Practicing with Night Vision

[wigwamitus]

2015-05-25
1300-1500
70F
10 MPH SSW

Goal: Day walk, check 5.56 at 200-300yds.

Environment: Warm and wet. A few drops fell as I was returning, but I had found a gap in the rain. The pastures are sopping wet, so can't really do anything for maintenance. So figured I might as well do a day walk/shoot, as those are pretty rare.

Equipment: 5.56, VO 1-6x, Apollo 336(42mm), MDVR, Phone for video and AB, sling, primos trigger stick, SPW556, LRF, canteen, .45ACP, kestrel. FLC XM193 55gr. Radio Shack Walkie talkie.

Activity: Proceeded across Turtle Creek bridge. Saw a dead snake, maybe it drowned? Had not been eaten on yet. Turtle creek was running. Walked to top of signal hill, used the trigger stick as a walking stick (you are not supposed to, it says in the instructions). I raise two of the legs higher than the third and lash the legs together with the attached lash. This minimizes noise made by the item when moving. If I thought I was about to shoot I would not do this, I would not use the stick for walking if I thought I was about to shoot. I lased a bunch of tree lines around me I know most of them, but keep checking for practice and reinforcement. Saw a deer move away to the East at 200yds. Proceeded down the East side of signal hill and across the pond dam. Then proceeded to a tree line and lased 197yds to the 12 inch steel. Wind was 8-11 MPH, 10.2 for the 2m check. AB said hold up .3 mils and left .6 mils. As this is SFP scope, I cranked magnification up to 6x. First shot didn't sound like a hit so I backed off on the wind hold (the wind sounded lower anyway) and got 4 hits. I'd never fired anything except .22LR at this target, so figured I could discern the bullet holes and after proceeding closer to the target I could see there were five holes, though one of them was a "clip the edge" kind of hole which might explain the lack of a clear "hit" sound for the first shot. Then proceeded to the a point about 300yds from the 18 inch steel and lased that and got 317yds. AB said to hold 1 mil up and 1 left. All five made a metal sound and moved the target. I need to repaint this target especially as it has lots of holes and marks on it. This is the first time I'd used this scope beyond 100yds and it seems to be a fine scope for this distances. One day I will try it out to 500yds. On the way back I was headed up the East side of Signal Hill and I heard a sound that sounded like a radioactive giger counter kind of sound. I wondered if it was a strange critter. I checked my radio, to make sure it wasn't making the noise. I started up the thermal but everything I could see that was hot was a plant. So decided to circle the noise and the source was a particular spot. So moved in closer and closer and eventually decided it was a underground creek that was running. It was a "gurgling" sound. I'd never encoutered an underground stream in the middle of a pasture (or any where else) it was eirie at first, until I figured out what it was.
It was pretty hot work walking around with all that gear on in the day. But good to do different things so you don't get too locked in to patterns.


2015-05-26
2130-2230
60F
10 MPH SW

Goal: Night walk, testing MDVR

Environment: Heavy rain at start of walk, then rain stopped, then later, started again. Mostly this rain is to the West and North of us, we are catching the edge. Plenty of mud from earlier rains.

Equipment: .22LR with PVS-14 w/ 3x magnifier behind EOTECH. Thermal on a lanyard as a monocular. Sling, primos stick, canteen, LRF, Eley Edge, wet suit top, Team Wendy bump helmet with PVS-14. This was the first time this season using the TW helmet. The quick release head tensioning feature is really great. It is so easy to quickly get the correct tension so the 14 stays where you want it. I used the plastic hood of the wetsuit top under the TW helmet to keep my head dry and it fit under there, whew. In general the idea is I will use the TW bump helmet in the summer, because it has the holes in top and so is cooler and I use the OpsCore ballistic helmet in the winter because it has no holes in top so is warmer. But if I am sharing helmets I wear the OpsCore because it is more difficult to manipulate and I am used to manipulating it.

Activity: Walked down to Turtle Creek, the water was roaring with the downpour. Then walked around the bales, trying to spot any cows in the South pasture. None spotted, they were on other side of the ridge. Setup shooting stick and took some MDVR video with the thermal. Then tried the rifle with the PVS-14 it was hard to see much as it was so dark. Tried the illuminator on the helmet and that made things worse as it usually does with much water in the air. I was able to see the ir-laser out to about 150yds with the 14 on helmet and out to 300yds with the 14 w/ 3x magnifier on the rifle. Aiming at a bales at 30yds I could verify the laser is aligned with the eotech reticle.

==
2015-05-27
2130-2230
70F
00 MPH E

Walked around our buildings and took this video, handheld apollo. Can't figure out how to upload directly to youtube and get HD result, so this video is degraded. That being said, thermal performance was fairly good last night as yesterday had been the first day with no rain in about 2 weeks. It did rain a few hours after I took this and should rain again for the next three days. Then in theory, 4 whole days of no rain. We will see if that happened. We have 10.27 inches of rain month to date so far with avg May rain 5.04 inches.

 

[wigwamitus]

2015-05-20

Activity: Cleaning party for .22LR ... did detailed cleaning. Got a lot of "crud" out from the "BCG" using dental pic (not to be used on teeth in future - this is new "gun pic" !) ... the Eley ammo may be "dirtier" than other .22LR ammo due to the "wax" they put on the rounds. I'm starting to think you can't leave this ammo in the magazines at all. Put the ammo in the magazines before you go out, ok but take it back out again when you return, else it sticks to itself. It is very accurate but the "dirt" factor is the other trade-off (besudes cost). Ran 6 repetitions of "one bore snake with cleaner followed by three dry bore snakes". Barrel seems to be completely clean looking at it from either end in the light.

Also cleaned the EOTECH and its magnifier and the glass on fronts and backs of these devices. Changed EOTECH battery (1xcr123)

Also disassembled the ir-laser and changed the batteries (2x357) and cleaned the contacts. These ir-lasers are running about $160 on Amazon these days, they are low cost, small and light. They require a tiny allen wrench to adjust windage and elevation, so a challenge in the field but doable with practice. Also, they are not water proof, so the contacts get rust/crud on them after using them in the rain. This causes on/off switch failure, hence the contact must be cleaned often, about every 12 hours of field exposure.

The good news is that after all this cleaning the "bolt" now locks to the rear solidly and doesn't slip forward at the slightest breath as it had been doing right before the cleaning. I expected to have adjust it. But did not have to after the cleaning.

This .22LR is a hybrid. The upper is PTA (Plicker Tactical Arms) and unfortunately does not seem to have been a successful product for PTA as it has never shown on the PTA website as a product. It was announced at SHOT 2014 and Cheaper than dirt carried it briefly, which is where I got it. But CTD removed it right after I posted my negative comment. I guess I was too negative! I called PTA and told them I was having continuous issues with "inadvertant bump fire" (my term for "magazine empties when I pull the trigger"). I think this was caused by a combination of things, including my other lower which has a timney trigger. PTA bought a timney trigger and recut the BCG and sent me a whole new BCG and since then the problem has not recurred. Hecque I got a different lower, an "SA-15" lower and that fixed the "inadvertant bump fire" issue even before they sent me the new upper, so problem is double fixed now and I have a spare BCG! But if I was to get a different .22LR upper today, I would get the CMMG, it has been recommended (thanks Orkan!) and looks good. But for now, the PTA upper + SA-15 lower combination are meeting all my requirements.

https://www.cmmginc.com/shop/upper-group-mk4-ht-22lr/

Given the way I use a .22LR as a trainer, for night and day, short and long range, I need a full rail on top. The rails hold all the various day optics and all the various night optics. This is my training rifle, so needs to be able to mount EVERY thing and it can currently and the CMMG is the same config as the PTA, so it could also.

 

[wigwamitus]

2015-06-01
2200-0030
50F
05 MPH E

Goal: Check .22LR and 5.56 at 30yds with NV, ir-laser and thermal.

Environment: Approaching full moon, obscured by clouds, but still lighting up the area. Light mist/rain towards end of activity. Gear got wet.

Equipment: .22LR eotech 3x magnifier ir-laser sling eley edge. 5.56 VO 1-6x ir-laser sling FLC XM193. Helmet with 14. Thermal, PVS-14 3x mag, PS-22, stick. Canteen, LRF, .45.

Activity: Loaded up buggy and headed across Turtle Creek, hearing lots of frogs and crickets. Then up and over the top of Signal Hill, when I saw 2 shapes that looked like deer. So stopped buggy and jumped out and grabbed thermal and was able to get this video.

[video]

Initially the deer are at about 100yds. The lower pond is behind them. Later they bound down toward the pond and stop again at about 200yds. The pond is 300yds from where I am standing. I then scan around and see pond and then some rocks and then upper pond and then cows. The ridge behind the cows is 880yds, so the cows are 700-800yds. By this point the deer have crossed to the other side of the lower pond and are walking East at about 400yds.

Left thermal on and around neck as a monocular. Also left front window cracked open so I had a couple of angles out the sides (1030 and 0130) to see with the thermal. Proceeded to target area. I did not see the deer again.

First up was .22LR, all shots standing with primos trigger stick.

PVS-14, 3x magnifier behind eotech with nv reticle.
G01 - 2rds - 30yds - 10+10 avg 10.

Helmet with 14, with ir-laser
G02 - 2rds - 30yds - 9+8 avg 8.5
Need adjustment tool, did not bring adjustment tool.

Thermal on .22LR, using eotech visible reticle with eotech 3x behind
G11 - 2rds - 30yds - 6+0 avg 3
Decided to try again after working on the focus.

G12 - 2rds - 30yds - 5+5 avg 5
Tried to crank top margin up to 30 and left margin to 90.

G13 - 2rds - 30yds - 8+7 avg 7.5
Not bad, but then I accidently pushed the "factory default" button dang it. Tried cranking to 90 and 40.

G14 - 2rds - 30yds - 0+0 avg 0
Didn't even SEE these holes when I went to inspect the target, so tried again.

G15 - 2rds - 30yds - 5+5 avg 5
Did see these holes and previous holes, cranked top to 25 and left to 80

G16 - 2rds - 30yds - 8+7 avg 7.5
Cranked top to 30 and left to 81

G17 - 2rds - 30yds - 10 + 10 avg 10
Finally hit the hand warmer, though might be a tad left.

5.56 with PS-22
G21 - 2rds - 30yds - 7+7 avg 7
PS-22 usually low 3.5 MOA, left 2 MOA, this translates to about 1 mil low and 0.6 mil left. I did not hold for these shots as wanted to re-verify the offset, which seemed to be verified.

5.56 with Helmet mounted 14 and ir-laser
G22 - 2rds, 30yds - 6+6 avg 6
The laser is about a mil high and that is about right if it is zeroed at 100yds. Also seems to be about half a mil left, so we need the adjustment tool to deal with that.


5.56 with PS-22 holding up half a mil and right half a mil.
G31 - 1rd - 30yds - 9 avg 9
Should've held up 1 mil.

Results: Main problem was the .22LR is still having feed issues even after all the cleaning. Current theory is the "chamber" area needs more cleaning and that some "stuff" in there is retarding the extraction process and causing feed issues. Will have to read up as to whether the eley ammo requires any special chemical to remove the eley special "stuff".
Other than that, we are slowly driving the .22LR to be zeroed with the thermal and we need to bring the ir-laser adjustment tool out to adjust the lasers.
Goal is the .22LR should be zeroed for 30yds and the 5.56 should be zeroed for 100yds.
Using the "margins" to zero the thermal to an external reticle means we can only do this for one rifle at a time. For now, this will be the .22LR, later it will be the 5.56.
I do not want to change the 5.56 100yd zero on the VO scope to match the PS-22, so instead I will be holding the offset.
First night with new "lopro" clear goggles. These fit behind the 14s when wearing the helmet. This time of year, mostly good for keeping bugs from bumping into eyeballs.

 

[wigwamitus]

2015-06-03
2130-2330
70F
00 MPH E

Goals: .22LR at 30yds, .308WIN at 100yds.

Environment: Bugs, bugs, bugs! It was "hot and muggy" last night. Felt a bit like Florida (where I mostly grew up). I would estimate I was being either landed on by or buzzed in the ear by a bug about every 2 seconds on average the whole time I was shooting. It is not the bugs, it is my brain's reaction to the bugs that is the problem. I know my reaction to the bugs affected by accuracy at least twice during the night, as we will see shortly. So my supreme challenge for this summer is to train my brain to ignore the danged bugs and be on target. I was down to tee shirt only on top and they were landing on my hands and arms and neck and cheeks and buzzing in my ears. While I was shooting the .22LR, it seemed like one fly (I guess) would not stop buzzing my left ear, it followed me down to the targets and back.
The moon was full, but during the session, some thick clouds cam between the moon and me and it got pretty dark. The pond was completely glassy, no wind effect on the pond.

Equipment: .22LR 14 w 3x mag eotech, eley edge. .308WIN with L&S 3.5-10x (3.5x) PS-22 hornady 125gr SST. Usual accessories as shown. Canteen, .45 and shooting stick not shown (see earlier posts).

Activity: First up was the .308WIN bolt gun. Cranked down three MOA, though I wasn't sure where this scope had been before. All shots were standing with stick.

G01 - 2rds - 30yds - 7+7 avg 7
Well after cranking down, I was low. So cranked back up the 6 clicks (3 MOA).

G02 - 2rds - 30yds - 8+9 avg 8.5
Not enough, about half way there, but figuring I should be able to get on paper at 50yds. So shifted position to 50yds.
Decided to switch to 1rd groups. I read a guy saying he only takes 7 rds to the field to shoot and makes every shot count. I like that idea.

G11 - 1rd - 50yds - 9
Well the elevation looks good, but a little left, so I decided to go to 100yds. I messed up and cranked LEFT 2 clicks and up 4 clicks.

G12 - 1rd - 100yds - 6
So clicking the wrong way on the windage knob is unacceptable also over clicked on the elevation. Clicked back 4 RIGHT and 2 down.

G13 - 1rd - 100yds - 9
He the handwarmer (wasn't using thermal but was still aiming at the handwarmer.

7 rds used, so switched to .22LR.

==
.22LR with eotech and nv reticle with 14 with 3x magnifier, all shots standing with stick.

G21, 22, 23 three single shots at 30yds, 10+9+9 avg 9.6
cranked up 2 clicks and left 2 clicks.

G24 - 1rd - 30yds - 10
Up the right amount, but no left-age, so cranked left 2 more clicks.

G25, G26 - 10+10 avg 10
Now I'm to the left, cranked right 2 clicks.

G27 - 1rd - 30yds - 10
Now I'm to the right. I bug flew in my ear and I knew I was right, so this was me aiming wrong. Tried again.

G28 - 1rd - 30yds - 9
Bug flew in ear again, I was way to the right. My reaction was more intense that time, decided to back off and cogitate on the issue.

Results: The .22LR is still sticking. That is interesting because during the day, I removed the suppressor and fired 5 rds off the back porch and no sticking. So after that, theory was the suppressor was affecting the cycling. So tonight I went without the suppressor. But no correct cycling occurred. So still going with the "crap in chamber" theory and also new element of theory is that eley edge ammo does not like to be wet. I recall having eley edge ammo stick in wet conditions before.
The bugs were not the problem, my REACTION to the bugs is the problem and my challenge is to deal with that. I don't expect it to be easy. I have a light shirt I can wear over the tee shirt and I can wear my goggles, but every piece of cover gear I add increases my body heat, increases sweating, increases hydration requirements, etc. So mastering the bugs will help on several fronts. When I moved out here, I thought the winters would be tough to learn. Boy was I 100% wrong. The winters are a piece of cake. Give me 20 MPH head wind with -20F base temperature any night over what I faced last night with the bugs!

 

[FrankT]

bug suits and hoods, they are hot but keep you unbitten

 

[Taco]

Wig, are you in Texas? What part?

 

[JPK]

Fire up a Thermocell! It will keep the bugs at bey.

For shooting and walking back and forth to your targets a Thermocell would work well.

JPK

 

[wigwamitus]

Taco, negatif ... I am in Kansas ... Wabaunsee part !!!

 

[wigwamitus]

2015-06-07/08

2200-0030

70F

05 MPH SW



Goal: 7.62 out to 200yds.



Environment: Same muggy, buggy environment as before. Thunder/rain clouds to the East, SE, S, SW, storm moving SW to NE. It didn't reach me while I was out, but it was probably less than a mile away, by the time I was returning.



Equipment: 7.62, L&S 3-18x H58, CO-LR, Sling, AMAX 168gr, LRF, .45, stick, helmet with dual 14s, thermal as monocular.

Activity: On the roll out, still very wet in the pastures, we have a seepage on the N & W sides of Signal Hill, so makes it slippery going up even in 4WD mode. Could see cows to the SW at 400-500yds.



Setup target and lased 100yd FP. Lasing was tough due to the grass even though I was in "point" not "bush" mode. I was getting 75yd false readings even though I knew I was farther away. Eventually got enough 96-103yd readings to call it good. The 12x seemed like too much a 100yds, so cranked back to 9x. It was DARK, so was getting some scintillation on the CO-LR. One advantage of FFP is at night, can adjust the magnification to improve the image without changing the holds. Adjusted the focus on the CO-LR and got the best image I could get.

The rifle is heavy is this config, about 15 pds, so the stick was welcome, all shots were standing with stick.



G01 - 2rds - 100yds - 6+6 avg 6

First 2 rounds were high right, so held low left for G02, aimined just inside the black circle at the 0730 position.



G02 - 2rds - 100ds - 10+9 avg 9.5

Well centered, called it good, moved to 200yd FP.

It was hot and I was sweaty so took a lot of sips. The fly that was buzzing my ears followed me out to the 200yd FP .



Lasing from 200yds could not be done directly. I could not see the target with the 14s, it was that dark and these targets are in the shadows anyway. Had to lase tree known to be 108yds from target, so moved about until I got 92yds on the LRF. Cranked the magnification back to 12x and adjusted CO-LR focus. I had pretty much the same sight picture I had at 100yds. AB said to hold up 0.6 Mils at 200yds and that about cancelled the down hold I had at 100yds.

Aiming technique is to line up the verticle reticle line on the center of the black circle, then start below the black circle and move the cross hair up from below to just above the bull and let it start to drop while pulling trigger.



G03 - 2rds - 200yds - 8+8 avg 8



Results: The second round in G02 failed to feed, to had to pull it out, hence I went through 7 rds even though only six went down range. No more feed issues after the first. This gun had not been cycled or cleaned since the last time it was fired, it should have gotten at least a light clean.

Bug Reaction Management was improved tonight for two reasons:

101 - Wore light long sleeve shirt over tee shirt. These shirts were gotten specifically for this purpose three years ago, but have rarely been used. That kept the bugs off arms. Also wore usual glove on left (support) hand, so no bugs on that hand. Did have bugs on trigger hand and buzzing ears.

102 - I tried to calm myself regularly. Taking deep breaths and closing eyes, basically spending time to gain relaxation. it worked, I do not think any shots were affected by my reaction to bugs tonight. Once those flies find you, they do not give up. One of them rode back to the house with me in the buggy, buzzing all the way! The longer I'm out there, the more of them "find" me and the more I get buzzed. The gobs of sweat might produce more scent (from me) hence calling in the flies. Judging from marks on right arm, I got bit/stung 6 times last time, but none this time. I don't actually feel the stings/bits at the time, but I feel the bugs on me. Also my "swatting" was less frequent and intense this time again trying to reduce reaction. Still a long way to go to be able to shoot with no distraction while being attacked by an angry swarm of hornets, but we have to start somewhere.

Need to move more counter-weight over to this helmet. Right now have less than adequate counter-weight for one 14, so with 2 14s on here the tension on the helmet is holding the 14s and that induces some headache which was getting pretty bad by the time I was rolling home.

 

[FrankT]

DEET or Cactus juice is your friend

 

[Taco]

Wig what kind of .308 is that?

 

[wigwamitus]

It is a Sig Sauer 716 Patrol http://www.sigsauer.com/CatalogProductDetails/sig716-patrol-fde.aspx

 

[wigwamitus]

I like the "idea" of a 16 inch barrel 7.62 (or .308WIN) MSR (AR-10/SR-25 clone) ... because it can be a dual purpose system. It can be fired standing unsupported while hog hunting and hit running hogs. From prone bipod it can do headshoots from 600yds night or day, with the heads being targets of course.
This is either the most "accurate" or at least the second most "accurate" rifle I own, the other one being the .338LM bolt gun.

BUT, if I had it to do over again, I would get a DPMS or clone of same. Why? Parts. I want to be able to buy parts. The Sig business model is you mail your gun back to them and they fix it. Now I realize my business model is I fix it if I can or I take it to someone local. So my business model requires access to parts. I have the same issue with my savage and ruger bolt guns. So eventually all three of these rifles will be replaced with DPMS or clone of same and Remington for the bolt guns.

But the Sig is a nice rifle if you keep it clean, which I've learned to do.

If I could have only one rifle, the 7.62 16 inch barrel AR-10/SR-25 clone would be my choice, because of the flexibility. But it would not be the Sig as I now realize that maintainability is strategic.

 

[wigwamitus]

2015-06-10/11

2130-2330

70F

05 MPH NW



Goals: 5.56 out to 100yds with thermal.



Environment: Muggy and buggy. Wore light over shirt and glove on left hand, so mostly had flies buzzing in the ears, so wasn't too bad. Rain forecast for next eight days.



Equipment: 5.56, FLC xm193 sling, thermal, VO 1-6x, ir-laser, helmet, 14, lrf, .45, stick, all shots are standing with stick.

Activity: We still had a little sunlight, so I pulled the thermal off and checked the VO 1-6x at 30yds.



G01 - 2rds - 30yds - 9+10 avg 9.5

This looked close enough, so put thermal back on.





G02 - 2rds - 30yds - 5+5 avg 5

More than a little left, cranked a lot.

G03 - 2rds - 30yds - 9+9 avg 9

A tad bit right, cranked a little back.





G04 - 2rds - 30yds - 10+10 avg 10

ok, ready fo 50yds.





==



G05 - 2rds - 50yds - 5+0 avg 2.5

More than a little high. Because distance is changing, I'm now cranking on the VO, whereas at 30yds, I was cranking on the thermal "margin".



G06 - 2rds - 50yds - 10+10 avg 10

Ok, good at 50yds, now to 100yds.



==

G07 - 2rds - 100yds - 6+5 avg 5.5

Again, we are high, cranked down a mil (5 clicks)



G08 - 2rds - 100yds - 9+6 avg 7.5

This is in the ball park. I'll check in again.



Results: WHen I moved to 100yds, 2 young bucks showed up and I thought I got some great video as they approached to 40yds. They then turned directly towards me and kept proceeding forth. I didn't want to shake hands with them, so I whistled at them and they sauntered off. Why are they so curious about me and my shooting!? Unfortunately, back at the house, I had 180megs of nada. The good thing about the old Armasight DVR was at least I could tell if it was on and recording, no so with the new improved MDVR. I will have to test the MDVR before going out each time. I used to do that with the Armasight DVR, not sure why the "check it" step disappeared off the check list.



So, all four standing up rifles, 22LR, 7.62, .308WIN and 5.56 are in the ball parks at their assigned distances (100yds for all but .22LR and 30yds for .22LR). All of them need at least one more round of refinement to be sure I'm solid. The priority will depend on the timing of the next event involving others and right now there are no dates for such. So priority I think is the .22LR which needs some more work to get the cycling going again. I've tried both the BCGs I have and done lots of cleaning, but still having cycling issues, so theory is the "chamber" needs more intrusive cleaning, so that the next task.

 

[wigwamitus]

2015-06-14
2100-2230
60F
10-15 MPH SW

Goals: Spray one section of thistle. Try 5.56 with thermal at 100yds.

Environment: When I first went out, the sky was overcast, but some blue was showing and we had a moderate SE breeze. I wanted to try to get one more patch of thistle sprayed before it got completely dark.

Equipment: 5.56, sling, FLC xm183, VO 1-6x, Thermal, MDVR, Helmet, 14, canteen, LRF, .45acp, stick, 4-wheeler, 1 gallon sprayer with 2-4-D.

Activity: This was first night out with new 4-wheeler. I'd been using it to spray for the past 2 days, but now would try it first time at night.



Rolled to spot, dismounted. It was actually not easy to see the thistle with either unaided-eye or 14, so dismounted was needed to get closer. I think 90% of what I sprayed was thistle .

I was using new lopro-eyepro, but it fogged up, so had to remove it. I'll try it again with anti-fog juice. So when I started rolling again, I was getting banged in the face, by bugs I assumed. After crossing lower pond bridge I saw a deer at 100yds, halfway between me and the target area. So plugged in the MDVR (in my pocket and got some video. Then Noah showed up.

[video]

Probably a cop out, but I aborted. I doubted I would be able to see/hit the target at 100yds in that rain and I wasn't "geared up" for it either. This one surprised me although I had noticed dark clouds to the SW while rolling out. But I see that all the time and it doesn't always mean Noah in 30m.
Rolling back up Signal Hill into the rail, the wind had picked up to about 15 and I was rolling in to it at about 10, so it was stinging my cheek. Wasn't an eye issue, right eye was closed and left eye was protected enough, by the 14 in front of it. It was a cheek issue. I'll get used to it, but several firsts tonight.

Results: At least I got the spraying done.
The 4-wheeler issue was that I need to "black out" the indicator light/speedometer panel. I suspect the deer was more adgitated by the 4 wheeler, as compared to the Kubota "buggy" due to both sound (the 4 wheeler is louder) and the light coming from the speedometer, bouncing off my face. But blackout should not be too tough to rig up.
I'm looking at "silencer" mufflers also, there seem to be two I can find.

http://www.amazon.com/Kolpin-53570-...sbs_263_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=1W8HXFBJ7CXTKQCDND7S

http://www.amazon.com/Silent-Rider-...sbs_263_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=0F5V1476F87Q8ACY4VQA

I had the shooting stick, the canteen, a pouch with stable gun and handwarmers and the sprayer strapped on to the 4-wheeler. The .45acp, lrf, helmet, 14, 5.56, thermal were all strapped on to me. The MDVR was in upper pocket. So I can rider the 4-wheeler with the gear strapped on.
I will finally need to learn more about how to use these tactical interventions slings as I need the sling tighter while I am riding and then looser when I shot, if I will use the sling for shooting, and I'd like that option.

Everything worked fine in the rain except the lopro-eyepro, need to use anti-fog juice.

 

[wigwamitus]

2015-06-15
2200-2230
60F
08 MPH NE

Goal: 5.56 at 100yds.

Environment: Cooler and breezier with a light rain. Not so many bugs. The lopro-eyepro did not fog up much, just a little on the return journey.

Equipment: Same as previous even, except I put a cradboard flap over the speedopmeter on the 4-wheeler. This cover that up niecely, but then I realized the taillights were emitting visible light. In reading the manual, I can unplug and tape them, so that is neext step with the 4-wheeler.

Activity: Rolled out to top of signal hill. Cows were up against the fence. Did 360 with thermal from the top of signal hill. After 2m the thermal died. The surefire batteries were dead. I swaped out the reserve batteries in pocket and resumed 360. After 1m the thermal died. Removing and reinserting got me about 10s. The reserve batteries were the tenergy rechargables. Those batts mostly worked for the past year. But they do not work any more. I will have to take extra surefire batts with the thermal from now on.

Results: So this night was a flub, but every night can't be perfect I suppose. But now have hard learned that must use surefire for the thermal and nothing else. Tenergy work in all other gear, but not thermal, any more.
The lopro-eyepro behind the 14 did fog up a tiny bit on the return, the rain was increasing. So for next time, surefire batts and anti-fog juice on the eyepro and unplug and tape the rear lights on the 4-wheeler.

 

[wigwamitus]

What a piece of trash of an article ... shame on BBC ...

Quote:
... When former Medal of Honor winner Dakota Meyer posted a pro-gun message on Facebook ...


"FORMER" so why is he a "FORMER" ??? Did someone steal his medal? NO. Makes no sense to call him "FORMER".

Quote:
... a former Marine who won a medal ...


Yup, he "won a medal" ... a bunch of them ...

I don't know if BBC wrote about Dakota Meyer wrongly on purpose, because they don't like OOOSAH people to have any guns, or if they are just STOOOPID or both ...


http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-33546147

 

[wigwamitus]

b

 

[wigwamitus]

a

 

[wigwamitus]

2015-07-25
0730

Activity: About a month ago 7 guineafow showed up on our land. I went to the two nearest neighbors (about a mile away in each casea) and asked if they were missing any and they said no. So we've been "hosting" them ever since. Their primary benefit from my perspective is they sweep the area around the house of bugs. The reduction of bug encounters (bumping into bugs) while around the house has decreased by about 90% it is amazing. They seem to be able to avoid predetors, they sleep up in the trees around the house.

We feed them a little scratch grain - we hope this makes them stay near the house where they will probably be safer and mostly make them less stressed about losing their old home. They are seven males, no females, so we call them "the boys". One is the "head" five are "the body" and one is the "tail". One of them is always looking in the opposite direction from the herd. When we first tried to toss scratch grain their way they moved off, but now they approach more closely, so they are getting use to us. We hope that means their stress is being reduced.


2015-07-24
2200-2330
80F
5 MPH S

Goals: Check .22LR with thermal at 30yds.

Environment: Warm, but a little breeze, so not too muggy/buggy only one mosquito flew in my ear tonight. The cloud cover was about 90%, the moon is almost full, but was obscured, though moon light coming through clouds. I had geared up to do some Cygnus gazing, but that was hopeless only a few scattered stars visible in the sky through the clouds.

Equipment: .22LR, eley edge, VO 1-6x (@3x), apollo, sling, stick, 14 on helmet.

Activity: The right side 4 targets contain the holes from day zeroing of the VO on the .22LR a few days ago. TOnight was first night shoot since breaking collar bone 5 weeks ago.

The zeroing exercise holes as near as I can recall. All shots standing with w/ stick.

G01 - 1 rd, 30yds, touched the paper, was way low and right. Cranked up 3 mils and left 3 mils.

G02 - 2 rds, 30yds, better, but low and left, cranked up 2, right 2.

G03 - 2 rds, 30yds, looked good.

G04 - 3 rds, 30yds, high, so clicked down one click (0.2 mils on this scope)

G05 - 2 rds, 30yds, low, so clicked back up one click (0.2 mils)

G06 - 4 rds, 30yds, high.

So now on to last nights holes, with the thermal in front, all shots standing stick.

G11 - 2 rds, 30yds, right a bit. Thinking to move the "left margin" (LM) higher would move bullet left, I cranked LM from 80 to 85.

G12 - 2 rds, 30yds, 50/50 chance, I guessed wrong, so moved LM to 77.

G13 - 3 rds, 30yds, high and right, moved LM to 75.

G14 - 4 rds, 30yds, high and almost centered.

Results: In this particular position I am shooting up hill, so that pushes me high a bit, and per group 06 when zeroing I was already high. Next time, I will go to normal position where at 30yds, I am level and try again. Shoulder was a little sore later, but that could've been from carrying the target or just carrying the rifle as much as from firing the rifle.
Aiming technique for these shots is to start with the cross hair aimed low, below the desired POI. Then align the verticle reticle with the target and keep it aligned. Then to slowly move the horizontal cross hair up from below until just above the POI, then let the drop back down while sending fire command to finger. Not having done this much in the past 5 weeks, I expect to be a bit rusty. So my aiming may be off a bit. At 100yds a mil is 3.6 inches, so at 30yds, a mil is about 1.2 inches, so 0.2 mils is about .25 inches. So the gap between groups G04 and G05 is about an inch, so at least part of that gap must be a me aiming issue.