Range Report CMMG Mutant Hornady Black 7.62x39

[CaballoDiablo]

It was just another Thursday when I headed into my LGS to see what was worth seeing. Friday would be payday and I had been working some overtime. I had extra money to blo.....I mean spend. I had a whole list of things to buy from Amazon Prime but I figure it never hurts to see what is at the ole War Horse Weapons. As I was browsing the wares, I spied on the wall a CMMG Mutant. That rifle had been on the wall for a year but had never caught my eye until today. A couple of weeks prior, an interest in an ACCURATE and RELIABLE 7.62x39mm struck me. Not sure why but in an effort to scratch the itch I researched the videos and reviews for The Mutant peaking my interest more. So I asked the attendant if I could handle it a bit. She handed me the weapon as the owner of the store came out. He told me that the rifle was costing him money and that I could take it home for $1000 ($1499 MSRP, $1449 on his wall, $1250 at most online/discount retailers) out the door!! The rifle seemed to be of good quality and had received excellent reviews so I told him I wanted it. Of course I had to wait a day (for payday), but Friday, there I was, buying the Mutant. So I took it home and installed the Nikko scope (3.5-10x44) that came with my HOWA and S.S.A.L.T base on the rifle.

Now my experience with semiauto (or in one case select fire) rifles is largely limited to the M16A2, SKS, and My DB15 6.5 Grendel. This is only the 2nd AR I have purchased and the 3rd semiauto rifle. I was very surprised that out of the box with 7.62x39, I was able to shoot near MOA (1.2 @ 100yards) with factory ammunition (Hornady Black 123gr SST.)

The rifle also fed 40 rounds of steel cased Silver Bear 123gr SP without fail. Before the second trip to the range with this rifle, I swapped the Nikko scope for my SWFA 3-15x42.

This is where it I was joyously surprised! The rifle and I were able to up post up sub MOA 5 shot groups at 200 yards.

Not just once either.

The facility that I shoot at has 2 rifle ranges. The first has 50, 100, and 200 yard lines. The second range goes from 250-850 yards. In order to qualify for the longer range you must group 5 shots under MOA at 200 yards. I have tried (unsuccessfully) to do this multiple times with both my DB15 6.5 Grendel and my Howa 25-06. I was beginning to think I was the problem. Apparently not! The pics attached here are attempts 2 and 3 to qualify for the long range. All this from a rifle on the wall for a year! And needless to say, I still have a whole list of things to buy from Amazon Prime!!!

 

[SUIScide]

Has it been reliable? I’ve often thought of using this for hogs. 300 BO is ok but the good hunting ammo kind of pricey

 

[CaballoDiablo]

Has it been reliable? I’ve often thought of using this for hogs. 300 BO is ok but the good hunting ammo kind of pricey

I have only put about 225 rounds through it. That had been a mix of hornady black, silver bear, and red army. Not a single failure yet, but round count is still low. Iraq Veteran 8888 (IV8888) did a fire to failure torture test on the rifle on his YouTube channel. The gas tube finally failed (the gas tube was designed as the preferred failure point on DI guns when they get hot/This was so they could still be fired ac a single shot rifle) after 1200 and something rounds! A $16 fix and the rifle would have been back in business. I can say, it is shooting the red army standard at about 1.5 MOA which is damn good for $0.20 a round ammo! I bought this rifle for the exact reason you are considering it. When you account for ammo cost and a availability, for unsuppressed supersonic hunting, I believe ot beats the .300 BO hands down. But that is just my opinion!