It Quickly Became My Favorite...Black Mamba

[AzShooter1]

I spent a little time today sighting in my Black Mamba today, after mounting a C-More Railway red dot sight on it.

Out at 7 yards to get started it printed a one hole group about 2 inches below the center of the Bullseye. This is just where I want to start from. That 2 inches works to be dead center at 15 yards and good enough to hit the 18 X 24 inch steel targets on Outer Limits during Steel Challenge matches.

My Black Mamba started out as a Ruger Mark IV. I added a Volquartsen Accurizing Kit and brought the trigger pull down from 9 pounds to a very crisp 1 1/2 pounds with no creep. Trigger pull is probably the most important factor in getting an automatic to shoot great. I added a Corner Stone safety, Volquartsen Black Mamba top end and a C-More red dot. I also put a set of Blue StonerCNC grips. They are thin enough for me to get a total purchase of the weapon when shooting two handed. Iron sights are on the gun as well for those times I don't want to use the C-More.

Shooting at an 8 inch Shoot And See target I consistently keep all shots inside of 6 inches at 25 yards. That's good enough for my 72 year old eyes and good enough for the large targets used in Steel Challenge. The Challenge uses 10 and 12 inch circle targets and 18 X 24 rectangle targets. The idea is purely to shoot the target array of 5 targets per stage as fast as possible. It doesn't matter where you hit as long as you hit the steel.

I was a Master Class shooter years ago but now I'm reclassified as a C class. Old age is not for the weak, shooting from a wheelchair has affected my timing, aiming and scores but that's ok, I get out and shoot with some of the best shooters in the world and we all smile at the end of the day. I challenge myself each match so that I can produce a little better score each time.

The Mamba has a single port Compensator which helps reduce that massive recoil of the mighty .22. It also has the Volquartsen bolt which helps in charging the pistol and cleaning any jam if they should happen. I've got over 85 thousand rounds through the gun and can count on my fingers the jams I've had over the years. I now consider it totally reliable and it's the first gun I pull out of the safe.

My ammo of choice is CCI Clean Mini Mags. They truly are clean and help prolong the number of shots I can fire before cleaning the compensator. I clean it every 500 rounds using MPro 7 cleaning fluid and the Volquartsen Pulverizer instead of harsh chemicals. For plinking with the VQ I sometimes use CCI Blazers. That's when I have to clean the gun more often but groups are even better than some top brands of ammo including Eley and Wolf.


Steven

 

[DustyRusty]

Thats a great looking fun gun.

 

[doubleh]

That is a very nice pistol. I did not realise you used a wheel chair until this post. I have 14 years on you and may have to do the same if I am going to shoot anymore. My eyesight is great again but essential tremors make me a poor marksman now.

 

[1KPerDay]

You have 85,000 rounds through a MKIV? That's awesome. I have to add up like the top 5 of my most used pistols to get 85K rounds.

 

[AzShooter1]

That is a very nice pistol. I did not realise you used a wheel chair until this post. I have 14 years on you and may have to do the same if I am going to shoot anymore. My eyesight is great again but essential tremors make me a poor marksman now.

Yeah, I'm stubborn and still banging away. Fortunately friends help me get around at the range. On some good days I can use my walker and one of the range masters will put it in his golf cart to drive me between stages at the monthly Steel Challenge match.

Tremors don't help but it is what it is. Getting out is very important so keep yourself busy and learn to enjoy life the best you can.

 

[AzShooter1]

You have 85,000 rounds through a MKIV? That's awesome. I have to add up like the top 5 of my most used pistols to get 85K rounds.

Yeah, I had to have Volquartsen replace the top end at about 75K. A small piece broke off. They put a new assembly on and the pistol is like new again. I don't shoot as much anymore but it's still my favorite.

 

[Riomouse911]

View attachment 1183235

I spent a little time today sighting in my Black Mamba today, after mounting a C-More Railway red dot sight on it.

Out at 7 yards to get started it printed a one hole group about 2 inches below the center of the Bullseye. This is just where I want to start from. That 2 inches works to be dead center at 15 yards and good enough to hit the 18 X 24 inch steel targets on Outer Limits during Steel Challenge matches.

My Black Mamba started out as a Ruger Mark IV. I added a Volquartsen Accurizing Kit and brought the trigger pull down from 9 pounds to a very crisp 1 1/2 pounds with no creep. Trigger pull is probably the most important factor in getting an automatic to shoot great. I added a Corner Stone safety, Volquartsen Black Mamba top end and a C-More red dot. I also put a set of Blue StonerCNC grips. They are thin enough for me to get a total purchase of the weapon when shooting two handed. Iron sights are on the gun as well for those times I don't want to use the C-More.

Shooting at an 8 inch Shoot And See target I consistently keep all shots inside of 6 inches at 25 yards. That's good enough for my 72 year old eyes and good enough for the large targets used in Steel Challenge. The Challenge uses 10 and 12 inch circle targets and 18 X 24 rectangle targets. The idea is purely to shoot the target array of 5 targets per stage as fast as possible. It doesn't matter where you hit as long as you hit the steel.

I was a Master Class shooter years ago but now I'm reclassified as a C class. Old age is not for the weak, shooting from a wheelchair has affected my timing, aiming and scores but that's ok, I get out and shoot with some of the best shooters in the world and we all smile at the end of the day. I challenge myself each match so that I can produce a little better score each time.

The Mamba has a single port Compensator which helps reduce that massive recoil of the mighty .22. It also has the Volquartsen bolt which helps in charging the pistol and cleaning any jam if they should happen. I've got over 85 thousand rounds through the gun and can count on my fingers the jams I've had over the years. I now consider it totally reliable and it's the first gun I pull out of the safe.

My ammo of choice is CCI Clean Mini Mags. They truly are clean and help prolong the number of shots I can fire before cleaning the compensator. I clean it every 500 rounds using MPro 7 cleaning fluid and the Volquartsen Pulverizer instead of harsh chemicals. For plinking with the VQ I sometimes use CCI Blazers. That's when I have to clean the gun more often but groups are even better than some top brands of ammo including Eley and Wolf.


Steven

Outstanding stuff!

A fantastic gun those Volquartsen Black Mambas are! I wish I could get one here in Ca, but since the uppers are the serialized part of the Mk IV they cant be bought here. (I cant even get an upper to put on my Mk IV lower.) I did a similar Volquartsen treatment to my Mk IV, it made a pretty fair trigger into a great trigger.

I love reading that you are still out there shooting, chatting, competing, laughing and doing your best with wheels as your primary mode of travel. It inspires me, and hopefully others, that nothing is an obstacle if you refuse to quit doing the things you love. Keep it up, and keep letting us know how you are doing when you are back from the matches.

Stay safe.