AR Sponsor
Posted: 2/6/2012 5:49:50 PM EDT
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All day today, the February sun outside the office window was nagging at me. So at around 2:30 this afternoon, when I realized I had no remaining meetings on my calendar (it's hard to express what a rare and pleasant occurrence that is), I called the boss and told her I was taking a "half day" vacation.
Home by 3, threw on a pair of coveralls, snagged the range bag, some 145gr Prvi Partizan and a couple rifle cases and headed for the range. I still hadn't fully cleaned and inspected the new old AR10 but I had inspected it enough to be fairly confident that it could handle some live fire. I have no place local for automatic fire, but was determined to at least put a few semi-auto shots on paper. At the range, the temp was 51 degrees with crossing winds of 5-10mph. This time of year, that's about as good as conditions are going to get. Better yet, I had the place to myself. The few people who showed up while I was there went inside the clubhouse, leaving me alone on the outdoor range. What a great way to spend a brief vacation! I posted 3" blaze orange dots at 50yds and 100yds and got down to business. I chambered a single round, dropped the mag, placed the rifle across a couple sandbags so I could sit back a little (no need to aim), and sent the first bullet into the backstop. The brass ejected about 5' at 3 o'clock and, more importantly, the rifle remained intact. With the mag out, the bolt had closed after ejecting that first round. I released the trigger, pulled it again, and was happy to hear the hammer fall. Since it hadn't followed the bolt carrier, I figured it wouldn't double on me. Just to be certain, though, I loaded two more rounds and made sure only one went downrange per pull of the trigger. No problems. Of course, I still had no idea if the rifle would hit where I pointed it, so I loaded five rounds and used the sights for the first time. That first group is below, circled at about 3" under the point of aim (I use a 6:00 hold). Five rounds in 1-3/4" from 50 yards. Not match grade, but respectable for a battle rifle. (All groups shot from bench, elbows on the table.) 
The rifle functioned normally, but the trigger needs a good bit of work. It's heavy, creepy and a little gritty. Not the worst I've shot, but it definitely made it hard to hold the target through the shot. I didn't bother adjusting the sights at this point, but just turned to the 100 yard target. Full disclosure: I'm 50, have worn glasses since grade school, and quite simply, can't see a 3" dot at 100 yards. Someplace down there, I could sense a slight orange tint, but that's about it. I really need to invest in some real targets. First five rounds grouped loosely about 5" or 6" low. I had a couple of the old waffle mags with me so I tested both. 15 rounds total, and they held the pattern, grouping just under 6". (They're the group on the bottom half of the target below.) 
Just for fun, I switched to a semi-auto FAL––your basic Imbel on Imbel build––and fired 15 rounds through it on the same target. With the same sight picture (such as it was), that rifle printed the group high and left on the target. The group was about 3/4" tighter than the AR, but I'd attribute most of that to the trigger. While the FAL trigger is rough, once you get past some major grit, the final break is light and crisp. It ain't good, but it's very shootable once you get the feel of it. It was kinda fun shooting these two old battle rifles one after the other. They're definitely different. Without adjusting the gas system on the AR, it had a harsher recoil than the FAL, but with a decent hold, the muzzle rise is easy to handle. The rifle also feels "thicker" than the FAL and although I haven't weighed the AR yet, it also feels a bit heavier than the Imbel. They are both damned fun to shoot, though, and they have a real sense of military history behind them. I knew I didn't have a lot more time before the winter light would be fading, and I really needed to exercise a 1911, so I started to button up the rifles. I realized I had two loose rounds left from the boxes of PPU I'd opened, so I loaded them in the AR and fired them from a standing position at the 50 yard target. I was just curious to see how the rifle balanced off-hand. To avoid mixing with the first group of five, I held so the front sight blade completely covered the orange dot. The two holes (see top pic above) were less than 1 1/2" apart. I'm pretty confident that, once I get the rifle cleaned well, properly lubed and the trigger cleaned up, the rifle will be a pretty good shooter. But beyond a successful first test of the old girl, the experience reminded me that even a short, chilly afternoon on a rifle range beats hell out of sitting in the office! 
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| I'll be 50 with glasses since grade school in 8 days. Great report as we knew it would be. I agree it should be a real good shooter. Is it wise to work up a FCG on a FA specimen? Never personally tried it. I'm guessing you're just talking a little clean up. Probably planning it's next range run. Weather was the same down here. |
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Very nice Gunner.I always enjoy your reports.Very complete and easy to read. Nothing left to the imagination.Well done as always.Enjoy her in good health! PS Gunner,,don't know why,but I thought you were a few years older then me,,not younger then me...  Hmm. Oddly enough, I also always assumed you were a bit younger than me! Well, when you get past the half-century mark, what's a few years give or take?! |
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I'll be 50 with glasses since grade school in 8 days. Great report as we knew it would be. I agree it should be a real good shooter. Is it wise to work up a FCG on a FA specimen? Never personally tried it. I'm guessing you're just talking a little clean up. Probably planning it's next range run. Weather was the same down here. Yes, it will definitely be just some very light cleanup of the FCG (and possibly some experimentation with springs, but I'm not sure that will be necessary). But that's only partly because of potential legality/liability issues (after all, you face those same potential liabilities any time you modify a fire control group––regardless of NFA status). More critical to my way of thinking: If I do anything to screw up a part––I can't just call Brownell's for a replacement! Slow and easy will guide every move! |
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Well I'm 52 and the glasses didnt come along until my kids were almost out of High School and I still think that's some darn good shooting groups!
Then again I'm happy if I can hit a man sized target at 1-200 yards consistently anymore. Glad to hear someone got out to do some shooting lately! 
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Gunner, Nice write up. Is the Imbel FA as well? *Notice the lack of Ol.  Well, ain't that kind of you If I could roll back the years as easily as changing the name, I'd be a happy man.
No, unfortunately, I do not have a select-fire FAL. That's one that's sort of on my list...but probably below an M14. Now, I've fired M14s on full-auto and, frankly, it's not a very satisfying experience (in terms of effective fire), but I'd still like to have one in the collection. ...Then an M60. ...And a Stoner 63. ...Then a quad-mount Ma Deuce. ...Then...aw, crap...I have got to stop this before it gets out of control. Anyone have the number for Machinegunaholics Anonymous? |
Cool, thanks for posting. The only thing I would have done differently is shoot those last two rounds on auto.  Ironically, I wore glasses until I was your age, when lasix finally got good enough to handle my astigmatism. Now, I'm 53 and still see 20/20; don't need glasses to read the menu either. 
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Do you have an M1A? It'd make that picture complete. I do...although only one. 
I actually thought about taking it along, but it's a "Loaded" model––not quite "GI" enough for my taste. Damn fine shooter, too––too fine to compare fairly to actual battle rifles. |
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Cool, thanks for posting. The only thing I would have done differently is shoot those last two rounds on auto. Ironically, I wore glasses until I was your age, when lasix finally got good enough to handle my astigmatism. Now, I'm 53 and still see 20/20; don't need glasses to read the menu either. The 2-rd burst was tempting, but that range is real handy to the house. I'd hate to have my privileges revoked! Good to hear about the lasix! I've been putting it off till they have it perfected, but man, it would be nice to be able to see! Maybe I'll talk to the doc next time I go in for glasses. |
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here's a couple you tube videos somewhat relevant, not new, (to say the least)
just in case you haven't seen them. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lap8cmxJHTU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWZyaM66OGM |
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