21 December 2011

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.


09 December 2011

I'm safely back with HK45C

After long trip, with traffic jams, snow on mountain roads and other believable obstacles I'm back home. And my HK45C is with me. It is new pistol, but from early production in Germany (frame is 2007, complete pistol is 2008, serial number well under 1000). Box is marked "Pistole HK45 Compact VST" and it has V1 trigger configuration. I will convert it to LEM trigger.

Pistol feels very good, but is not suprise, as I'm used to P2000 and P2000SK - both are very similar to HK45C. Actually HK45C seem to be P2000 on steroids plus some upgrades. Actually HK45C magazine release found a way to my P2000SK some time ago. It is much better than standard P2000/P2000SK/USP Compact release.

Now I must get some decent sights for it, handful of magazines and next HK will start it's busy life with me. This Sunday I'll shoot it on IDPA match that includes IDPA Classifier. For now I'm Expert in SSP using P2000SK with LEM trigger. I do not have time for even short range trip before match, so my firs shot with HK45C will be after buzzer sounds.

07 December 2011

I'm going for a trip

Today around midnight I'm going on a trip to Czech Republic. I will pick up, from one of gun shops there pistol that is very hard to find in Europe, yet quite popular and well regarded in US. It would not be surprising if this pistol is American one. But no, it is German. It took me long time to locate one of few HK45C that were made in Germany and sent for sale in Europe before HK moved production to US. I was afraid that I will be forced to go trough procedure of importing one from USA. But, thanks to my friend Don Mariano, I located probably last one, NIB HK45C in EU. All paperwork done so I can go for 10 hours driving to pick it up and then again 10 hours to go back. Taking in mind price plus all logistics cost, this will be probably most expensive HK45C ever!

Photos and range report as soon as possible.

21 November 2011

Last Liga Sportera in 2011

Yesterday was last Liga Sportera in 2011. I catch a cold, did not sleep last night at all, but I did not miss it. It was not my best match, but I managed to win first three stages, but then illness won and on forth stage I struggled with shotgun and had brain fart with my rifle (HK seem not to work without loaded magazine inserted, amazing!). Last two stages were fast, but too fast and I had three misses on each. Too many, costed me two places. But it was fun, as always.

In 2012 Liga Sportera gets new, strongly refreshed rules, there is at least 11 editions planned in 3 different location. One of them is military training ground. Can't wait! :)


31 October 2011

Shooting Mini Beryl

Last weekend I had opportunity to try Mini Beryl on smal 3Gun Liga Sportera match (shooting IDPA targets@50m on video). I do not have prior experience with AK platform, even less with short one. I mostly shoot G3 and variety of AR15s before. Shooting Mini was nice. It kicks back a little but muzzle climb is not big, but definitely goes to the right side. It has flash hider that is similar in construction to A2. Original muzzle device incorporates chamber to increase pressure for gas system, so it will be hard to change it for anything. Locking pin and necessity to remove it to clean this "chamber" precludes clocking it. I think of having new muzzle device made, that in place of flash hider will have 1/2"x28tpi thread to utilize AR15 muzzle devices. Other issue is stock, that is definitely to low in relation to sights/optic. Tell me what you think!

26 October 2011

Arminedas Autumn

Last Saturday we shot last big IPSC Level III match in Lithuania. 12 stages of fun shooting. Stages got what we lacked on Worldshoot - shooting on the move. Also did not get what we all had full of from WS - bobbers. Weather was rather cold but we got some sun for last stages. There was one stubborn popper who first got blocked on base and then did not fall down on reshoot. But got scared of Range Master and felt from calibration shot. A miss. Rules are rules.

Thanks to all match organizers, stage designers and Range Officers. Congratulations to winners in divisions and categories!



24 October 2011

First shots with Mini Beryl

Friday I found some time to brief visit on range, to shoot Mini Beryl. Actually I just wanted to get 50m zero for Aimpoint Micro T1, that I mounted on it. I decided to mount it on handguard, to sit it lower in relation to stock (and bore). This have it's downsides, as hanguard is removable accessory that, while feeling solid, can shift position under recoil resulting in reduced accuracy. But seem like result is good enough (right group is about 2 MOA) for dynamic shooting up to 100m. Both groups are 10 shots with bulk S&B 55gr FMJ ammo at 50m,  rested on backpack and using ISSF 25m pistol target. Sorry for cell phone quality of picture, it was actually taken with... cell phone ;)

I did not have time to do more than some 30-40 shots, but it seems that this small rifle is pleasant to shoot. Trigger, while with long pre and over travel is smooth and clocks less than 5lb from factory. Recoil is significantly stronger than in carbine or rifle length AR15, but barres stays put flat. Probably some work is done by muzzle device, that on back works to increase backpressure in barrel for gas piston to work and in front is shaped in style of A2 birdcage.

As some may notice, I put some tacticool tunings on it, that include flashlight and Magpul AFG. Later is nice addition, given frontal stance with shoulder square to the target is used. For more classical, bladed stance, even with longest setting of stock, handguard is just too short to properly utilize AFG. In this case I recommend using VFG.