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.