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Ridgeline Defense RD-15 LPR

I think the seekins triangular shaped handguards on their semi-monolithics are fugly as hell and I like to make fun of JP for making round handguard tubes in 2026. But guess what problems you never have with either of those two handguards?
Jp's handguards are the worst part about their rifles...super fugly but that new semi mono upper they have now is probably more solid then anything else out. Id like to see a POI test done on one of those. The gas block clearance tho is excellent.

PortaJohn

They say these folks are siding with Trump, but they are actually just complying. Trust me, the left is woven through education and they are simply surviving right now. Their views are still the same, and they are waiting for the opportunity to spring right back to where they were.

Ridgeline Defense RD-15 LPR

The problem there is the RD15 is specifically designed for full reliability and low mass system have notoriously been known for stoppages once the platform becomes compromised with fouling.

But yes they do make for a smooth shooting rifle and if you're not using it for rifle training classes or anything that will have prolong run times without cleaning they are quite enjoyable.
Yep designed for reliability but mine sure isn't. My PCSL match rifle with RCA Ti carrier at 4.9oz and unrivaled buffer has yet to give me the any issues Im having with the RD. I agree with a true duty rifle full mass is the way to go but still think the JP low mass would be plenty reliable even for field matches but again just my opinion and experience.

Ridgeline Defense RD-15 LPR

I tried a .750 Seekins Adjustable and a .750 Aero non-adjustable. I ended up with a BRT non-adjustable .750. I didn't shoot the Seekins, I could tell just looking at it, that it wasn't going to work. They have those nonsymmetrical banana shape at the top.

The JP lo profile ADJ would be interesting to try out. But you're also limited down at the bottom of the block as well. The traditional square bottomed blocks have a little more meat at the 6 0'clock to make room for grub screws threads.

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I have that gas block under a geissele rail which seems similar in dimension to the RD rail. It clears the geissele MK16 just fine on my 11.5 but not sure if barrel whip on a 16" would be worse enough to make contact.
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223 at 300 and 500

This is me guessing from all the threads I've read on the subject, but sounds like the 75gr ELD-Ms are kind of shit.
A great BC and can shoot well, but not very consistent and are generally more sensitive than other bullets.

My Tikka likes 75gr BTHPs and really likes 73gr ELD-Ms, but the 75s were a lot more picky.

It almost seemed like the 80gr ELD-Ms were the better bullet for consistency and less sensitivity.
That's been my opposite experience on my DTA with a 7.7tw barrel. The 75s were less picky than the 80s ELD-M.
Of course all these problems went away when I switched to the Berger 80.5, the true patrician 224 bullet.

Movie Theater "The Long Walk"

You'll like it. Hamill is the villian. Contrary to popular belief he's also the villian in Corvette Summer, which deservedly destroyed his acting career (except for Star Wars sequels) in a single stroke.
I don't care if he's the good guy or the bad guy. I'm not watching it, and giving it the ratings click because they chose a shitbag like Hamill to be in it.
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Firearms New Custom Tikka Packages From Straight Jacket!

We have released two new products at Straight Jacket in April of 2025. Both built off the Tikka T3X action we now offer the Tikka competition package and the Tikka hunter package. Some of our rifles seem a little harder to get into with pricing keeping people wanting the accuracy we provide in our builds. We feel the Tikka T3X action is a great option to help reduce costs but still be reliable and meet our standards. We offer in house financing with zero interest, with 50% needed to start the build, and paid in full before shipping. Call LaWayne at 435-462-1607 for any questions or help you may need. Click these links to see the product, Tikka Competition, Tikka Hunter.
Orange Tikka 2.jpgTikka PRS 5.jpg

Rifle Scopes Razor gen 3 upgrade

  • The illumination in my ZCO 527 went flaky after three years. ZCO Warranty specifically states electronics are covered for two years. Vortex warranty is lifetime for everything.
  • I called about sending my ZCO scope in to be checked. Guy said sure, send it in. I asked for a shipping label. Nope. Send it on your dime. Vortex provided labels for both of my early-release gen-3 Razors to have their gummy turrets "fixed."
  • ZCO warranty explicitly excludes damage from negligence or disaster. Vortex covers both. My son bought a used 1st-gen Strike Eagle several years ago... short version is the scope had a damaged lens; Vortex sent a new one next day.
So, in each company's written coverage and in my actual experience, ZCO warranty is NOT as good as Vortex.


I agree with everything you say in your post, and for the same reasons.

I'm not a Vortex fanboy, nor am I bashing ZCO. All I wanted to do is point out the written warranty differences and my experience with each brand. I've owned or still own at least a dozen Vortex scopes... there are three gen-3 Razors in my safe and I just bought a Strike Eagle 3-18x44 to stick on an AR - in no small part because of all the discounts to be had on Vortex optics, but also because they just get the job done for a very competitive price and... warranty.

To answer your question re illumination: I didn't send the scope in. I actually called about doing so not because of illumination but because my rifle fell off my cart about two feet onto a gravel drive after 2nd stage at a match. I missed a number of targets I should have hit afterward, so I wondered if I had damaged it (negligence!).

I just didn't get a good feeling during and after that call, so I took no action. The illumination kinda sorta works; it's just not bright enough to use on shaded targets in full sun and batteries die pdq. And I discovered that I had used my .223 calculator profile during the match, which is pretty darn close to the 6BR profile under 600-700 yards :rolleyes:. The scope's tracking was and is fine.

It may well be that ZCO would have taken care of illumination gratis had I sent it in.


DBD is right about the thinner optic of the gen-3 Razor (compared to ZCO 527) being a disadvantage in some circumstances. For that exact reason, I swapped the ZCO from my 6BR to my Vudoo .22, and the Vudoo's Razor went to the 6BR. Works better.


It's too bad that you decided not to send it in at the cost of the label, IMO it's reasonable to send them in something to be repaired at the cost of shipping on something on an item that has a specified 2 year warranty which they probably would have covered regardless of it being after 2 years. Vortex is the one company that has nearly a no fault warranty which is awesome, I don't think they let customers purposely damage it which is what happened in the past.
I've seen ZCO fix problems for free that was damaged caused by the customer accidentally, it's on a case by case basis as some people do goofy stuff to their equipment.

I've had customers make a mistake an order the wrong thing, they asked me for a label which shifts all the liability on us.
I'll happily exchange something for another product that they made a mistake on, but they will need to pay the insurance and shipping from them back to us. If we make the mistake then I'll send them a label. I've had products not packaged properly and damaged on the way back to us from a customer when we have no fault on this at all, so we would need to fight with the shipping company and insurance for something no fault of our own.

The shipping cost is not the problem...

-Richard
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Ridgeline Defense RD-15 LPR

I tried a .750 Seekins Adjustable and a .750 Aero non-adjustable. I ended up with a BRT non-adjustable .750. I didn't shoot the Seekins, I could tell just looking at it, that it wasn't going to work. They have those nonsymmetrical banana shape at the top.

The JP lo profile ADJ would be interesting to try out. But you're also limited down at the bottom of the block as well. The traditional square bottomed blocks have a little more meat at the 6 0'clock to make room for grub screws threads.

View attachment 8682308View attachment 8682309

I think most people on here will be running superlative arms gas blocks. They look pretty low profile, maybe a smidge wider in the adjustment area than something like a BCM. I ordered mine yesterday so I’ll be putting the uppers together when they arrive at my dealer. 10 day CA jail for the lowers.
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