Muzzle Eats a M2 Round

[painter777]

Last Monday morning after coffee I headed over to my local Rifle club.
Started out running 10 10rd mags through my wife's new Walther P22 in .22 longs.
Ran in to a guy with a carbine who was just getting ready to load up when I noticed he had a cracked bolt. I posted about this: N14 bolt. I was able to get him going with a spare bolt I had and went my own way.
Took out A S'G' with Blue Sky BA barrel.
Using my own reloads of 110 gr FMJ loaded with WRA Primers and 15.0 296.
I ran 1 mag at a paper plate target that was left hanging by someone.
Took a couple clicks on the windage to get close
Pictured below is the beater:





Might add that it has NOT been counter bored.
This first set of targets were at 25 yrds.
All of these were shot benched on a front sand bag rest.
I had one of those shaky mornings, hard time calming down plus couldn't settle my breathing down. I did know when releasing the trigger right away a few times that I'd pulled it off target. You know the feeling? These targets are 8" outer circle with a 2" Bulls Eye.




Using this board as an example of my sight picture and hold:



Then moved down to the 50 yrd set up. Had picked my table and was all set up, before going down and pinning up my target. After doing so I could see I had myself off to a angle but just went for it instead of moving everything over. Same deal, rested on a sand bag. Still an 8" outer circle but now with a 3" Bulls Eye.




This board pretty much shows my hold and sight picture for the first 2. On the 3rd one (left) I dropped my hold to try to line up right on the black, but honestly just tried to see a little more orange sitting on the sight blade. It was a struggle trying to see orange from 50 for me. I'd use the spotting scope after a full mag was spent. I can feel needing a new RX for these getting older eyes. And I do believe that I'll have to give De-Caf a try.
Overall a nice morning, went home knowing what I did wrong with what was available to me. I believe I could get her to tighten up some after I checkout the barrel hang and recoil plate bite. Also makes one wonder if Cast Lead might be the way to go for the ole gal ??

Bottom Line; get out there guys, we sure aren't getting any younger.

Cheers
Charlie-Painter777

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[browningautorifle]

So, back to the old"Shoot it first before doing anything" applies I guess. That would certainly be a strike on target for a man size.

[USGI]

Bottom Line; get out there guys, we sure aren't getting any younger.

Charlie, Thanks for the post - it gives me some encouragement to get off my duff and get out there! It's been 5 years since I've done any reloading and 3-4 since I've fired one of the carbines. The last time, I went out with my older brother and took my reloads with X-Treme plated lead bullets, some with loose bulk bullets from a gun show (believe Remington) and a few rounds with Armscor FMJ. I was frustrated with the groups I was getting and just before we headed home, I fired about 10 rounds with the Armscor bullets and they grouped a whole lot better. The bullets are "funny" looking in appearance, but shot really well for me. This with LC brass, CCI #41 primers, and 15.0g W296. At the time, they were the least expensive FMJ bullets you could get. I still have a few left. If you haven't given them a try, PM me an I'll send you a few. - Bob

[browningautorifle]

The bullets are "funny" looking

How's that? Funny how?

[USGI]

The contour (ogive?) of the bullet is different than what you are used to seeing. When seated to standard OAL, the bullet looks longer and also the jacket is lighter colored. When I first saw them at a gun show a few years ago I thought maybe they were made by Montana Gold, if you are familiar with the color of their 45 ACP bullets. I have the idea they may stabilize a bit better when leaving the barrel and in flight. I've never heard anyone else mention this, but I know they worked better for me that day than the others I was shooting. It's been long enough now that I can't remember for sure which carbine I was shooting, and don't think I saved any targets from that day, but did save the label off the box where I had noted how well they shot. I bought a box of Armscor carbine ammo years ago and swore I would never buy again, though - the bolt failed to close on some rounds. I'm pretty sure I made a thread or post about it at the time. I've seen a couple brands of new manufactured ammo more recently that are using Armsor brass and bullets that look fine - BVAC (Bitterroot) was one of them. I'm pretty sure Armscor components are being manufactured in the states now, not just in the Philippines. - Bob

[browningautorifle]

Long as they shoot fine, I guess that's what matters. Cosmetics...

[INLAND44]

Your shooting would satisfy the military requirement for carbine accuracy. I wouldn't consider doing anything to it. Typically you don't choose a carbine for high-accuracy shooting which is why the military sighting target for 100 yds is 12" high and 16" wide. All shots should be on the sighting line (point of aim) or above. This definitely was a weapon that was designed for the 6:00 hold. True, you can do all kinds of things and shoot hand loads to get better accuracy but to me its sort of wasted time - it is what it is. BTW, if you shoot lead and jam up the gas port with it, you'll have to fidget with the piston retaining nut which is supposed to be staked in place and not reused. The piston has to be removed to get a cleaning tool up in the gas port by way of the little hole in the gas block for that purpose. Your call - shoot lead if you want to, but if you goof up and crack the gas block, which has happened many times, the barrel is toast.