FN SRP G2 Carbine aka FN 15

Day before Thanksgiving, I was on a mission to go shooting.  1) I had just picked up a new AR rifle & 2) Been waiting to test new 12rd magazine I bought for my carry pistol(Sig P365).

Where I go shooting, it was all rain with the exception of Wednesday.  Mission was successful.

Foggy on the way up there, but no problems.

Let me get this out of the way.  Trigger on this rifle sucks.  Whether talking about Glocks or AR-15s, I hear & read about swapping, upgrading triggers.  Never really understood it.  People are spending lot of money & effort to upgrade these triggers, so I'm sure they are really nice.  However, I'm okay with most standard factory triggers, and ones that came with my three AR's before(Bushmaster 308, M&P Sport 2 & PSA lower), I actually liked those.  

I just sold my Bushmaster 308, because I have nowhere to really take advantage of  its extended range.  Jumped on this FN 15 from Botach.com, because 1) It was on sale for $899(after shipping & background check $974 😬) 2) Been interested in FN, because along with Colt, they provide U.S. military with it's full-auto cousin M4 rifles & 3) I wanted to replace my backup AR with little bit more reputable lower(it was PSA before this)

There were other points too, like my backup AR upper(M&P Sport 2) had shorter handguard than I like.  I've also been wanting to upgrade backup sights to steel ones & they cost like $200 or more for the set?  I found that bit outrageous.  Just for that, it was like taking another $200 off this new rifle since it comes with a set.  Here's a pic of my outgoing backup rifle.  It's been stripped of nicer accessories & probably sold soon:

My backup AR-15 before the new FN15. Wanted more reputable lower + longer handguard, maybe free floating barrel.  Consists of M&P Sport 2 upper, PSA lower w/Magpul STR stock, MOE SL handguard & Burris AR 536 red dot/prism scope kit.

Back to FN 15.  My new backup AR-15:

Already swapped the cheap stock & grip with Magpul STR + rubberized grip.

It looked like this stock:

Sighted in the backup sights before installing the red dot/scope.  These FN backup flip sights are great.  I would say HUGE upgrade over the Magpul MBUS.  Especially the rear.  #USERFRIENDLY

Only thing that worries me about these flip sights are those nail-sticking-out-looking release button on the (left)side?  I'm afraid of that thing getting snagged by clothing, straps, etc.

You can flip the peep hole for large or small.  Much, much easier to use than the Magpul MBUS I've used before this.

Looks really good after installing the Burris AR-536 kit(kit has FastFire 3 red dot on top of the scope).  AR-536 is actually designed for .308/7.62x51.  I originally got it for my Bushmaster 308(image at bottom of the page), but I've been since using it on my ARs, because I can't afford ACOG. 😭

As for the rifle, I have found my outgoing M&P Sport 2 to be more accurate.  Maybe because the trigger sucks?  I was only shooting sub-100 yards though, rest-shooting on top of the table & backpack.  Maybe it was me, who knows.  Hard to say after just one round.  Overall, I think the rifle's good.  But again, terrible trigger pull.  Never realized AR trigger could be this unsmooth.  Maybe I'll try cleaning & lubing it, too.  

I carry all sorts of spare batteries in my shooting pack.

It was pretty cold up in the mountains.  My red dot battery died.  Shortly after, my ear muffs.  😤

Shot my carry pistol Sig Sauer P365 after that.  With the ammo price & availability not improving much, I only shot it with this new 12-round mag.  It performed flawlessly with the plinking Blazer brass ammo & also Hornady hollow point.  Spring's mad stiff & I could only fit 11 round in it so far.  Magazine's also little longer, prints little more than the stock 10rd magazine with the pinky extension, but not that bad.  It's my new carry mag.

Also shot some with Glock 19(my go-to) & HK USP.  Yep.  Still sucks with both.  Thanks for reading.  😭

Bonus: My first real rifle.  I'm gonna miss you bud.

Bushmaster 308

 

 

Riton Optics X1 Tactix Mag3 Magnifier

So earlier this year, I thought I would be happy with this configuration:

Daniel Defense M4V7 Upper, S&W M&P Sport 2 lower + EOTech 512 red dot...... however, it wasn't that fun shooting steel at 100 yards with just red dot, zero magnification.  I needed little help.  

Shot good, looked nice, but my eyes needed more help with longer shots.

I thought about ACOG($$$), also EOTech Magnifier($$$), but I had so much expense so far this year, I had to shelve the idea.  It wasn't until just couple weeks ago, I caught this Riton Magnifier on Youtube & revisited the idea again.  

It was American company.  Origin of the manufacturer wasn't disclosed, but I think you could probably guess.  I saw couple of sources stating Riton import glass from Japan, which would be a plus for me.  It had decent reviews everywhere online.  Since EOTech magnifiers would cost $300+ ~ $500+, ACOG starting around $800, I decided to try Riton magnifier for $130(amazon).

Came back to my new favorite spot.  Lot of traffic below in trucks & SUVs, I think they were mountain bikers?  Not one actually came up to top of the hill where I was shooting though.  I had to stop few times, just in case, but it's always nice when nobody pull up to where you are shooting.  😅

One of the best backstops around.  I love it here.

Magnifier up.

Magnifier up.

Magnifier flipped to side.

Magnifier flipped to side.

I know!  I know!  It looks like a tacticool space rifle! 👀  For AR-15 shooters thinking about getting one of these magnifiers, here's more pics of how it looks flipped to the side:

Here are the pics of magnifier up, behind the EOTech 512 red dot:

You notice I kept the Magpul backup sights. Downside is now the magnifier hinge partially blocks EOTech switch on the right side(that's the "up" button right?). If you have giant hands, you may not be able to operate it, even with just your fingertip. 😬

It was nice & dry until I got to the shooting spot.  It was a drizzle the whole time.  I didn't get to shoot for very long.  😭  So far so good, glass was clear.  Eye relief wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be from something like this.  My only complaint was the flip mechanism.  You have to yank it back before you flip it over & it's clumsy as hell.  I hope it loosens up little bit over time.

 

Shot some .45's(USP & Kimber 1911).  I shot okay from 15 yards or so.  See the paper target below.  that's actually not bad for me.

Uh oh..... Fog moving in.

I'm going to call it a day.  Go Braves.

 

U.S. Citizenship, Concealed Carry License & New Micro Pistol

I started my application for U.S. citizenship at the start of 2020.  I've been in the U.S. for over 3 decades.  While I was born in Japan & that national identity was pretty strong, when you've lived here as long as I have, you start identifying & caring about your new home as much as where you are originally from, if not more.  

Anywho, thanks to Pandemic, this process took just about a year.  What was surprising was so many people assumed I already had U.S. citizenship.  I was often asked why didn't I apply before when I've lived here so long.....  My answer was the $$$.  I think it cost around $800.

Last few years, I'd consider getting the citizenship & always opted to buy a gun, or spent money on guns I have instead.  However, my background checks for firearm purchases took around 30 minutes or more due to my "Resident Alien" status.  I also could not apply for concealed carry license without being a citizen.  This finally gave me the push to apply for citizenship.  I wouldn't do it before because of guns, now I'm doing it because of guns.  I'm crazy, I know this. 

Background checks as a citizen's been great.  It takes maybe couple minutes.  Concealed Carry License, like citizenship application, it took awhile.  First you take the online safety course(online due to Pandemic).  You pass, you pay($55 I believe).  Then you submit online application form.  My appointment was set for August originally, but due to scheduling issue, it was changed to September, all done online.  

So the appointment comes, it's at the county sheriff's office.  They go over your application, take prints, take your photo & voila: In about 15 minutes, I was out of there with the license card. 👀  There was a cost to this, it was less than $100, but I can't remember how much. 😬

So I took the day off to get this license, and since it took only 15 minutes, I spent couple of hours researching what kind of "carry" gun I wanted.  While I really like Glocks, I went with the Sig Sauer P365, mainly for size(tiny) & capacity(10rds, stock).  Also didn't know much about holsters.  I went with the We the People holster, as it was recommended to me in real life, also online.  It's decent, but even after bunch of discounts they throw at you, I think it was still bit overpriced for the quality.  Not exactly comfortable either, but I'm probably doing it wrong(what a noob).

I went with the appendix carry.  You are supposed to carry with the round in chamber, but I haven't gotten there yet.  I want to gain some experience with carrying before I start sticking the handgun in my pants pointed at my **** & femoral artery amirite. 😳

First chance to shoot the new gun was right after work(unscheduled) on Saturday.  Drove an hour, beat the sundown by about an hour.  Raining.  💩  

P365 was $499 & it came with amazing night sights.  It shot more like a regular pistol than what I imagined how micro subcompact pistol shot.  10 round's great, but I plan on getting the 12 round magazine & experimenting with it.  I hope it's still small enough to carry around.

Following week:

Came to this new spot alone for the first time.  It's  just few miles south of where we typically shot.  Me & couple of kids from work came down here looking for this area rumored to have something like 300 yard range to shoot, couple of months prior.  That road was closed, so we drove around & found this GREAT spot.  

Plenty of parking, backstops galore.  Range of upto 70, 80 yards, plus.

 

I spy smaller shooting spot below this one.

Only downside about this area's the cliffs you could drive off of & die.

I moved the pieces around my two AR-15's again.  Right now I'm going with PSA lower + M&P upper, with Burris 536(prism scope)/FF3(micro red dot) here.  It looks pretty good I think.

Brought my Kimber 1911, HK USP, Sig P226 & the latest Sig P365.  My #1 gun Glock 19 stays home.  Because the box of 9mm's going for $20, I've decided to shoot more .45ACP.  I'm starting to run low on 9mm, but .45's, I have plenty & I actually paid less than $15 a box before the Pandemic.  😒

Story on this P226 some other time.