k31 Improvements

[SKSer45]

this was at 50 yards. First group on the left was 3 shots PRVI 7.55mm. Then tapped the front sight a bit and was a wee bit left. Third adjustment and I say were in there.

@100 yards everything was insider the first square quite pleased since it was low light, last relays, and not using gp11 ammo.



This was last week at 100 yards. Hugeimprovement and difference. All simply because of the front sight adjustment.

[1911sr]

Cool beans!! The more you shoot a k31 the more used to the sights you'll get and better grpoups! Nice.

[SKSer45]

Cool beans!! The more you shoot a k31 the more used to the sights you'll get and better grpoups! Nice.

yeah very true however 1911 you might want to check on Blitzy's rifle I really think its messed up. For some reason it is just not shooting right even with his Diopter.

Saturday we are going to the desert and its game time. GP11, prone, 300ms, the whole 9 yards

[1911sr]

I haven't heard back about it, but it's always easy to solve if I know a few things first. Like he'd need to drop the stock from the barrel and receiver and look at the front end of the stock to see if either side shows dark and shiney. Or if the upper shows dark and shiney. And if there's a spacer in the lug well or not. There's always a reason and a solution, no?

[Blitzburgh]

I just got home from work, it's 1:25am and I'm dead tired.

But I plan to do a complete write up in the morning with pictures of the targets, rifle, Diopter, etc.

Something is definately weird. I mean I'm not able to put 10 rounds through a dime sized hole at 100 yards, but there is something definately weird...

Once I wake up and get some coffee in me I'll get-a posting

[Blitzburgh]

O.k. - first of all I realize I'm not "Deadeye Dan" so putting 6 rounds through a dime is pretty much out of reach for me at any range, but I get the feeling there is something else going on here other than just my usual inability to blow the center out of the target.

Let me preface this post with saying, No - I was not jerking the trigger... I know when I do that and SKSer was not only spotting for me as I did for him, but we also watched and coached each other. I know when I pull one off... I can almost call exactly where it will go before it hits, and a few times on targets other than those I've taken pictures of, as the "bang" was happening I'd call out "Pull" knowing that I've goofed the shot.

We both did very good "technical" shooting that day. Relaxed. Breathing was under control. I was so focused on the front sight that a few times when the rifle went off I about jumped out of my shoes. I had almost forgotten that I was shooting. I was "In the moment".

Like I said, I'm no Deadeye Dan, but this isn't my first rodeo either, I have been doing this for quite awhile.

So here is the story. As SKSer posted we went to the Angeles Wednesday afternoon and it was absolutely empty. Only ourselves and one other group on the rifle side. Nice and relaxing. I had just installed my new and very cool Diopter made with loving care by our own Latigo here and was ready to get it close to sighted in.

The first target, "Previous-Week" was from the week before with iron sights. This is when we started asking if maybe the iron was off? Front post out of whack? You can see I've written on the target while at the range "7-8" low" an arrow down then "Aim Point". The hole I put in the center of this target I was aiming 7-8" below the bottom of the paper. Hard to get an exact measurement being it was all cardboard down there and I was looking for the bottom cross member of the pvc stand then working my way up. 7-8" is just a guesstamate. But I found that odd that I had punched one right in the center while almost aiming into the dirt. This was at 100 yards.

The picture "25-Yard" is exactly that, shot at 25 yards. Shot the first round low and close to center, adjusted the diopter and took a few more shots. I was happy that I was not only on the paper but fairly close to o.k. So we each took our turns at our 25 yard targets then on a line break moved them out to 50 yards.

Picture "50-Yards". The group is spreading out as expected. Started shooting low on the orange block and made 10 click adjustments at a time to start to get closer to the center. One flyer off to the right there. So I'm still happy that I'm still somewhere near the center of the paper but I'm getting concerned because it's taken somewhere near 50 or so clicks to get to this point on the diopter. I was moving 10 clicks at a time to start, had to make a few 15 & 20 click adjustments, then started narrowing it down to 5 clicks at a time. This is over the course of quite a few targets. The targets I've posted are only the finals at each yardage.

"100-Yard" picture. Still on the paper, but spreading out like expected. Shot 1 low. Had a pulled one off to the left, then up top and walked them down. Close - but no cigar. The issue at this point is I think the Diopter has bottomed out. I would try to click off 10 but at about 5 I'd get a "clunky" feeling in it, like when you are backing out a screw and have it all the way out of the threads. It was getting shady at this point and getting really hard to see the target, plus we had been there maybe 3 or 4 hours at this point? Starting to get a bit tired, needed some coffee... etc., etc. Thought it best to stop at this point and head over to the 100 yard gong to blow off some steam with the SKS's. I'm ashamed to say that SKSer gave me a pretty decent beatdown over there. But that's a whole other story that I'm sure he'll be more than happy to "Woot Woot" about for a long time

The next two pictures are of the Diopter on my rifle. Nothing has changed. Pulled it out of my range bad and shot the pictures. Looking at the "face" of the diopter you can see how low it's been adjusted. This does not at all seem right to me. So there are a number of possibilities at this piont. Did I install it wrong? This is my first diopter. Is there something I missed?

The Diopter is installed where the bottom is touching the top of the receiver. I put a little bit of pressure on it to hold it steady as I tightened it up. I also checked all the screws and fittings every few shots just to make sure it's wasn't backing out.

Well... what now?

(to many pictures to post at once - I'll post the diopter face in the next post)

[Blitzburgh]

Diopter Face Picture:

[Latigo]

Ok. Lets take it one thing at a time. First of all, none of those targets are typical of a k31 at the shown ranges. Second, never apply pressure to the Diopter when installing it. Let it settle into it's natural position and snug it down. It's not going to loosen or move.
Third, the front aperature in the Diopter Tunnel was certainly not meant for 25 yard shooting. The aperature is too large. The pic showing the front of the Diopter is typical of a 75 to 100 yard start point. (Each rifle may vary)The Diopter will typically not adjust down to 50 yards, let alone 25 yards.
There's enough elevation MOA to go out to 1100 yards.

You did not mention the sling. Sighting in should be with no sling bracing whatsoever. Next, I need you to drop the stock from the receiver and take a photo of the front inside raceway of the stock, both top and bottom. I also need a photo of the lug well in the stock. There should be a curved metal shim at the bottom.
Lets start there.

[Latigo]

Blitzer, I'm working in the armoury this afternoon and evening so I'll check the computer every 15 minutes or so till we get a resolution.

[Blitzburgh]

O.k. - "pressure" to the diopter was just having my hand on it while tightening - nothing more. Just to make sure it didn't ride up while I snugged it up.

There is no sling on the rifle. Completely gone. I got so tired of the rear clip biting my cheek every time, then having to un-clip it and let it hang down while shooting that when I refinished the rifle I took it completely off. It's at home on the living room floor so any pressure applied to it had no affect on the rifle

When I had the stock apart for the refinish I did notice that one side rubbed. So as you suggested I got a 3/4" dowel and some 320 grit sandpaper and sanded away on it. I would sand a little bit then take the action and sit it on the stock to check it. I continued until it dropped in without any rubbing or issues whatsoever. I took a piece of standard white paper and ran it under the barrel back and forth to double check. No hang ups... I think it's actually just about the width of the paper "free" in the stock, a business card only worked part way. Do you want me to pull the stock off again and take pictures to see if there was any rubbing?

Oh... and while shooting on Wednesday we didn't "push" our rifles at all. 5 or 6 shots then the other guy would shoot. Let it stay plenty cool all day - never heated them up at all.

I also worked on the very front of the stock - opened up the "mouth" just a little bit. Enough so I could see some light throught it. And with the rifle fully assembled I could wiggle the barrel in it a little bit.

What is the "Lug Well"?

Thanks in advance for all of your help!

[Latigo]

Just in front of the magazine well there's a square opening that the lug drops into. Is there a metal tab in the bottom?

[Latigo]

Blitzer, get your photos together and I'll come back in about 2 hours. I'm taking care of 200 ICPs in the armoury so it will take me a while.

[SKSer45]

basically what that means is baby where are doomed at this match.

[Blitzburgh]

Just in front of the magazine well there's a square opening that the lug drops into. Is there a metal tab in the bottom?

Where the pen is pointing in this picture?

[Blitzburgh]

Is this normal? How high the action is above the stock? Right below the bolt release... just looks "odd" to me...

???