Trijicon HD sights on my HK45C

Yes, I'm alive! Sorry for long hiatus, but "real life" come in way. Happens.

Anyway, Santa come little earlier this year with nice set of Trijicon HD sights for my HK45C. I used first opportunity to install them. It was not easy, but they sit in place. Then I went to verify zero on the range. On picture you can see two 25 round groups. First was on 15m (some 16+ yards), second on 25m (some 27+ yards) - I think it is easy to tell them apart on first glance. POA was top of front sight "slice" bulls-eye in half (at least I tried to keep it there). Both shot offhand with two hand grip, slow pace (and breaks to change/load magazines every 5 rounds). Looks like I need to adjust POA a little, but overall I'm really impressed with this sights. They do agree with my eyes. I will see how they work on some IDPA matches at first opportunity, but I expect them to do just fine. Previously I used Heinie Straight 8 sights, but those did not work good for me. I did not care much for dot over dot alignment and POA/POI relation was completely of for me with POI much higher than on stock sights. Finally I went back to stock HK sights. But looks like Trijicon HD sights will stay here for good. I also need to replace my aging Meprolight sights on P2000SK and SFP9-SF will need nice set of sights, when I get one in my hands.

Cutting HK MR223/MR556 barrel - good, bad or ugly?

There were several discussion on cutting and re-profiling 16.5" heavy match barrel that HK installs in MR223 and MR556 series rifles. Profile is rather mater of personal choice and taste, but cutting down generates some controversy. HK claims that when they cold hammer forge their barrels, they make them in way that barrel bore has a swage (constricts) toward muzzle. Barrel is manufactured for it's final length, so cutting it down remove this narrower portion and affects barrel performance. I decided to find out how it turns out in real world.

Zeroing Mini Beryl with surprises and 3Gun Shootoff match video

Last Friday I went to the range, to zero my FB Radom wz. 96 Mini Beryl short barrel rifle (9.4" barrel) before 3Gun shootoff match. I set it up with Aimpoint Micro T1. Range was 46m (LRF verified), that means 50.30yard - good zero for most 5.56mm applications. Shooting position on this range is standing behind narrow "counter", so I removed rear support from my shooting rest to be able to rest my rifle somehow. I was going to use up some Spanish surplus ammo that I had. But found it hard to zero my Beryl, as I was getting 5 shot groups in range of 8-10MOA (4-5"@50yrd). Then I found in my range bag one stripper clip with 10 Hornady Steel Match 55gr FMJ ammo, that I usually use in my match HK rifle. So I decided to give it a go. I shot 3 rounds to find where they land on target and.....

Shooting HK rifles, machine guns and sub machine guns.

Last week, thanks to HK and Cenrex companies and my friend Leer, I had opportunity to visit HK factory in Oberndorf am Neckar, Germany.

Among different interesting things was short trip to the range. I had opportunity to shoot numerous of different firearms there. Strongest impression was made by shooting long handguard HK417 in full auto. Not overly heavy and very controllable. Also MP7A1 put a big smile on my ugly face ;)

But mostly I wanted to try new German Army DMR rifle - G28. This is great package, but if you think other HK rifles are heavy, after trying this one, other feel like kids toys.

Unfortunatelly shooting G36 and G36C with new IdZ stocks did not get recored well. Also new HK416A5 is only briefly recorded. Other weapons shot include two machine guns - MG4 and HK121, MP5SD and two configurations of MP7A1, HK417 in DMR configuration, PSG1 and of course G28 in DMR configuration (there is also Patrol configuration).

I will review my findings on HK416A5, new HK417, G28 and other HK small arms I tried later this week.

Range is Hot!

It is! I decided to visit range today (yesterday actually) and when I was shooting it was around 36C (97F) on the range. But little discomfort should not stop anybody from visiting shooting range!

I took my HK MR223 to verify zero with new muzzle device. I plan to shoot Level III IPSC rifle match in Czech Republic next week. New muzzle device is from GoGun USA. It is called Supercomp No Talon. It seem to be working OK. When shooting standing with scope on 1x at IDPA target 50yd away, I barely seen scope movement. This was with Hornady Steel Match 55gr ammo. With some military surplus 62gr FMJ movement was more noticeable, but still OK. I even managed to put some hammered pairs at 50yd.

Fun day in Obuchowo

Yesterday we went, together with Grzehoo and Obione (ATom joined later), to newly opened shooting range in Obuchowo, near Morąg (Poland). This is former military range that after 40 years of no use was just revived by new, private owner. We were first shooters to use this range. It has four 25m bays and two 300m bays (one 36m wide, second 3m wide for zeroing purpose).

I took my HK MR223 (eqivalent of MR556) and FB Radom Mini Beryl. We were shooting small (20cmx30cm) armour plates and some IPSC targets (one at 100m, 3 at 300m). Small plates were at 200m and 300m.

New sights on my HK45C

Yesterday in the evening I installed Heinie sights (Straight 8, Slant Pro, QWIK) in my HK45C. I managed to do so without damaging sights or slide (I endorse great guide to installing sights from Dave Dawson - on his Youtube channel). Today I had some 15 or 20 minutes to try zeroing them. Overall impression is that those are great sights. Well defined, easy to use. Definitely worth upgrade over factory HK Superluminova sights (that are not as bad as some say).

Unfortunately looks like those sight POI is well above POA (about 4" at 27 yards). I actually like to have POI area split by top of front sight at 27 yard and have POI under tritium dot at 10-16 yards. I must look for option of higher front sight from Heinie.

Target has 2 groups - one going from top left to low right was me drifting rear sight and looking for POA/POI relation. Second group I tried to shoot constant POA - looks like this can be very accurate pistol, if shooter does not disturb it or do stupid things with trigger (I was shooting off hand, I never use pistol rest). I definitely must train more with .45ACP before I will use it for CCW.

Installed Dawson sights on my HK P30L

Last week I got set of competition kit sights for HK P30L, made by Dawson Precisions. Sights are with fiber optic front and plain rear sight. I followed great intruction on installing sight from Dave Dawson on his You Tube channel and had (almost) zero problem installing sights. Those instructions can be found here: rear sights and front sights.

Then I went to the range to confirm zero on new sights. I was shooting off hand 10 shot groups on distances (left to right target) 10m, 15m and 25m. Those are not best groups I ever made. It was my "trigger jerking" day apparently. I promise to try harder next time.

Hornady Steel Match in HK MR223

I just got some Hornady Steel Match ammo for my HK MR223 rifle for 3Gun use. Since I was shooting 62gr surplus ammo (Santa Barbara) before, last Friday I decided for quick trip to the range, to verify zero on my scope. I use 50m zero, that I feel gives me good trajectory for getting effectively Point Blank Range on almost everything I can encounter here on 3Gun or IPSC match. I quickly set put improvised shooting position out of my CED range bag and some school table that I found around (I was not ready to lay down in my everyday clothes, sorry) and started to shoot. Targets that I had on hand on the range were ISSF 25m pistol targets ("10" ring is 50mm or 1.9685"). Not best target for precise aiming with 4x scope. But I was in hurry and only wanted to verify zero. So I quickly shot 10 shot group to get good estimation of POA/POI shift.

When I got to the target, I was kind of pleased with what I saw. Actually I probably should stop shooting after 3 shots, to get bragging rights for 1/4MOA group. But since I did not and did not dismiss lone flyer so here it is: 10 shots, 50m ES 1.144MOA, ATC: 0.359MOA. I made 0.2mrad right and 0.2mrad down and called it a day.

HK45C range report

Yesterday I had some spare time and I managed to take HK45C to the range. Unfortunately there is no .45ACP ammo avaliable in my area now, so I used leftover of old 230gr Geco FMJ that I have after IDPA match. This is rather hot ammo. At least friends who shot it more told me so. First of all, standard HK sights (same as in P30/P30L) are not good for precision shooting. I think of getting Heinie Straight Eight sights. Those are combat sights as well, but I believe those will be more defined than stock sights.

Anyway let go to shooting. First target is 10m (11yrd), 10 shots. Obviously gun is shooting little to the right. No wonder why on last stage of IDPA classifier I got most shots into -1 and -3 on right side of targets. Second photo shows two 5 shot groups (I really had limited amount of ammo). Left group is 10m again, right one is 15m (16.5yrd). Second one was shot after I drifted rear sight a little to the left using hammer and punch. Not to precise tools, but I think I got it right. Actually most of ammo I used up trying to get sweet spot, then 3 rounds, then move sight again (back and forth). I think I must get myself sight pusher.