Alright dudes, real talk here, we are having some serious problems with the MRAD/Mk22 as a platform.
We got in a MRAD setup per the US Army's Mk22 PSR - Badger Mounts, Mark 5 5-25 scope, Larue/Harris bipod.
This thing created quite a bit of excitement when we got it and people were keen as hell to get on it.... but now everyone hates it. Which in and of itself isn't an issue. The typical shooter is experienced both on the trigger and behind chassis - but there's clearly something we are missing. In the interest of learning, I just want to share some of the problems we are seeing and see if there's a common error or philosophy we are missing.
Never done an accuracy 1st course but have been listening to Todd Hodnett talk on shooting since the OG Magpul vid and it's interesting to me that Todd would be involved with Kevin Owens speccing out this rifle, to have a 14" LOP minimum on the MRAD when his belief (or at least up to the podcasts etc i've listened to) has been that shorter is typically better.
Attached is a picture that hopefully helps illustrate some of what the issues are - if i don't reply it's because Industrial Light and Magic has picked me up as a special effects and computer graphics design artist......
Primary issue is the LOP. Most problems can be traced back to this. Height of shooters is between 6'2 and 5'4". Typical LOP on pers guns is hovering around that 12.5" to 13" mark. In order to reach the trigger, the shooter has to reach forward as it's a considerable distance away from the shoulder compared to other guns. This causes the position to collapse as the shooter can't be built up on the elbows like normal. This is the route of all other problems;
To cycle the bolt, the shooter has to reach for the bolt handle and typically uses their whole arm to cycle the bolt. This is causing the position to break. As the shooter is typically uncomfortable to begin with, rebuilding the position is generally inconsistent and is resulting in .3MOA shooters spitting out 1.5 MOA groups. This is the worst for the shorter members.
We get people to self report where the crosshairs settled after the shot as a diagnostic tool. Ability to spot shots is compromised and we are seeing lateral stringing. We are attributing this to the longer LOP causing people to blade off OR, cant their body as the non-master arm controls the butt, the shoulder is rising up, conversely to the master arm reaching for pistol grip is causing that shoulder to drop low. We are also seeing the torso "Curl" to meet the gun.
The recoil is sending the gun left for our righties.... which fortunately all of our shooters are. Stick that in your DEI pipe and smoke it. In researching this issue, I came across this vid by Bryan Litz. Whilst the group isn't stringing, the rifle going to the left under recoil is similar.
By not being able to build up the position, and reduce the LOP, shooters positions are collapsed, making them quite low to the ground. The size of the MRAD in it's height is now causing the head to "cock" back in order to place the cheek on the cheek piece. Typical complaint here is the cheek piece is too wide and the rear of the cheek piece is squared making the cheek piece uncomfortable. This is causing neck strain as the neck is kinked. People are lowering the bipod to such an extent that the pistol grip is almost, or is touching the ground.
This low position is causing an exaggerated "chicken wing" with the shooting arm, raising it higher and causing the wrists to kink. Sustaining the prone position is untenable and in some instances, the trigger control is compromised as the tendons in the wrist become strained. The solution here is to push the LOP out LONGER. Making all other issues worse.
Which then flows onto eye relief issues. The long LOP, the height and the cocking of the head to reach the cheek piece, is requiring the Optic to be moved as far rear as physically able. Unfortunately, though there more space to add more rail, the rail stops short and eye relief can't be obtained.
When not in prone and in upright positions like off a tripod, we are seeing the guys "blade off", rather than be square behind the gun as it's easier to get eye relief when you're "next to" the gun, as opposed to being square behind it. This isn't necessarily a bad thing as groups have been consistently within the acceptable margins as the weight of the gun and the tripod are doing a lot of work, but follow up shots and self spotting are delayed or not achievable as the gun torques off target due to the shooters bladed stance and off square shoulder connection. That LOP comes up again as the head needs to be dropped down onto the cheek piece and sustaining this position isn't optimal for most shooters compared to the neutral head and body position afforded by the AIs
We shoot sling with the precision guns in training and yeah.... forget it.
This all could be training and familiarity issues or type A personalities not wanting to change, but when I requested a bloke come and shoot the MRAD to see if we could nut out these issues a bit more, the response I got was "why?". And fucked if I can come up with an answer.
Everyone went back to the Surgeons or the AIs as they feel better to use and people get better results.
I'm fortunate to be taller, so a lot of the problems aren't AS bad for me, but i definitely don't consider the MRAD to be a comfortable gun to shoot by any means.
As i said, there's got to be something I'm missing. What is the philosophy behind this rifle's design? Is anyone else experiencing any of these issues? What were your fixes? Conventional thinking seems to be shorter LOP is better. I don't shoot PRS but I know a few guys that do and all the free T&E that occurs in the precision shooting world is leading people to chase shorter LOPs, yet the latest and greatest purpose built govt precision guns are going the other way?
What's up? What can I change?
