Re: Post your Southern Precision Rifle Build Pics
I hope this post is not construed as vain, its intended to be informative...
I started this build for myself this spring, and have done a little here and there during production lulls; it has taken some time. As you see it, its a Surgeon 591 cerakoted black and bedded into an A4 with Badger M5 bottom and a jewell trigger. The S&B is a 5-25 PM2 CCW mil/mil with H2CMR reticle. Im quite pleased with the H2CMR, nice to see some good reticle choices from S&B. It was built with the intention of being a switch barrel, and I use this as a platform to test barrels when barrels need testin...
The barrel on there now is a test barrel from a new barrel manufacturer which is not yet open for business. Its a 6.5mm/8.5tw AMU chambered in 260 Remington. The first three shots from this gun (including fouler) went into .20", a good start. Several groups were in the ones until I goofed a shot. I cant seem to find the first test target, Oh well. Interestingly enough, this barrel doesnt seem to throw the first fouling round, its been my experience that maybe 1 in 20 barrels will exhibit this characteristic. I've had it out once and reported my data to the maker, a 6mm is on the way for testing as well. As of now, expect to see these barrels for sale some time in january. From other collected test data, these barrels are outstanding. I hope to make an "Industry Announcement" regarding this barrel maker around the first of the year. Until then, the info is not being publicly shared
Another test barrel exists for this rifle, its a new kind of rifling geometry that a known major barrel manufacturer is testing, but has not released yet. I have one of these test barrels in 30 cal 10 twist. The barrel is chambered in 308win, and was tested against a standard, current production barrel from the same manufacturer. Both barrels were chambered with the same reamer and have the same headspace. The contours were also the same, as well as the barrel finish length. I did save these targets, because a summary and report was created for the manufacturer. The first target is the best charges found on day one, repeated for verification at the end of the day with 5 shot groups. The control barrel is the left row, test barrel is the right row. Interestingly enough, both barrels preferred the same charges (although my shooting may not reflect this!). Info was covered with pieces of paper to protect the manufacturer and their product
The next test performed with these barrels was to explore the upper pressure limits. Varget charges were already near compressed or compressed, so I opted for IMR8208XBR to decrease the load density; It proved to be an interesting find. The control barrel point of impact rose considerably as the powder charge was increased, the node was being exceeded and scatter groups were evident. The test barrel continued to deliver rounds to the same point of aim until primers were blown. The control barrel is on the left, and test barrel is on the right. These were two shot groups fired at 200yds, again primarily to explore pressure limitations. The accuracy and info gathered was quite remarkable, in my opinion. I have not had the opportunity to continue testing this barrel, but you may see this in production in 2012 as well
Hopefully you will be seeing some new stuff coming out in 2012, please stay tuned...
