Most underrated equipment

[Dthomas3523]

Since we were talking about overrated, what are some things you find underrated or overlooked?

Mandrels and Hydro press. I find using mandrels to control neck tension and hydro press to monitor seating pressure have dropped my ES into single digits almost overnight. While this isn’t anything new to people on the hide or in the know, it’s rare to see in general.

Good pair of binos and actually using them. Sure, at big matches you see a lot. But at local matches it’s usually only one or two guys with a pair out. Was probably the best thing I ever did to get better (and still learning a lot) with wind. Stare through a pair of good binos while everyone is shooting.

 

[19Scout77]

Rem 700 actions

 

[Deleted member 113831]

Rem 700 actions

Funny story,

I walked into Mile High while I was in the area visiting family. I had never been in there, and figured I'd make the pilgrimage.... I like to skulk around unnoticed if I can, my standard response to "Can I help you?" is "No, just looking for something I can't do without".

Well, one of those employees was intent on helping me...the whole retail space is less than probably 100 ft x 50 ft, so it's not like I could get away from him anyway. He was trying to show me this and that, but fairly quickly asked, "What other guns do you have?".

I said," ...A Rem700 300Win,....a Rem700 308Win,....a Rem700 30-06....", (all have been trued and built by outstanding rifle builders)

I was just about to get to the custom BAT Machine I own, when the guy says to me," Oh.....you like Remingtons...", and with that declaration, he turned on his heel and didn't speak a word to me the whole rest of the time I was there!

I was like a "ghost" lurking 20ft from him for the next hour or so.

 

[C.R. Adams]

slings - and their proper use.

 

[LawnMM]

practice ammo

 

[kthomas]

Fundamentals

 

[alfmoonspace]

Just like any skill, practice more and you will get better.

Shoot more always helps me.

 

[SD Carpenter]

I seem to be one of the only people at the local range with paper and a pen writing down data, definitely counts as underrated.

 

[AIAW]

Funny story,

I walked into Mile High while I was in the area visiting family. I had never been in there, and figured I'd make the pilgrimage.... I like to skulk around unnoticed if I can, my standard response to "Can I help you?" is "No, just looking for something I can't do without".

Well, one of those employees was intent on helping me...the whole retail space is less than probably 100 ft x 50 ft, so it's not like I could get away from him anyway. He was trying to show me this and that, but fairly quickly asked, "What other guns do you have?".

I said," ...A Rem700 300Win,....a Rem700 308Win,....a Rem700 30-06....", (all have been trued and built by outstanding rifle builders)

I was just about to get to the custom BAT Machine I own, when the guy says to me," Oh.....you like Remingtons...", and with that declaration, he turned on his heel and didn't speak a word to me the whole rest of the time I was there!

I was like a "ghost" lurking 20ft from him for the next hour or so.

Ohhhh damn, you said the "R" word in the House of AI. You sir are brave! ?

 

[AIAW]

Most underrated equipment today... hmmm. I'm really struggling here as I honestly can't think of a single physical item that I have wanted to purchase or already own that has "blown me out of the water". Optics in relation to clarity/resolution have no doubt come a long way.

Perhaps the cumulative knowledge of people here could be considered somewhat underrated in a way. Sure, there's always BS to wade through, false claims, over-inflated issues and such - but overall when you skim the fat off, the collective knowledge in most threads can be a very powerful item.

 

[DisplacedTexan]

Single stage triggers. You can shove an extra stage up your ass.

 

[Hippy_Steve]

I seem to be one of the only people at the local range with paper and a pen writing down data, definitely counts as underrated.

Me too. The old fat bastards on the range give me a harry eyeball when I roll up with my AIAT and notebook. They soften up after they start to hear me ring the 1000 yard steel gong ring over and over. When they ask how I do it, I show them my notebook.

 

[AIAW]

Single stage triggers. You can shove an extra stage up your ass.

Don't hold back now... tell us how you really feel about that extra stage

 

[Steel head]

I seem to be one of the only people at the local range with paper and a pen writing down data, definitely counts as underrated.

this is my vote.
I resisted for years and regret it.

 

[_Windrider_]

Funny story,

I walked into Mile High while I was in the area visiting family. I had never been in there, and figured I'd make the pilgrimage.... I like to skulk around unnoticed if I can, my standard response to "Can I help you?" is "No, just looking for something I can't do without".

Well, one of those employees was intent on helping me...the whole retail space is less than probably 100 ft x 50 ft, so it's not like I could get away from him anyway. He was trying to show me this and that, but fairly quickly asked, "What other guns do you have?".

I said," ...A Rem700 300Win,....a Rem700 308Win,....a Rem700 30-06....", (all have been trued and built by outstanding rifle builders)

I was just about to get to the custom BAT Machine I own, when the guy says to me," Oh.....you like Remingtons...", and with that declaration, he turned on his heel and didn't speak a word to me the whole rest of the time I was there!

I was like a "ghost" lurking 20ft from him for the next hour or so.

Now it would have been more epic if you walked up and bought and AI from someone else right in front of him.

 

[_Windrider_]

Dry fire time is definitely an underrated training evolution.

 

[kindabitey]

I seem to be one of the only people at the local range with paper and a pen writing down data, definitely counts as underrated.

I've gone back to writing things in a notebook. I've lost way too much info trying to keep it electronically, only to have a phone or tablet take a dump.

 

[goldenbear926]

practice ammo

Fundamentals

100%

 

[Lunchbox27]

1. Chamber flags... cuz at least I know it’s empty when some crayon eating mofo sweeps the line.

2. Hornady cam lock bullet puller. Never going back to the hammer.

 

[BigPineyTradingPost]

Barrel cooling fans.

 

[GTOJOSH]

Condoms.
Especially in the world today if you work with the public, you know there are some folks you wish were never conceived.

 

[Dthomas3523]

Condoms.
Especially in the world today if you work with the public, you know there are some folks you wish were never conceived.

1/10. Try again.

 

[loveha]

Like already mentioned.
Data book and dry firing.

 

[Namekagon]

Suppressors. Most people don't want to deal with the wait/paperwork/expense. Must think it isn't worth it. But once you have one, it sucks to shoot without one.

 

[Slab74]

My dope book. I’ve never seen another one at my range. One day a guy walked past me and asked what I was writing. I told him I was tracking poi with a few different factory loads. Then he asked how many rounds had shot. I told him 27 today and 238 total with this gun. He then walked away. It always shocks me that I see shooters working up loads without taking notes. I guess they have a way better memory than I do.

 

[VSki]

Boots.

When temps are in the single digits, or negative, I would rather be shooting with substandard equipment and great footwear than vice versa.

 

[MarinePMI]

Revic scopes

FX-120 V3 scales

Neither get the credit they deserve

 

[Cascade Precision]

3 legged fold up stool. I carry one on my pack everywhere (hunting and comps). Gives me a hasty elevated front rest, a place to sit, and if I set my tripod up right, I can sit and shoot and be above vegetation.

 

[lead.rain]

One that hasn't been mentioned yet - Good fitting ear pro. Arguably one of the things that is so simple, but can make your long range days uncomfortable if you don't have something that is comfortable for you.

 

[M8541Reaper]

A quality pen.
Don’t think it was mentioned yet, so figured I’d throw it out there.
doesn't matter what environment you’re talking about, be it sitting in a two hour long conference call at the office, risking your life proned out in a public range bay, or out hunting 2 or 4 legged meals. I guess you could also use it to write down phone numbers, but let’s be honest, she isn’t giving you a real number if you pull out note-taking material at the club. ...that shit would fly at the Golden Corral, but not at the Blue Oyster gents.

 

[pmclaine]

A quality pen.
Don’t think it was mentioned yet, so figured I’d throw it out there.
doesn't matter what environment you’re talking about, be it sitting in a two hour long conference call at the office, risking your life proned out in a public range bay, or out hunting 2 or 4 legged meals. I guess you could also use it to write down phone numbers, but let’s be honest, she isn’t giving you a real number if you pull out note-taking material at the club. ...that shit would fly at the Golden Corral, but not at the Blue Oyster gents.

All my field books sport some version of this......

Rite in the Rain Black Metal Clicker Pen, No. 97

All Weather Pen writes on wet paper and upside down, pressurized ink cartridge performs in temperatures from -30F to 250F. Black waterproof ink.

www.riteintherain.com

When I want to do more than chicken scratch I use this one the Fams got me for my birthday few years ago. I use it for cards and notes.....

Century II Translucent Blue Lacquer Fountain Pen

CTRYII FP-TBLU/R-FS-BXD*

www.cross.com

Cross aint made in CT anymore. Id like to get a vintage Parker with a fine nib.

Walking the halls of the Embassy in Moscow I found one of these.....

Meisterstück Gold-Coated LeGrand Ballpoint Pen - Ballpoint pens

Discover all the details of the Meisterstück Gold-Coated LeGrand Ballpoint Pen. Choose between Standard or Express shipping and shop on the official Montblanc store

www.montblanc.com

Posted an ad in the Embassy paper trying to return it with no takers. Always even till this day thought it was a Soviet bug dropped for some idiot to pick up and bring into a sensitive space. Despite the hype the pen kind of sucks as it suffers from the bad habit cross pens have - the pressure of writing causes the mechanism to reverse and the ink ball turtles back into the pen body. "Precious Resin" by the way is fucking plastic.

The Rite in the Rains are much more dependable.

 

[pmclaine]

Here is a data book I picked up within the last six months and expect to get good utility out of.....

PRECISION SCOPED RIFLE - MIR - THULS | STāNOTE

PRECISION SCOPED RIFLE-VADE MECUM

m-i-r.com

The manufacturer is in NH and produces a similar product that Sig issues in their classes.

Its a neat but limited system some of the page offerings are specific to Sig so it will be handy when I take classes there.

It is very compact, easily cargo pocket compact.

I like the idea that its limited capacity will force me to purge old data that likely no longer has relevancy.

If you search through the products page on that site you will find a cover, alcohol erasing sprayers, range card pages and most important to me the standard Sig Sauer PSR target page.

Business is owned by a Marine.

 

[M8541Reaper]

All my field books sport some version of this......

Rite in the Rain Black Metal Clicker Pen, No. 97

All Weather Pen writes on wet paper and upside down, pressurized ink cartridge performs in temperatures from -30F to 250F. Black waterproof ink.

www.riteintherain.com

When I want to do more than chicken scratch I use this one the Fams got me for my birthday few years ago. I use it for cards and notes.....

Century II Translucent Blue Lacquer Fountain Pen

CTRYII FP-TBLU/R-FS-BXD*

www.cross.com

Cross aint made in CT anymore. Id like to get a vintage Parker with a fine nib.

Walking the halls of the Embassy in Moscow I found one of these.....

Meisterstück Gold-Coated LeGrand Ballpoint Pen - Ballpoint pens

Discover all the details of the Meisterstück Gold-Coated LeGrand Ballpoint Pen. Choose between Standard or Express shipping and shop on the official Montblanc store

www.montblanc.com

Posted an ad in the Embassy paper trying to return it with no takers. Always even till this day thought it was a Soviet bug dropped for some idiot to pick up and bring into a sensitive space. Despite the hype the pen kind of sucks as it suffers from the bad habit cross pens have - the pressure of writing causes the mechanism to reverse and the ink ball turtles back into the pen body. "Precious Resin" by the way is fucking plastic.

The Rite in the Rains are much more dependable.

It writes like shit because of the listening device comrade. ? Yea my field books have a write in the rain in em as well. Office pens are a different story, as there are multiples that each have their own purpose.

Also, the THULS are awesome. Found out about em for the first time a few weeks ago in the data management thread. Snagged an SS and PR one. Wish there was something like them #BackInMyDay #WhichWasAWednesday

 

[RESTLESSNATIVES]

Whats underrated equipment well -
the proper bolt handle for the rifle you are using that day in a comp ,
when the right bolt handle is in your gun safe 2 bloody hours away !!!

 

[MarinePMI]

Never understood why some separate the bolt from the rifle during storage....

 

[Clownbuster]

All the weight lifting equipment at the gym you signed up to use for your "New Years resolution". Get in the gym fatass.

 

[RESTLESSNATIVES]

Never understood why some separate the bolt from the rifle during storage....

Over here in the UK the police like it if you can if all possible make it as hard as you can for thieves if they break into your house so having one small gun safe with ammo and the bolts for your rifles and another gun safe with the unusable firearms , keeps them happy.
But can be a bugger if you are in a hurry and make a mistake .

 

[Aaros143]

3 legged fold up stool. I carry one on my pack everywhere (hunting and comps). Gives me a hasty elevated front rest, a place to sit, and if I set my tripod up right, I can sit and shoot and be above vegetation.

That's a legit idea. Holy fuck I wish I would've though of that in sniper school

 

[iceng]

Fundamentals

Stupid double image. Worth it.

 

[Austinjunks]

Kind of falls in line with data books I guess. Hard copy of drop data in competition. I love seeing people spinning a kestrel and jumping in their phones for data every stage. By the end of the day, phones dead and they are scrambling.

 

[Cascade Precision]

Kind of falls in line with data books I guess. Hard copy of drop data in competition. I love seeing people spinning a kestrel and jumping in their phones for data every stage. By the end of the day, phones dead and they are scrambling.

I just shot a match and knew that times were going to be tight, so I wrote everything down the night before on my armboard. Saved so much time. I did not go by little increments, just enough to get good dope for a hit.

 

[kthomas]

When I get the match book, I'll flip through it and write down dope for yardages for every single stage as a backup.

I'm still one that takes a kestrel reading every stage to get real time info, but I do like to be prepared with a backup as electronics can and do fail. I need to print out hard data books with my dope, it's on my list for 2020.

And those that rely solely on their cellphones are inviting disaster.

 

[Austinjunks]

When I get the match book, I'll flip through it and write down dope for yardages for every single stage as a backup.

I'm still one that takes a kestrel reading every stage to get real time info, but I do like to be prepared with a backup as electronics can and do fail. I need to print out hard data books with my dope, it's on my list for 2020.

And those that rely solely on their cellphones are inviting disaster.

All the comps I shoot are blind stages, I like the field stuff. I've never shot a match where I got a match book before hand, that's on my 2020 list, start doing prs 2 days.

 

[99106]

Ban Cat list for friends you shouldn't go to the range with
Non-crappy paper targets
Suppressors
Well laid out Range bags - still searching
Eye and ear pro
Soft rifle cases that actually fit, protect your gun and aren't a pita to get the gun in and out of

 

[PracticalTactical]

A quality pen.
Don’t think it was mentioned yet, so figured I’d throw it out there.
doesn't matter what environment you’re talking about, be it sitting in a two hour long conference call at the office, risking your life proned out in a public range bay, or out hunting 2 or 4 legged meals. I guess you could also use it to write down phone numbers, but let’s be honest, she isn’t giving you a real number if you pull out note-taking material at the club. ...that shit would fly at the Golden Corral, but not at the Blue Oyster gents.

These have been my fav for many many years.
Goes back to the 80's when I was on the drafting board and they are still around.

They are like Eley Tenex for writing, even have a certain unmistakable smell

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B079YQ8XVH...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

 

[natdscott]

A checking account that isn't over-drafted.

A good pair of boots, and a reliable vehicle with either 4WD or AWD.

 

[PracticalTactical]

A somewhat gullible wife.

 

[pmclaine]

These have been my fav for many many years.
Goes back to the 80's when I was on the drafting board and they are still around.

They are like Eley Tenex for writing, even have a certain unmistakable smell

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B079YQ8XVH...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

Bought a bunch of Staedler "Permanent" pens recently.

The manufacturer of the Mirs-Thuls books recommends them for use on his reusable pages.

They erase nicely with 90 percent alcohol.

Outfitting my range data books with them as the sharpies die off.

 

[Guns&WhiteWater]

I second the Hornady bullet puller. Very underrated but so useful. Also a breakdown cleaning rod for just in case.

 

[Bertoli888]

For me is shooting .308 WIN in practice. This one forces me to be on my game on marksmanship fundamentals. And not a fancy custom match gun, one with heavy trigger pull better!