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MARCH 2024 NEWSLETTER #3
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Recognize this rifle? It was the rifle and optic featured in the previous newsletter, but with a little Krylon makeover. There are a few different options for rifle camouflage. I find that Krylon ultra-flat spraypaint colors dry quickly and can be easily touched-up or removed if so desired. Rustoleum spray paints, in my experience, dry slower and stay somewhat sticky even after a few days. I do know some folks who swear by Rustoleum though... your mileage may vary.
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There are more permanent and durable options available. Brownells Alumahyde paints are an example. They can be applied like spraypaints, but cure much more durably. They are resistant to firearms cleaning agents and last longer, but they are more expensive and can't be easily removed.
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Duracoat is a product I have used that is great for external firearms finishes. It comes in aerosol form or as a product that can be applied with and HVLP spray gun. It comes as a 2-component system with the paint and a hardener and it cures to the touch about an hour after application. Duracoat goes on relatively thick, and gets harder and more durable with age.
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Cerakote is top-of the line and usually requires oven-curing. It goes on thinner, but is a stronger finish and resistant to high temperatures which makes it suitable for machine gun barrels and suppressors.
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No matter what you use to coat the rifle, I suggest using a conventional spray paint on the optics. You can always bead-blast and refinish rifle parts, but bead blasting an optic is likely to end badly. Using regular spray paint on the optic means you can use a solvent to wipe off the old paint with a little work if you ever want to restore it to a factory finish.
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When painting firearms and especially optics, its important to properly mask off areas where you don't want paint to go. Masking anywhere paint can enter the optic, such as the windage and elevation knobs, illumination and parallax dials, and lenses. Use layers of tightly-applied masking tape and pack lens tissues against the lenses before taping to keep the tape adhesive from touching them.
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There are several good patterns available, stickers can be purchased to help, or you can make your own with masking tape. Generally you start by using alcohol or a degreaser to prepare the surface and flush off anything that would prevent the paint from adhering. Then the entire rifle is coated in the lightest color being used. When it is dry, masking pattern is applied. Next, do the same thing for browns and greens. When the last coat dries, peel off all the masking materials to reveal the camo pattern.
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I recommend practicing with regular spray paint if possible until you get the hang of it. You can always paint over old layers once they've dried. Darken the high areas, pattern the flat areas.
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AMMO UPDATE
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5.56 NATO ammo is still holding at roughly $.50/round for 55grain stuff and $.65/round for green tip. The heavy 77grain Mk262 is still $1 to $1.25 a round. For practice and general marksmanship inside of 300 yards, 55 grain ball will do just fine. For precision and long-range applications, look at something with a 69 grain+ match-grade projectile.
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Pistol ammo has also been holding stable at $.25/round for 9mm ball practice ammo. Defensive ammo is in the $.75/round range. That's actually a bit cheaper than usual for defensive ammo, which usually goes more like $1.00 to $1.50/round.
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These are internet bulk ammo prices. You will pay more buying retail.
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GETTING SIGHTED IN
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Spring weather is right around the corner, time to double-check your sights and optics. Guns that have sat all winter can inexplicably shift their zero slightly. Changing ammo and changing eyesight and shooting styles also has an effect.
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Before shooting, run a patch down the rifle bore to dry up any oil or moisture that may have accumulated, as well as evict any insects that may have taken up residence in the barrel.
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Double check the tightness of optics, rings, and mounts - see if you can make them move or wiggle in any direction. If so, tighten everything down to proper torque specs.
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If you have back-up iron sights on rifles, I recommend double-checking the zero on those periodically. That's the benefit of throw-lever scope mounts. When removing and re-mounting optics, even on "return to zero" mounts, it isn't unusual to have a slight shift that needs some adjustment.
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LIVE CLASSES
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We still have room in our live classes here in Idaho. It's a great place for a long weekend trip, take some training and explore the surrounding area. The range is located approximately an hour from Yellowstone, The Grand Tetons, and lots of other points of interest including restaurants, shopping, and cultural areas.
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NEW MEXICO folks, keep an eye on these emails because we are planning a pistol class down there again this fall.
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This 1-day workshop is a study in the AR-15 Rifle and its variants. Currently, several manufacturers are producing high-quality rifles and carbines based on this design. Proven in battle, AR-15’s are accurate, reliable firearms for competition, hunting, home defense, law enforcement, and recreational target shooting. Over 50 years after they were first designed, the demand for these rifles continues to …
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Defensive Pistol Elements
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This is the 1-day condensed version of our Defensive Pistol Elements class designed for basic to advanced shooters seeking to improve or maintain their defensive handgun skills. Topics: Mindset Handgun effectiveness Proper draw and presentation Increasing speed and accuracy Position shooting Reloads and malfunctions Strong hand/weak hand shooting Multiple targets Movement and use of cover Equipment List A working defensive …
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Bridging the gap between carbine and precision rifle, the Designated Marksman's Rifle is designed to deliver accurate fire at intermediate distances while maintaining the ability to address close-quarters targets. This fast-paced class will involve engaging modest targets at close quarters and at distance in compressed time frames. Shooters will be working in teams, and use a variety of field expedient …
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This one-day class integrates basic precision rifle theory with practical range time to build better rifle shooters. A perfect class for rifle hunters, recreational shooters, and anyone who wants to improve their rifle skills. This class is involves a lot of walking and time spent in the prone shooting position as well as various field positions. Topics Covered Include: Fundamentals …
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For barrels with rifle-length (12-inch) gas systems and .750" gas block index.
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$260.00 +tax (where applicable)
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Handguard and gas block combos are still available. These are easy to install yourself or I can build you a complete upper. The Mid-length and Rifle-length handguards are the favorite but for short builds I do have a few carbine-length handguards available as well.
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If you have a 16" barreled AR, you might consider an 18" or 20" barreled precision upper for long-range in 5.56, .224 Valkyrie, or 6mm ARC.
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Designed for barrels with midlength (9-inch) gas system and .750" gas block index.
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$240.00 +tax (where applicable)
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For barrels with rifle-length (7-inch) gas systems and .750" gas block index.
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$220.00 +tax (where applicable)
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On the legal front, things are pretty dynamic. The DOJ just received funding to launch a national resource center to aid authorities in confiscating firearms under "red flag" laws. Lets face it, the attack on your right to keep and bear arms is accelerating, while at the same time, a liberal federal judge ruled the Second Amendment protected the right of illegal aliens to possess firearms. These rulings aren't just about firearms, they are about creating more crime and more helpless victims to justify harsher laws. This is Hegelian Dialectic.
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In the meantime, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms has stepped up enforcement and recently fatally shot an Arkansas man who was accused of illegally dealing in firearms during a pre-dawn raid on his home. I strongly advise avoiding activities that might attract unwanted ATF attention.
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