G&A Gets It Wrong Again

As I was checking my facetube account, I noticed an update from Guns&Ammo. They're still doing zombie-themed stuff, which I could live without, but they had a list of "great zombie calibers". There is no list of zombie calibers. There is only one zombie caliber: .22 Long Rifle. Only headshots count, so all the kinetic energy in the world is useless if it doesn't hit some grey matter. 

I'm pretty tired of zombie-themed things, but I have to set the record straight here. G&A lists the common handgun and rifle calibers, to include .308win, .223/5.56x45, 30-30, .270, 9x19mm, 45ACP, 44 Rem Mag, and .38Spl. Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, and wrong. Those of you who are also gun nuts, go get 100 rounds of any of G&A's calibers listed, then get 100 rounds of .22LR and tell me which one you'd be more mobile with. 

Additionally, you can get wildly accurate and anvil-reliable .22LR semi-auto rifles, chief of which is the venerable Ruger 10/22. You can also get equally reliable and accurate .22LR pistols like the Ruger MKII/III and Browning Buckmark. Conversions for 1911s and Glocks are also available. 

In every zombie movie, there is a horde that must be escaped or a building that must be defended. Well, in either case, each person in your surviving band could carry two or three thousand rounds of ammo. Additionally, the .22LR is so low pressure that guns chambered for it have a virtually unlimited service life with only the most basic maintenance. The old .22LR doesn't burn up barrels either, though leading can be a problem with softer projectiles. But that can be cured with a quick brush and rod or bore snake if time isn't available for a proper cleaning.

To my mind, the .22LR is a great solution for a number of real-world problems, as well as whatever imaginary ones we can come up with. But Hornady probably doesn't make Z-Max ammo in .22LR. 

I hit the range over the weekend. Managed to dust off my trusty Savage 10FCP HS Precision, crank about a million more rounds through my H&K MP5-22, and fall in love with a Glock 20. I'll start with the torrid love-affair first.

So my hetero-lifepartner is a 10mm cultist and has a Glock 20 and 29 (as well as a Delta Elite) that he took with us to a very nice range in the western reaches of the flatlands. I hung up a 100-yard rifle zero target at about 20 yards and my friend handed me his prized G20 and a 15-round magazine of PRVI Partisan 180gr JHPs. I took the first three shots slowly, analyzing my technique and carefully aiming. I lowered the muzzle and saw that a chunk of the bright red bullseye was gone. Happy with myself, I let five more go. More rapidly this time. Again, I lowered the muzzle and the red bullseye was almost gone, and the 9 ring had been pierced as well. I finished the mag as fast as I could get the front sight back on target and I was pleasantly surprised. That thing was stunningly accurate. Of course, my much-missed G17 was plenty accurate and took a number of rabbits and other unlucky vermin.

Now, while I respect and admire the 10mm round, if I get a full size Glock, it will be a 21 because I am lazy and don't want to load for yet another caliber. Yes, the 10mm is much more powerful, but I can slap a Storm Lake barrel in the G21 and shoot the same reloads I put through my faithful Para LTC. Although I like the idea of loading my own 40cal 180gr XTPs at 1250fps and launching them through a Storm Lake barreled G20.

My old reliable 10FCP put up two 3/4" groups at 200 yards with my excellent Sierra Matchking loads. I prefer the 168gr projectile, though I have used 175s with similar results. Basically I shoot 168s because thats the load I have the most proven data on for my rifle and I'm too lazy to re-zero and work up a new data book for my rifle.

That reminds me. If you're into accuracy, keep a log book on your rifle. I started doing it this weekend and it really did help me to think about each and every round that was launched. I also sketch out where on the paper each round hit and make any necessary comments. The most common comment in my book is "shooter error. No change to call." but it does keep me from dialing when not necessary, and I now know *exactly* where my 200 yard zero is, and *exactly* where my 100 yard zero is. When I finally get to a 300 or 400 yard range, I can extrapolate calls to get me on paper and dial it precisely from there. It's super tedious if you're not into details, but I'm a nerd, so I like it. Also, the reason I don't have pictures of my two half-MOA groups is that my target is also in my log book. If I get around to it, I'll put up pics later this week.

And I'm off to watch MNF. Until next time!

White Collar White Lighting

So while I'm off topic, I'd like to mention a new whiskey I just tried. It's from an Iowa distillery, and it's called "Cedar Ridge Unaged Whiskey". And it is one of the best things ever created by humans. Here's a festive picture of the bottle:

I'm drinking it neat at room temperature, and it's pretty awesome. The first note is like really good vodka or sake', which is to say, it doesn't have much flavor at first. But it goes down with a whisper of whiskey flavor, and very little heat. Very little heat, even though it is 100 proof. Be CAREFUL with this stuff.

I don't always drink unaged whiskey, but when I do, I drink Cedar Ridge.

Oh, and it's about the same price as Jack Daniels, only this stuff is good.