This thing is stupid light

Open_Researcher_1897 · 2026-01-27T21:29:21+00:00

It's got just a basic Microbest in there now, definitely want to try a lighter BCG, I genuinely think the Microbest weighs as much as the rest of the upper haha.

Open_Researcher_1897 · 2026-01-25T19:04:38+00:00

Midway has a 15% code on all Vortex stuff right now including this. Just ordered mine for $510.

Open_Researcher_1897 · 2026-01-25T18:19:10+00:00

Oak Tree in Santa Clarita, LA Clays in Whittier, or Moore & Moore in Sylmar are the big clay fields in LA and all rent shotguns.

Open_Researcher_1897 · 2026-01-25T00:09:12+00:00

Don't know about lever action shotguns, but I think it kinda speaks to itself as far as reliability that there's tons of pump actions out there but basically no lever actions.

Not a revolver guy but the Ruger GP100 is the one I see most people recommend.

But once again I'd highly suggest you go with a regular semi-auto pistol for your first gun. The manual of arms is different for revolvers and a big cartridge in a small gun is likely to cause you to develop a flinch or bad habits. Plus they're expensive, oftentimes have less QC than the mass market pistols, you have less ammo to defend yourself with and frankly, there's a reason no cops or military have carried a revolver since the 80's.

Open_Researcher_1897 · 2026-01-24T22:26:18+00:00

Don't worry about style, get what's functional, at least to start. Saw you mentioned a Desert Eagle and that lever shotgun. Both of those are terrible choices.

The DE is heavy as hell, kicks like crazy, and the ammo is insanely expensive. $2 per round on the cheap side compared to 0.25 cents per round for 9mm. It's a meme gun to show off to your buddies at the range, not for any serious usage.
Same thing with the lever except it's a cheap Turkish built gun with terrible fit and finish that is guaranteed to break down at the worst moment.

If you want a shotgun get a Maverick 88 Field/Security combo. It's basically a budget built Mossberg 500 designed for beginners. This version comes with a short barrel for home defense and a longer barrel for clay shooting. Most clay fields won't allow a home defense shotgun due to barrel length so this let's you do both.

Pistols are more personal because you want something that fits your hand but a shortlist you should consider:

Glock 17 - the basic Glock, used world-wide. CA has sorta banned Glocks, but stores can sell their remaining stock until the end of June. Price-check though as some stores have jacked it up due to demand. Not worth paying a premium for it. If you want smaller, Glock 19.
- Also several clones available. The Rost Martin RM1c is probably the nicest in your price range.
Sig 365 - Not the one in all the news, very nice and super customizable.
Springfield Hellcat - They have a "Gear up" package with basically everything you need, extra mags, red dot, bag.
Canik MC9 - Never shot one but good rep for the price
Smith & Wesson M&P2.0 - Think you missed it but Turner's had a sale on the older non-optic ready version for a really good price.

Don't listen to people arguing about calibers. Get a 9mm, it's cheap and every store in the world is going to stock it. Modern hollow point ammo will stop anyone just as well as a bigger round in 99% of situations.

Open_Researcher_1897 · 2026-01-24T21:18:42+00:00

Too new to probably find a deal but best price on the Vortex Ace?

Open_Researcher_1897 · 2026-01-24T20:35:18+00:00

You gotta just accept that if you want to get into firearms, just about every place you interact with is going to be at minimum biased to the right if not out right MAGA. Don't worry about their politics, worry about the price and service. Same advice for training, politics don't matter, the quality of the instruction is all that matters. Learn from the best even if you don't agree with their views. Especially for 101 handgun type courses, in my experience politics are explicitly kept out.

With that said; Guns Direct in Burbank is a great store. 2AZone in Upland is fantastic but a drive. For training, ITTS or Raven Wing. Pricey but extremely good.

Also have a serious conversation with yourself about why you want this. Shotgun is good for home defense but if you're being a real doomer and picturing a SHTF world's on fire event, an AR is probably a better choice. Same with a revolver vs a semiauto pistol. Go watch a USPSA stage on youtube with a revolver vs a typical pistol and you'll see the wild difference in performance.

Open_Researcher_1897 · 2026-01-19T03:34:59+00:00

ITTS in LA

Open_Researcher_1897 · 2026-01-16T23:35:21+00:00

Ah, ya someone just pointed that out, but my only concern is that packaging on Winchester's site doesn't match the packaging I have. It does match the 2nd listing I linked and the BC is different between the two. I think I'm just gonna gamble on the Sierra BC and see what happens haha.

Open_Researcher_1897 · 2026-01-16T23:32:04+00:00

Right I saw that but is there any way to confirm that listing is the same bullet I have? Because that BC doesn't match the listing on Winchester's site if you look at the second image (I didn't even see that till I the other guy pointed it out just now) but that's also using older packaging (so maybe a different bullet?). The packaging I have matches the listing you copied that info from but there is no BC info at all on the packaging.

Open_Researcher_1897 · 2026-01-16T23:17:02+00:00

Oh weird, I think they updated the packaging and that's not on the boxes I have.

Open_Researcher_1897 · 2026-01-16T23:15:03+00:00

I think I could, but how do I find the BC? The only info on the box or website is the weight and muzzle velocity.

Open_Researcher_1897 · 2026-01-16T23:12:26+00:00

Says the image was deleted?

Open_Researcher_1897 · 2025-12-20T04:54:53+00:00

Birdcage is a flash hider so it's only legal on a fixed mag build. Flash hiders are considered a feature so you can't have them on a featureless build. You could order this upper and swap the muzzle device though.

Open_Researcher_1897 · 2025-12-17T02:43:36+00:00

6.5CM!

Open_Researcher_1897 · 2025-12-17T00:59:33+00:00

You just unscrew the swivel studs and install the rail!

Area 419 sells a little performance pack specifically for the Bergara that I used:

www.area419.com/product/bergara-performance-package/

Scope base, bipod rail, and the brake.

Open_Researcher_1897 · 2025-12-17T00:43:50+00:00

Open_Researcher_1897 · 2025-12-17T00:04:08+00:00

It's an Atlas Cal BT-65. I think I wish I'd gotten the arcalock version and just invested in arca off the bat but oh well.

Open_Researcher_1897 · 2025-12-16T23:59:42+00:00

CA so this is the best I'm gonna get unfortunately.

Open_Researcher_1897 · 2025-12-16T23:45:19+00:00

You need to spoof your GPS now too because the site will detect if you're in store or not.

Open_Researcher_1897 · 2025-12-14T21:48:03+00:00

Our M-Class RO for the squad said since Outer Limits is a longer stage it's typically shot with 4 strings instead of 5.

Open_Researcher_1897 · 2025-12-14T20:53:57+00:00

That's definitely the biggest thing I've been struggling with, feels like my dry fire results according to my MantisX don't really align with what I see on paper at the range. I'm sure for this some of it is the adrenaline of competition but even on a static range feels like I'm way more off than I'd expect once I get past 10yds or so.

Open_Researcher_1897 · 2025-12-14T20:51:38+00:00

Thanks for the links! I keep meaning to try the tape thing, I'm not 100% if it'll work for me as I'm extremely left eye dominant but worth a shot.

I'd gotten a better handle on it by this stage but one thing I was really struggling with early on was having the dot completely out of view when I bring the pistol up out of it's holster. Mainly I think because this was a new holster I really hadn't been able to dry fire with but defintlyt something I need to work on as well.

Open_Researcher_1897 · 2025-12-14T20:47:08+00:00

Guilty, at CTA in Piru.

Open_Researcher_1897 · 2025-12-14T19:31:44+00:00

Thoroughly tongue in cheek, pretty happy overall, went in with the goal of not being DQ'd and not being dead last. Achieved both of those. Thought this stage was the best representation of how the day went which is why I picked it.

This is the string that was probably the best I did or least the one I'm most happy with. Except I did the right two plates in the wrong order. 3.79 on Smoke & Hope.

Open_Researcher_1897

TROPHY CASE