SIGforum.com Main Page Mason's Rifle Room Thinking of attending a practical rifle match next month. *Attended match, video posted*
Main Page Mason's Rifle Room Thinking of attending a practical rifle match next month. *Attended match, video posted*Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
Yeah, that M14 video guy... |
Now that I finished my Franken-SOCOM M14, I’d like to attend a practical rifle match. All I have is the rifle and magazines. What else do I need? Ranges appear to be from 50 to 300 yards. Tony.This message has been edited. Last edited by: benny6, Owner, TonyBen, LLC, Type-07 FFL www.tonybenm14.com (Site under construction). e-mail: tonyben@tonybenm14.com | ||
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| Member |
You need to contact the match site or match director for information on that competition. Issues to understand include course of fire, target distances, types of targets, shooting positions, time limits per stage, equipment limitations, ammo limitations, divisions (if any), and any other rules. | |||
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| Sigless in Indiana  |
Just speculation without match details you may need: Rifle, mags, mag carriers(back pocket will work, may not be ideal), sling, eye and ear protection. Many practical rifle matches incorporate a little bit of pistol as well. Pistol, mags, secure holster (I use retention for 3-gun), mag pouches. Capacity helps, I would take a glock before a 1911. Ancillary gear: sunscreen, rain gear, change of shoes/socks, water, snacks, hand wipes, hat (must have for some sun conditions IMHO), a few clothing layers you can easily add/shed, sunglasses other than your shooting glasses, gloves to wear when resetting steel, advil/aleve, caffeinated beverages if you normally have some caffeine don't change your normal intake, FOLDING CHAIR so you aren't standing ALL DAY, twice as much ammo as you think you need (you can always bring the rest home), gun lube, chamber flag for your rifle, zip ties (you never know), a good knife and a good multi-tool. | |||
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| Yeah, that M14 video guy... |
I've got the rifle and plenty of mags. I have no idea where to start for M14 magazine carriers. Should I use a vest of some sort or something around the waist? As for pistols, I've got a new P226 Combat with night sights(thanks to 12131) that seems to work nice  , a bone stock G17, a G23C with XS big dot sights, a P228, and a GSR-1911 (original production run).I'm probably most accurate with the 1911 and the P228. I have Kydex holsters for the G17, G23, P228 and a leather High Noon slide-guard holster for the 1911. I have plenty of spare mags for all of them and have floor plate spacers to use 226 mags in my 228 and G22 mags in my G23C. I don't have any pistol magazine carriers at all. Recommendations would be appreciated. As far as a sling for the rifle, all I have now is a Butler Creek neoprene sling but I have a traditional style M14 stock, so I have to use front and rear sling swivels. No QD attachments. I'm working on getting a better optic in the 1-6x range. For now it just has a fixed 10x SWFA scope. Hoping to get a low power NF ATACR or US Optics B10 for it sometime down the road. Owner, TonyBen, LLC, Type-07 FFL www.tonybenm14.com (Site under construction). e-mail: tonyben@tonybenm14.com | |||
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Hop head  |
not familar with the comps, so pardon if this is a 'dumb' question, however, do they run more than one relay? when I started Service Rifle years ago, I attended a match to see how it went, and then returned the next month and helped out (I know the RO) on the first relay, and participated in the second, another thing, if the competitors are like they are in Service Rifle, you will likely be able to borrow any gear you may need for that match https://chandlersfirearms.com/chesterfield-armament/ | |||
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Bolt Thrower |
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Contact Randy Schleining, the discipline director. IIRC, TCGC's matches have an orientation that is usually run on the first Friday of each month. It's basically a 1-2 stage mini-match. That will allow you shoot in the match and give you an idea of what gear you'll want to have. Oh yeah: definitely some sort of case. A soft case will be preferred since you'll save on weight (the wheely kind don't always work due to terrain/mud issues). Some way to carry your magazines on your person (chest rig/plate carrier/bandoleer, etc). A pack of some sort to haul your water, snacks, mags, ammo, and misc gear too. | |||
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| Yeah, that M14 video guy... |
Thanks everyone! LDD, I emailed Randy and will get signed up. I've got the soft case covered as well as a gear pack. Tony. Owner, TonyBen, LLC, Type-07 FFL www.tonybenm14.com (Site under construction). e-mail: tonyben@tonybenm14.com | |||
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| Sigless in Indiana |
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I think about it this way: What would I need/want/be willing to lug around if I had to use my rifle to fight through the next 6 hours? Add a rifle case (for practical and safety reasons) and you're good to go. I'm not saying prepare for a six-hour firefight, no one can carry that kind of ammunition. OTOH, trying to stuff four magazines in your back jeans pockets is going to come to a predictably tragic end when you start running and gunning. Water, and a good load bearing system that fits your body and engagement style will definitely pay off. I know enough about M1As/M14s to be dangerous, but I do know the AR platform pretty well. I carry an extra bolt and firing pin (not bolt carrier) because I've seen Colt AR bolts snap in matches, right at the cam pin hole. If your bolt goes down, your rifle is out of the fight. I don't know if there is a part that is analogous to an AR bolt in an M1A, but that's also something to keep in your truck (or in my case, the pistol grip). Given the number of ARs, it's more likely (and it has happened) that I'll been called on to fix someone else's AR. But since you have an M1A shop, having a "field grade" spare parts kit around wouldn't' hurt. I haven't been in a while, due to changes in life circumstances, but I hope to start back up this summer. Be prepared for dust or mud. Always one or the other. Oh yeah, kneepads (and sometimes elbow pads) are definitely recommended. Having functioning knees is a good thing, no matter what your age is. | |||
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| Sigless in Indiana |
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| Sigless in Indiana |
You could take your Franken Socom of course but you could also take that AR that you just put an ACOG on. I like a good fixed 10x scope for a lot of purposes but an ACOG is just purpose built for these kind of matches. Or throw that red dot back on the Socom that you had pictured in your build thread. Or go iron sights. Most of all have fun!!!! | |||
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| Member |
First I have never been to a match where everyone didn't bend over backwards to help a first timer. Equipment and advice. The sole exception to that is ammo as not everyone has something you can use. So bring way more of that than you officially need. Sometimes there is also an opportunity after the fact to use some of it. You didn't get too many answers but I prefer the bladetech kydex mag holders with teclok for a pistol and the ITW Fastmag for the bigger 30 cal mags (double check size as I use them for a SCAR not an M14). On a real gunbelt (I use wilderness). I have both a much more extensive vest setup and a belt setup, but for this you will probably like the belt more initially as for sure you are going prone and the vest can be a PIA on that till you figure out where to put stuff so something doesn't poke in the wrong spot (I normally use it for tactical matches where its all move and shoot). Soft case, chamber flags, mags and extra ammo are all you really need in my experience. Human comforts in a back pack are winners (especially water and snacks). Most of this you have above in the various lists. have fun. “So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.” | |||
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Member |
The PR matches at Tri-County are strictly rifle. They don't use pistols unless you're talking about the 3-gun or (maybe?) Tactical matches, but those are different match directors. Check the newsletter or the club website for names if you're interested in those. A sling is pretty much useless in TCGC's PR matches. With the exception of the annual sniper match (which I think was this month), distances are 300 yards and under so just about any optic will work, although an RDS gets to be a pretty crude sighting arrangement that far out. | |||
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| Member |
The most important thing you need in any match is a solid working knowledge of your rifle. - Given your targets will be at various distances, knowing the holdovers/unders or dialing for elevation, plus windage effects on smaller targets or longer distance targets. - Knowing your ammo and its flight ballistics, which goes with the previous point. - A solid working knowledge of mag changes. - Ability to eliminate ammo and magazine jams while under the clock. You likely won't be shooting from a concrete bench with a lead sled. You must be comfortable with standing/kneeling/sitting positions, probably unsupported prone, and shooting from multiple types of barriers -- barrels, window ledges, V-tac walls, barrels, hay bales, tires, fence posts, logs, car hoods, truck beds, etc. You will likely be under the clock, with penalty points for not engaging targets properly. Targets closer than 100 yards will likely be paper, with A/B/C/D scoring zones. You must understand the scoring rules and be comfortable that you can engage said zones successfully with a reasonably small number of rounds. Targets beyond 100 yards will likely be steel, most likely one hit to score, then move on. A fixed 10x scope will be nice for the longer targets, especially if they are small. The 10x scope will be a handful if you have to engage multiple targets at short distances, especially if the targets aren't right next to each other. I believe your 10x scope has focus/parallax, which you will use for shorter targets. Honestly, your 223 AR-15 is likely a better rifle for this type of match. Less recoil and higher capacity magazines are primary considerations. The ACOG should work OK, too. Most people carry way too much crap to and in matches. There's little need for uber tactical gear, carriers, and clothing. Sure, they're nice, but your skills will be the primary performance limiting factor for a long time. I shot my first rifle matches wearing jeans, and stuffed extra magazines in back pockets or jacket pockets. Yeah, I wasted a second or three in magazine changes, but I wasted 10 or 20 (or more!) seconds by not finding targets, not hitting targets, and not understanding the course of fire. If your gun goes down in a stage -- unless it's a quick fix of un-jamming rounds or magazine -- yer done for that stage. There's no time to fix crap that broke. Maybe if you have multiple stages with lots of time in between, you can fix something. But in reality, if something big breaks, you're going home. So...bring a rifle that has enough mileage on it to know that it works, make certain it's clean & lubed, bring ammo that isn't finicky, and leave your gazillion-item tool kit and spare parts at home. Now if it can be fixed with tightening a screw or nut, or a new part can be swapped in and out quickly, maybe that's worth while bringing along and keeping in the car. A good magazine carrier or two that attaches to your every day belt is a good place to start for gear. I have used High Speed Gear's mag carriers for years, and they are my standard for multiple types of matches and multiple types of firearms. | |||
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| Sigless in Indiana |
I have actually gotten to the point where I just bring a spare rifle and handgun to 3 gun matches. If something breaks I would just grab the backup. I have never had a gun go down mechanically, but it is peace of mind. I do bring along some simple tools. Screwdriver set. Multitool. But it stays in the truck, I don't carry it around with me. | |||
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| Yeah, that M14 video guy... |
Cool. I’ll bring a spare rifle and off the shelf ammo. I’ll at least pick up some belt mounted mag carriers. Tony. Owner, TonyBen, LLC, Type-07 FFL www.tonybenm14.com (Site under construction). e-mail: tonyben@tonybenm14.com | |||
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| Administrator |
One last thing, and this is a match specific rule to PR at TCGC: check your ammunition with a magnet, for steel cores before bringing it to the match. You will be DQ'd if you bring steel-core ammunition, because to shreds the targets and targets are expensive. It also pockmarks the targets making ricochets back into the shooting positions more likely. I won't relate the reasons for why this rule exists here, but it's not theoretical and there is at least one member who lost his membership for repeatedly violating this rule. | |||
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| Sigless in Indiana |
One will be enough for AR mags. Maybe two if you use the M14. I am not kidding when I say that it wouldn't bother me if I forgot my rifle mag carrier for a 3 gun match. They are easy to snatch from a back pocket. Pistol mags are more crucial to have carriers for. I take plugs and muffs both. Electronic earpro turned all the way up with plugs underneath helps to hear range officer commands and brings the noise of rifles with muzzle brakes down to a safe level. Bring sun glasses as well as shooting glasses that offer high contrast. Sunglasses aren't great on a cloudy day. | |||
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| Sigless in Indiana |
Good precaution. Bimettalic ammo like Wolf and Tula also fail this magnet test. They don't technically have a steel core but they have steel in the jacket. All ammo which attracts a magnet has been banned from all of the matches that I have attended. | |||
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SIGforum.com Main Page Mason's Rifle Room Thinking of attending a practical rifle match next month. *Attended match, video posted*
Main Page Mason's Rifle Room Thinking of attending a practical rifle match next month. *Attended match, video posted*© SIGforum 2024