Below are just a few things I’ve been pondering and wondering what others think.
1) Do you keep/prefer a minimal number of calibers so that
you have interchangeability or do you have/prefer a wide variety of calibers
hoping even in crazy times at least one will be available?
2) Are you in the camp of cleaning your guns after every range
visit or one that waits a few trips?
3) Are you against red dots on handguns? If so, do you have
a red dot on your rifle?
4) Do you load all your M4 style magazines to 30, 29, 28, or
some other variation?
5) Do you keep your magazines stored loaded or unloaded?
Just a few things to ponder and see what others do and why.
And a cool picture because why not!
Hey Pudge;
ReplyDeleteI don't clean, clean my rifles or pistols after each range, but I will run a snake through the barrel and wipe it down with a rag to get my fingerprints off the pistol, I do the same with my rifles, I will immediately "snake" them as soon as I am done at the range, like at the range, I will run a snake through them. Once and a while I will do a deep clean and inspect and reassemble while watching a movie. Normally I will wipe them down, snake them again and handle them with gloves to keep my fingerprints off them before I put them in their "GunSocks" and then they go back in the safe. Been doing that way for years and my rifles and pistols look really good. There is a danger from "Overcleaning" a firearm, I have seen finish removed that way. I do have "red dot" on my rifles, my eyes ain't as good as they used to be and the red dot helps with target acquisition., unless they are my WWII rifles...then those are unmolested, I will just squint then. I haven't put a "Red dot" on a pistol, my eyes ain't that bad..as far as magazines goes...the old school wisdom with M16 magazines was 28 rounds to keep from overvompressing the spring. With the new Pmags and other new mags on the market, I don't know if that still is true, but my magazines still are loaded with 28 rounds, even my new magazines. When I was in the service, I used a tracer round for my first and last 3 rounds to let me know that I was almost empty to get ready to do a magazine swap. but I am now a civilian, I don't have that anymore, LOL I am sure others are different.
Mr. Garabaldi,
DeleteI have seen arms rooms full of rifles that looked worn out but were almost pristine inside because they had been rubbed down so much. I have also seen rifles with worn out barrels that had hardly been shot because of the amount of cleaning rods ran through them for no reason.
Thank you for keeping those WWII rifles unmolested.
Current production magazines should definitely be good to go. (If you are used to it and have a good reason, no reason to change as long as there is a 'why')
That's good practice for tracers if available. My primary magazine usually has a tracer every 3 rounds so that I can use it as another means of directing fire for my team. Did this as a PL and have kept it up on my current Team.
1) Do you keep/prefer a minimal number of calibers so that you have interchangeability or do you have/prefer a wide variety of calibers hoping even in crazy times at least one will be available?
ReplyDeleteI think I would prefer a minimal number of calibers, but I ended up with a wide variety because of my varied interests in historical pieces. This has stood me in good stead twice now with ammo availability.
2) Are you in the camp of cleaning your guns after every range visit or one that waits a few trips?
I clean when: a) I get malfunctions from the crud, b) When I cannot handle the gun without needing to wash, c) About twice a year when I dig everything out to check for rust.
3) Are you against red dots on handguns? If so, do you have a red dot on your rifle?
I want to like red dots on handguns, but they way they stick out would interfere with how I tend to carry. I do have a red dot on my rifle, but that doesn't impede how I carry it.
4) Do you load all your M4 style magazines to 30, 29, 28, or some other variation?
Load to 30. The more research I do the more convinced I am that the original edict to download two rounds for the M16 is because you could physically get 22 rounds into an early mag, and that overcompressed the spring.
Later downloading the 30-rounders was something you did because "that's how we did it back in 'Nam!" This also helped extend the spring life, and Carter wasn't spending money on new magazines!
Modern magazines just don't need it.
5) Do you keep your magazines stored loaded or unloaded?
Ready guns have ready magazines. Unready guns have empty magazines.
I missed part of the explanation...
DeleteThe 18 round edict for the original metal-follower M16 mags most likely comes from loose ammo and soldiers losing count and overstuffing.
By telling them "just 18" if they lost count by one or two, they wouldn't overcompress the spring.
Angus,
DeleteI know exactly how it is to plan one thing but tastes dictate another!
The only guns I clean a hair more than you are my carry guns as I don't want to get to the point where I have a malfunction with them.
Makes sense if the extra size from a sight causes an impedance.
I fully agree with your statement on magazines. (One of the worst ways to think about a problem is do it this way because that's how we did it back in ....... Always take in new information and revisit the way you do things.
Makes sense to me with your thoughts on loaded or unloaded magazines.
1) Primarily 9 mm, 5.56 and 12 gauge. A couple of .22, 45 ACP and 38 Specials. One lonely 30-06 for deer hunting. I have stayed away from the caliber of the month club.
ReplyDelete2) Bore snake and and light lube after every trip.
3) I'm trying to learn with a 22/45 pistol I use for steel plate matches. So far so good, may add red dot to a Glock 17.
4) 28 Old habits die hard.
5) Some of each.
Gerry
Gerry,
DeleteMy thoughts are that it is much easier to stash away ammo when there are fewer calibers that you have. Otherwise I recommend a prioritization plan.
I will agree that red dots can take time to get used to but once you figure it out, it will increase you capabilities.
It is hard to break habits. Also can depend on reasoning and scenario.
Like Angus stated above, as long as you have some for your 'go to' guns then that's what is most important.
1) Minimal number of calibers But plenty of each. .45, 9, 38/257, 30-30, 3006, 5.56, .308, 12ga.
ReplyDelete2) Old school, I clean guns after every range trip. (blued and wood)
3) No red dots, nothing requiring a battery on either pistols or rifles. ACOGS on 2 rifles, Loopy/USO scopes on the others.
4) 8, 20, or 30 depending on the rifle.
5) Magazines are stored loaded. If I need them, I want them ready to go. Minimum of 2 per gun.
Old NFO,
DeleteNo complaints with any of those calibers. Having a reason and picking sights based on expected use is the right way to go about it. It's good to be ready to grab and go if necessary.
1) A whole bunch of calibers. But 12 ga, 5.56mm, and 9mm are for real stockpiled
ReplyDelete2) Depends on the gun. My trap guns get cleaned after each use. As do my duck guns and nice dear rifles. Other stuff about every 500 rounds give or take.
3)No red dot on a pistol yet. Still debating. Aimpoint and Eotech on fighting ARs
4)28 rounds per AR mag. Not so much because of the spring but I don't want to screw up a bolt closed reload
5) A couple of handguns mags and thirty loaded AR mags. Mossberg stored cruiser ready
Mack,
DeleteWe all know you love the obscure calibers but having a prioritized plan makes it ok! Good reasoning for 28 rounds per mag. Nice to see an option of ready firearms if needed.