Condition: Yellowresponsible preparation, and fun, for an unpredictable world
Condition: Yellow - responsible preparation, and fun, for an unpredictable world
Condition: Yellow

First Shot With the Bushmaster BA50

by Andy Rutledge 0 Comments

My first time ever shooting .50BMG. Felt soft, but violent; like being shoved by a buddy. I like this buddy. What you hear after the shot is what you hear after every .50BMG shot: joyous laughter. 🙂

I’m holding the front of the magwell to ensure that it was 100% snugged into my body. I didn’t want to chance a sucker punch.

I bore-sighed the barrel at the 2″ target at 50 yards and then dialed the scope onto that. First shot was 2″ right (the shot shown in this vid). Corrected and put 3 more on target (1″ low for 100-yd shot next): 2 shots from me and let a friend take the last one.

On paper now and ready for 100-to-200-yard walk-out for zero next!

Bushmaster BA50

by Andy Rutledge 1 Comment

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.

Bushmaster BA50 setup

BA50 in the case

.50 BMG ammo

DDM4 V7 New Skin

by Andy Rutledge 0 Comments

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
 

DDM4 V7

 

Rifle Bill Drills

by Andy Rutledge 0 Comments

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

by Andy Rutledge 0 Comments

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

by Andy Rutledge 0 Comments

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.