franconialocal
Member
Well, it's that time of year again where me and the other local officers head to the range for qualifications, and this year has been more fun than ever!! We do a two day session to give everyone a chance to make it....juggling shifts, days off, etc. The weather for the second day was horrible so all but three of us (about 11 of us) showed up on the first day to play.
-To set the scene, a local guy (very pro police) just donated a gated, approx. 50 yd. x 300 yd. track of land with all the fixins' to the local PD's to use. It was recently brush hogged, filled, and graded. Two picknick tables, full berm on the rear in a nice rural area. His family owns all the acreage around as well so no grumpy neighbors!!
We all did really well on sidearm and shotgun qual., so I'll fast forward to rifle segment.
I was wedged between a local Chief shooting a Sprinfield SOCOM II and a local detective shooting a brandy new Sig 556 in SBR configuration. I had a Colt AR-15A2.
BOY that new 556 has some thunder to it!! Damn!! SBR configuration is the most likely culprit since it's still .223/5.56 but this was unreal!! So much for flash suppression....middle of the day and a huge flame jumping out the front of it....loved it!! Not so great at the longer distances, but still within qual. and "on the paper".
And the SOCOM was just a-rockin' away!!! In hindsight, I kind of wish I had shot some video of the tree felling project we unintentionally started due to the clusters of small birch trees and it being a new area. It was the funniest thing I've seen in a while. That SOCOM was just mowing down small trees left and right!! I just started yelling TIMBER!!!!....and one finally took out two of our shooting stands. Everyone was grinning ear to ear, to say the least.
Thoughts:
1. The polymer mags that come with the new 556 are JUNK. EVERY single one had FTF problems and were promptly tossed to the side and traditional metal ones were used instead. Also, the P-mags worked flawlessly. The SIG rep even admitted they have been having some problems (unconfirmed).
2. The SOCOM 16 or SOCOM II will be my next rifle....for sure. VERY impressed, but the Chief did seem to have some issues with lining up the mags into the mag well. No indexing?
3. My trusty old Colt AR (issued) worked flawlessly. Military surplus 1/7 RH twist.
4. I'm still in love with my Sig P-220. This sidearm never lets me down. GREAT grouping.
5. Great comments on my Springfield EMP....big jealousy factor with the guys. Worked flawlessly through several sessions and "play".
6. This seasoned old Chief twisted my arm to go visit the Springfield Armory. Sounds like a great tour.
Day two was driving rain, mud, and slop. It was that big eastern storm that rolled through last week that made the news. My Sgt. (boss on range day) could care less about the weather because you never know when you may need it for real (realistic training). No sympathy for my one part-time officer that went that day....I hope he had fun crawling in the mud all day
Just thinking out loud really, but I just had to share.
-To set the scene, a local guy (very pro police) just donated a gated, approx. 50 yd. x 300 yd. track of land with all the fixins' to the local PD's to use. It was recently brush hogged, filled, and graded. Two picknick tables, full berm on the rear in a nice rural area. His family owns all the acreage around as well so no grumpy neighbors!!
We all did really well on sidearm and shotgun qual., so I'll fast forward to rifle segment.
I was wedged between a local Chief shooting a Sprinfield SOCOM II and a local detective shooting a brandy new Sig 556 in SBR configuration. I had a Colt AR-15A2.
BOY that new 556 has some thunder to it!! Damn!! SBR configuration is the most likely culprit since it's still .223/5.56 but this was unreal!! So much for flash suppression....middle of the day and a huge flame jumping out the front of it....loved it!! Not so great at the longer distances, but still within qual. and "on the paper".
And the SOCOM was just a-rockin' away!!! In hindsight, I kind of wish I had shot some video of the tree felling project we unintentionally started due to the clusters of small birch trees and it being a new area. It was the funniest thing I've seen in a while. That SOCOM was just mowing down small trees left and right!! I just started yelling TIMBER!!!!....and one finally took out two of our shooting stands. Everyone was grinning ear to ear, to say the least.
Thoughts:
1. The polymer mags that come with the new 556 are JUNK. EVERY single one had FTF problems and were promptly tossed to the side and traditional metal ones were used instead. Also, the P-mags worked flawlessly. The SIG rep even admitted they have been having some problems (unconfirmed).
2. The SOCOM 16 or SOCOM II will be my next rifle....for sure. VERY impressed, but the Chief did seem to have some issues with lining up the mags into the mag well. No indexing?
3. My trusty old Colt AR (issued) worked flawlessly. Military surplus 1/7 RH twist.
4. I'm still in love with my Sig P-220. This sidearm never lets me down. GREAT grouping.
5. Great comments on my Springfield EMP....big jealousy factor with the guys. Worked flawlessly through several sessions and "play".
6. This seasoned old Chief twisted my arm to go visit the Springfield Armory. Sounds like a great tour.
Day two was driving rain, mud, and slop. It was that big eastern storm that rolled through last week that made the news. My Sgt. (boss on range day) could care less about the weather because you never know when you may need it for real (realistic training). No sympathy for my one part-time officer that went that day....I hope he had fun crawling in the mud all day
Just thinking out loud really, but I just had to share.
