New born FN Ballista

[Flip#1]

Well after playing with the MSR338, AI338 I pull the trigger and decided to be the odd ball and get the ballista will se how she performs. I have a MSR at work so I know the short falls of it. So far I don’t know how this gun got beat by the MSR during the selection this gun is way better so far on Day one inspection than the MSR. let’s see how it holds up and shoots. I own a 300 in a AI chassis and my buddy has the AI in 308 and one in 338 plus the MSR338 from work hopefully by the end of the month I will have a good report of the Ballista.
Now this is the crazy part optics. I have a S&B PM-II 5-25 H59, Leupold MK-8 H-59, S&B ultra short H59 and leupold MK-6 H59 but I am leaning torch mounting the Vortex 4.5-x27 on it the one thing the vortex has over all this other scopes is how precisely you can zero it. You adjust it freely where you want no clicks. But my one thing is I don’t want to feel when people see it like I cut corners in glass. You all know that 99% of the time we care a lot of how cool it looks. Anyway what are your thoughts.

Oh and let’s hope she can be sub MOA.

 

[Primus]

Never shot one and no idea how they shoot, but that is one bad ass looking rifle dude. That is one beefy reciever.

 

[Flip#1]

I went with the S&B the colors are just right the vortex is just too dark.

 

[jordan0317]

Bad ass.

That out at Chris's place?

 

[Flip#1]

Bad ass.

That out at Chris's place?

Yes sir

 

[Thunderhorse]

I went with the S&B the colors are just right the vortex is just too dark.

Its an FN, all the parts are supposed to be different shades of tan/FDE.

Seriously though that's pretty sweet. Not a lot of guys running around with those

 

[etn1type]

Its an FN, all the parts are supposed to be different shades of tan/FDE.

Seriously though that's pretty sweet. Not a lot of guys running around with those

If I purchased an FN and all the FDE was one shade, I would be worried I hadn't bought a real FN...

 

[k1200kev]

Well after playing with the MSR338, AI338 I pull the trigger and decided to be the odd ball and get the ballista will se how she performs. I have a MSR at work so I know the short falls of it. So far I don’t know how this gun got beat by the MSR during the selection this gun is way better so far on Day one inspection than the MSR. let’s see how it holds up and shoots. I own a 300 in a AI chassis and my buddy has the AI in 308 and one in 338 plus the MSR338 from work hopefully by the end of the month I will have a good report of the Ballista.
Now this is the crazy part optics. I have a S&B PM-II 5-25 H59, Leupold MK-8 H-59, S&B ultra short H59 and leupold MK-6 H59 but I am leaning torch mounting the Vortex 4.5-x27 on it the one thing the vortex has over all this other scopes is how precisely you can zero it. You adjust it freely where you want no clicks. But my one thing is I don’t want to feel when people see it like I cut corners in glass. You all know that 99% of the time we care a lot of how cool it looks. Anyway what are your thoughts.

Oh and let’s hope she can be sub MOA.

I am also thinking of mounting a Vortex 4.5-27 on my new Ballista using a Spuhr mount. would you have a recommendation of height?

 

[jbell]

Looking forward to a range report on the FN

 

[fastfwd]

I am also thinking of mounting a Vortex 4.5-27 on my new Ballista using a Spuhr mount. would you have a recommendation of height?

A 38mm (1.5") Spuhr mount will give you about 2mm of clearance between the rail and an Aadmount cap on that scope.

 

[Longshot85]

Sick nasty

 

[Novak77]

Holy crap, that's one bad ass piece of hardware.

 

[Threadcutter308]

Nice stuff......that's a lot of money out there baking in the hot sun......

 

[moosemeat]

Range report yet?

 

[Flip#1]

Not till the end of the month. I am in the middle of a move into my new house.

 

[Flip#1]

Quick update just zeroed the scope and shoot great I had 4 rounds left and decided to group them so two groups of two rounds.
I will clean it and confirm zero then I will do the challenge to test it against the MSR the AI and the ballista who will have the best group.

 

[ralfabco]

Very nice. I heard they should become even more accurate after approximately one hundred rounds. FN hurt the rifle when it carrot dangled the release date. My guess some buyers just lost interest over the years. This was showcased in 2012 and took forever to have examples available for sale. If it was a three year paperwork issue with the German bureaucracy, it still ended as an issue with potential buyers. Nice shooting. The rifle is a very good value - especially with the case included in the price. They run about 8,000 euros on the other side of the pond. FN is giving it away.

 

[Flip#1]

Very nice. I heard they should become even more accurate after approximately one hundred rounds. FN hurt the rifle when it carrot dangled the release date. My guess some buyers just lost interest over the years. This was showcased in 2012 and took forever to have examples available for sale. If it was a three year paperwork issue with the German bureaucracy, it still ended as an issue with potential buyers. Nice shooting. The rifle is a very good value - especially with the case included in the price. They run about 8,000 euros on the other side of the pond. FN is giving it away.[/QUOTED

I definitely will agree with the grouping getting better. I can tell is creaping closer.
I shoot it again Saturday and it was better.
But didn’t had my phone with me to take pictures. The case that comes in alone is super nice and is cut out for every acesory.

 

[mdmp5]

I like the brake very much. How is the trigger and recoil?

 

[Flip#1]

Recoil is non existent so far I been shooting in the prone and in the sand so the bipod is anchoring down and not kicking back.

The muzzle brake I will have to take detailed pictures because is very interesting how it’s designed and it helps tremendously with recoil management it has baffles build into it forcing the gases to blead certain way and I think that’s what aids on the recoil midigation.

The trigger has zero creep is either on or off when it’s time to pull. I will measure the trigger weight pull but I will say sub 3.5.
The only thing that’s weird is the 1911 type of safety is kind of weird because is forcing me to hold the grip in the rifle different of
How I shoot rifles. Not extremely bad but why not stick to a more traditional safety.

So far is my only gripe with the rifle.

 

[k1200kev]

Recoil is non existent so far I been shooting in the prone and in the sand so the bipod is anchoring down and not kicking back.

The muzzle brake I will have to take detailed pictures because is very interesting how it’s designed and it helps tremendously with recoil management it has baffles build into it forcing the gases to blead certain way and I think that’s what aids on the recoil midigation.

The trigger has zero creep is either on or off when it’s time to pull. I will measure the trigger weight pull but I will say sub 3.5.
The only thing that’s weird is the 1911 type of safety is kind of weird because is forcing me to hold the grip in the rifle different of
How I shoot rifles. Not extremely bad but why not stick to a more traditional safety.

So far is my only gripe with the rifle.

Im thinking of putting a slip on pistol grip over mine so I don't need to wrap around the grip

 

[ralfabco]

Im thinking of putting a slip on pistol grip over mine so I don't need to wrap around the grip

If you look at the U.A. TPG-3 A4 rifles in Europe, some of the weapons use a different grip. I 'believe' it is the same grip as the Steyr SSG 08. I also think the B&T precision rifle and Haenel RS9 use the same grip, as well.

 

[alwaywatchyoursix]

Im thinking of putting a slip on pistol grip over mine so I don't need to wrap around the grip

The only thing that’s weird is the 1911 type of safety is kind of weird because is forcing me to hold the grip in the rifle different of
How I shoot rifles. Not extremely bad but why not stick to a more traditional safety.

You can actually remove the Ballista grip safety, and the grip itself attaches the same as a standard AR grip, So if you prefer a different grip, you can switch to that if you want.

Remove the rear stock (including the grip) from the rest of the rifle. Take the grip off like you would an AR grip. The grip safety part will still be attached to the rear stock part. Drive out the pins that hold it in place, and remove the steel lever on the side. Get the spring, plunger, and the stupid little ball bearing out, and you're good to go. Either reattach the original grip, or put on your preferred grip.

Did this to mine maybe 6 months ago or so.

 

[ralfabco]

FYI, I hope to import several factory conversion kits, for the Ballista some time during the middle to end - 2019. Any interest in the 16" barrel .308 WIN ? 16/20/24/26" is available as a conversion kit - or just the barrel. If you already have a .308 WIN kit, you can buy any of the other barrel lengths without buying the magazine and bolt head. On top of this, the .300 WIN MAG conversion, is also available. Perhaps a .338 L.M. spare barrel - as well. I will look into some of the minor spare parts. I hope to charge less than the going rate for the conversion kits.

 

[ralfabco]

The Ballista with an old GSI - SSG-69 P1 and factory ZF Swarovski and Remington factory rebuild M24. All are unfired. Note the seldom seen factory Ballista mono-pod.

 

[alwaywatchyoursix]

Note the seldom seen factory Ballista bipod.

Where? I'm not seeing it. I just see a bipod on the M24 build, and it looks like a Harris to me.

 

[ralfabco]

Where? I'm not seeing it. I just see a bipod on the M24 build, and it looks like a Harris to me.

My mistake. I fixed it. Factory mono-pod ! It is located in the bottom of the case.

 

[alwaywatchyoursix]

My mistake. I fixed it. Factory mono-pod ! It is located in the bottom of the case.

Well yeah man. Considering what they are asking for it, of course it's seldom seen.

EuroOptic has it listed for $565. Ouch.

 

[Flip#1]

FYI, I hope to import several factory conversion kits, for the Ballista some time during the middle to end - 2019. Any interest in the 16" barrel .308 WIN ? 16/20/24/26" is available as a conversion kit - or just the barrel. If you already have a .308 WIN kit, you can buy any of the other barrel lengths without buying the magazine and bolt head. On top of this, the .300 WIN MAG conversion, is also available. Perhaps a .338 L.M. spare barrel - as well. I will look into some of the minor spare parts. I hope to charge less than the going rate for the conversion kits.

I am definitely interested in a spare 338 barrel and depending on your price the 300 and 308 conversion kits. Please pm when available.

 

[hypno02]

Terrible safety design. Terrible bolt handle design that leads to dogshit bolt manip. A fucking grip safety? I don’t care if you can override it. No cal change support (you retards act surprised after 10yrs of scar17 and no support lol)

If you buy this rifle over an AXMC you’re a dumbass.

 

[PBWalsh]

Terrible safety design. Terrible bolt handle design that leads to dogshit bolt manip. A fucking grip safety? I don’t care if you can override it. No cal change support (you retards act surprised after 10yrs of scar17 and no support lol)

If you buy this rifle over an AXMC you’re a dumbass.

Well who pissed in your Cherrios? If a man wants to buy an FN over an AI what’s it to you? Sure an AI is excellent, but the OP seems to be really enjoying his FN, no reason to throw hate where it doesn’t belong.

EVERY rifle has pros, cons, flaws, positives, etc.

 

[alwaywatchyoursix]

I was going to write a scathing rebuke but instead I think I'll just say that I'm perfectly happy with mine.

 

[Long Range 338]

Terrible safety design. Terrible bolt handle design that leads to dogshit bolt manip. A fucking grip safety? I don’t care if you can override it. No cal change support (you retards act surprised after 10yrs of scar17 and no support lol)

If you buy this rifle over an AXMC you’re a dumbass.

Don't hold back, tell us what you really think!

The Ballista looks like a badass piece of hardware. The MRAD and Sako M10 are kind of in the same situation, the support for the AI is just amazing. Its your money to spend as you like and I'd love to hear more about the Ballista!

 

[Jcremer24]

What bi pod on the ballista? Great looking rifle by the way!