[goalie]

OK guys, I am a 33 y/o guy who got of the Marine Corps back in '92. I am looking to start shooting service rifle Highpower matches next year here in Minnesota and Wisconsin. I have some equipment from when I was in the Corps, and I have a few questions about the rifle and classification.

I currently still have the following gear:

-Freeland tripod spotting scope stand (no spotting scope)
-Creedmore highpower shooting glove
-shooting mat
-aluminum scorebook holder and service rifle data book
-shooting stool (no wheels)
-leather ammo holder for jacket pocket
-canvas Marine Corps shooting jacket

First, I am looking to get a spotting scope, the Kowa 77mm scope I used to have was given to a friend who went back into the service several years ago. What is a good scope to get nowdays? Do you need to shell out for the top of the line Kowa scopes or are those 60mm Kowa's pretty decent? Also, what other scopes out there are decent and do not cost more than a used car?

Second, I am looking to shoot Service Rifle. I am thinking the AR is the way to go, as I have match grade dies already as well as a bunch of LC brass. I am pretty set on getting an upper from Compass Lake, but am unsure of what lower I should get. I am open to suggestions on lowers, especially ones with decent triggers already installed.

Third, I shot a few matches as a civilian back in 1995 with a borrowed stock Garand. I shot sharpshooter in both matches and have a little temporary classification book I was given from back then. Will I still shoot as a SS, or should I just start over again?

Fourth, I am open to suggestions on shooting jackets. The cloth OD green one I have from the Corps offers no support, it just stops the sling from totally numbing your arm. Is all leather the way to go, or can you go with courdura? How about those combo-type jackets with leather arms?

Thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to send some advice my way.

[Steve Smith]

You have no idea how much I love answering these questions!

Welcome to Highpower, Goalie! (btw, are you the Goaile on glocktalk?)

Anyway:

OK guys, I am a 33 y/o guy who got of the Marine Corps back in '92. I am looking to start shooting service rifle Highpower matches next year here in Minnesota and Wisconsin. I have some equipment from when I was in the Corps, and I have a few questions about the rifle and classification.

I currently still have the following gear:

-Freeland tripod spotting scope stand (no spotting scope)
-Creedmore highpower shooting glove
-shooting mat
-aluminum scorebook holder and service rifle data book
-shooting stool (no wheels)
-leather ammo holder for jacket pocket
-canvas Marine Corps shooting jacket


----On this list I see that your stand is an old design, and you will see a lot of things on the line that are better, but you will survive for now. If you want to upgrade, get one from www.ray-vin.com it is the best stand on the market hands down. Make sure you get the quick-detach too. You can add wheels and a handle to your stool easily, either with some bbq parts from the hardware store, or from Ray-Vin again. That cloth coat will have to go, of course. ;)

First, I am looking to get a spotting scope, the Kowa 77mm scope I used to have was given to a friend who went back into the service several years ago. What is a good scope to get nowdays? Do you need to shell out for the top of the line Kowa scopes or are those 60mm Kowa's pretty decent? Also, what other scopes out there are decent and do not cost more than a used car?

----What a shame that you gave away your TSN-1! Those were arguably some of the best scopes you could get, and they are still awesome. I use a Kowa 661, and many either use it or an 821. I cannot detect a difference for our use, but maybe others can. Who knows, maybe I'll buy an Optolyth next year. lol!

Second, I am looking to shoot Service Rifle. I am thinking the AR is the way to go, as I have match grade dies already as well as a bunch of LC brass. I am pretty set on getting an upper from Compass Lake, but am unsure of what lower I should get. I am open to suggestions on lowers, especially ones with decent triggers already installed.

----The AR is definitely the way to go now. Compass Lake builds a great upper so you won't be hurting there. I recommend the Rock River lower, with the two stage trigger. Most likely the trigger will need some work, but not much, and it is incredibly stable. Most other triggers on the market (Bushmaster/CLE, CLE, Jewell, et al) have issues with changing unexpectedly. The Bushy/CLE just flat goes away after about 2K rounds. The RRA won't. I suggest you have John Holliger to tune the trigger though. He knows what it should be like and you won't have to worry about it not making weight at a match sometime.

Third, I shot a few matches as a civilian back in 1995 with a borrowed stock Garand. I shot sharpshooter in both matches and have a little temporary classification book I was given from back then. Will I still shoot as a SS, or should I just start over again?

----A classification is only good for 5 years if you don't shoot another match in the mean time. However, you were never "classified" to begin with. In addition, you have the option of shooting in any HIGHER class you want, with exception of High Master, so I don't see anything wrong with you shooting in SS. However, I think the CORRECT thing for you to do is to shoot in the Master-Unclassified classification. I am pretty sure you won't go out and tear up some Sharpshooters with huge EX or MA scores, so why not just shoot in the SS field and be competitive.

Fourth, I am open to suggestions on shooting jackets. The cloth OD green one I have from the Corps offers no support, it just stops the sling from totally numbing your arm. Is all leather the way to go, or can you go with courdura? How about those combo-type jackets with leather arms?

----I have owned three coats. You can search THR for my opinions on all. I ultimately went back to a leather coat for comfort's sake, but who knows, I may use the cordura again in a year. I kept it just in case. My recommendation is that you buy from either Creedmore or Champion's Choice. My issue with the Creedmore cordura was the size of the armpits, and I don't see my shoulder joint/armpit area getting any smaller. lol

Thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to send some advice my way.

[goalie]

Steve,

Thanks for the advice. I do wish I had kept the 77mm Kowa scope, however, it has seen a lot more use where it went than I would have given it, and IMO good gear is made to be used, not looked at on a shelf.

One last thing, that Rock River lower will be compatable with the CLE upper? I want to make sure the pins are the same. IIRC, Colt is the only company using the smaller pins.

Thanks again,
David

[Steve Smith]

Colt is the only company that used a large pin, all the rest use a standard pin. As long as you buy from a reputable manufacturer, it should fit...hardly anyone makes Colt compatible lowers. Ick.

[goalie]

Ah, the Colt's have the small pin, gotcha. Thanks again.

[Steve Smith]

No, the Colts have the large pin!

[goalie]

Thanks for the tips Steve. I ordered a stripped Rock River lower today and will put it together with a John Holliger tuned RR two-stage trigger. I am still undecided about the coat, and may go with a cordura coat with leather arms.

I have one question about the uppers. Is the big difference between CLE and White Oak uppers the sights? They are both very close in price and I seem to be reading very good things about the sights on the stuff Mr Holliger builds.

[Steve Smith]

John is downright anal about how a sight moves. He's spent hours upon hours with a dial indicator and that rear A2 sight, figuring out how each change in thread design, pitch, depth, and a thousand other things will make a difference. I think its fair to say that he does build the best rear sight you can get on an AR. Is it necessary? Probably not, but at least you know your rear sight is always right. CLE builds a great gun too, and you can't go wrong with either. I know Frank and Theresa White (of CLE) personally, as well as John Holliger. They are all GREAT people and will make the job right if there's ever a problem. I spent a few days in the pits with Theresa at Perry and found out she has a heart of gold. I've forgotten what she said, but I'd estimate that she's been volunteering at Perry for 10 years at least.

The important thing is that you buy from someone who shoots HP and understands what you need. That way, if you have a problem, they wil lunderstand why it's important. Bushmaster, Rock River, Armalite nor any of the others will even UNDERSTAND why it's an issue that your rear sight has .020" (arbitrary number) of backlash.

I say go with John because he's my friend, but really it doesn't matter...Holliger or CLE will both build a fine gun.

[goalie]

OK, hopefully last question for you Steve:

If one were to suddenly be lacking in funds (the wifey NEEDS new windows on the cabin, so my hobby funding just went waaaay down) what upper would you buy? I am thinking that the Rock River upper is looking pretty good to me right now, and in a few seasons I could have it re-barreled and have new sights pinned on it? I re-load so the .223 Wylde chamber doesn't bother me.

[Steve Smith]

First of all, I can't imagine a Wylde chamber bothering anyone.
It is of no detriment to the non-reloader, and is a boon to the reloader.

If I were you I'd at least wait to see what John Holliger's new production house level upper will cost, or at least call him and ask. The quality of the RRA uppers has apparently gone downhill significantly. His should not be much more expensive, and the quality will be much higher. In the long run you will be very very happy you did it. Call him.

[goalie]

So John might be coming out with an upper that is less than the $875.00 for the "standard" upper on his website right now? I guess I will have to give him a call.

[Steve Smith]

You aren't surfing the Highpower forums, are you? He's been talking about them for a month...he's just working on final pricing. I'm sure he has a good ballbark now. Yeah, give'em a call.

Oh, and keep an eye on the Florida Highpower site (linked from www.floridashooting.com and the AR15.com Competitive AR forum.


Steve-just back from the worst strip club I've ever seen. Huntsville AL needs help.

[Sven]

Hey there. I grew up in Edina - maybe I'll bring my rifle "home" for summer trips and join you at a shoot!

http://www.imageseek.com/sven/m1a/left_.jpg

[goalie]

Steve, what highpower forums? I have gone to Nationalmatch.com, but I have not seen anything about his new uppers or that RRA stuff has QC issues. Thanks for the heads up. :)

[Sven]

Goalie: www.floridashooting.com then go "To The Forum". Search...

[goalie]

Thanks again for all the advice guys. I just got my stripped lower yesterday, so technically I own an AR now. I am also thinking that the White Oak upper that will be in production soon will be a good idea. I appreciate the heads-up.

[goalie]

Well, I have all my gear, and my wife is letting me buy a new worktable/bench for the garage. Life is good, now if Spring would hurry up and get here. :D