First Attempt: AR-15 Sling Setup

I am so glad I finally at least have an idea of how AR/tactical sling's supposed to work.  1-point, 2-point, didn't understand the pros or cons + all parts & accessories needed to put one together was confusing as hell.  :(

First, my current build, then I'll link the video which finally enlightened me.  :)

Sling - Magpul MS1 Padded Sling

Front Attachment - Magpul Paraclip to Magpul RSA(on picatinny rail)

Rear Attachment - looped thru buttstock(Magpul CTR)

I already had some rails, and this setup made sense to me at the time.  Long story, but I even have another "RSA" on the way.  However, personally, I didn't care for how much RSA protrude on the handguard.  I'll likely be going with QD mount in the near-future..... 

I say "likely", because I actually damaged the Magpul SL handguard, and RSA may actually work better with whatever new replacement handguard I choose to go with.  

I'm not certain if it was my crap installation, plastic construction, or both, but those M-LOK slots attached to the rails suffered wear damage in couple of spots.  I love Magpul, I love SL handguard, but I'm going to find something else to use on my AR.  Something metal, something tougher & something I won't be able to **** up. lol

I'm skinny, so as expected, there were plenty of sling left after the installation.  For now, I've decided to rubberband the excess in the front.  In the rear, where it's much harder to rubberband, ziptied it.  Both ends, I ran the excess straps thru the buckles again, too.  I guess I'm really skinny.  :)

So the video.  I saw couple of videos on the subject, but I only got confused..... until fellow member on forum I frequent posted this:

After watching this video, I finally understood.  I at least learned what I wanted my AR sling to do, and also how to make it happen.  Sometimes, your internet friends are way more helpful than your real life friends.  My real life friends are no scholar on guns & they know close to zero about AR sling setup!

Bonus Feature(not really):

I used to want to get a sling for my old .22 rifle(Remington 597), but Remington brilliantly DID NOT provide any sling attachment points on otherwise a great stock(mechanically absolutely POS).

Not an issue with my current .22 plinkster, Thompson Center T/CR22.  I just spent close to $100 on the sling + hardware on the AR, but figured it would be much, much cheaper on the T/CR22.  In fact, it ended up being $0.  I remembered how shotgun I never play with, it had a nice, cheap Butler Creek sling on it!

Here it is & it's perfect:

This TC/R22 stock is a Magpul. lmao

I originally recorded this on my phone, so I can do a 360° in front of it, make sure I'm wearing the sling correctly.....  I decided to make it funny for my friends, but if you are actually reading this crap blog, you deserve to see it, too.  lol

*Gun not loaded!

Thank you for reading & watching!  :D

Magpul MBUS Sights

My very first AR(Bushmaster 308 MOE) came with Magpul MBUS(Magpul Back-Up Sight) on the back.  So did my second AR(M&P Sport II).  Both of those rifles had the A2 front sights:

Triangular A2 Fixed Front Sights

I actually prefer them.  They don't really get in the way of the sight picture for me, and they seem durable.  However, when I bought the Blackout upper by Bushmaster, it came with no sights at all.  

So I had to get the "MBUS" front sights for the first time.  Already had extra rear sight I can pop-on behind the EOTech red dot for cowitnessing(you can use backup sights by sighting thru the optic).

Co-Witness

I still prefer A2 front sights, but this works beautifully.

  

1911: Kimber Custom Target II - Bunch of blabbering + too many pictures of Kimber 1911

Not counting the *"last ditch" Arisaka rifle, my Kimber is the most worn out gun I own, and maybe for that  reason, I rarely shoot this gun.  I don't really know for sure, but I do remember worrying little bit about shooting it after my HK USP went kaboom.

*Crudely manufactured WWII Japanese rifle near the end of the war.

Anywho, at first, I went exploring on foot.  We always drive up on the mountain to a spot, then shoot.  Today, rain was forecasted, so I didn't even ask anybody to see if they wanted to go shooting.  Just grabbed the gear & drove up here to kill some time.

It was dumb of me not to bring boots, but I did make good use of machete.  Hehe.  I've seen mountain lion up here once, but I wasn't too worried about that cat today.  :p

*my hat*  Later in the evening, Braves went on to defeat the NY Mets 11-7.  It was a good day.[/IC]  Back to the vehicle:

Bought some new mags & magazine base pads off eBay.  This is why I dusted off my Kimber today.  One thing I ADORE about this gun is the adjustable rear sights.  I lowered it two clicks & it was on they money.  I also brought my Glock 19, which I've been shooting a ton & brought to train with, but I was more accurate with the Kimber, which I haven't shot in years.  Go figure.

I'm not from the future.  Braves hat, random pair of Oakleys & 3M Peltor 300 headset, this is how I shoot.  :D

Beautiful amirite.  I missed you so much.

Painted the front sight with red plastic model paint years ago.  It's still very visible.  :)

I didn't setup any target of my own today, shot trash laying around instead.  I shot at this piece of wood first, but I couldn't believe that messy little hole was made with my .45ACP until I saw the backside.  Cool deal.

More MLB Game Used Baseballs

 

When the St. Louis Cardinals game used baseballs went on sale on mlb.com, I looked up the dates when the Cardinals played the Braves.  There were couple different games available.  I went with the game Kurt Suzuki & Yadier Molina were catching, as they are couple of my favorite players(I'm a Braves fan, but Cardinals my second fav).  I thought, it's on sale, if I get lucky, I can get the Kurt Suzuki game used baseball.....

*My baseball at around 40 seconds.

It didn't happen, but I was thrilled to get Johan Carmago "single".  I love Johan, and "hits" usually go for lot more than I paid, at least on eBay($32 & change, including shipping).  Well, I knew that there were three game used baseballs available for that date.  I decided that I'll play this lottery game again.  I'll scoop up the two remaining balls if they were still there next time it went on sale.

They were on sale again right away.  MLB shop/Fanatics stuff is almost always on sale, it's just matter of how much discount.  Anywho:

They are here & they were...... Not Yadier Molina or Kurt Suzuki baseball.

Little disappointed that these balls weren't anything interesting, I decided to list them on eBay to get at least some of the money back.  While my boy Ender Inciarte were in-action with both baseballs, I still wasn't too excited about either balls.

Just before listing them on eBay, I decided to get on my MLB.TV & watch those 3rd & 9th inning play just for heck of it.  Here's the JD288350(3rd inning):

*My ball in play at around 50 second mark.

I couldn't flipping believe it.  Who is the catcher?  It's the future Hall of Famer Yadier Molina!  I'm so stupid I totally spaced it.  Yadi is a catcher, and while his name isn't necessarily recorded with the hologram #, he caught those balls!  I was even more excited after Max Fried strikeout, he tosses the ball to the all-star third baseman Matt Carpenter.  :)

This ball was out of play after 3 balls & 2 strikes to Ender, and I was wondering what happened to it.  Just as guessed, the fifth pitch was in the dirt.  It's cool to see Yadi scoop it up from the dirt & see umpire toss it to staff, so they can record it & put on the hologram sticker.  

I should sell the second baseball though, right?  Not quite, because Kurt Suzuki is a catcher, too.  I couldn't believe I was this lucky.  This ball wasn't handled just by Ender in center field, Kurt Suzuki caught it & tossed it before, too.  It's another keeper.  :)

Maybe pretty humble as far as "game used" MLB baseballs go, but for me personally, it doesn't get much better than this.  Yes, I adore Ozzie, Ronald, Freddie & those guys, but I'm a big fan of Kurt, Johan & Ender too.  Also not really interested in paying $100, $200+ for hits & home run balls. It was interesting to see our up & coming pitcher Max Fried's name on it as well.  And Yadier Molina, I've liked him forever.  Great job by MLB to authenticate this stuff & make them available for fans.