Well packaged! I was impressed with the neat little toolbox, The tidy Cordura tool roll for the components, the nifty barrel nut wrench, how smoothly the gun went together, and even the tiny key ring size carabiners they used to keep the latches on the toolbox from opening in shipment. Mostly, after waiting 19 months, I just wanted to get the rifle in my hands, even if it did just have a (shudder!) "Field Grade" barrel.
I like the PredatOBR. I already have an OBR and a PredatAR, but I think the PredatOBR is the rifle they should have built first! The ergonomics are much improved over the OBR, at least for me. The P'tOBR is better balanced I think than the lighter PredatAR. The pistol grip very nicely designed (but unfortunately too small for me - stippled Sierra Precision Rifle grip standing by). It reminds me of the HK45 grip - I don't care for the pistol, but I love its grip. What in the world do we need a new carbine stock for, I was thinking? But, the Larue RAT stock is really pretty nice, with some truly unique features - I think I'll leave it in place. This was my first exposure to the Black Gold trigger. Not sure how I feel about it yet. Since I plan for this eventually to be a precision rifle, I'll be putting a Geissele National Match in it, anyway.
I had a Nightforce 5.5-22x50 NXS already sitting around in a mount, plus a spare suppressor mount, so with 5 minutes of tool time, but no cleaning, borescope inspection, lube, anything, off to the range I went. The sun was going down!
It was almost dark when I got there, so I just did a quick redneck boresight job, threw the suppressor and a Harris bipod on it, and plopped down on a concrete bench. Yeah, I know that Harris bipods and concrete benches are far less than optimum. At least I did remember to bring a rear bag.
Here's my first group at 100 yards, using some 12 year old Black Hills Red Box 168 SMK:
Here's my next with M118LR:
The sun was down now, so I banged away at some steel in the low light conditions for another 30 rounds. 40 or so rounds is not much, but it is reassuring when a new gun runs reliably.
It's surprisingly accurate! This initial accuracy is FAR better than I was expecting with this barrel. This batch of M118LR won't shoot any better in my OBR than this. And no rifle I own likes the BH 168 SMK - That's why I've had it around so long. Now, I don't know how this barrel is going to run when hot, dirty, etc. But, I think we are off to a positive start.
I'll get some rifle pix up tomorrow.
I like the PredatOBR. I already have an OBR and a PredatAR, but I think the PredatOBR is the rifle they should have built first! The ergonomics are much improved over the OBR, at least for me. The P'tOBR is better balanced I think than the lighter PredatAR. The pistol grip very nicely designed (but unfortunately too small for me - stippled Sierra Precision Rifle grip standing by). It reminds me of the HK45 grip - I don't care for the pistol, but I love its grip. What in the world do we need a new carbine stock for, I was thinking? But, the Larue RAT stock is really pretty nice, with some truly unique features - I think I'll leave it in place. This was my first exposure to the Black Gold trigger. Not sure how I feel about it yet. Since I plan for this eventually to be a precision rifle, I'll be putting a Geissele National Match in it, anyway.
I had a Nightforce 5.5-22x50 NXS already sitting around in a mount, plus a spare suppressor mount, so with 5 minutes of tool time, but no cleaning, borescope inspection, lube, anything, off to the range I went. The sun was going down!
It was almost dark when I got there, so I just did a quick redneck boresight job, threw the suppressor and a Harris bipod on it, and plopped down on a concrete bench. Yeah, I know that Harris bipods and concrete benches are far less than optimum. At least I did remember to bring a rear bag.
Here's my first group at 100 yards, using some 12 year old Black Hills Red Box 168 SMK:
Here's my next with M118LR:
The sun was down now, so I banged away at some steel in the low light conditions for another 30 rounds. 40 or so rounds is not much, but it is reassuring when a new gun runs reliably.
It's surprisingly accurate! This initial accuracy is FAR better than I was expecting with this barrel. This batch of M118LR won't shoot any better in my OBR than this. And no rifle I own likes the BH 168 SMK - That's why I've had it around so long. Now, I don't know how this barrel is going to run when hot, dirty, etc. But, I think we are off to a positive start.
I'll get some rifle pix up tomorrow.
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