OK, Time for results. The rifle performed well. I had the chance to put about 35 rounds through the gun this afternoon, taking time to run a boresnake down the bore after every couple of groups. The rifle functioned 100% with good positive ejection and locking on empty with every load tested. No malfunctions of any kind. The bore was cleaned prior to initial firing and the gun was lubricated with weaponshield. Loads tested included the following:
Hornady 75gr Match
Hornady 55gr vmax
Southwest 77gr SMK
Southwest 69gr SMK
Black Hills 5.56mm 77gr OTM (MK262)
Federal Fusion 62gr
Prvi 223 55gr ball ammo used for initial zero just to get near zero.
All groups fired at 100 yards
Groups were measured edge to edge and the bullet diameter of 0.224 was subtracted for center to center measurements.
Grid is 1" squares
Hornady 75gr Match (marked the target incorrectly) 0.692“
This group got me pretty excited. I had just cleaned the bore. First round flew high left. The next three went into one hole. A second group printed about 0.70" - Southwest 69gr SMK
Hornady 55gr vmax - 0.696"
Black Hills 5.56mm 77gr OTM (MK262) - 0.446"
Other loads grouped between 0.75 - 1 MOA. Nothing was greater than 1 MOA. I didn't shoot any ball rounds for groups, as they generally aren't capable of grouping in a manner that would reflect the actual accuracy potential of the gun. On the whole, I think it did very well, especially for factory loads. The owner could probably get even better results with a good handload worked up specifically for the barrel. And in my experience, groups should tighten up some after the first couple hundred rounds. But as it stands, the gun shoots a pretty consistent 0.75 MOA with multiple loads and has the potential to shoot a couple of loads closer to 0.50 MOA.
PS - looking forward to seeing some pictures of wile e coyote laid low by this rig after the competition ends this weekend.
Hornady 75gr Match
Hornady 55gr vmax
Southwest 77gr SMK
Southwest 69gr SMK
Black Hills 5.56mm 77gr OTM (MK262)
Federal Fusion 62gr
Prvi 223 55gr ball ammo used for initial zero just to get near zero.
All groups fired at 100 yards
Groups were measured edge to edge and the bullet diameter of 0.224 was subtracted for center to center measurements.
Grid is 1" squares
Hornady 75gr Match (marked the target incorrectly) 0.692“
This group got me pretty excited. I had just cleaned the bore. First round flew high left. The next three went into one hole. A second group printed about 0.70" - Southwest 69gr SMK
Hornady 55gr vmax - 0.696"
Black Hills 5.56mm 77gr OTM (MK262) - 0.446"
Other loads grouped between 0.75 - 1 MOA. Nothing was greater than 1 MOA. I didn't shoot any ball rounds for groups, as they generally aren't capable of grouping in a manner that would reflect the actual accuracy potential of the gun. On the whole, I think it did very well, especially for factory loads. The owner could probably get even better results with a good handload worked up specifically for the barrel. And in my experience, groups should tighten up some after the first couple hundred rounds. But as it stands, the gun shoots a pretty consistent 0.75 MOA with multiple loads and has the potential to shoot a couple of loads closer to 0.50 MOA.
PS - looking forward to seeing some pictures of wile e coyote laid low by this rig after the competition ends this weekend.
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