I decided to go up the hill and take my retro pair plinking in the woods tomorrow

[imarangemaster]

Range Report:
I set up in a clearing with about 50 yards, which is fine. My eyes suck at 62, and I was just using irons....

The Saiga ran like a champ. Even though I had it dialed in before in the stock configuration, I was wondering if a different grip would change anything. It was dead nuts on. Shooting off-hand, standing, I nailed every pop can and pine cone from 35 to 50 yards, even nailing some in the trees at maybe 60 yards. What a trooper. Ammo was 122 grain FMJ Tulammo from Wally World.

The new KISS Carbine build, was another story. First, It hated my two handloads I brought, both of which worked well in other AR builds. One was 21.5 grains of IMR4198, and one was 25.5 grains of IMR4064 . Both loads used 55 grain FMJs and CCI #41 primers. Every shot short stroked, and would not pick up the next round! I checked gas rings, key staking, etc. All parts are Colt, including the chrome 601 BCG. I tried a standard 3.0 oz. buffer and a 3.6 oz H buffer. No difference.

The MK262 MOD1 77 OTMs, functioned fine, picked up rounds, and locked the bolt back. It was not until later I figured out what was wrong...

The second problem with the AR was I had to have the sight all the way to the right to center it on target. I am sure that is from using a barrel vice instead of receiver block, and have to torque the hell out of it to line up the barrel nut. I plan on removing the barrel and resetting it. At a visual glance, I can see the barrel slightly canted from the torque. Not a big deal, and an easy fix.

So, what was wrong with the cycling????? A little background. I have two complete Carbine lowers for the upper. One is a Nodak Spud 601 that I was running with a bullet button and no kydex paddle. The other one is an Anderson forged with a pinned stock and a Solar Tactical paddle for "featureless" running with high caps. When I went to the range, I put the upper on the NDS bullet button lower with the H buffer so I could feel the grip. The Anderson has a Colt 3.0 buffer and M4 spring.

When I broke the AR I was shooting down, I was looking at the spring. IT WAS A D@MN RIFLE LENGTH SPRING I was using in the NDS bullet buttoned lower! I must have grabbed a rifle spring out of the parts box when I was assembling the NDS lower. That explains why these loads had worked when I used them in the M4gery upper I gave my son, as I used the Anderson lower with Colt M4 spring on it!

I feel like such a DUMBASS!