Freezer Match 2015

Took the M1 Carbine out for the freezer match. This is a “fun match” our club runs, any rifle, any sight. I took out my M1 Carbine as had not had much trigger time with it yet.

It was a nice crisp day in the low 30’s and a little overcast. The match was a 40 round off hand match. I had never so much as fired my carbine off hand so I did about as poorly as I had expected to do. But this was a good start towards getting the hang of shooting this thing.

Unfortunately on my last target the lug on my M1 Carbine flat bolt sheared off so I wasn’t able to finish the match. There are picture below of the broken bolt.  It seems I have some work to do on this carbine before Perry.

All and all it was a great match, there was chili, coffee, and door prizes with the benefits going to charity,  I’ll need to keep practicing during the off season. The National Matches will be here before I know it!

 

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The Broken Bolt:

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How To Use a 1907 Sling

A sling is more than just a strap to carry the rifle. Properly using a sling can provide a sturdy shooting platform.

I prefer a Ron Brown 1907 sling. While slower to sling up, I feel more stable with a 1907 over a web sling.

The sling pictures is a John Weller 1907 I picked up at Camp Perry a couple years ago. Sadly John passed away since then and these slings are no longer made. Ron Brown slings, sold by Creedmoor sports are the best slings on the market. They are thicker more sturdy and stretch less than most other slings.

First you will need to have your 1907 installed correctly. CMP has a detailed write up on this below that can help get you started. However, they do it wrong. Put the frogs facing in towards the rifle. As you’ll see below this will put the frog on the top when slinging up which is easier to manage and less likly to slip.

http://thecmp.org/training-tech/armorers-corner/1907-sling-installation/

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Once the sling is set up correctly remove the frog on the short strap (aka tail) of the sling from the looped long strap. Then pull it free from the rear sling swivel.

Adjust the sling so there is a large enough loop to fit your arm in. Pull the upper keeper away from the frog so that it is easier to adjust.

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Turn the loop clockwise so that the loop faces you. The frog should be facing more or less to the left or away from the rifle. Be careful not to do this step twice in haste and get the sling twisted.

Then stick your support arm through the loop.

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Push the sling up your arm as far as it will go. There is some amount personal preference here. The key is to do it the same every time. I use the pad on my jacket as a reference point.

Once you have the sling all the way up draw it as tight as you can. I do this by pulling on the lower half of the loop with my left hand and holding the upper half of the loop with my right hand.

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Once the sling is nice and tight, slide the upper keeper all the way down to the frog which will lock it all together.

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Then you are ready to  go. Place your support hand over the sling and grip the stock.

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You will need to determine what the best length and support hand position Is for you. Rig up, get into position and dry fire a few times until you feel comfortable.

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My left handed wife informs me I should add that this depicts a right handed shooter.

New Production Colt Pocket Hammerless?

I stumbled upon this leaked picture of what looks like a new production Colt 1908 at the 2015 Shot Show.

I don’t have any other details about it other than I’m fairly certain the picture is real.

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My old Colt 1903 could use a new friend.

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ATF rules on sig arm brace

Little known fact: A device similar to the Sig Arm Brace was once a popular shooting accessory during the Creedmoor Matches. Until the ATF determined that using two of these devises to shoot a single shot rifle, while laying on ones back, transformed it into a machine gun.

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Pennsylvania Railroad System Rifle Matches

This weekend I stumbled upon a medal with the Pennsylvania Railroad logo and a rifle dated 1926.

Turns out PRR sponsored many sporting events and gave out other similar medals for the more typical office-type sports like softball and bowling etc.

It originally had a ribbon attached. I don’t know  what the criteria was for awarding them. Some of the awards for other sports seem to be gold so its possible they were Gold/Silver/Bronze awards or that could have varied by sport.  It was made by Dieges & Clust Jewelers in Philadelphia.

According to the some old newspapers, the matches were playoff format. Each department had a competition and sent representatives to a final championship which was held in Baltimore, at least in 1927.

I thought it was a neat piece of history, sure beats a company softball game.

 

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