C & E Gun Shows comes to Hickory in June

Good news! The C & E Gun Shows is making its way back to Hickory, North Carolina on Saturday and Sunday, June 26th & 27th. The show will be held at the Hickory Metro Convention Center. Saturday hours are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Sunday hours are 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Admission fee is $8.00 for adults and children 12 and under are free with a paying adult. You can save a little money by printing the "Get A Dollar Off Coupon".

For handgun purchases, have your North Carolina Concealed Handgun Permit or get one or more purchase permits from your local sheriff. Here is a map to the show:

I’ve been busy at the range.

I had the urge to lighten my ammo boxes.  The best way to do it is to shoot some targets!  Over the past few weeks I did just that.  Here are some of the results.

I have been having a lot of fun with my new Ruger 10/22.  I converted it to a “Ruger Taptical 22” using the Tapco 10/22 Intrafuse stock and a few other goodies.  This has transformed it into a great little shooter.  I will do a review on it in the near future.  Until then, here are a few targets.

Ruger Taptical 22 – 25-Yards – 4x Scope

(Click for full size target)

I was using a 2x-6x variable scope.  I bought it many years ago for my SKS, but, never used it.  It is a compact scope and looks good on the Ruger.  The black circle is 1-inch in diameter.  This is just about a 1/2-inch group.  This is the final group after adjusting the scope.  Wow, I am very happy with that.

Ruger Taptical 22 – 10-Yards – 2x Scope

(Click for full size target)

Next, I set the target at 10-yards and used the steel lip version of the Butler Creek 25-round magazines.  I was shooting semi-rapid fire.  I fired just under a second per round.  A good substitute for a red-dot scope is a low power scope.  I set the variable scope to 2x.  You don’t have the low light capabilities of a red-dot, but, it is just about as quick to acquire the target.  With a few exceptions, the 25-rounds made a one hole group.  I love this rifle!

I had some 9mm ammo screaming to fly so I brought out the Taurus 92SS pistol.  This is a sweet shooting handgun.  I had a Beretta 92F several years ago, but, I like the Taurus better.  One reason is the Taurus has the safety on the frame, not the slide.  It just feels more natural there.

 Taurus 92SS – 7-Yards – 5-Shot group

(Click for full size target)

The Taurus 92SS is a double-action pistol.  The first pull of the trigger is heavy and subsequent trigger pulls are single action.  The first shot on this target landed low-left.  This is typical for me with a double action trigger.  The rest are in the 9 and 10 ring.  By the way…If you need a magazine for your Taurus 92, buy the Mec-Gar magazines.  They are the best!

Finally, I had to shoot my IO AK47-C rifle.  I decided to use the iron sights and went to Shooters Express to adjust the front sight.

IO AK47-C – 25-Yards – Iron sights

(Click for full size target)

I recently shot the AK with iron sights at 100-yards with fantastic results.  More on that later.  The IO AK keeps impressing me.

I hope you enjoyed sharing my target shooting activities.  I have several projects in the works and will document them later.  Until then…Lock and load!

Accessories: Barska Ruger 10/22 Flash Hider

I have been adding accessories to my Ruger 10/22 rifle.  In addition to the fantastic Tapco Intrafuse 10/22 stock, I added a Barska Muzzle Brake/Flash Hider.  This is marketed under several brand names, but, I think they are all the same. 

Does a .22 rifle need a muzzle brake or flash hider?  No, but I think it looks good on my Ruger 10/22 Taptical (Tapco Tactical) rifle!  And at only $10.00 on sale at Amazon.com, it was a very affordable addition.

The quality of the body is very good, but, the set screw and supplied Allen wrench are crap!  The metal is so soft that it easily strips when you try to tighten it enough to stay in place.  It happened to me.  The hex opening at the top of the set screw deformed enough to not allow it to be tightened.  No problem!  Just head down to the hardware store and get a new one. 

I first tried the “big box” hardware stores.  What a waste of time.  They don’t have crap as far as true “hardware” goes!  They suggested to try an auto parts store.  I tried one of those, too!  They suggested to try a local hardware store.  You know, one of those that have been around for decades and have several rows of screws, nuts, bolts, and any imaginable connector.  Luckily, there was one in town.

Sure enough, they were able to match the set screw.  It took a while, but the person helping me would not give up.  It is an unusual size, but, here it is in case anyone reading this has the same problem:

4mm x 5mm x .70-thread

The metal on these U.S. made set screws are very hard.  They didn’t show any signs of weakening when I really put the torque to it.  I will post a review of this and other accessories on an upcoming review of the Ruger 10/22 Taptical rifle.

‘Weapon Shield’: The new standard in firearms cleaning.

If you shoot often you also clean your firearms often.  There are many fine products out there, but, wouldn’t you like to have just one do it all?  I think I have finally found that one.  Weapon Shield by Steel Shield Technologies is that one.

Cleaning products for firearms are plentiful.  Knowing which ones to use is often a matter of opinion.  In recent years synthetics have come to the fore front of firearms cleaning and protection.  The advantage of synthetic lubricants is that they can withstand higher temperatures, don’t evaporate like petroleum based products, and don’t attract dust like regular gun oil does.  The obvious choice was Break Free CLP.

Break Free CLP is a fine product and does the job well.  I have used it for quite a while, but, have always been concerned about two things.  First, it does clean the bore, but, not as well as a dedicated product like Hoppe’s No. 9 solvent.  Second, Break Free CLP contains solvents and you need to take some precautions with ventilation when using it.  Consequently, I used both Hoppe’s No. 9 solvent and Break Free CLP to effectively clean my firearms.  This worked well, but, I still wanted a single product to do it all.

I was watching a YouTube video by Nuntnfancy, Gunsmithing the 1911:  Trigger Job by “Terry G”.  In this series of videos, Terry Gardner of Impact Guns tunes-up a model 1911 Taurus and uses a new lubricant…Weapon Shield.  He spoke highly of it, so, I thought I would give it a try.

I was placing an order with Midway USA and saw that they had Weapons Shield.  The price was right, $8.79, so I ordered the 4-oz. bottle.  When it arrived, I noticed the the information of the bottle said Weapon Shield contains no solvents and was non-toxic.  I must admit, the first thoughts after reading this was, “this will not clean a gun”.  But after using it on my new Ruger 10/22 Tapco Tactical rifle (review coming), I was sold!  Weapon Shield pulled all the gunk and grime out of the barrel.  There was no harsh smell while using Weapon Shield.  This cleaner/lubricant/protectant has considerable viscosity.  It wouldn’t just run off during storage.  Since Weapon Shield is a synthetic, there was very little dust attraction like with petroleum products.

I looked up the material safety data sheet for Weapon Shield and it confirms that no solvents are used, it is not flammable under normal conditions, and is non-toxic.  None of this would be important if it didn’t work, but, it does work…And works well!

I think I have found the perfect weapon cleaner.  Steel Shield Technologies has a real winner.  I recommend that you give it a try.  I don’t think you will be disappointed.

Back to basics. Open sights

I have been relying on optics too much!  I have been using the excuse of having old eyes to justify my departure from the basics of target and recreational shooting.  I have just reestablished my “love” for iron or open sights.

I have been trying to find a red-dot scope for my IO AK47-C rifle.  The problem is that to mount an optic, I have to mount it forward of the receiver!  Yes, over the barrel.  This just reeks havoc with the balance of the rifle.  It becomes very nose-heavy and uncomfortable to carry and shoot.  I know there are some options out there to bring the optics closer to your eyes, but none have been very appealing to me.  So I decided to use a novel approach to this problem.  Use the iron sights!

I have to wear bifocal glasses and using iron sights on many rifles are problematic.  Most American rifle designs have the rear sight closer to the eyes.  The AK-47 sight system has the rear sight a good distance forward.  This actually helps those with older eyes like mine! 

AK-47 Rifle

So, I quit messing around with trying to get a red-dot scope to work for me and forced myself to use the rifle as it was intended.  I took my rifle in the back yard and used a laser bore sighter to align the iron sights.  This will get me very close to my final adjustment of the sights.

When you are zeroing a battle rifle like the AK-47, you want it to be accurate over several distances.  When you zero it properly, the AK-47 with the rear sight set on “battle” setting will give good results on all ranges up to 300-meters.  I have researched the procedure to this and found the following:

1. Set the rear sight to the 100-meter setting.  Most AK’s have a graduated sight with 1-10 or 1-8.  Each number represents 100-meters.  (i.e. 5 is equal to 500-meters).
2. Set your target to 25-meters (82-feet).
3. Adjust your front sight so you are hitting the bull’s eye dead center
4. After you are hitting the bull’s eye at 25-meters, set your rear sight to the “battle setting”.  This is the lowest setting on the rear sight.  Mine says “P”. You should now be effective up to 300-meters without adjusting the rear sight.

The adjustment on the AK-47 is done on the front sight.  Windage and elevation can be made easily if you have the proper tool.  Tapco makes a front sight adjustment tool that will work for the AK-47 and the SKS.

AK-47 / SKS Sight Adjustment Tool 

I went to Shooters Express in Belmont, North Carolina.  They have an indoor range for rifles.  It is only 25-yards, but adequate for setting my iron sights.  I took 40-rounds of “good” ammo.  You can’t shoot anything with steel in the bullet.  So no cheap Wolf or Bear ammo.  I had a couple boxes of PMC 7.62x39 ammo.  I have had them for more than 10-years and thought it was time to use it.   I was very happy with the results.  Here is a sample:

 

 

Five shots at 25-yards.  Click for full target.

The white circle in the above picture is 1” in diameter.  Not bad for an old fart with bad eyes using iron sights!  I think I will use my AK with the sights it came with.  Red-dot scopes are a good thing, but they do add weight and if you have an AK, the position you will probably have to mount is is very inconvenient and throws off the balance of the weapon.  The feeling of satisfaction you get when shooting well with simple iron sights can’t be equaled with optics.  With optics, you expect to shoot well.

Beretta U22 Neos shooting session

I went out Saturday with my “newest, new” Beretta U22 Neos.  I call it that because it is the second new one I have had.  As written in previous posts, I purchased the U22 and had a small problem right out of the box.  The rear sight would not adjust.  I hesitated sending it back to Davidson’s because it shot so darn well!  I wondered if the replacement would shot like the first.

Beretta U22 Neos .22LR Target Pistol

I don’t think it’s luck.  I think Beretta has made a near perfect .22-target pistol.  The second one shoots just as good as the first.  I have owned and do own .22LR semi-automatic pistols.  I have read many reviews of such and there is always one reoccurring theme.  They can be picky about the ammo you feed it!.  I used to own a Ruger Mark II pistol.  I loved the gun and kick myself for selling it.  It was very accurate, but, you had to feed it a particular brand and type of ammo to get consistent feeding.  Even so, there was an occasional hiccup.  The same can be said about the Taurus PT22 I have.  If I try to feed it anything other than CCI Mini-mags, it will not feed well.

The Beretta U22 Neos breaks the mold!  I have fed it several types of ammo.  I have fired over 500-rounds through two different pistols without even one malfunction!  Beretta has got it right.

My older eyes don’t get along with iron sights.  I usually try to add a red-dot scope to the firearm if possible.  But, I wanted to give the U22’s iron sights a try.  I did much better than I thought I would!  Here is an example:

Five rounds from a Beretta U22 using iron sites at 7-yards.

Not bad!  The U22 has a Weaver-type rail system so why not add a red-dot scope?

I added my cheap red-dot scope I have used on other guns.  It’s is no where near the quality of a EOtech or AimPoint, but, it serves my purposes.  Here are the results using the red-dot scope:

Three rounds from a Beretta U22 using a red-dot at 15-yards.

WOW!  I doubled the distance and reduced the pattern by half. 

I just love my new Beretta U22 Neos.  It is fun and inexpensive to shoot.  I can see that if you used a 4-power scope, you could make decent shots at 50-yards and beyond.  I will be on the lookout for such a scope. 

If you are in the market for a .22LR target pistol, consider the U22.  It sells for around $250.  I would highly recommend getting it through Gallery of Guns.  They can ship it to your local FFL dealer and you will have the “lifetime replacement guarantee”.

This is why I will only buy from Davidson’s

Davidson’s Online is a firearms distributor for many FFL dealers as well as running Gallery of Guns.  Gallery of Guns is a website where you can shop for firearms and select from a list of FFL dealers to finalize the purchase.

I have purchased several firearms from Gallery of Guns.  One of the main reasons I like them is that they offer a “Lifetime Replacement Guarantee”.  Most people will never have to use that feature, but it is a comfort knowing you have it!

I recently purchased a Beretta U22 Neos.  This is a fine .22-caliber target pistol, but there was a problem.  The rear sight is adjustable…At least it was supposed to be.  Mine would not let you turn the screw to adjust the windage.  The screw was so “stuck” that it broke the adjustment tool!

I considered sending it to Beretta for repair, but I remembered I had the “Lifetime Replacement Guarantee” with my Gallery of Guns purchase.  I called Gallery of Guns and explained the problem and that it was present right out of the box.  They were fantastic!  There were no accusing questions that often follow when you report a problem.  She found the details of my purchase and said she still had the U22 in stock.  She reserved one for me.  This is important because of the firearm shortage going on right now.  All I had to do was take the pistol back to the FFL dealer that finalized the purchase.

I took my U22 back to Bull’s Eye Sporting Goods.  There was a prepaid shipping label waiting.  Once the firearm has shipped, Davidson’s shipped the replacement.  Yes, a brand new firearm was shipped before they even examined the pistol!  Now that’s customer service. 

I can not recommend Gallery of Guns enough.  Their prices are reasonable.  Sometimes they may be a little more that you can find at a gun show, but, the peace of mind you get is priceless.