rifle when new was over $3000. This one was used and traded in. $1300 price tag.

But I have to admit that it was a fun day at the range. Now it looks like when I finish my .308 rifle that my father and I will be spending more time at the range. Sounds like we will be practicing for long range competitions. I look forward to that. Anytime I can spend at the range makes me happy! Again no pics, sorry about that. I guess that I need to get a camera and carry it with me all the time. I promise to do better.

Bite the Bullet #3

So the barreled action and scope base have arrived. I was a little disappointed with the packing from the factory but I'll get over it if this thing shoots as well as I have read it does. On a side note tomorrow I will be test firing a Harris sniper rifle tomorrow. Basically this is a McMillan rifle. I'll post more about that later now back to the project build. I have everything cleaned up as there was a lot of packing oil/grease on the gun. I'm impressed to say the least but I'd better reserve my judgement until I fire the gun.

Bite the Bullet Update

I'm having a hard time deciding what optics to put on. I've found a scope that I like all the features and the price isn't to far out there. The Millett Tactical TRS-1 Rifle Scope. This scope features a 30mm tube, 4-16x50, illuminated mil-dot, side focus and a 3 inch sunshade. reading reviews from other people who have bought it makes me think that for the $300 bills it is the scope for me. The next hurtle to over come is what rings do I want to use? Any suggestions?

After looking for a long time at the Bell and Carlson A-2, I came to the conclusion that I wanted something with a little more. What that little more was came by way of an adjustable cheek rest. Although the stock doesn't come with one I discovered that a person can make one with little to no hassle. Just get yourself a small sheet of kydex and heat form it. After that is done then cut 2 long slots for a bolt to slide through and drill 2 holes through the stock. There you have it an adjustable cheek rest for your rifle.

I know that in the last post I said that I was going to have a gray stock with the black webbing but I think that I will go with the plain black stock. I'm doing this for one reason, cost! For me this is going to be a budget build. I just want a good accurate rifle but I don't want to spend a mint to get one. In all honesty I'm looking at spending a total of $750.00 to have a sub moa rifle. Once parts start showing up I'll post pics and details of what is being done to the rifle. My hope is that I will photo every step that the rifle goes through until it is finished. I also hope that I will be able to shoot it at the local range before we get 4 feet of snow. (The range is closed during the winter months due to snow)

Bite the Bullet

Well I finally took the steps towards building my very own sniper rifle. I'm building the rifle off of a HOWA 1500 action with a 24 inch barrel and of course in .308 Winchester. From all the research that I've found, this rifle should shoot a sub-moa 3 shot group at 100 yards. I saw pics of a target that had been shot at 100 yards with a out-of-the-box howa varmint rifle that had a group size of .25 inches. That was before the barrel had been broke in! Now that impresses me. I plan on placing this action into a Bell and Carlson A-2 tactical stock. Barrel, action and rings and bases will be parkerized. The stock will be gray with black webbing. I have no idea what optics I'll be placing on it. I hate to spend more on optics than I did to build the gun. Barreled action and scope base.... $354.00, Bell and Carlson stock....... $260.00. The optics that I've been looking at are starting at $250 and going to $1700. Here is a picture of one that someone had build to sale and listed it on a forum. This has the same stock that I will be using but in tan. When the parts start coming in I'll take pics and post them.

Well I don't have much to say today but thought I'd put something on for my readers. Wait I have no readers so I guess that I don't need to worry about this blog. But for what its worth.... This Election year is a stressful one. I would hope that every voting citizen goes to the poles with an open heart. This Country is in need of great help. We have people who want to run the Country for personal gain. They may tell you that they want to take from the rich to give to the poor. Be very care full how you look at this. True, it would be great to get free money but free money is never free. Freedoms will be stripped away. Our very way of life is hanging by a thread and people in the Government are standing there with the knife ready for the cut. I for one like the way my life is. I'm not rich nor do I have a lot of money. The fact is that i have to work very hard to stay a float. My total income goes to bills. I don't know how I've been able to stay out of bankruptcy but I have. I have fought for the life that I have and I don't want someone to tell me how to live, where to live, or what I will do for a career. In fact, I wish to open a small business but I'm unable to due to the Credit rating that I've received because I was injured on the job but the company refused and still refuses to pay my medical expenses. I had good credit until I couldn't work for 2 1/2 years.
People, go to the polls this year with an open heart. Listen to what those people who want to run our Country are telling you. Listen very carefully to each word. There is a hidden agenda there. One would have you believe that taking from the rich and giving to the poor is a great thing. Well think of who supplies jobs to people. Do the poor supply the jobs and money for pay? I don't think so. It is the rich who supply us the poor with our jobs. They in turn pay us for working for them. Think real hard about this simple fact.
I'll get off my soap box and hide it for now because that is one freedom that I do not want to lose.

Hows this for motivational

Its been a day or two since I've added anything so I though how about a motivational picture to brighten up your day. This picture really depicts how just a little thing like a smiley face can make even the hardest person smile.

Well check out this picture. I just purchased the design plans for this off of Ebay. I've wanted to get a hard top for the Jeep since I bought it. Looks like I'll build one instead.

Spring 2008 Firearm Project

So here is a picture of a firearm project that I finished this past Spring. This little baby will shoot let me tell you. I've had several other Officers tell me that they would lovingly do the break in for me. One Officer told me that if it ever came up missing not to check his car. I told him "good luck with that." I have let several people try out this baby. All have had the same reaction as I did when I shot it for the first time. All in all I'm happy wit the way that this turned out. Just thought that I would share with you.

More Jeep Stuff!

I know that I need to get some pictures posted with everything that I've done to the Jeep. So the bed liner is in, driver's side seat has been replaced, Hi-Lift jack is mounted to rear bumper, and finally the mud tires (32 9.5x15) have been put on. I can't believe how much fun it has been working on my Jeep. It seems like the more that I do with it the lower the stress level goes. I forgot to mention that the new visors are installed and a new fuel sending unit. I just need to get the top back on before the weather turns sour on me. The next project for the Jeep will be mounting the Ramsey Winch, a center console, and maybe a few other things. I'll have to see how my pocket book looks. So anyone out there want to send some money my way? Just kidding. Last thing before I go, what every you do today, make sure to do it well and have fun doing it.

Time to talk about the Jeep

Ok enough with the gun stuff for a minute! I feel like talking about my little project, my 1976 Jeep CJ 5. This little gem has 42000 original miles and a few engine modification to its tiny 258 inline 6 cylinder. We're talking headers, performance intake, upgraded carb, and cammed. This thing will break the tires loose in second gear on dry pavement.
Now this is what I'm waiting to do as soon as the weather grants me the pleasure of working outside. I'm going to use truck bed liner on the entire floor of the Jeep. Next will come the bed liner on the outside from the top of the fenders down, but I will not be doing this, the auto body shop will take care of that little detail for me for $300. I would like to get a new soft top for it but that might have to wait for next year so repairs to the old top will have to work for now.
I have had a little idea of putting a in-dash dvd ans screen system in but the wife says that the Jeep is just too loud. I informed her that she has no idea of the sound system I plan to put in and with the help of my Marley, well lets just say its a good thing that its a soft top!
I do have many more ideas for this project and will write them down in more detail soon! Like possibly a new set of bucket seats, a suspension lift kit of 2", and well thats enough for now!

Project Idea #1

Well I thought that I'd outline what I plan to do for my target revolver. To start out I will be using a Smith and Wesson K-Frame .38 special, more than likely the model 10. Then a Clark Customs match grade PPC 6" bull barrel will be purchased. Then this barrel will under go some minor changes.... can you say fluting! Major trigger work will follow as well as the forcing cone, cylinder, new grips, drilled and tapped for scope base, and topped off with a red dot sight. I'm toying with the idea of changing the cylinder over to use moon clips. We will see as the project progresses along. I think that this sounds like a great recipe for fun and accuracy.

So here I am up front looking all happy to be at the ISU Law Enforcement Graduation. Yes the dude in the uniform staring into space is me.The lady sitting behind me with the smile on her face is one of my good friends. Would you believe that she flipped my ear during one of the speeches! She has me to thank for her great shooting skills though!

Welcome

Welcome to this new adventure that I'm undertaking. I hope that this blog will be fun, exciting, and informative, but mostly fun. I have a fascination with Firearms and the older Jeeps. I'm a Gunsmith but not a mechanic and I love to tinker. I will post firearm projects that I'm working on. For starters I have in the plans to build a target revolver with a 6" fluted barrel, a .308 sniper rifle, and one for fun, the 6.5 Grendel!