Re: PWS MK214
Update:
Ok, first and foremost... I would like to publicly thank John Boyette from Trace Armory Group for his time, and input into what I am doing with this rifle. His knowledge and experience... and the way he explains things are so easy to grasp. It's clear that he and I drink from the same Kool-Aid fountain... His advice and encouragement alone, has saved me tons of time, and rounds down range. Again... thanks John!
Ok... on to my story.
As stated in the original post in this thread, I am trying to use this rifle in a role it was never designed for. I am using it as a Law Enforcement Precision Rifle, and had an operating window of point blank range, out to about 200 yards or so. I wanted to keep in realistic, and shoot the rifle in scenarios I am likely to encounter on an active call out.
So far, this rifle is performing well beyond my expectations. Today, I decided to go out to my dad's farm and run some tests with the rifle. In my haste... I forgot to bring my camera though. So, I will have to give you the Gist here. I will back this data up on the range at work, very soon. This time with pictures and video.
Ok... Talking with John, he prompted me to study my ballistic computer, changing zero distance, and paying attention to the bullet trajectory as opposed to getting stuck on one distance.
I envisioned the scenario of me being called out on an Active Shooter call, or a riot, or civil disturbance or something... even a barricaded subject call. So, I decided to keep my rifle zeroed at a distance that would allow me to make a "snap" shot, at any distance within my operational envelope (point blank to two hundred yards). The numbers prompted me to run a zero that broke from tradition, and I backed it up today on paper.
Once I verified my DOPE on actual paper, compared to my ballistic chart... I was very happy with the results. So, I moved on to shooting at unknown distances. I used it as a "mini" class with my Dad, since he had never been taught how to range with a MIL DOT reticle. I had my US Optics Field Observation Scope, and a bunch of bowling pins.
I had him run the bowling pins out at various ranges in his hay field, and I took the time to range them and get my distance to target. I found that the Spotter and my SN3 were dead on with each other. At the end of the day, my dad was calling out distance to me, very accurately. I tested my come ups, off my ballistics chart, based on my zero, and the MK214 delivered hit after hit.
I shot from prone, bipods and shooting bag... I shot from standing, kneeling, strong side, weak side, off the hood of my Jeep... and made hit after hit after hit.
On paper, I was able to say, this rifle is a SOLID .75 MOA gun all day long out to 250 yards. That's the farthest I have fired it to date. Now, with one caveat... this rifle is a bit of a challenge to shoot tight. By challenge, I mean... the way it is set up, you have to be relaxed behind it. Follow through is EVERYTHING with this rifle. I found that I was able to call my shots with very good accuracy... with my dad backing me up in the spotter scope.
I set up a few cardboard targets with some one inch black dots, taken from my shoot-n-c targets... and instead of trying to just print 5 shot groups, I would fire a round, hit the black dot... then walk away from the rifle. After a few minutes, come back, get behind it, and hit another black dot.
I had a few T-Zone targets from work, and ran a few T-Zone drills. On our next range day... I will be shooting styro-foam heads at various distances... to make it a bit more realistic.
I also identified a crazy little trait that John helped me trouble shoot. I had my rifle set at my zero... and had a 6 inch shoot and see on a solid white backer. My data sheet said that I should print 1.9 inches high, so... I had my bolt locked to the rear on an empty mag... loaded one round through the ejection port and dropped the bolt. Sight, Breathing, Squeeze... BAM... printed 3.5" high. WTF ran through my mind at that moment. I stood up... scratched my head, and repeated the same thing. Closed the bolt on a single round, BAM... 3.5" high... ragged hole.
I got up, and called John. His first question was "Are you firing single rounds? Letting the bolt lock back after the shot?"
I said "Yes."
Well, he gave me some SOLID advice... and I tried it. I loaded six rounds into the magazine... and fired... BAM... 2" high. I did this for five rounds... all of them hit 2" high. The last round echoed about 3" high... right along with the others.
Weird... I know. I can't explain that... but, he said that it is funny how this seems to be the norm on an AR-10 platform. He gave me the advice to run a dummy round... or a mocked up round, with no primer or powder as my first round loaded / last to chamber. This way my bolt never locks back.
I know you all are thinking I'm crazy here... but, I'm telling you, it worked. I don't have a ton of experience with an AR-10 platform... so, this is as much of a learning curve for me, as it is a test.
All in all, today was a VERY productive day. Not a SINGLE hiccup from the rifle. This rifle shoots so soft. The PWS Precision Rifle Comp works better than I could have ever dreamed. Lying prone, on the bipods, the gas is definitely directed outwards... but I never noticed it blowing any debris up into my face. My dad did complain about it, since he was initially in a position that was not considered prime real estate. I could not dream of firing the volume that I did today, out of my bolt gun.
The rifle took me ten minutes to clean.
Gotta love that long stroke piston.
More to follow... I have only begun testing this rifle. I sure can't wait to go shoot with Battle Axe, and see what he thinks of it.
Cheers everyone, be safe out there.