RFB initial thoughts, Range report ***JANUARY 31st ammo test at bottom of OP***

Rfb range report feb. 19

Just got back from the range - strong gusty cross winds ( I tried to shoot between Gods humongous farts ). To windy for 200 yds.

I used a Trijicon 1-4x cqb scope.

3 rd. groups with Privi Partisan at a 100 were under an inch.

5 rd. groups were under 2 inch's with 2 or 3 touching and the rest opening up ( I didnt wait for the barrel to cool between each shot and the barrel was only warm not hot ).

Winchester 155 gr. soft points looked promising but I didnt have enough rds. to be conclusive.

Mil surp (FNM) was 3 inch's for 5 rd. groups but as I kept going to 20 rds. the groups were stringing vertically 3inches wide by 6 tall. I have a theory about the vertical stringing (its caused by the shooter not a heated barrel - I think -but I will wait to prove it before I say more {Its happened to me in the past with accurized M 14's.}).

The rifle was a ##### to shoot off the Bald Eagle rest and a rear monopod on a thin sand bag.
When I extend the rifle for bench stability and my booger picken finger isnt numb from the cold , I KNOW the groups will be tighter.

So far - for a semi auto .308 the accuracy is just fine. :D

Cant wait for the warmer weather with my 36x scope ! w:h:
:ar15:
swingerlh.gif

Did it again !

God must be a woman -

50 kmh gusts again today !

But in a slightly more favorable direction - RESULT -

Privi Partisan 150 gr. groups at a hundred were significantly more consistant and slightly smaller. No wandering POI.

3 rd groups 3/4 inch, 5 rd groups 1 and a half inch - horizontal stringing (Gods 50 kph farts).

The groups were slightly smaller because I put a 15 x scope on the RFB.

I am believing the RFB IS a sub MOA gun.

Calm warm weather hopefully will prove it. :)

:ar15:
swingerlh.gif
 
Did it again !

God must be a woman -

50 kmh gusts again today !

But in a slightly more favorable direction - RESULT -

Privi Partisan 150 gr. groups at a hundred were significantly more consistant and slightly smaller. No wandering POI.

3 rd groups 3/4 inch, 5 rd groups 1 and a half inch - horizontal stringing (Gods 50 kph farts).

The groups were slightly smaller because I put a 15 x scope on the RFB.

I am believing the RFB IS a sub MOA gun.

Calm warm weather hopefully will prove it. :)

:ar15:
swingerlh.gif


Any problems with magazine feeding? With both the factory mag and my FAL metric mags, I was having a hell of a time getting mine to feed properly on the weekend(my first time out with it). I didn't even bother trying for good groups, all 70 shots that I took went towards messing with the gas system, zeroing different optics, and trying to learn how to get my rfb to feed properly.
 
Any problems with magazine feeding? With both the factory mag and my FAL metric mags, I was having a hell of a time getting mine to feed properly on the weekend(my first time out with it). I didn't even bother trying for good groups, all 70 shots that I took went towards messing with the gas system, zeroing different optics, and trying to learn how to get my rfb to feed properly.

The first long mags were pinned conservatively so that the 5th rd. was tight and slowed the bolt down.You have to use the bolt like an A R forward assist for the first round.
The shorty nags are pinned properly but some are a little fatter and need to be squeezed to drop free.

Gas setting is important for feeding. With the correct setting I have zero feeding problems.

Also - if you use a bunny ear rear bag, the RFB mag release is pushed into the ears on recoil and the mag is slightly dislodged causing feeding problem.

:ar15:
swingerlh.gif
 
How long did it take to thread and have the barrel back in your hands?

Sorry for the delay...dropped off on a Monday and picked up on Thursday...but remember, I live only like 20 minutes drive from their shop (so no shipping involved). That also included having my SR22 threaded/railed/etc.
 
The first long mags were pinned conservatively so that the 5th rd. was tight and slowed the bolt down.You have to use the bolt like an A R forward assist for the first round.
The shorty nags are pinned properly but some are a little fatter and need to be squeezed to drop free.

Gas setting is important for feeding. With the correct setting I have zero feeding problems.

Also - if you use a bunny ear rear bag, the RFB mag release is pushed into the ears on recoil and the mag is slightly dislodged causing feeding problem.

:ar15:
swingerlh.gif

I have the one original 5/20 mag and then a box of 8 used 5/20 FAL metric mags. Some of the FAL mag's need a good smack to seat properly, but regardless of which mag is inserted there were glitches with feeding(sometimes second round, sometimes 4th round, no real pattern).

I'm guessing I need more time with the gas settings. I thought I followed the instructions in the manual accurately, and I redid the process two or three times. Initially after I tuned the gas setting, my rfb cycled cleanly. Then it started to act up after ~30 rounds. Thinking it needed to be retuned after breaking in a bit, I redid the gas settings adjustments but that was when it got worse and my tinkering didn't seem to help. But, as I was also messing around with scopes at the same time, I may not have been paying as close attention to the gas settings as I could have.

Looks like I'm going to have to dedicate some time to focusing on getting the gas settings tuned properly for my ammo...
 
I have the one original 5/20 mag and then a box of 8 used 5/20 FAL metric mags. Some of the FAL mag's need a good smack to seat properly, but regardless of which mag is inserted there were glitches with feeding(sometimes second round, sometimes 4th round, no real pattern).

I'm guessing I need more time with the gas settings. I thought I followed the instructions in the manual accurately, and I redid the process two or three times. Initially after I tuned the gas setting, my rfb cycled cleanly. Then it started to act up after ~30 rounds. Thinking it needed to be retuned after breaking in a bit, I redid the gas settings adjustments but that was when it got worse and my tinkering didn't seem to help. But, as I was also messing around with scopes at the same time, I may not have been paying as close attention to the gas settings as I could have.

Looks like I'm going to have to dedicate some time to focusing on getting the gas settings tuned properly for my ammo...

there was a revision on the vault web site,something about the gas settings in the manual being wrong,I think someone mentioned it here too
 
found it
This is from the KTOG forum regarding gas setting:


Attention RFB owners: Due to the fact that instruction manuals must be ordered in quantities of 1000, the manuals have a typo which will not me fixed until the current manuals are used up. On Page 25, we advise you to set your gas system to Bottom Plus 10 (B+10) and adjust your gas system accordingly. We now recommend that you set it at B+5 and adjust it up or down as necessary, one round at a time.
Ngyukon
 
Side note - can anyone tell me the distance from the top the mag needs to be pinned to seat 5.5 rounds? I have a bunch of spine pinned mags I need to change, but would be nice if I didn't have to drill a bunch of holes in the side to figure it out! :) Stock mag fits 5 tight, no room for closed bolt, so I guess I could just add a 'bit'. :)
 
Add 1/2 a cartridge diameter. That way the bolt will close but it won't take another rd.

Or if you can, get a sight line on the bolt closing across an empy mag. Estimate how deep the bolt goes into the mag and use that.
 
It won't work. You won't be able to seat on a closed bolt even pinned to 5.5. I have repinned my mag a zillion times and the only way to get it to seat on a closed bolt with 5 rounds was when it you could sueeze a sixth one in there. I went back to 5.5 because going to jail and losing guns isn't worth the ability to seat on a closed bolt. Ymmv.
 
It won't work. You won't be able to seat on a closed bolt even pinned to 5.5. I have repinned my mag a zillion times and the only way to get it to seat on a closed bolt with 5 rounds was when it you could sueeze a sixth one in there. I went back to 5.5 because going to jail and losing guns isn't worth the ability to seat on a closed bolt. Ymmv.

Really? Well that sucks! I guess I'll just re-pin the other ones in the same spot as the stocker. That blows!
 
Hi guys!
Sorry for hijacking, it's my todays shooting and thoughts about RFB.
Rifle was donated by Mike(lineofsight). Thanks a lot again!!!
Gun arrived this Tuesday, it was -28 with windchill about 39. I unpacked it faster then my kid his new LEGO on Xmax morning. Then it took about 5 minites to remove it from my face (with face hairs), it frose solid to cheek. OUCH! :eek: Need to do something about it.
First impression is WOW!
Plastic mating not great with sharp edges. Another 5 minutes with diamond file and all problems were solved.
Only unused scope I had was 5-15x40 Buushnell 3200. Anything bigger looks realy weird. Mounted on cheap high rings, still too low. Had to put 1/2 risers for proper hights. Way better.
Rifle was cleaned according to strict benchrest rules (at midnight, one night before new moon, by virgin, under the light of one black and one white candle) :eek:
Loads are new Win brass (fully resized all times for semi guns, that's my religious belive) CCI mag primer, Hornady 155 A-Max moly with 0.5 grain increment from 42.0 to 45.0 of Varget.

It was-22 today in Calgary rising to -2 in Mountains. Calgary, what can I say, go figure that out!
Kicked everybody at work and went on "business meeting".
Light wind from 0 to 2 km/h.
Set up of gun was on Cadwell bags. Public range, tables not stable, had hard time to stabilize gun on bags.
Pictures below.




I had 10 rounds of Norinco and used them to bring it to 100m range.
Scope was not fully adjusted, but I went for groups:
1. From 42.0 to 42.5 not impressive 2-2 1/2 groups.
Defenetly it's not Jewel trigger. I'm afraid I screwed up groups by getting use to it.
2. 43.0 went down to solid 2 inch.
3. 43.5 and 44.0 are most promising. I'm going to play more with them.



4. Biggest surprise came when I pulled box of leftovers from my M-14.
Win brass fired 4 times fully resized (remember, religious belive) Rem primer and 44.0 H4895 and 155 A-Max moly. Those were my hunting loads, so I don't have to pickup brass. Had only five of them and just rapid fired one by one from rest.
Surprise!!!!



Yes!!! 5 shots!!!

What do I think about RFB?
1. I don't regret a single second of buying it.
2. It's true bush/mountain carbine. Short, steady in hands, great in woods.
3. I'm going to hunt with it. No doubts!!! Show me off-shelf 18" barrel gun in semi auto capable of making those groups. Love it!

Thanks!
Sergey
 
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