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Range Report: Random Observations

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Random musings from the gun range:

1. Five rounds of five stand with a 12 gauge over/under will make your shoulder a wee bit sore. But it’s a good sore. It may take me a few boxes of clays to get my swing back, but my last round was 17/25, and if it weren’t for shooting directly into the sun on a couple of springing teal targets, it might be 19/25. Could be better, but I’ll take it.

2. If you’re low and left with everything up to and including the staple gun, it’s you, not the sights.

3. I’m not a Glock fanboy, but it’s hard to disparage a weapon that feeds 100% reliably, has easily-managed recoil, and shoots perzackly where it’s pointed. Me likey.

4. Shooting the 1911 brings an entirely different visceral reaction. I didn’t shoot it as well as I did the Glock, but I have to say I like it more. And honestly, my shooting with the High Standard Crusader was not much worse than the groups I was getting with the Glock. If the Crusader sights had some kind of, you know, reference points painted on them, I’d have probably done even better. Still, it’s nice to see .45 caliber holes blossom on a 10 yard target like a cloverleaf. I’m no handgun expert, but I think I acquitted myself damned well with everything I shot today.

On the performance of the gun, it ran pretty much flawlessly for 200 rounds of mixed UMC, Blazer, and Winchester 230 grain FMJs. On the next-to-last mag, the slide failed to lock open on the last round. Any ideas as to why that happened, aside from the intuitively obvious like a dirty gun?

5. The Bushmaster XM15 carbine is a damned fine single-shot rifle. And if you actually keep the bolt lubricated, it can be capable of firing multiple rounds in succession! Who knew?

On that note, any of you AR aficionados got any suggestions for a quality lubricant for it? Because my plain old aerosol can of Rem Oil ain’t doing the job. At least not, for more than a couple of thirty round magazines, anyway.

Preferably, a lubricant that isn’t priced like it’s distilled from unicorn tears, please.

Posted by Ambulance Driver on January 24, 2009 • Filed under: Uncategorized
  • J.R.Shirley
    I have seen 3 out of 4 1911s malfunction at a range when shooting UMC, even when they had no problem shooting HPs or other ball ammo.< />< />As far as the Ar-15: My recently cleaned, lightly lubricate M4 appeared to have a literal jam (NOT just a malfunction), and I was expecting to have to leave the firing line. One of the RSO came over with a large spray bottle and sprayed the crap out of the partially open chamber of my weapon. He literally sprayed probably over an OUNCE in there, so much so that I was peppered with little splashes of CLP with every shot. But it ran like a champ for the rest of my time on the line.
  • Anonymous
    My first guess on the slide-lock would be bad mag. Check feed lips, or dispose of.< />< />Second, gun not broken in yet. Which makes it extra susceptible to getting dirty. Shoot lots to correct.
  • Whole Hog
    I don't know what ammunition you used for five stand, but if it was the bargain Wal-Mart Federal/Winchester/Remington 1 1/8ounce stuff, it's a lot more potent than you need. If you reload, buy one ounce AAs or STS and start accumulating the hulls. If you don't, try the Estate or Remington Gun Club one ounce loads. Any of those will be easier on your shoulder and plenty adequate for breaking clays.
  • Ambulance Driver
    "Alas, I'm positive AD is heartbroken over your departure. POSITIVE."< />< />Yup. Downright despondent.
  • brendan
    < />< />Friendly advice: you're walking proof of every liberal stereotype there is. Just sayin'.< />< />As it happens, the title of the blog is "A Day In The Life Of An Ambulance Driver." Well, guess what princess- today, AD's life was about guns. < />< />Time to put on the big girl panties and wait for the next entry. Maybe it will be about your preferred topic, EMS. Maybe it will be about the bowel movement he had after a particularly potent bowl of chili. Either way, it's about a day in HIS life. Not yours.< />< />Alas, I'm positive AD is heartbroken over your departure. POSITIVE.
  • rookie bebe
    My husband uses 3-in-1 oil. He says that's the name on the can and it's cheap and stays protective. He uses that on the AR.< />< />On his Glock he uses Sentry Solutions dry lubricant.< />< />Hope this helps.
  • pdb
    . Also check the alignment of the gas tube with the carrier key.< />< />As for lube... whatever. You could have Vagisil on there and it'll work fine on a properly assembled gun. I personally use light oil in the lower and some axle grease on the carrier bearing surfaces and the interior of the carrier. < />< />Solve the cycling problem first without worrying about your lube.
  • Strings
    Odd... I use Rem Oil (or did, when I still had an AR). Was told that I should put a couple drops in the holes in the carrier every so often: never had a failure...
  • woodlawnmedic
    im with you on the glocks but i still prefer my sig 1911. < />p.s. i tried unicorn tears on my benelli. they cause a lot of rust man.
  • Heather
    I am for protecting family even if it means having guns in the home. I didn't used to feel that way. Maybe it was my company.. yeah, mostly my company... long story.< />< />Anyway, guns of a few variety do have a place in my home now -- usually to put meat of the hoofed variety in my freezer. The hoofed meat just doesn't jump into arctic cold of that white box willingly -- and damn it they ate all my rose bushes! Stay outta MY YARD! ERrr.. okay -- stay outta my FRONT yard... I don't mind them visiting my big ole back yard... *grins evil*< /> < />Mind you though- I told hubby point blank -- DO NOT ASK ME TO KILL IT! Just let me come visit and help do the rest of the work AFTER it's already done kicking.
  • cjrmultigun
    I'm afraid I have to disagree with some of the posters here. < />< />There should always be a visible amount of lube on all four bolt carrier bearing surfaces, the bolt cam pin, and the bolt body ahead of the gas rings. It is almost impossible to overlube an AR.< />< />I also usually put a dab of high-pressure Moly-Disulphide grease on the sear face and the disconnecter nose. < />< />One of the reasons I like a heavy oil or grease, is that it tends to stay where you put it rather than running all over the place.< />< />Do not fret about the spacing of the gas ring gaps. It makes no difference at all. A properly built AR should run without gas rings. < />< />Finally, please do not stick anything down your gas tube. All you will do is get it stuck. 15-odd KPsi of superheated gases do a better job of keeping the gas tube clean than all the pipe cleaners in the world.< /> < />- Chris
  • danno
    My first AR did the first few range trips. It was a used rifle and at a really good price. I think the seller knew it had problems.< />< />The problem was eventually tracked down to a plugged gas tube. Midway has some 15" long piper cleaners. Dip in Hoppes #9 and carefully work down the gas tube from the bolt end. First couple times it came out black. < />< />Now the rifle functions as designed.
  • Chris Byrne
    < />< />The short of it is, presuming you're using good ammo and good magazines, you're probably overlubing.
  • Old NFO
    Agree with Marko, OR you might have limp wristed it... For lube for an AR- CLP been using it for 20+ years (used to get it from the Gunny that ran the armory) and never had a problem with a bolt. Glad you got out to the range and got some trigger time!
  • DocV
    Militec-1 is what my unit used in the Sandbox. It goes on wet then "dries". It attaracts a lot less dust than CLP. A little dab'll do ya! I use it now on my AR-15.
  • Kirk
    I am with Freelilly on these Insane gun laws... < />< />I mean we already have 20 thousand or so of them on the books, look at our gun crimes. I mean just a couple more and they might cease all together...< />< />In reality I figure we could get away with about a dozen or so gun laws for the law abiding citizens of the USA. I figure we could also get away with about a dozen or so gun laws for the criminals. Commit a crime with a gun and go away for a long time. Commit a second crime with a gun and go away forever. Once you enforce this and word starts to spread. Who knows the criminals might decide to go back to baseball bats and knives.< />< />Rights not exercised are rights lost. Keep Posting AD.< />< />Oh, I loved your book. It was a one sitting read. Could not put it down...< />< />K
  • OrangeNeckInNY
    If you're low and left, your hand positions on the grip needs to be adjusted. Check out the Todd Jarrett video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Yohikhl9_c This shows you how to hold and shoot a pistol.
  • Crucis
    I lube my AR with Break-free CLP and grease when stored. For the most part, when I'm shooting my AR it's lubed, if at all, with CLP.< />< />On your Mini-1911. You may have a dirty slide-lock or one that needs a bit of fitting. I had the same issue with my Para Officer sized 1911 after a few hundred rounds. Ended up replacing the slide lock with one from Ed Brown. Works flawless now. Dinged mag lips can also cause this or dirty plunger tube.
  • Bob
    Jeez, are we supposed to all have disclaimers on our blogs now so as not to offend hoplophobes? Maybe the Lighbringer can include that in his Improved Fairness Doctrine.
  • zercool
    *waves bye-bye to Lilly* it's his blog, sweetie, he can write what he wants. You're not paying for it.< />< />AR advice: If you're shooting dirty ammo or in nasty dust, run it as dry as you possibly can. Wheel-bearing grease from the auto parts store has been recommended to me - it's designed for high loads and high temperatures. Use a tiny bit on the wear spots and leave the rest as dry as possible.
  • TOTWTYTR
    Freelilly, just a bit of warning, my blog title doesn't mention guns either. Just to save your little fingers, eyes, and brain the trip.
  • MauserMedic
    AD,< />< />CLP works well on the AR. All that's really needed in a average evironment is a drop on the bearing surfaces of the bolt carrier and bolt. It doesn't take much.< />< />For cleaning the carbon off, when I'm not worried about getting caught by another armorer, I use carb cleaner on the metal. Especially inside the bolt carrier. If you use carb cleaner, be sure to wipe down everything with a light coat of oil/CLP afterwards. A nice set of dental picks is handy if you really want to get all of the carbon out.< />< />Let me know if you need a PDF copy of the military operator manual, I'll e-mail a copy if you need one.< />< />PS- remember to keep the gaps on the gas rings on the bolt unaligned also for good function.
  • Freelilly
    Not that it matters to you, but I have to say farewell to your blog. I love it when you tell tales of how your days in the ambulance business have been going so far, but defending guns, purchasing guns, training with them.. oh geez how boring and utterly uninteresting it is. Don't mean to offend you, it's just that I thought this was about EMS business, not judging Obama and collecting millions of weapons before he finally does something with the insane US gun laws. Don't get me wrong, I too am all for the right to have a hobby including guns, I myself am into archery, but there's no point in stocking up weapons you really don't need, they IMHO should be kept locked up at the range when you leave for home. Anyway... Friendly advise, include guns in your blog title, 'cause they sure seem important to you.
  • Brigid
    I agree with buffboy "Spray Lube with Teflonn" is great. In the spray can version it sprays on almost like a penetrant, and then turns into a grease.< />< />I like, for day to day shooting of the Wilson Combat, Break Free CLP.
  • Buffboy
    I've been using "Super Lube with Teflon" grease on ARs (and their variants) as well as for my auto/pump shotguns for quite some time. Comes in a 3oz tube and the price(tag date, 3/89) was $3.99. Yes, that's when I bought it. A little dab rubbed on the high wear surfaces, a little goes a long way, never had a problem with it over the years and I've put a lot of rounds downrange. Tube says for -65 to +650 degrees. I've still got well over half the tube. Haven't seen it for sale in a lot of places and don't know its current price but the spray is pretty common in stores around here. I use that too, it's a great rust preventative and lubricant. http://www.super-lube.com/
  • Gurl
    Glad you had fun AD, I gave you a little love on my last post. Keep shooting!!
  • Bob
    Have you shot the Mosin yet, AD?
  • Sean
    A second here for Slip 2000 - preferably on top of a heavier grease used as a base. I personally like XF-7 from Mad Dog, but any good one will do.
  • JD
    When I got my AR Bushmaster I asked the shop and they pointed me to Shooters Choice all weather grease. It comes in a tube and has worked well for me for what it's worth. I may have to try the 10W-40 since it probably is easier to get a good coating on the bolt with the liquid. . .
  • cjrmultigun
    Rem-Oil is way too light for an AR. ARs run hot.< />< />I use and recommend Dave Berryhill's Ultimate Gun Lube, Slide Glide Lite, Miltec, Slip-2000 EWL, or Mobil-1 Synthetic 10W-40 in a pinch. < />< />Basically you want a fairly heavy oil that doesn't break down under high temperature.< />< />-Chris
  • Jay G
    It could also be the grips. I put a new set of gorgeous walnut grips on my Gold Cup and it stopped locking back after the last round completely. Could be the grip needs a bit 'o' sanding in the affected areas.< />< />Or it just could have been all crudded up... :)
  • Marko
    On the slide not locking back...you may have had your thumb on the slide release.
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