USMC Faux Snipers almost competed

[collectorm1ca]

Jim, The gentleman who D&T'ed for the blocks is a retired gunsmith who is a friend of a friend. He's getting up there in years and after he finished mine he told me he never wants to see another set! lol So I don't think he intends to do anymore.

I think chuckindenver (here on this forum) does them.

[jmm03]

Thanks anyway Mike, I live up in Ventura,so I was hopeful of finding someone more local. Regards, jim

[Jim in Salt Lake]

Chuck did mine and the shipping is pretty easy, just do what he tells you. All I had to ship him was the bare barreled action and the scope and blocks. When it came back, my hundred yard zero was just a few clicks off the bottom and the windage on a no wind day was pretty much centered in the ring. I'm happy, I ended up with having the maximum useful elevation and windage adjustments available. I'm not much of a metal worker so I bought one of his A4orgery bolts. Had a SHT bolt that barely cleared the scope at the 100 yard elevation setting. Don't let the shipping hold you up, it's pretty easy.

[collectorm1ca]

Jim in Salt Lake,
I've been waiting for your post on how your rifle shot in the mid-range matches you mentioned in the other thread. So, what's the report/verdict?

[Jim in Salt Lake]

Hi Collector, I've shot two mid range matches now. Still fighting some problems but when everything is tight, the rifle easily holds the x ring if I read the wind right (and that's a challenge here!). When something loosens up, I'll get a shot that goes 2-3 minutes up or down. The first thing I fixed was replacing the Chinese screws that came with the scope blocks. With good American steel, the blocks no longer loosen up. I'm now fighting the front ring loosening up. The Leatherwood blocks are made of soft steel. I tighten the mounts on the blocks with a screwdriver but the blocks will gall after 30-40 shots and the front mount gets loose. Leatherwood is sending me new mount screws that they say are harder steel. I've ordered new scope blocks from http://steveearleproducts.com/scopeblocks.html. I knew about Steve earlier but Leatherwood sent me there when I asked if they had blocks made with harder steel. Steve's blocks are case hardened and I'm hoping have the same hole pattern as the Leatherwood blocks. I gave Steve the hole spacing measurements and he thinks his blocks will fit. If the new Leatherwood mount screws are still soft, I'll go buy American ones. The one thing that keeps me working through these issues is that the optic quality of the scope is fabulous. A buddy of mine has a 12X Unertl and this Leatherwood is its equal. I'm also not having any trouble with the external adjustments. They're repeatable and consistent. I'm confident I can get past this loosening up issue. When things are tight, this rifle is an absolute hammer and a joy to shoot. I'm pushing 60 and having real problems shooting an AR in Service Rifle so this new game is giving me an alternative. My son is turning 21 next spring and I'll probably give him my AR as he won't be able to use the state junior rifle he has now. Sorry I haven't reported back earlier, I was holding off until I got to the bottom of these loosening up issues. I still plan to take the rifle back to Camp Perry and have my two junior shooters use it there.

[Todd1035]

Awsome job! Your rifles look great! Nice shooting as well.

[jgaynor]

FWIW Chuckindenver recently announced he was going into production of a jig which facilitated the location and drilling of the holes for the scope blocks.

Regards,
Jim

[chuckindenver]

i do have a fixture to drill and tap the front base,,,i have one spare left,,,no they arent cheap..not worth it for a one time job, but if you have a few buddies and maybe a tool share would work...

[Jim in Salt Lake]

Hi Collector, I've shot two mid range matches now. Still fighting some problems but when everything is tight, the rifle easily holds the x ring if I read the wind right (and that's a challenge here!). When something loosens up, I'll get a shot that goes 2-3 minutes up or down. The first thing I fixed was replacing the Chinese screws that came with the scope blocks. With good American steel, the blocks no longer loosen up. I'm now fighting the front ring loosening up. The Leatherwood blocks are made of soft steel. I tighten the mounts on the blocks with a screwdriver but the blocks will gall after 30-40 shots and the front mount gets loose. Leatherwood is sending me new mount screws that they say are harder steel. I've ordered new scope blocks from http://steveearleproducts.com/scopeblocks.html. I knew about Steve earlier but Leatherwood sent me there when I asked if they had blocks made with harder steel. Steve's blocks are case hardened and I'm hoping have the same hole pattern as the Leatherwood blocks. I gave Steve the hole spacing measurements and he thinks his blocks will fit. If the new Leatherwood mount screws are still soft, I'll go buy American ones. The one thing that keeps me working through these issues is that the optic quality of the scope is fabulous. A buddy of mine has a 12X Unertl and this Leatherwood is its equal. I'm also not having any trouble with the external adjustments. They're repeatable and consistent. I'm confident I can get past this loosening up issue. When things are tight, this rifle is an absolute hammer and a joy to shoot. I'm pushing 60 and having real problems shooting an AR in Service Rifle so this new game is giving me an alternative. My son is turning 21 next spring and I'll probably give him my AR as he won't be able to use the state junior rifle he has now. Sorry I haven't reported back earlier, I was holding off until I got to the bottom of these loosening up issues. I still plan to take the rifle back to Camp Perry and have my two junior shooters use it there.

Got the new scope blocks from Steve Earle, unfortunately the holes on the rear block don't line up. I did get new thumb screws from Leatherwood and I'm going to give them a try with the old blocks. I'll keep Steve's blocks to use on the next rifle, they've got a real pretty case harden color, gorgeous!

[Former0302]

I think Steve Earl will create custom scope blocks for you, you just need to tell him the hole spacing you need. I'd give him a call if you want to permanently fix the problem blocks.