Lab4Us
Professional
Made it to the range today with the Kuna, mainly to try out the Otter Creek Lithium suppressor (first time I’ve ever fired a gun with a suppressor). Was pretty slow when I got there with only one shooter on the pistol side, so I headed to the empty rifle side.
In order to get the suppressor on, I had quite the battle yesterday with the Kuna to remove the muzzle break. Ended up completely field stripping (removing upper from lower too), and trying a multitude of tools. Open end wrench, closed end wrench, channel locks, adjustable wrench…no luck. Did yet some more internet research and read some had luck using a heavy duty flat head screwdriver through the muzzle brake openings while holding down on a steady bench. I don’t have a bench, but a solid butcher block table seemed it would work. Positioned upper and barrel where I’d be turning screwdriver in the proper removal direction (lefty loosey is the official term, I believe), leaned up with all weight coming down on upper as possible without my falling, and gave one hell of a body weight push down on the screwdriver. A loud pop, a feel of screwdriver actually moving, and success it was! Unscrewed muzzle brake and removed timing washer, inspecting threads. No evidence of ANY type of hot or cold thread locker, storage grease, or any other substance. Must have installed muzzle brake with a completely unregulated impact wrench. But I won the day. Lithium suppressor screwed right on to the shoulder.
So here we were…I decided to leave brace off and just shoot with handguard in place. I also have a single point sling inbound so I can cosplay SAS
.
I set up the first target at 10 yards to rezero the Holosun AEMS since I had to remove it to battle the Kuna muzzle brake AND it was zeroed initially to 124g and today I would be shooting 147g suppressed.
Started with center #2 and was initially low and right. After lots of WAG adjustments, was hitting where I thought I was okay. Also found I was more likely to hit where I was aiming if I just shot when dot was there instead of trying to hold a steady aim. I finished up this target by shooting 20 rounds at #9 as soon as my dot was on the triangle. This was all Winchester Super Suppressed ammo, 147g, 990 fps at muzzle.
Alas, Tactical Dude was nowhere to be found so I had to suffice with Tactical Balloon! I marked the distances and the only variance was I used 5 rounds into two separate 7 yd targets instead of 10 into one. I did not adjust for holdover and just aimed center of each circle.
Took above photo before 15 yd shots as it’s always a crapshoot for me at 15 yards. This time it appears I was hitting high, but not suprising since I didn’t zero at this distance. A bit spread out as well, but remember, one hand on grip, other against hand guard just before suppressor.
Instead of moving back to 3 yds and doing the 2 to center, 1 to head, I moved to 7yds and did 2 to yellow, 1 to green, fast as I could get dot on target.
All the above balloon shots were with Federal Syntech Training Match, 147g, Total Synthetic Jacket, 1000 FPS at muzzle (supposed to mimic HST of same weight). Finished up with 20 rounds of Federal LE Tactical HST, 147g, 1000 FPS at muzzle. For these 20, I shot 10 each into top orange and purple as fast as I could with dot. These are the rounds I would load if I use Kuna for home protection. Seemed to work out pretty well (remember each of those targets had 5 low hits from the drill I just completed).
All in all it was a great and relaxing range day. About the only thing I’d complain about is how dirty the gun got - took me forever to get it cleaned up this afternoon. But, at the range, there were no hiccups from gun, ammo, or suppressor. And no one else on my side from time I arrived to time I cleaned up my brass and left. I could definitely tell the difference using the suppressor, in sound, flash (lack of), and control. I can see why people love them! Definitely would make a necessary home defense discharge more controllable and sight/hearing safer.
With this range day complete, I’ve already decided I am WAY overdue for some .45 1911 fun, so next week will likely be SA Emissary/SA TRP/Ed Brown. I can only hope Tactical Dude makes a comeback!
In order to get the suppressor on, I had quite the battle yesterday with the Kuna to remove the muzzle break. Ended up completely field stripping (removing upper from lower too), and trying a multitude of tools. Open end wrench, closed end wrench, channel locks, adjustable wrench…no luck. Did yet some more internet research and read some had luck using a heavy duty flat head screwdriver through the muzzle brake openings while holding down on a steady bench. I don’t have a bench, but a solid butcher block table seemed it would work. Positioned upper and barrel where I’d be turning screwdriver in the proper removal direction (lefty loosey is the official term, I believe), leaned up with all weight coming down on upper as possible without my falling, and gave one hell of a body weight push down on the screwdriver. A loud pop, a feel of screwdriver actually moving, and success it was! Unscrewed muzzle brake and removed timing washer, inspecting threads. No evidence of ANY type of hot or cold thread locker, storage grease, or any other substance. Must have installed muzzle brake with a completely unregulated impact wrench. But I won the day. Lithium suppressor screwed right on to the shoulder.
So here we were…I decided to leave brace off and just shoot with handguard in place. I also have a single point sling inbound so I can cosplay SAS
.I set up the first target at 10 yards to rezero the Holosun AEMS since I had to remove it to battle the Kuna muzzle brake AND it was zeroed initially to 124g and today I would be shooting 147g suppressed.
Started with center #2 and was initially low and right. After lots of WAG adjustments, was hitting where I thought I was okay. Also found I was more likely to hit where I was aiming if I just shot when dot was there instead of trying to hold a steady aim. I finished up this target by shooting 20 rounds at #9 as soon as my dot was on the triangle. This was all Winchester Super Suppressed ammo, 147g, 990 fps at muzzle.
Alas, Tactical Dude was nowhere to be found so I had to suffice with Tactical Balloon! I marked the distances and the only variance was I used 5 rounds into two separate 7 yd targets instead of 10 into one. I did not adjust for holdover and just aimed center of each circle.
Took above photo before 15 yd shots as it’s always a crapshoot for me at 15 yards
. This time it appears I was hitting high, but not suprising since I didn’t zero at this distance. A bit spread out as well, but remember, one hand on grip, other against hand guard just before suppressor.Instead of moving back to 3 yds and doing the 2 to center, 1 to head, I moved to 7yds and did 2 to yellow, 1 to green, fast as I could get dot on target.
All the above balloon shots were with Federal Syntech Training Match, 147g, Total Synthetic Jacket, 1000 FPS at muzzle (supposed to mimic HST of same weight). Finished up with 20 rounds of Federal LE Tactical HST, 147g, 1000 FPS at muzzle. For these 20, I shot 10 each into top orange and purple as fast as I could with dot. These are the rounds I would load if I use Kuna for home protection. Seemed to work out pretty well (remember each of those targets had 5 low hits from the drill I just completed).
All in all it was a great and relaxing range day. About the only thing I’d complain about is how dirty the gun got - took me forever to get it cleaned up this afternoon. But, at the range, there were no hiccups from gun, ammo, or suppressor. And no one else on my side from time I arrived to time I cleaned up my brass and left. I could definitely tell the difference using the suppressor, in sound, flash (lack of), and control. I can see why people love them! Definitely would make a necessary home defense discharge more controllable and sight/hearing safer.
With this range day complete, I’ve already decided I am WAY overdue for some .45 1911 fun, so next week will likely be SA Emissary/SA TRP/Ed Brown. I can only hope Tactical Dude makes a comeback!
