Hi,
I recently took a "DMR" class with an M14 (LRB semi-auto). In the class I was shooting under 2 MOA with occasional 1 to 1.5 MOA 5 shot groups at 100 yards. That's about what I expected from the gun since it just has a standard profile 18.5" chrome lined barrel and a GI fiberglass stock. The main problem was with the scope mount, about every 100 rounds or so it would loosen if I didn't remember to tighten it (bassett machine mount). It also had some shifting zero issues which made it difficult to go from say, 600 yards, then back to 100 yards and be on with my elevation (sometimes it would be 2-3 moa off). On the upside I fired 500 rounds through the rifle without cleaning it and it never even thought about malfunctioning, which brings it up to about 2500~ rounds total with no malfunctions, and could hit a steel IPSC silhouette every time at 600 yards. The problems arose when i tried to shoot 12" moving targets at 500 and 600 - shooting a 2 MOA gun on a 2 MOA moving target at these distances made this a very low percentage proposition, in my case I could only get 20-30% hits on 12" 1 mph movers at 500 and 600. Also my hit percentage dropped pretty drasticaly past 600 yards, although I could get hits as far out as 800 occasionally. I was shooting the Hornady 155gr AMAX bullet in their "TAP" loading.
I also have two other M14's, a heavy krieger barreled 22" LRB that's set up for service rifle competion and a Select Fire Smith Enterprise in a McMillan folding stock, plus 50 magazines, spare parts, tools, and all that jazz. So I have a lot wrapped up in the platform and I do enjoy shooting them.
Anyway, I was going to buy an LRB M25 next year (M14 with a built in scope rail) but the instructor at my class recommended to me that I look into an AR-10 rifle instead in order to get the most out of my ability, limited as it may be. 5-10 years ago when I first started buying rifles, I felt like the reliability of the AR-10 platform wasn't good enough. I thought that the AR was reliable in 5.56 but not in 7.62. However after spending some time around some LaRue OBR's, my opinion on that has changed. I've watched those guns shoot hundred of rounds of suppressed with no malfunctions all while shooting 3/4 MOA or better and am starting to get jealous. Plus, the availability of 7.62 pmags is a big bonus.
So, is the OBR the answer? I know M.L. isn't necessarily the most popular guy on this corner of the internet. The JP LRP-07 also looks intriguing to me, as does the GAP 10. Are all of these guns as reliable in the OBR in the sense that you can put several hundred rounds downrange without cleaning and have no worry about a malfunction? How about suppressed?
And one final question, if I order an OBR now to get a spot on the waiting list, is my credit card charged now or when the rifle ships? I'm very tempted to order an 18" OBR tomorrow.
Thanks for your time.
I recently took a "DMR" class with an M14 (LRB semi-auto). In the class I was shooting under 2 MOA with occasional 1 to 1.5 MOA 5 shot groups at 100 yards. That's about what I expected from the gun since it just has a standard profile 18.5" chrome lined barrel and a GI fiberglass stock. The main problem was with the scope mount, about every 100 rounds or so it would loosen if I didn't remember to tighten it (bassett machine mount). It also had some shifting zero issues which made it difficult to go from say, 600 yards, then back to 100 yards and be on with my elevation (sometimes it would be 2-3 moa off). On the upside I fired 500 rounds through the rifle without cleaning it and it never even thought about malfunctioning, which brings it up to about 2500~ rounds total with no malfunctions, and could hit a steel IPSC silhouette every time at 600 yards. The problems arose when i tried to shoot 12" moving targets at 500 and 600 - shooting a 2 MOA gun on a 2 MOA moving target at these distances made this a very low percentage proposition, in my case I could only get 20-30% hits on 12" 1 mph movers at 500 and 600. Also my hit percentage dropped pretty drasticaly past 600 yards, although I could get hits as far out as 800 occasionally. I was shooting the Hornady 155gr AMAX bullet in their "TAP" loading.
I also have two other M14's, a heavy krieger barreled 22" LRB that's set up for service rifle competion and a Select Fire Smith Enterprise in a McMillan folding stock, plus 50 magazines, spare parts, tools, and all that jazz. So I have a lot wrapped up in the platform and I do enjoy shooting them.
Anyway, I was going to buy an LRB M25 next year (M14 with a built in scope rail) but the instructor at my class recommended to me that I look into an AR-10 rifle instead in order to get the most out of my ability, limited as it may be. 5-10 years ago when I first started buying rifles, I felt like the reliability of the AR-10 platform wasn't good enough. I thought that the AR was reliable in 5.56 but not in 7.62. However after spending some time around some LaRue OBR's, my opinion on that has changed. I've watched those guns shoot hundred of rounds of suppressed with no malfunctions all while shooting 3/4 MOA or better and am starting to get jealous. Plus, the availability of 7.62 pmags is a big bonus.
So, is the OBR the answer? I know M.L. isn't necessarily the most popular guy on this corner of the internet. The JP LRP-07 also looks intriguing to me, as does the GAP 10. Are all of these guns as reliable in the OBR in the sense that you can put several hundred rounds downrange without cleaning and have no worry about a malfunction? How about suppressed?
And one final question, if I order an OBR now to get a spot on the waiting list, is my credit card charged now or when the rifle ships? I'm very tempted to order an 18" OBR tomorrow.
Thanks for your time.