Posted: 6/29/2010 8:39:59 AM EDT
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Range Report: Colt 6920
I took my box-stock Colt 6920 to the range on Saturday. I put 200 rounds of XM193 American Eagle through it. I'd fired it only once before, at the American Shooting Center in west Houston, Texas. I put 160 rounds through it that day. I fired at 50 yards. My goal was to see how it shot right out of the box. I had to do some significant windage adjustment (to the left) to keep the shots centered. I used a 6 o'clock hold with the bullseye, and shot low, mostly, though my groups were pretty lousy. I basically got to where I could keep all my shots in about a 4 inch circle. I'm a much better pistol shot. The stock trigger is pretty heavy and creepy. I can tell it's going to take some getting used to. Saturday, June 26, however, I went to the Texas City Municipal Shooting Range in Texas City, Texas. Before I got there, I went through the steps to set my sights to the Improved Battle Sight Zero for 50 yards (which should yield a zero at 200 meters, as well). Here I used a point of aim sight picture, with the front sight post directly in the middle of the bullseye. Again, I was able to keep my shots in about a 3-4 inch circle, with many bullseyes. I had an occasional flyer, which I recognized as bad trigger pulls. The trigger is still heavy and creepy. (A friend went with me to the range that day, bringing his Colt HBAR Match 20" barrel AR with a serviceable scope –– he had a Geissle trigger that was just about as sweet as you could get. I could not help but think that my shooting would improve with a trigger like his. I shot about a 1" 5-shot group with his scoped AR). It sure seems like I need to shoot my AR more in order to become a better shot. I don't think I should consider my AR zeroed, as it seems I shoot about as well with it out of the box as witht he IBSZ. I will welcome any advice on an organized approach to shooting better. It is the way of my people –– master what you've got before you upgrade (I have to master shooting with these stock sights before Christmas, or no ACOG for me). The good news is that, so far, I have not had a single malfunction. I used a variety of mags: the two stock Colt mags, a DSG with self-leveling follower, two LMT mags, and a P-Mag. All worked perfectly. When I got home, while cleaning my rifle, I could not help but notice that it was extremely clean –– it just wasn't that dirty. I have more experience cleaning AR's (well, the M16A2, anyway) than I do shooting. This thing was not nearly as fouled as I would have expected. Cheers, Jack |
Glad to see that you're spending some quality time with your new pony Jack 
The trigger will get better and smooth itself out with more trigger time. If it drives you nuts you have a number of options to clean up your OEM trigger, or replace it with a new one-the Geissle trigger would be an excellent choice if you went that route. Most of the Colt nuts here (myself included) would wholeheartedly suggest a Geissle if you decide to upgrade to a different FCG 
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Quoted:
Glad to see that you're spending some quality time with your new pony Jack
The trigger will get better and smooth itself out with more trigger time. If it drives you nuts you have a number of options to clean up your OEM trigger, or replace it with a new one-the Geissle trigger would be an excellent choice if you went that route. Most of the Colt nuts here (myself included) would wholeheartedly suggest a Geissle if you decide to upgrade to a different FCG This exactly. Also I have a lot of respect for you trying to master the irons before going with an optic. We need more people like you on these boards. 
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One footnote to the range report: I've noticed that every once in a while, if I allow my brain to tell me that I'm looking at a good sight picture, I'll pull the trigger right then. Invariably when this happens, I see that I've yanked the trigger, and sent a bullet low somewhere (I do this with my pistol also, though much less). I've found that I need to get a sight picture and immediately occupy myself with a smooth trigger pull, waiting for the surprise break, while holding the sight picture without thinking about it. I many not be describing this as accurately as I'd like because it's all very subtle, and happens in an instant. It's like playing my guitar, I can do ok, until I notice that I'm doing ok, then I screw something up. This is a species of flinch I'll have to work past.
Anyone else have any quirks like this, and find a way past it? Cheers, Jack |
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Anyone else have any quirks like this, and find a way past it?
For what it's worth you aren't alone brother
A couple weekends ago I attended a tactical shotgun training class. There was a stage where two-man teams were required to engage five targets simulating bad guys shooting from behind vehicles. We were required to load our shotguns to capacity with buckshot, and then in the middle of the stage load two slugs and then hit the last two targets from 50 meters (the targets were actually bowling pins). This was a timed event, and we were racing another team. Long story short I jerked the trigger on my first shot, missed the damn target, and then got so flustered that I botched the tactical reload-causing me to completely butcher the whole stage. The best part? My entire moment of glory was videotaped by another ARFcommer...I see blackmail in my future 
The only way I've found to get past this sort of thing is to practice it until it becomes mechanical in nature-almost like breathing. When I got home that evening I spent several hours practicing tactical reloads with snapcaps, and I will continue to practice until I have the drill down pat. |