Posted: 1/30/2012 8:28:53 PM EDT
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Had a great day out at the range today and thought I would share. I hope this is SF related as I re-learned a couple of important lessons today and thought they warranted passing on to all. Mod's, if not I apologize and feel free to move.
We had our quarterly Qualifications with pistol and patrol rifle, and spent a couple of good hours working on various drills. I recently just upgraded to my first Aimpoint sight on my patrol rifle. A week ago I had mounted, zeroed and function checked the sight and called it good. This was the first time I really got to get out and use it. When it came time for the rifle I was focused on running the course, in the zone so to speak, right up till my first mag change. The actual mag change went smooth, it was the process of charging the weapon where I ran afoul. Normally I employ the palm strike/slap to the ping pong paddle to release the bolt and load a round. I did my normal palm strike and it just didn't feel right......no click and I didn't feel the bolt go home. So I slapped it harder twice more with the same result before I looked down to see the problem. My Aimpoint mount has the large knurled button to tighten it down with that sticks out just over an inch, and as I had mounted the optic center forward on the upper it sits just above the ping pong paddle.........blocking my palm strike to release the bolt. I quickly adjusted to using my thumb but I really had to fight muscle memory on my mag changes. Later on half way through my rifle qual's my used/new to me Aimpoint started shorting out. Turning off and on, dim to bright. Our Qual's are timed and I just ended up shooting the tube (putting the target in the tube and guessing) until the next stage and flipped up my rear sight. I qualified and have since pulled the Aimpoint and turned it back into the armory for another one and mounted the new one ALL the way forward where a palm strike clears the knob. Our main focus today on the range was fatigue shooting, and gross motor skills really come into play here. I learned what may work just fine during a leisurely function check and zeroing in doesn't always apply once the chips start flying. Train as you fight, fight as you train........we have all heard it before......and it seems I failed to follow it this time. Also, optics do fail.......... even the infamous Aimpoint is not beyond failure. Today's events also reminded me of the importance of getting out there and testing your gear in the scenarios or conditions that we hope we will never find ourselves in. Train hard and train often. And as Painless always says......Shooting stuff is fun. BT |
| Good post. Are you allowed to change mounts? A Larue or ADM mount would allow you to place the optic in the center of the receiver. Personally I prefer the center position as I think the tube and battery compartment are less obstructive when compared to other, more forward positions. It's all personal preference though. |
| I've been shooting USPSA every week and LOVE when something goes wrong when I shoot my stage. The moment when your pistol has a FTF on the first shot because the mag wasn't fully seated and you didn't press check or you reach for a mag that isn't there because it's still lying on your range bag are awesome. You have to deal with the unexpected under stress and those opportunities are rare but so instructive. |
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Good review!
I have found that as a non-LE, non-Mil, training with your "Grab N Go" gear is important as well. Are you going to don your plate carrier for the bump in the night or will you have a discreet chest rig or shoulder mag pouch? Make sure you can deploy your mags from these and make sure they also work with your CCW setup as well. I found most plate carriers prevent me drawing from IWB |
On the sight if you get the chance check out the trijicon rmr
No batteries are needed and it's constant on + there is alot less frame obstruction than the aim points. also offset rts sights I think you may like those if an optic does go down to transition quickly. 
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Quoted:
Good post. Are you allowed to change mounts? A Larue or ADM mount would allow you to place the optic in the center of the receiver. Personally I prefer the center position as I think the tube and battery compartment are less obstructive when compared to other, more forward positions. It's all personal preference though. I can change mounts at my expense. I mounted the new sight all the way forward then ran it out to the cruiser and it won't fit in the locking rifle rack that way. Just the way they are set up there is not a lot of wiggle room. Putting my Eo-thingy back on till I order a new mount. Going with the Larue. This may go against the grain of the internet but I really like the Eotech, I just wish they had the battery run time of the Aimpoint. BT |
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Quoted:
also offset rts sights I think you may like those if an optic does go down to transition quickly. http://www.brownells.com/userdocs/skus/p_100006162_1.jpg Running a scope I guess I could see having this, but it's a little too high speed for my needs. I already have a rear BUIS with my red dot and I like to keep the clutter to a minimum. We just got in a new Raptor 6x NV scope at the PD so we are planning on putting together a little night shoot. May as well make the most of it and run through with handgun and carbine while we are there. Looking forward to it. BT |