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How to Boresight a Rifle: Expert Guide

By James Leave a Comment

While the procedure will also work with open sights, boresighting is typically used to align the crosshairs of a telescopic sight, or “scope,” with the bore of a rifle or other firearm. Boresighting is designed to ensure that the firearm will be accurate enough to hit a paper target at a distance of 50 yards. While boresighting can be done without a boresighter, by just looking down the barrel and lining the bore up with the target, this method only works with firearms that offer an unobstructed view through the barrel. For most other types of firearms, a boresighting device is extremely helpful.

Collimator and Arbors

A collimator is a boresighting device with a graph-like grid that is visible when looking through the scope. The collimator is held in place by an arbor, sometimes called a “spud,” inserted into the muzzle end of the barrel. The arbors are sized for a specific caliber, or range of calibers, and are held in place by an expanding plug or spring. Once the arbor is secured in the muzzle, the shooter looks through the scope and adjusts the elevation and windage turrets until the scope’s crosshairs are centered in the grid. A collimator can also be used to check the scope’s zero after the sighting-in process has been completed. This can be done by recording where on the grid the crosshairs line up after the firearm has been sighted in.

Magnetic Boresighters

Instead of inserting arbors into the barrel, a magnetic boresighter attaches to end of the muzzle of the firearm with magnets. Magnetic boresighters will fit all calibers with no other parts required. Magnetic boresighters also use a collimator and can also be for checking the scope’s zero after sighting in.

Laser Boresighters

There are two kinds of laser boresighters, one that fits into the muzzle with an arbor and a second type that inserts into the chamber, like a cartridge. Both work by projecting a laser beam onto the target. Laser boresighters do need a somewhat reflective surface for the beam to be readily visible. As a note, most laser boresighters eat batteries, regardless of what the manufacturer claims.

Using a Collimator-Style Boresighter

  1. Point the rifle in a safe direction and confirm that it isn’t loaded.
  2. Secure the rifle in a suitable support, such as a gun vise or pair of sandbags, that will hold the firearm securely in place while you work on it. Confirm the rifle scope is mounted correctly and check to be sure all the screws tight.
  3. Select the appropriate caliber arbor and attach the arbor to the boresighter according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
  4. Attach the boresighter to the rifle by inserting the arbor into the muzzle and hand tighten the arbor in place. A magnetic-style boresighter only needs to be placed over the muzzle.
  5. Look through the rifle scope and rotate the boresighter until the lines on the grid of the collimator line up with both the horizontally and vertically crosshairs of scope.
  6. Remove the caps from the windage- and elevation-adjustment turrets and adjust the turrets until the crosshairs on the scope line up with the lines in the center of the collimator grid.
  7. The rifle is now boresighted. Remove the boresighter and arbor from the barrel.
  8. Test the rifle at the range by firing a three-shot group at a target at 50 yards. Use the hole in the middle of the three-shot group to make any adjustments to the rifle scope. Repeat the process at 100 yards.

Using Laser-Style Boresighters

  1. Confirm that the rifle it isn’t loaded.
  2. Secure the rifle in a suitable support, such as a gun vise or pair of sandbags, that will hold the firearm securely in place while you work on it. Confirm the rifle scope is mounted correctly and check to be sure all the screws tight.
  3. For muzzle-style laser boresighters, select the appropriate caliber arbor and attach the arbor to the boresighter. Insert the arbor of the boresighter into the muzzle of the rifle and hand tighten the arbor in place. For cartridge-style laser boresighters, insert the boresighter into the chamber of the rifle.
  4. Line the laser beam up on the center of a target 25 yards away.
  5. Remove the caps from the windage- and elevation-adjustment turrets. Look through the scope and adjust the turrets until the crosshairs on the scope line up with the laser beam hitting the target.
  6. Move the target to 50 yards and repeat the process. While you can try to skip the initial 25-yard target sighting in step four, the laser beam may not even hit the target if you start at 50 yards.
  7. The rifle is now boresighted.
  8. As with the collimator boresighter, test the rifle by firing a three-shot group at a target at 50 yards and then repeat the process at 100 yards.

Filed Under: Shooting

The Best 1-4x Rifle Scopes on the Market

By James Leave a Comment

Burris MTAC 1-4x24 Rifle ScopeRifle scopes are gadgets that are used by shooters to give a telescopic sight. They are used for law enhancement or hunting purposes. Rifle scopes are thought to be used for only long range shots, but they are also used for short range shots. They help attain what we call an ‘optical sight’ view to the shooter. The purpose of attaining an optical sight is to enable you to bring your target visually closer without distorting the support of your rifle. Rifle scopes are traced back to world war two, although due to great advancement in technology a lot has changed.

A professional shooter should know that there are different types of rifle scopes. The choice of scope depends on the rifle being used and also the suitability of the shooter while making a shot. Rifle scopes vary mostly by magnification and size. The most important factor a shooter should consider is acquiring a scope that avoids eye strains while marking the position and distance, which to take the shot. However, when investing in a rifle scope a lot of necessary considerations to make.

It is prudent that a shooter should have vast background knowledge about rifle scopes. The knowledge will succor the shooter to come up with the best suitable scope to use. Below are crucial guidelines that a shooter should put into account when planning to invest in a rifle scope.

Beware of the types of scopes currently available on the market

As a shooter, educate yourself on the different types of scopes available before investing. This helps in decision making on which rifle scope to purchase. The knowledge enables you to spot broadly the differences in the makes of each. You also get to know where to purchase the preferred rifle scope. The research also assists you in comparing the market prices of the different rifle scopes. The main aim for this is to enable you to get the best rifle scope and that which falls in your budget.

Learn about the minor specifications in each rifle scope

Apart from magnification, other specifications are crucial in determining the perfect rifle scope. There are different types of coats in lenses. This brings about the difference in image sharpness, brightness, and contrast. However, different coats vary by prices; ensure your budget gets the best for you.

Another specification to consider is the eye relief. It is the distance between the rear-lens to the point, which the full field is in proper view. This is important because the recoil of the rifle could damage your eye. Therefore, try considering a rifle scope that will avoid contact between the eye and scope.

You can also look at the reticle of the scopes. They come in many designs and differ in many scopes. Consider a one suitable to meet your desired purpose. Parallax problems can cause problems on your point of impact, especially at long range. It can also make your apparent group size a lot larger than it should be. The parallax is the relative movement between your reticle and your target image. To acquire a parallax image it involves moving your head up and down or left to right keeping your rifle steady. Ensure you acquire a scope that has a convenient parallax for you.

Apparently with the great advancement in technology, most scopes are adjustable. Other specifications you might want to consider are for example the trajectory of the scope, the turret and the light transmission of the scopes. Therefore, when purchasing your rifle scope ensure you follow up to detail every specification of the scope that suits you.

There are many rifle scopes available in the market today. Each come with their own modest modifications and specifications. This has made it quite easy for shooters to select their desired rifle scopes according to their own preference. Jotted below are some of the highest recommended 1-4x rifle scopes available on the market.

Burris 200437 MTAC 1-4 x 24 Illuminated Scope

Burris is a company known for making scopes with good performance and great quality. Their product, the Burris MTAC is very affordable. It comes with a full life warranty. It’s from quality materials and is very reliable.

The Burris can help target an object at a variety of distances. It has a one hundred and thirty-inch maximum adjust and weighs seventeen ounces. The rifle scope is recommended since it’s good for tactical use and comes at an affordable price.

Weaver Kaspa Dual-X Tactical Scope, 1-4 X 24

The weaver company is among the oldest in making rifle scopes. Its optic makes and mount rings are famous for their reliability for generations now. The Kaspa Dual-X Tactical Scope is a professional scope at an affordable price.

The Weaver Kaspa has an illuminated reticle, which promotes low light conditions. It also comes fitted with a tactical 30mm tube design, which provides a rugged performance. It also has an eye relief of four inches. The weaver Kaspa has a half inch click value, which translates to a hundred yards. It also has cover cups on the objective lens and the eyepiece.

The Weaver Kaspa has fully multi-coated lenses give an excellent clarity and produce vivid images. Being nitrogen purged, it helps annihilate internal fogging in the scope.

The greatest advantage of this rifle scope is that it works on almost any rifle.

Barska 1-4×28 IR Riflescope

The Barska Company makes scopes that offer high performance and sell them at cheaper price comparing to other rifle scopes. Their 1-4×28 IR model is a great example of that. It has a glass etched illuminated reticle and a 1-4x magnification for shooting at different distances.

The rifle scope is also fitted with external target turrets, which can be locked to prevent unnecessary movement of the scopes windage and elevation. Like the Weaver Kaspa, it has nitrogen purged to make in prevent fogging. Additionally, it has carbon dioxide and its O-rings are tightly sealed to assure it as waterproof.

The Barska really helps save money due to its affordable price compared to the previous mention rifles. Nevertheless, it’s still a reliable scope.

Mueller Speed Shot Rifle Scope 1-4 x 24mm

The Mueller Speed Shot has an eye relief of three and a half inches. It has as a tube thirty millimeters in size accompanied by a twenty-four-millimeter objective. It is mostly suitable for a short and medium range combats.

The Mueller Speed Shot is unique because it is dot-illuminated. It has a daylight visible illumination dot. It also has a fully multi-coated lens meaning it gives the shooter a great quality image view. Its illuminator nob has eleven settings with nice positive clicks. Like the Weaver and Barska scopes, it’s also fog proof. The Mueller Speed Shot has a quick focus ring on the eyepiece for adjustments when in combat. Relative to other scopes its price better and can help save money.

Millett Tactical Designated Marksman DMS-1 1-4x24mm

Last up is Millet’s Tactical DMS-1  Compared to other rifle scopes its only disadvantage is that it’s relatively expensive. The millet is fully multi-coated, which helps deliver ultra-bright, razor-sharp images. It also has an illuminated reticle with eleven brightness settings, which allow clear visual of the target even in low light conditions.

The millet has a ‘Dot-in-a-Donut’ that aligns naturally to give an accurate shot placement. It also has a thirty-millimeter tube with ninety MOA elevation. The turrets are low profile cover, but still finger adjustable. The millet also has really nice covers for the objective lens and the eyepiece. It’s recommended mostly for close-range combat style shooting.

Filed Under: Shooting

The Best Holsters for a Glock 19

By James Leave a Comment

Glock 19 HolstersWhen it comes to choosing a gun holster for the Glock 19, there are many factors to base your decision on.

The type of holster that is best for you should be determined by whether you’re military personnel, a law enforcement officer, regular gun enthusiast or competitive shooter.

  • Important things you should consider are the size of the gun, your body type, and the expected weather conditions under which you will carry the gun.
  • Your individual tastes and preferences should also be considered in your choice of a holster.
  • If you’re a law enforcer, you carry your gun to work, and you also usually wear your gun all day long. For that reason, you certainly prefer a holster that is durable, comfortable and highly discreet.
  • Hunting enthusiasts and competitive shooters, on the other hand, prefer holsters that are tough and rugged enough to hold up to these types of activities.
  • Most gun owners prefer an IWB, inside the waistband, holster. This is because of the added gun concealment that this type of holster provides and the gun being held closer to the body makes it safer against attempts to disarm you.

In order to choose the best holster for you and check out holster up close, you should visit a variety of gun shops. This will allow you to feel the molds as well as the kind of leather used in the holsters. Different options and types are offered by each of the different shops.

A Gun Holster’s Purpose

Once you buy a gun, the most important thing you need to purchase is a holster for the gun. The holster gives your easy access to the gun while providing the safety of preventing the gun going off by accident. It is actually the best line of defense against your shooting yourself with your own weapon.

When you’re not using your gun or drawing it, a holster will allow you to easily access your gun while allowing your hands to be free at the same time. In addition, a holster can also provide a system to prevent an unauthorized person from taking your firearm.

Whether you wear your gun every day or store it, you need to have the best type holster to accompany your gun. It is significant to note that all law enforcement personnel, militaries and experienced shooters have holsters for their guns.

Four Types of Gun Holsters

The four basic types of gun holsters include tactical, duty, concealed and sport. The most complete explanation of each follows:

1. Tactical Holsters: Tactical holsters are mainly used by law enforcement. Tactical holsters are usually made of either hard plastic or nylon. They are available in several different colors, but are often black.

Tactical holsters can be thigh holsters, drop leg or belt holsters. They are specifically designed to allow you to draw your gun quickly. Due to how you will be using this type of holster, its design allows a quicker draw than most other types of holsters.

If you were on the battlefield or in a SWAT situation, the most essential characteristic of your holster would be for you to be able to draw your gun as fast as possible.

2. Duty Holsters: Duty holsters are mostly worn by police officers, uniformed federal agents, military police and security personnel. Belt holsters are the usual type which allow for both a fast draw and also prevent unauthorized persons from taking the gun from the holster while you are wearing it.

Since these holsters are used by federal agents and law enforcement, the situations they are usually used in have various needs. The need for high levels of retention reduced the draw speed to be a little less than a tactical holster. However, the extreme importance of safety preventing a suspect from taking the weapon from the officer surpasses the need for speed.

3. Concealment Holsters: Anyone needing to conceal their weapon including undercover police officers, federal agents in need of a backup weapon and civilians would want to use a concealment holster.

Concealment holsters should prevent the gun from being seen through your clothing. They should be both comfortable to wear and light in weight. The holster can conceal a weapon in several places such as under a jacket or coat, inside the waistband, on the ankle or inside a pocket.

4. Sport Holsters: These are used by shooting sports enthusiasts around the world for competitive shooting. Not only are they used for competitive shooting, but they are also used for storing your gun as well as transporting your gun to and from the range. A nylon holster is a good sport holster that can provide good protection for your gun when you aren’t using it.

Tactical Holsters for Glock 19

Fobus Tactical Ankle or Leg Hand Gun Holster GL-2A for Glock 19

The average rating of this holster is 5 stars out of 5 by customers of Amazon.

Its features include:

  • 3/4″ thick Cordura pad suede lining
  • Holster attaches to left ankle for draw by right hand.
  • Holster fits Glock 17, 19. 22, 23, 34, and 35.
  • Holster is comfortable and ultra-lightweight; perfect for all day use.
  • Guns remain firmly in holster.

Customer Comments:

  • A customer who purchased this holster remarked that even with a full size Glock he was impressed with the holster’s comfort.
  • Another customer simple described it as being a “Great holster”. He also found it to be very comfortable and liked the fact that even though it looks bulky, it conceals nicely. He furthermore pointed out that its long strap allows it to easily fit over bigger legs or boots.

Fobus Tactical Speed Holster Paddle

The features of this tactical speed holster include:

  • This holster is maintenance free. That means that there is no need to oil the holster since it doesn’t sweat or breathe. It is able to stand up to the most severe outside elements and can be kept clean by merely washing with soap and water.
  • All Fobus products have a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
  • This holster is especially designed for a left-handed shooter.
  • The paddle version of this holster attaches with a rubberized paddle.
  • This holster has a rivet attachment that is steel reinforced.
  • This holster holds the handgun with a light or laser.
  • Retention is provided by its muzzle stud and leather thumb break.
  • Extra stability is provided by its rubberized paddle.
  • 100% Warranty for Lifetime

Customer Comments:

  • Customers admire the nice construction of this holster.
  • A customer found this holster to be made well enough to most likely last a long time.
  • Customers also found that the holster offers a tight fit and has a trigger guard that is very secure.

Duty Holsters for Glock 19

Blackhawk SERPA Level 2 Duty Holster

This holster can serve you well whether you’re using it on duty or on your belt for a tactical operation. The popular jacket-slot belt-loop model is perfect for any law enforcement professional due to its providing both speed and retention. It offers added security with its audible click and immediate retention when re-holstering. In addition, at just a moment’s notice, this holster will allow a superior grip and easy draw. Also included with this holster is an angle-adjustable jacket-slot belt loop. This belt loop will adapt to any favorite way of drawing or uniform.

Additional Features:

  • Its drawing technique fits duty, tactical or undercover needs.
  • Gives a community-friendly appearance with its reduced gun profile.
  • Its holster body is full length.
  • Both high-ride and mid-ride belt loops are available for it.
  • Passive retention detent adjustment screw release and SERPA Auto Lock are used by this holster.

Safariland 6360 Level III ALS Retention Duty Holster, Mid-Ride, Black, STX Tactical, Glock 19, 23

The design of this holster provides a comfortable, safe and efficient solution. It makes a quick draw possible with its vertical position of the firearm and also sits close to your hip. It is an excellent weapon for on-duty professionals with its signature Automatic Locking System utilizing an internal device for locking which keeps the firearm both readily accessible and secure. Accidental discharges are prevented by a self-locking system rotating hood that also maintains the firearm position. This holster requires operation only by your thumb eliminating the possibility of your placing fingers near the trigger guard when you draw. The holster can be worn close to your body due to its mid-ride belt loop which can fit any belt up to a 2 inch width.

Additional Features:

  • Compact, slim construction
  • Outer shell of Safari Laminate
  • Inner Safari Suede liner
  • Open-top design
  • A maximum weapon security

Concealment Holsters for Glock 19

One of the best ways of having a concealed weapon is with an IWB (inside the waistband) holster. It can be worn inside your pant’s waistband at any position you find to be comfortable.

Galco KT224B Kingtuk Inside the Waistband Holster

This holster is made from quality Kydex and Napa leather and is well suited for IWB weapon concealment. You can easily change the position of the holster on your belt to make it comfortable with its adjustable metal belt clips.

The holster’s design makes it possible for you to tuck you shirt in outside of the holster. This is an important advantage for those times when you want to conceal your weapon. This holster is easy for you to carry in any type of work environment and it is highly functional as well due to its minimal design and sturdy clips.

Additional Features:

  • Finest materials used in its construction.
  • It is used by military, law enforcement and citizens as well.
  • Quality and durability tested.

Glock 19,23,32,36 Pro Carry LT CCW IWB Leather Gun Holster

If you prefer a light weight holster offering a highly effective and minimal means of carrying your firearm, this holster is the one for you. Made from finished leather and its double stitching at all the stress points makes it very durable. The holster’s leather lining provides you with a smooth draw under any condition. The size, comfort level and looks make this holster the perfect one for anyone looking for a small IWB holster.

This holster is easy to attach inside your waistband by its sturdy metal clip. Its small size makes this holster perfect for concealment since it is both nearly invisible and snug.

Filed Under: Shooting

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