Vegan Biathlete

Cleaning a Bolt-Action Rifle in 9 Simple Steps

2012-06-29T23:16:00.000-07:00

The Izhmash Biathlon 7-3 Bolt Action Rifle will be used as an example for cleaning. Removal of the action is specific for every firearm model, but the general cleaning procedures remain the same.

Field-Stripping consists of removing the main component of the firearm, in other words, the action. Field-Stripping a firearm for cleaning should be done on a regular basis, before firing a weapon that has not been used for a long time, and subsequent to every 500 rounds fired.

1. Ensure that the firearm is unloaded.

2. Remove the Bolt.

3. Clean rifle using patches cut to fit the rifle's bore. Use patches in the following order:

I. Dry patch or patch with Nitro Solvent (to remove any residue and carbon build-up); until the patch runs through and no longer appears to be soiled.

II. Oiled patch (to lubricate desired area); once or twice.

III. Dry patch (to remove any excess oil); until the patch is dry after being run through.

4. Clean the bolt with patches, paying particular attention to the face, extractor, and ejector.

5. Insert patches in the appropriate order (see step 3) with a cleaning rod down the bore to clean it. Note: always clean the bore from the breech to the muzzle.

6. [OPTIONAL] Clean the chamber with an old toothbrush or dentist tool. Do not use sharp objects (eg: dentist tools) in the bore; clean only around the bore where the extractor and bolt face rests when the bolt is closed.

7. Reassemble firearm.

8. Pour a drop or two of gun oil onto the closed bolt and cycle (open and close bolt) a few times to lubricate the entire bolt area.

9. Lubricate other metal surfaces of the firearm with a patch, wiping off any excess oil.

HAPPY SHOOTING!

A Typical Low-Intensity Training Day Diet

2012-06-28T20:58:00.000-07:00

Proper nutrition, along with adequate recovery allows athletes to train and perform at their best.

A Typical Low-Intensity Training Day Diet:

Breakfast

Smoothie with Fruit, Hemp and Flax

Soy milk/Almond Milk

Whole Grain Cereal

Berries

Whole Wheat Toast

Nut Butter

Lunch

Brown Rice

Green Leafs (Arugula, Field Greens, Spinach, etc...)

Tofu Sandwich

Snack (Post-Workout)

Brown Rice Protein Drink

Apple

Brown Rice Cakes

First Supper

Whole Grain (Amaranth, Quinoa, etc...)

Bean Salad

Lentils

Carrots

Second Supper

Whole Wheat Pasta

Tomato Sauce

Green Leafs

Vegetable Juice

Nuts

APPROXIMATE CALORIC INTAKE 3000-4000

.22LR Ammunition Testing (AccurateShooter.com)

2012-06-25T23:12:00.002-07:00

In all precision shooting, one can only shoot as well as the cartridge will permit, which is why it is important to know approximately what the smallest grouping obtainable from each brand of cartridge is. The researchers compared the diameter of five five-shot groupings (for a total of twenty-five shots) from a .22LR Swiss-made Bleiker.

None of this extensive research is mine, I simply consolidated and slightly modified it. To see groupings at 75 yards and the entire list, see the Original Author's website (AccurateShooter.com).

*Common biathlon ammunition listed in blue*

50-Yard Results		100-Yard Results
0.162 Eley Tenex Ultimate EPS 0.164 Lapua Midas Plus 0.177 Lapua Polar Biathlon 0.187 Eley Match EPS 0.193 Eley Match 0.203 Lapua Midas M 0.215 Lapua Center X 0.216 Western Value Pack 0.229 Lapua Signum 0.241 Lapua Master L 0.243 Eley Pistol Match 0.256 Olin Ball 0.256 Akah X-Zone 0.261 Lapua Midas L 0.261 Lapua Master M 0.263 Eley Tenex Semi Auto 0.270 Lapua Super Club 0.272 Eley Tenex 0.303 Lapua Standard Plus 0.312 CCI Standard Velocity 0.319 RWS R 50 0.319 Eley Standard 0.328 SK High Velocity 0.339 Eley Club Xtra 0.340 Winchester T22 0.356 Federal Champion 0.362 Eley Subsonic HP 0.371 CCI Mini Mag 0.376 Federal American Eagle 0.377 Norinco Target 0.380 Sellier & Bellot Club 0.384 Eley Club 0.387 Eley Sport 0.388 Totem 0.392 Swartklip Match Trainer 0.398 Federal Gold Medal 0.403 Swartklip HV 0.409 Eley Match Xtra Plus 0.424 Sellier & Bellot Std 0.443 Remington Target 0.461 Lapua Crow HP 0.475 Eley Silhouex 0.479 Magtech 0.498 Eley High Velocity 0.513 Winchester Super X 0.516 Kassnar Concorde 0.539 CCI Blazer 0.560 Winchester Supreme Pistol 0.576 Norinco Pistol Revolver 0.593 SK Standard 0.611 Sellier And Bellot HP 0.626 SK Standard HP 0.686 Logo HV 0.956 Pobjeda Target		0.455 Eley Match 0.510 Lapua Midas Plus 0.549 Lapua Midas M 0.611 Lapua Polar Biathlon 0.611 Eley Tenex Ultimate EPS 0.619 Eley Match EPS 0.622 Eley Club 0.630 Lapua Center X 0.631 RWS R50 0.679 Eley Tenex Semi Auto 0.694 Lapua Midas L 0.729 Eley Tenex 0.739 Lapua Master L 0.753 Lapua Super Club 0.785 Lapua Master M 0.831 Eley Sport 0.851 Eley Match Xtra 0.859 Lapua Standard Plus 0.867 Akah X-Zone 0.877 Eley Pistol Match 0.907 Norinco Target 0.924 Eley Silhouex 0.939 CCI Standard Velocity 0.952 Eley Subsonic HP 0.963 Magtech 0.970 Olin Ball 0.978 Kassnar Concorde 0.995 Eley Club Xtra 1.009 Western Value Pack 1.032 Federal Champion 1.087 Norinco Pistol Revolver 1.100 CCI Mini Mag 1.112 Lapua Crow HP 1.143 Winchester T22 1.142 Federal Gold Medal 1.144 Federal American Eagle 1.156 Swartklip Hollo Point 1.165 Lapua Signum 1.170 Swartklip Match Trainer 1.175 Fed. Champion Value Pk 1.182 SK high Velocity 1.201 Totem 1.224 Winchester Super X 1.358 Eley Standard 1.367 Remington High Velocity 1.375 CCI Blazer 1.414 Eley High Velocity 1.450 Remington Target 1.504 LVE Logo 1.813 SK Standard 1.879 S&B Club 1.947 S&B Hollow Point 2.073 SK Standard HP 2.221 S&B Standard 2.266 Pobjeda Target

The 6 Levels of VEG

2012-06-23T17:34:00.002-07:00

Technically, a vegetarian is a person who has made the conscious choice of not consuming meat. However, since the word "vegetarian" is very broad and loosely defined, there are numerous people who fall into other categories of vegetarianism.

0 - Omnivore

Consumes all animal products

1 - Semi-Vegetarian

Abstains from certain meats, such as red meat

2 - Pescetarian

Abstains from all meats, but will consume fish, mollusks and animal derivatives

3 - Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian

Abstains from all direct animal products (ie: meat or fish) but will consume milk and egg products

4 - Ovo Vegetarian

Abstains from all direct animal products (ie: meat or fish) but will consume egg products

5 - Lacto Vegetarian

Abstains from all direct animal products (ie: meat or fish) but will consume milk products

6 - Vegan

Abstains from all animal products and derivatives

Cheap Ammunition Brands, .22LR

2012-06-20T21:48:00.002-07:00

Unless you're fully sponsored by Lapua, you can't always shoot the best ammunition, especially when you're just shooting for fun (as opposed to training or competing).

I have used a bunch of non-match grade ammunition that are practically dirt cheap. The two cheapest ones I've come across so far are:

.22LR Remington Thunderbolt ($0.04/Cartridge)*
.22LR CCI Blazer ($0.04/Cartridge)*

The Remington Thunderbolts is perhaps the worst ammunition ever encountered. The primers in these rimfire rounds are unreliable, as they misfire quite often. When fired, there is TONS of residue left over. Needless to say, they should only be used for non-precision shooting.

CCI advertises the fact that the Blazer ammunition does not misfire at all. As advertised, I have been through two thousand rounds (roughly) and have never had any issue with misfires or hangfires. Another great thing about this ammunition is that it burns very clean, therefore there is little residue left in the bore. At 50 metres, they have a grouping of roughly an inch, which doesn't cut it for precision shooting. I wouldn't use them for biathlon either, as they are technically high velocity (1235 fps at muzzle). However, they are great for beginners and recreational shooters on a budget. Overall, I'm impressed with CCI Blazer for their performance to price ratio.

All of these results are based on an Izhmash 7-3 (Russian Biathlon Rifle) and every rifle tends to like different ammunition better, but this should give you an idea of the quality of ammunition these low-price brands provide.

*Canadian retail prices for 500 rounds, US prices are way cheaper

Vegan Question Answered: If you eat plants, isn't it just as bad?

2012-06-18T20:01:00.003-07:00

Surprisingly, I get this question very often, generally from my friends and co-workers.

If you eat plants, isn't it just as bad?

There are a few reasons consuming plants isn't as bad as eating animals.

1. Plants don't have "feelings"

Plants don't have the same type of central nervous system as we do, and although they can react to stimuli, they can't feel any pain. (According to various sources, but feel free to correct me if this information is wrong)

2. It's better for the environment

It takes ten times more energy to produce one gram of animal protein than one gram of plant protein. Furthermore, according to the United Nations, the commercial animal producing and processing industry emits more greenhouse gases than any other type of industry in the world.

3. It's much healthier for you.

Eating meat can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease while plants reduce your risk. Fish also bioaccumulate many oceanic toxins because they are higher up in the food chain than aquatic plants like algae.

Peta Rules

2012-06-16T23:30:00.002-07:00

PETA is the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals and they spread the word about vegetarianism and veganism. They reveal the gruesome story behind animals who eventually become your next meal. But more importantly, they make really fun games!

In all seriousness though,
Paul McCartney is going to show you WHAT REALLY HAPPENS to your meat before it arrives on your dinner plate...

Vegan Question Answered: But there's no protein in veggies?!

2012-06-16T20:47:00.001-07:00

So...

Being vegan, I constantly get asked the most ridiculous questions. And I'm going to be answering them once and for all.

But there's no protein in veggies?!

Whole grains, nuts, lentils, beans, and even seeds are excellent sources of protein. As for high performance protein powders for athletes, brown rice and hemp protein is the way to go!

Soy has been proven to boost estrogen levels, which is most likely undesired in males, which is why I do not recommend soy for protein powders (tofu and other soy products are fine, because protein is much less concentrated).

Orienteering? Orienteering!

2012-06-13T19:11:00.002-07:00

Props for first post ever? Anyways, during the off-season when there's no snow, I'm always looking for fun and exciting things to do to help me keep in peak condition. So I stumbled upon a sport known as "orienteering" with my local cadet corps. The Merriam-Webster dictionary describes orienteering as: a cross-country race in which each participant uses a compass and map to navigate between checkpoints along an unfamiliar course. You're assigned locations on a map that you have to attain, sounds simple right? But here's the catch: the shortest route may not necessarily be the easiest or the fastest because it may mean that you're crossing a river, climbing a large hill or bushwhacking through dense forest.That's pretty much all there is to it, but it is extremely fun due to the various terrain encountered during a race.

Check it out for yourself!