AAR Instructor Only KD event Red Bluff, CA Aug 20-21

[NorCal22Gal]

AAR- Instructor Only KD Event Aug 20-21

Saturday P.M. Classroom

We went through the POI that PHenry sent to us.  (Thanks again!!)  Also use the KD section of the Becoming a Rifleman Guide.  Eaglescouter  & Polygunner both have experience with KD.  Both of them taught me, as I am just learning to shoot KD.  We discussed come ups and wind adjustments among other things.

We also came up with a good COI to add to the KD portion of our regular Appleseed events.

Sunday A.M.

Got all set up and began shooting. Got zeroed in at 25, then started moving out to the various distances.  The breeze in the morning picked up to a light wind in the afternoon, which gave us an opportunity to try out those wind adjustments, and to see how different the wind was at 25yds and 400 yds...wow....also what the bullet does when you do and don't make the adjustment.  (oops)

We got in 2 AQT's late in the afternoon.  Eaglescouter and Polygunner both scored Rifleman on the first try. Eaglescouter shooting an M1 Garand with iron sights shot a 211 and Polygunner shooting an AR15 with iron sights shot a 226.  As for me...well not bad for my first time shooting KD ...169.  I'll get it next time.   Had several news for me...new to kd, new to the rifle, and new scope.   (the scope was a birthday present Saturday!) 

Eaglescouter had intended on shooting his new AR10, but after 4 rounds the trigger just stopped working.... He and Polygunner got together to figure it out...pulled it apart and 2 primers fell out....  No one noticed any changes in the rounds as they were shot.  An inspection of the brass collected showed 2 of the 4 with blown primers.....We pulled the rifle off the line and the ammo set aside to be checked later.

All in all a great event, I know I learned a great deal

Pictures to follow.

[eaglescouter]

Blown primers, more data:

1. Rifle is a .308 DPMS AR.
2. Loads were a new reload recipe, brass was once fired, with swaged primer pockets using an RCBS swager.
3. Symptoms were flattened or missing primers and headstamp smears.
4. Load recipe was not verified using multiple loading manuals.  This is an ERROR.
5. Brass should have been reviewed following the first shot to look for signs of pressure.  This was an ERROR
6. The anvil from a blown primer fell down into the trigger group and prevented further trigger pulls.  This prompted a review of the rifle.  When the brass and rifle were reviewed the right decision was to pull the rifle from the line.  This was done properly and I spent the rest of the day with my trusty old M1 Garand.
7. At home I pulled 7 rounds of the reloaded ammunition, weighed all components and powder.  All was as expected.
8. After reviewing 3 more reloading manuals we determined that the load I selected from the powder manufacturers website was a MAX load, and not the mid range load that I had selected. 

Do not trust a single source of loading data when you are reloading!
Pay attention to your brass on the first several shots, check each piece carefully for signs of over pressure.

No injuries.
No damage done.
I switched over to the M1 and finished the weekend with my backup rifle.