Mini-14 picatinny rails and scope!

Just got my new mount and scope for my mini-14 carbine. It's a cheapo Leapers scope, but it's still pretty nice. (Nitrogen filled tube, so it's waterproof/fogproof, included flip up covers, lens coating to reduce glare/reflection.) The mount is also made by Leapers, under their UTG line of products. Not only does it have a top picatinny rail for the scope, but it also has a side mount as well, for a laser or flashlight.





The rail mounts to a replacement bolt locking cover plate, which slips right in to place. You only have to field strip the receiver/barrel assembly from the stock, which is very easy to do. Then you just screw the rail assembly in to the plate, and tighten down the adjustment screws.

Also, the rail is raised above the integral Ruger scope mounting points, so that - unlike the factory mounting system - you can still use the iron sights while a scope is mounted. It also prevents hot brass from being ejected in to the bottom of your scope.

The whole assembly seems pretty solid, and it's all supposed to be built for semi-auto centerfire rifles, so the shock from rapid firing the guns shouldn't affect the scope zero. I'll check that out at the range tonight and post if I find differently.

Plastic water bottles: Toxic or not so much?

Not so much. SNOPES

My mother-in-law is very wary of plastic water bottles because of an email she received. I wish people would research these stories before they assume the worst. Nine times out of ten, when e-Moses claims the end is nigh, he is spouting words pulled directly from his anal orifice. (Credit to the dad-in-law for his catch phrase...)

Also, microwaving them is no danger either. SNOPES