ERPT?

02 July 07

Evil Roy?

During a Course in WY last weekend, I had the opportunity to use a copy of Action Target's new "ERPT" portable, steel target. "ERPT" stands for "Evil Roy's Practice Target." It seems "Evil Roy" is the pseudonym used by a well-known Cowboy Action shooter. Having no interest in Cowboy Action shooting, I never heard of him, but I saw this new target at the last Shot Show, and I immediately saw great potential.

An eight-inch disk sits on a collapsible tripod. The whole thing folds up flat for easy transport. It even features a carrying handle. One can deploy it anywhere. There is no necessity to drive stakes in the ground nor to assemble anything. It deploys, and folds back up, instantly!

The disk itself rings and jumps when hit. Very useful and inexpensive. Recommended!

Get hold of Chad Burdett at _chadb@actiontarget.com_ (mailto:chadb@actiontarget.com)

/John

What happens when you run it hard?

02 July 07

Rifles under heavy use:

At an Urban Rifle Course in WY last weekend we had, of course, a number of ARs, two Kalashnikovs, one SA/SOCOM (M14), one DSA/FAL, one Ruger Mini-14, and one Fulton Armory M1 Carbine.

Most of the ARs ran fine. However, one attached/coaxial flashlight fell off the first day. Not uncommon when rifles see heavy use.

One AR-user had his rifle equipped with an Aimpoint. Optic ran fine, but it was fitted with flip-up scope covers, front and back. Several times, he mounted his rifle only to see nothing, as the covers were down! Critical seconds were lost as he fumbled around trying to get them out of his life. Such scope-cover-engendered disasters are common. Scope covers all need to be unceremoniously thrown in the trash, before they get you killed!

The front sight on the SOCOM fractured and fell off within five-hundred rounds. The student defaulted to a DSA/FAL, which, as ever, ran fine for the duration.

Both Kalashnikovs were Eastern-European manufactured and ran fine, but both were equipped with stock, Soviet-style rear sights. Both students found the open sights difficult to use and extremely coarse, and, as a result, both had great difficulty passing our Proficiency Test. Soviet-style rifle sights are intended for youths with excellent eyes! Middle-aged shooters typically find them a good deal less satisfactory! On my Kalashnikovs, there have all been replaced with Western-style, peep sights.

The Fulton Armory M1 Carbine ran through the entire Course without a hiccup! Excellent weapon, but expensive. FA is not known for their discounts!

The Mini-14 ran poorly, experiencing all manner of feeding difficulties. Most were clearly magazine-related, as some magazines definitely worked better than others. All high-capacity magazines were after-market, and none worked well. Ruger needs to start making high-capacity magazines for this rifle and clean up this problem! The frustrated student eventually finished the Course with my DSA/AR, which, as always, ran fine.

Comment: Serious equipment must be selected with great care. With most after-market attachments and accessories, the "cure" is worse than the "disease!" When both equipment and shooter run hard and long, weaknesses quickly make themselves known. That's why we do it!

/John