Troy PAR range report

Stevebot-7

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First, the pictures.

https://imgur.com/kEWa0qM
https://imgur.com/JlTcsbS
https://imgur.com/jnscJ8o
https://imgur.com/KIOqHQR
So, I only had 50 cartridges loaded because I am super lazy.
I went to Phoenix Indoor Range, in Edmonton, shooting in their ~30? meter rifle bay. Approx 5 seconds between shots. I am using a Trijicon Accupoint 1-4x24.
I'm not going to bust out the calipers since the paper is marked. For those who can't see the pictures:
First grouping at topleft is as you can see quite to the left and spread out, shooting off my fist at x4 magnification. Approx 2.5" wide by 2" high.
Second grouping off fist at x4 approx 1.5" high by 2" wide.
Third grouping off fist at x4, I adjusted the windage, approx 1" high by 1.5" wide.
Fourth grouping is off my elbows rather than fist. As a result the group opened up a bit. Approx 2"x2".
Fifth group is down at the bottom right of the target, due to not wanting to potentially contaminate the other groups. I was shooting off my elbows and I reduced the magnification to x1. Approx 2.5" high and 2" wide.
These are all 10 shot groups, using a fairly standard starting load of a Speer 125grain bullet and 16.5 grains of IMR 4227 powder in a 1F .223 Federal case reformed into 300BLK. Either a Dominion or Winchester standard rifle primer.

I removed the side rails from the pump, and added a Magpul AFG2.
One thing I immediately noticed was that it took a significant amount of force to lock the bolt closed on the first handful of cartridges. So much that I had to hook my thumb around the back of the AFG and more or less use it like a stubby VFG. By about halfway through the 4th magazine this had eased up a bit, or perhaps I had gotten more used to it. I was missing the forwards assist that my AR15 has, I think the PAR could benefit from one.

Extraction of spent cases was quite positive, but with a lot more control over the process. With a strong pump the cases go flying just as far as with a semi-auto, or with a more moderate pump they only fly a few inches. Nice for a reloader who doesn't want to pick every single case off the floor.
The action release on the trigger guard is a bit awkward for me to use without having to flip the rifle upside down to use my thumb. Using my index or middle finger felt just a little too uncomfortable. Not a dealbreaker.

The fluted chamber does leave marks on the brass, which are pronounced enough to feel.

Overall I quite like this rifle. Definitely acceptable first range trip. I'm sure someone shooting off the bench with a higher magnification optic could achieve a much tighter group.
I am going to be replacing the grip that it came with. I like my rubberized grips too much.

Let me know if you have any questions.

EDIT: More pictures http://imgur.com/a/UdjdX

As you can see there, the bottom rail panel is slightly too long and will catch on the magwell when trying to disassemble the rifle. You can also see the hole on the top rail that is used for disassembly.
 
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Thanks for the pics Steve. I'm waiting on the 308 version so while it'll be a little different than yours, it's nice to see some close ups of the rifle. I also want to buy one of these in 223 one day so these pics help with understanding the difference between the 223/300 version and the 308 version. Thanks again. :cheers:
 
Flutted chamber...major letdown

I haven't gotten any definite answers on the effects of the fluting, some people are saying upwards of a dozen loads, others are saying they'd never even try to load it again. Makes it a bit difficult to get reliable information.

I'd be nice to have a setup where I could shoot and load in the same room, and just test the same 50 cartridges multiple times until they failed.
 
19.4gr of H110 under a 110gr Vmax shoots pretty good in all my 300BLK rifles. Give it a try if you want.

Please update this thread with another range report next time you get out to shoot it.
 
Those groups are brutal.
Please tell me it was you or the ammo, or that you were simply pumping rounds down range for function testing?
 
Those groups are brutal.
Please tell me it was you or the ammo, or that you were simply pumping rounds down range for function testing?

Meh, it was the first time I'd shot it, using a low magnification optic with zero load development, and not shooting off the bench. My entire time in the range was about half an hour. I wasn't trying for microscopic groups.
 
Just got mine today. Messed around with it for a bit over lunch and range time later today (new rifle = go home early)

There was no mention of how to completely separate the upper and lower receivers. Is that possible? Servicing the rifle when the upper and lower are still attached is a bit of pain.

Not thrilled with the fact the rear take down pin is protected and requires a tool to push out (I can't get my finger in far enough to push the pin anyway) but it's not a deal breaker. Trigger is okay, a bit of creep. Cycling the action is not as rough as I feared it might be so that is a positive. There will be much dry fire in front of the TV this week to "wear it in".

Very curious to see how it shoots.
 
Just got mine today. Messed around with it for a bit over lunch and range time later today (new rifle = go home early)

There was no mention of how to completely separate the upper and lower receivers. Is that possible? Servicing the rifle when the upper and lower are still attached is a bit of pain.

Not thrilled with the fact the rear take down pin is protected and requires a tool to push out (I can't get my finger in far enough to push the pin anyway) but it's not a deal breaker. Trigger is okay, a bit of creep. Cycling the action is not as rough as I feared it might be so that is a positive. There will be much dry fire in front of the TV this week to "wear it in".

Very curious to see how it shoots.

For the front takedown pin, on the righthand side there does appear to be a detent and presumably a spring. I'm going to be looking into seeing if I can jimmy it out of there. I have a suspicion that the pin might be locked in place by the detent. Perhaps to compensate for the added force of the folding stock locking on the protuding pin. Likewise with the rear pin, I'm going to be measuring it and seeing if a slightly longer pin would fit. Having to use a tool to poke it out is mildly irritating. I think Gadget had his totally separated, I'll have to ask him.


Also FYI the poly rail covers do slide off, if you wedge the one section open. I accidentally ripped the tab off the panel before I figured out they'll slide off once the tab is out of the way of the rail.
 
Okay, back from the range with some thoughts and impressions on my 300 BO

1. The trigger on mine is a weak link. A lot of creep, I really noticed that when trying to shoot groups of the bench from a rest.
2. Vigorous working of the action results in properly ejected brass. Being gentle results in empty brass left in the chamber often laying backwards.
3. Brass is visibly marked from the fluted chamber but it does not seem as deep as some of the 223/5.56 brass I have seen from a buddy's PAR.
4. No problem with hard extractions at all from factory loads.
5. Mags drop free.
6. The followers on Pmags will lock the bolt open when empty. Followers on LAR mags will not.
7. It's 2016. Why the flying frig are manufactuers still releasing modern rifles WITHOUT ambi controls (safety, mag release). SOUTHPAW SHOOTERS LIVES MATTER.
8. Collapasble stock is solid. Locking in the folded postion requires the stock to be collapsed which is other than optimal IMO.
9. I did not find the muzzle device to be obnoxiously loud either in the open or under a covered fireing point. May have more to do with my ear pro than anything.

So I did some accuracy testing today from the bench (as much as I hate that, it's got to be done). So far the accuracy of this particular rifle is ho hum. To be fair to it though, my selection of targets to use with my 4X optic was poor. I really need targets with a more pronounced aiming point...(if I can find my file for that target) so that I can be more sure of my hold. [Yes Virginia, low magnfication optics can be quite precise as long as your target is matched to your reticle)

Setting up on the bench at 100m from the target line, sand bags in the rear, rifle resting on the pump rails in a Caldwell Rock BR rest up front. Leupold Mark AR 1.5-4 optic set at 4X.

Federal American Eagle - 150 gn FMJ
10 shot group - 6 inches
10 shot group - 4.8 inches
10 shot group - 3.8 inches

Remington "Hog Hammer" - 130 Gn Barnes TSX bullet
5 shot group - 4.0 inches
5 shot group - 4.5 inches

Remington UMC - 220 Gn
5 shot group - 2.5 inches
5 shot group - 2.5 inches

Barnes Vor-TX - 110 gn Tac-TX bullet
5 shot group - 2.25 inches
5 shot group - 2.5 inches - note: for this group I moved the rifle forward so the foreand was resting on the front bag, not the rails. Obviously no real difference in accuracy.

Honestly, I will be happy with sub 2MOA for this rifle. It is intended primarily to be a deer rifle for me, and at realistic ranges where I hunt that will be sufficient.
More testing to follow. I am happy at least that it seems to like the 110gn Barnes as that was the bullet I am hopting to develop a load for (I'll hunt with factory ammo if I have to...but I'll feel a bit dirty doing it) :)

Okay, of to search my computer for the target I should have been using rather that what I did use. I also need to dig through my parts bin and scrounge that trigger group that's been laying around....and while I am at it, I better install the ambit safety that was donated by a friend (again 2016.....ambi safety selectors should not be optional.....hello gun industry, fix yourself)
 
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