Cheapest Long Range, High Speed, Tack Driver AR Project

[Lycanthrope]

They grow up sooooo fast......

[BFit70]

wow i really like the carbon fiber. when you testing her out?

[Lycanthrope]

I may get to try it tomorrow if I can get off work early. I still have to lock down the scope screws and adjust the gas flow through the gas block. And...... I only have a few 69gr loads in stock. I can't expect best accuracy with 55gr and 1:7 twist.

The carbon handguard is nice because it really doesn't heat up and only weighs 6oz. You can run a bit heavier barrel up front and still stay relatively light.

[roland]

Thats a beauty!

[Lycanthrope]

Sorry, it's been a while, but I didn't have time to whip up some varying handloads. Finally, got to that this week.

A couple things first:

If you really want the best accuracy, go with the standard 11 degree target crown. Although the WOA barrel is threaded, it is still crowned. That and the M4 ramps make these barrels a real bargain. Of course, I need a muzzle brake and Midway was all out of peel washers to index it. So, I used a crush washer instead that I overcrushed a bit. Crush washers take about 25-35lbs to index and can hurt your accuracy a litte bit. I try to stay at about 5-10lbs and I Loctite my brakes on.

Next, I broke this barrel in with cleaning after the first 40 shots and then just bore snaking after every 5 shots until I got to 100 rounds. It's how my Gator was recomended to be broken in so I followed suit here. Whatever the case, neither of these guns copper foul easily.

OK, on to the shooting. I tried some old favorites and some heavier/longer bullets to push the 1:7 twist. I used some Wolf 55 gr FMJ as a baseline (the Gator runs it at under 2moa consistently), American EagleFederal 55gr BT, 69gr Sierra Match Kings over Varget (the Gator's favorite .5 moa load), 68gr Hornady BTHP over Varget and BLC-2 and the 77gr Nosler Custom Competition BTHP over Varget and BLC-2.

Quick summary: This 1:7 barrel doesn't like light/short bullets.

The Wolf consistently printed groups in the 2.5 MOA range. What can I say, it's Wolf. It's also underpowered. While everything else cycled the gun, the Wolf would barely lock back the bolt with the gas turned down. Good plinking stuff though.

American Eagle/Federal 55g BT. This is my over the counter 3 gun ammo. Shoots sub-moa all the time in the Gator and it's 1:9 twist rate. Consistent 1.5 moa groups in this new gun.

69g Sierra Match Kings over Varget. My go-time load in the Gator. Every AR I have had has LOVED this load....even the White Oak Service rifle. The best I could produce were 5 shot groups around 1.3 inches.

On to the longer bullets. Despite being one grain lighter than the 69SMK, the Hornady 68g BTHP Match has a longer distance between the olgive and the base so it looks bigger to the barrel. I tried it with some Varget and we had some solid 1 MOA groupings. With BLC-2, I shot four 3 shot groups of .5-.6 inches. I didn't try varying charges, but I bet I could get Varget and the 68 down to that too. Regardless, BLC-2 flows like WATER through a progressive press and powder throw so this load will make it to some matches this year.

Finally the 77g Nosler Custom Competition BTHP. I never tried this one before, but I love Ballistic Tips and Accu-Bonds enough to trust it.

77g and BLC-2 put on a nice showing with .75 groupings. I moved into the Varget and:

It shot 4, 3 shot groups into .24 inches and then threw one high (or I did) to bring the 5th 3 shot group out to .515. I stopped there.

I'll work some differing powder charges for these last two bullets in the future. Or, maybe I'll leave well enough alone (I doubt it.)

I didn't clean the gun after shooting, but I did let it cool after every 6 shots.

Lycanstilltinkeringthrope

[markheck1]

To resurrect this thread......

I just shot that thing this weekend,

OMG!!!!! it's sweet!

[Pector55]

Originally Posted by Lycanthrope

The carbon handguard is nice because it really doesn't heat up and only weighs 6oz. You can run a bit heavier barrel up front and still stay relatively light.

When I first saw that carbon fiber, I wanted to photoshop a "Type R" Autozone badge and put some neon underneath it to be a smartass. Then I figured just what you said. It's lite! Nice rifle!

[ithinkimamedic]

Lycan let me shoot this baby this past sunday and needless to say it's as sweet as Sweet tea!!! I think I now need to make one too!!! damn it if I don't happen to have a lower sitting on the shelf too!
Good job Lycan!

CHeers,
Josh

oh! and thanks for letting me shoot this and the Edge!

[ithinkimamedic]

BTW what optic did you have on it?

[MMH]

Good Post - I learned alot.