After many years of testing and doing load development for 9 different semi-auto non-rest black (ish) rifles from the HK SL-8, MR-1, XCR, Tavor et-al I have finally come full circle......
Pay heed to my tale of woe!
In 2008 I decided that I "needed" a more accurate, semi-auto 223 for yotes (both the 4-legged and 2-legged variety). I sold my "trusty" 7 MOA 182 series Ruger mini-14 (which I had actually taken yotes with out to 300y) and proceeded to buy and sell many many firearms and deplete the savings account.
After spending "silly" amounts of $$, getting raped on depreciation again and again...... 1000's and 1000's of rounds of ammo. In the summer, fall, winter and spring. Invariably I found a load that would work in each rifle tried. But in a most depressing moment of clarity as I gazed upon a Tavor and a 1.75" 5-shot group, i thought to myself, "meh, it's pretty good, from 7" to that with load development. But is it $3000 good?"
I finally sold my last "non-restricted black rifle".
I have settled upon a Ruger mini-14..... Alas it's a new one, fresh "off the boat" (or truck as it were). It shoots cheap nork into 4". It shoots cheap MFS 55gr HP into 3.5" either one will bag a yote out to 300. I have a ladder test on the bench that I have yet to test, I suspect that it will tighten up the groups a bit.......
But really, for $850 compared to $2500+..... It's no comparison!
Every single non restricted black rifle I have ever tried shot the "cheap" stuff into 3"-7" groups.
Every single expensive non-restricted black rifle shot at least one factory loading into 2.5" (or better).
Every single rifle I have ever owned has done better with hand loads!
So I just had to ask myself, why spend $3K to do what $1K can do?
YMMV
