I thought the point was to hit the red dot.......
Hey there Thumbshark, how is this?
ALBERTA TACTICAL RIFLE (specs, pics, and ongoing range report)
- Thread starter Underthegun
- Start date
Hey there Thumbshark, how is this?
They did not engrave their name everywhere, only on the barrel. And BTW, I am very proud to have ALBERTA TACTICAL RIFLE engraved on my rifle.
Well I got out to the range today and completed the factory ammo test that I wanted to do. The main reason I wanted to check alot of factory ammo was to see what bullet weight the gun prefers. All the groups were not all great, but it seemed to like all the bullets tried. Most of the groups had 3 good rounds in them with 1 or 2 fliers spoiling the group. So even though the whole 5 shot group might not have been the greatest, they did show that there might be some hope if I tried Handloading that particular bullet. Anyway enough blabbing, and more range report.
Here is the first set of groups. All groups are 5 shots, except for 2 that will be noted. The bullets in this set are (left to right) Hornady 168gr bthp, Hornady 168gr Z-Max/A-Max, and HSM with 168gr Bergers. *the top Z-Max group is 4 shots and the top HSM group is 6 shots*
In this set there is Nosler Custom Competition 168gr, Federal GMM 168gr, and Harnady TAP 155gr
Here is some Federal GMM 175gr, and some Black Hills 175gr
While all the bullet weights seemed to show some potential, I think I will concentrate on the Sierra 175gr Matchkings. I also did get to shoot a few groups at 300 yards, I am not going to continue to do so very much. The reason is because the SWFA Super Sniper 16X scope is so blurry I have a hard time shooting at 100 yards, never mind 300. Although, I did manage to shoot this 5 shot group at 300 yards.
I also shot a group with a handload that was worked up in another 308 that I had.
Here is the first set of groups. All groups are 5 shots, except for 2 that will be noted. The bullets in this set are (left to right) Hornady 168gr bthp, Hornady 168gr Z-Max/A-Max, and HSM with 168gr Bergers. *the top Z-Max group is 4 shots and the top HSM group is 6 shots*
In this set there is Nosler Custom Competition 168gr, Federal GMM 168gr, and Harnady TAP 155gr
Here is some Federal GMM 175gr, and some Black Hills 175gr
While all the bullet weights seemed to show some potential, I think I will concentrate on the Sierra 175gr Matchkings. I also did get to shoot a few groups at 300 yards, I am not going to continue to do so very much. The reason is because the SWFA Super Sniper 16X scope is so blurry I have a hard time shooting at 100 yards, never mind 300. Although, I did manage to shoot this 5 shot group at 300 yards.
I also shot a group with a handload that was worked up in another 308 that I had.
Every crowd has a critic...
My ATR build has the name in huge letters on the barrel, drives tacks at any distance, cost me a large bunch and I love it.
Awesome rifle Under the gun ! I'm certainly envious and it looks to be an excellent shooter.... Thanks for sharing with us !!
Kind of a pessimistic post there buddy - talk about trying to rain on a guys parade. Fact is that holding a 1/2 min requires more than just a first-class rifle but it is likely that all other things (ammo, glass shooter etc) being up to the task then this rifle has as good a chance as any of meeting that requirement.
With respect to the engraving, I believe it is an option. For me, I was most happy to have them engrave their name of my barrel - I think it looks good and I am more than satisfied that I chose them to do the work on the two rifles I had them build for me.
- Location
- calgary alberta
We engrave our name on the actions, uppers and lowers as well as the barrels we install.
This is done mostly for liability, but also as advertising as we are no afraid of showing what we make.
We have had several guys come in #####ing about poor accuracy or something and claim it is a gun we worked on or made. We have also found some who are selling guns who claim we made it, I assume to sway a potential buyer to purchase the gun when in fact it is NOT 1 of ours. It is REAL simple if our name is not on it we did NOT do it.
Also unlike many "gunsmiths" we do NOT use a hammer and punch set to mark data on things. We CNC mill the data onto the part so it looks nice and is straight.
Underthegun
Thank you for your kind words and for posting your report. We try very hard to make the best product and services possible and it is always nice to get feedback from a client that we did in fact make them happy with our efforts.
Nice shooting!!
This is done mostly for liability, but also as advertising as we are no afraid of showing what we make.
We have had several guys come in #####ing about poor accuracy or something and claim it is a gun we worked on or made. We have also found some who are selling guns who claim we made it, I assume to sway a potential buyer to purchase the gun when in fact it is NOT 1 of ours. It is REAL simple if our name is not on it we did NOT do it.
Also unlike many "gunsmiths" we do NOT use a hammer and punch set to mark data on things.
We CNC mill the data onto the part so it looks nice and is straight.Underthegun
Thank you for your kind words and for posting your report. We try very hard to make the best product and services possible and it is always nice to get feedback from a client that we did in fact make them happy with our efforts.
Nice shooting!!
To be honest, I haven't even pulled the skins off the chassis yet to see if the action is bedded or not. As far as I know it is not bedded. It took about 1 1/2 months for them to do the build. But they had the barrel already so they didn't have to order it which would add more time.
- Location
- calgary alberta
It was not "bedded". We have learned that on the AICS chassis, bedding the action creates more problems than it solves. Typically we will put some bedding compound in the recoil lug slot to eliminate the stress put onto the action screws from having tolerances fore and aft of the recoil lug, but other than that no added bedding is done.
If you had gone with a McMillan or other conventional stock it would have been fully bedded from the rear of the action to about 2" ahead of the recoil lug.
wait time
Beautifly crafted .308 whats the damage and wait time after orderd also I unserstand you make inhouse action and can get stiller preditor action wluold the price change significantly for non rem. action use? I plan atrip to the fort over the fall and winter and am impressed with your work must drop in to see your shop thanks.
Beautifly crafted .308 whats the damage and wait time after orderd also I unserstand you make inhouse action and can get stiller preditor action wluold the price change significantly for non rem. action use? I plan atrip to the fort over the fall and winter and am impressed with your work must drop in to see your shop thanks.
- Location
- Halifax, NS
That's accuracy. This is the precision forum.
Great shooting BTW!
You're my new best friend
Also, love the SWFA optics. If only a dealer would bring them into Canada.....
- Location
- calgary alberta
Remington actions are considerably less expensive than a Stiller, Defiance or our own , so yes the overall cost would increase by the difference in the cost of the action only, the rest would remain the same.
Putting a Stiller, Defiance or our action into an AICS chassis has some issues due the the difference in overall size between the custom actions and the 700, not to mention that the recoil lugs are typically thicker and action mounted bolt releases are employed.
My SWFA is HORRIBLE! It is the 16X model. The turrets and repeatability seem fine, but the glass is horrible. I had it mounted on my 22lr temporarily and I could hardly see the bullet holes at 100 yards.You're my new best friend
Also, love the SWFA optics. If only a dealer would bring them into Canada.....
- Location
- calgary alberta
We can fix that for you with a Nightforce scope, or even maybe the S&B I had on it for test shooting
We can fix that for you with a Nightforce scope, or even maybe the S&B I had on it for test shooting
Sounds good. I will send you my SWFA. You can send me either the Nightforce, or the S&B in trade. I actually took off that scope and put on my Nikon Buckmaster 4.5-14 that was on my 22. What a world of difference. I can't wait to get a NF or S&B.
- Location
- calgary alberta
Touche' Well played sir.
I got out today and worked up a load for my rifle. I started by doing a ladder test with 2 shots each of Varget, and the 175 gr SMK. The range I shot at was 300 yards. I started at 42.6 gr and went up to 44.2gr. I also did one shot with 45.0 gr just to see if it had any signs of high pressure (it did just barely). The ladder test was pretty much a waste of time and bullets. All I ended up with was a 19 shot 2.64" (.88 moa) group at 300 yards.
After studying the target, and all my velocity readings I decided to try 43.8 grains of Varget with the bullet jumping .010". I shot 2-5 shot groups at 100yards and got .750", and .780". I then shot them at 300 yards and got 2.00" and 1.835". I knew the rifle would do better, so I loaded up 20 more rounds with the bullet jumping .035". I then went back to my range and shot them. The groups improved. 100 yards .554" and .495". 300 yards 1.45" and 2.20". While the 100 yard groups were o.k. I was not pleased with the 300 yard groups.
After studying the ladder test some more, and rolling the dice a couple of times I tried 42.9 gr with a bullet jump of .035" I loaded 10 rounds and set up another target at 300 yards. The first 5 shot group was 1.335" (.445 moa) and the second was 1.137" (.379 moa) for an average of 1.236" (.412 moa)
I am getting a 10 shot velocity average of 2550 fps. While I would like more velocity, I prefer accuracy. I also have some 190gr SMK's that I played with that show some potential. I was getting 2490 fps with them, and the one group I shot with it at 300 yards was 1.473" (.491 moa). I also shot 3-5shot groups with that load that averaged .6". While the load development may not be over yet, but it is off to a good start.
After studying the target, and all my velocity readings I decided to try 43.8 grains of Varget with the bullet jumping .010". I shot 2-5 shot groups at 100yards and got .750", and .780". I then shot them at 300 yards and got 2.00" and 1.835". I knew the rifle would do better, so I loaded up 20 more rounds with the bullet jumping .035". I then went back to my range and shot them. The groups improved. 100 yards .554" and .495". 300 yards 1.45" and 2.20". While the 100 yard groups were o.k. I was not pleased with the 300 yard groups.
After studying the ladder test some more, and rolling the dice a couple of times I tried 42.9 gr with a bullet jump of .035" I loaded 10 rounds and set up another target at 300 yards. The first 5 shot group was 1.335" (.445 moa) and the second was 1.137" (.379 moa) for an average of 1.236" (.412 moa)
I am getting a 10 shot velocity average of 2550 fps. While I would like more velocity, I prefer accuracy. I also have some 190gr SMK's that I played with that show some potential. I was getting 2490 fps with them, and the one group I shot with it at 300 yards was 1.473" (.491 moa). I also shot 3-5shot groups with that load that averaged .6". While the load development may not be over yet, but it is off to a good start.
thunderstruck
Regular
- Location
- Northern B.C.
Looks like your load is comming together nicely. Your ladder test would have been a bit easier to decipher if you had shot them on 2 different pages.
