My BA50 is now all setup and range ready. Can’t wait for tomorrow.
There was a full-length picatinny rail on the hand guard, but I removed it because it served no purpose and added a few ounces to the weight. Looks much better without, I think.
Big Ammo
Hrm, now whatever shall I do with this? I have an idea…
DDM4 V7 New Skin
Black rifles are habitually discriminated against so, as per normal, the new DD rifle got a new skin. Yes, it’s rattle can, as every rifle should get.
The Daniel Defense DDM4 V7 is a lightweight profile with these components:
- Battlelink minimalist stock
- AIM Surplus NiB BCG
- Truglo Trutec red dot optic
- PSA Milspec single-side selector switch
- Protac 1000 lum light w/tape switch
- Cloud Defensive tape switch mount
- Magpul MBUS Pro iron sights
- Blue Force Gear Vickers padded sling
- CMC straight 3.5lb drop-in trigger
- Odin Works Atlas 5 muzzle brake
- Raptor ambi charging handle
Rifle Bill Drills
Now that the new DDM4 V7 is all setup I took it out to try and make it fail with reloads, mag dumps, and other fast-shooting strings. Part of that was a series of Bill drills. Here are a few runs. I dig how the muzzle stays pretty darn still (Odin Works Atlas 5 FTW!). Hits here at 15 yards were all hand-sized groups or smaller. I’m quite sure I could do fist or smaller if I were trying. Love this rifle!
Muzzle Device is the Odin Works Atlas 5, trigger is the CMC 3.5 straight trigger, all on my Daniel Defense DDM4 V7 lightweight model.
You’ll notice here that my irons are down. That’s an anomaly, as I put them down for when I re-confirmed zero before training. Just didn’t put them back up, but I typically keep front and rear up 100% of the time when using my red-dot optic.
Pistol Drill: Restaurant Defense at 20 Yards
This is a simple drill for exiting a restaurant seat to take a lower profile and put a couple rounds on target at 20 yards (presumably after having told your friends or family members to find floor behind cover away from you) on a half-size torso target (the little red one).
It’s just a drill to practice efficient, safe movement for direct engagement. It’s about technique rather than realism. This is not a scenario drill that accounts for lines of sight or other people. Technical skill first.
Pistol Drill: Two at 20 Yards from “Hostage” Position
This is a simple drill that works from a prone, “hostage” position. Moving quickly to cover, clearing garments, and getting the gun up and putting critical hits on target at 20 yards in just a couple of seconds involves a lot of kinetic skills. Good practice.
I did 50-ish reps of this one today. When I replace the magazine, I just rack the slide and don’t worry about the lost round. It’s best to chamber a round regardless of whether or not there’s one already in the chamber. I just had a gunfight and likely have no idea how many rounds I fired. Gas it up and chamber a round to be certain.
Shooting Review – The H&K VP9SK
Heckler & Koch’s VP9 remains one of the more popular full-sized pistols of the past few years. I remember when shooters first got it into their hands, they immediately started calling for a compact model for concealed carry. Now, after a few years, H&K have release that smaller-version pistol…
Active-Shooter Drill With Ashley
Today I took turns running drill reps at 25 yards with my friend Ashley. It was Ashley’s first time to run any practical drills like this and one of the first times he’s trained at 25 yards. He did a fantastic job of running practical manipulations and use of cover. So fun and so valuable!
Four From Cover
This is a drill to practice good hits at medium range from different angles while using cover.
The point here is to properly use cover of an odd configuration to engage a target several times while never emerging from the same place twice. Four shots from four different positions forces you to learn to use your body to provide a stable platform based on what the cover requires of you…all while maintaining good accuracy on a small-ish target (here 8″) at medium range (in this case, 23 yards).
You’ll notice that I finish with covered sul position. This is so that I can scan my area for more threats while not looking like a deadly threat to friendlies in the vicinity. Most folks won’t even notice that there’s a gun in my hand (have a care not to unnecessarily frighten folks when you’re doing good).
Three Compromised Positions
This week’s drill works on ground mobility/dexterity and marksmanship from compromised positions. Good to know how to handle shooting from your back and while prone. I had to spend an extra round or two in each of these reps. MOAR TRAINING.
Wearing some knee/elbow pads, as ~35 reps of this drill is a bit punishing on the skin!