BCL MRX Bison Rifle accuracy

10 rounds at 100 yds. Just under 1 1/2" with 77gr. SMK on Varget (old service rifle loads cranked out over 10 years ago).

I fired around 10 prior to this to get on paper and get a zero, so this is within the first 20 rounds that I put through it.
I haven't worked out a load for this rifle, and haven't got much trigger time behind it due to some niggley issues, Christmas, and the temperature here is hovering around -25 degrees.
However, I plan to do a fairly comprehensive review of this rifle once I'm satisfied that I've given it a fair shake and tested its capabilities.
I don't think it is going to be vying for any benchrest titles (unlike the Ruger American Ranch rifle), but as a beat-about truck gun or back-packer, this might fill a niche.

IMG_5702 by M J, on Flickr
 
I took mine out for the first time today at 100m. I was shooting cheap 55 grain barnaul fmj. It did not like those one bit. It was a tough pill to swallow after printing 1/2 inch groups with my 204 cz just minutes before . The bison wouldn't print a consistent group with the 55grn, prettymuch minute of dinner plate. Im going to try some heavier bullets next time to see if it improves but I was very disappointed. I bought this just for plinking with cheap ammo
 
...sighted mine in for deer hunting this past fall...75 gr Speer Gold Dot...1" no problem...wasn't even trying that hard. Have a couple more in the safe to set up and sight in...I like these little units.
 
I removed the factory brake, touched up the crown, granted only at 48 yards, but it was cold when I went to the indoor range, regardless I have often used 48 yards as a baseline for accuracy.

Using 55 grain FMJBT and around 23 grains of powder (I forgot what powder) with my buddy's Dillion reloader, I found these grouped best over factory heavy ammo. My Savage is opposite, prefers 75 and 77 grain Hornady Match.

Bison: Off bipod, indoor, Bushnell 6 power scope (I could have done better with my MRAD as the Bushnell only had a post


Savage .223 medium contour 20" barrel outside slight wind 119 yards heavy ammo 1 in 9 twist: Dime for comparison
 
So I recently did some testing with the MRX 16.5” in .223/5.56. I must preface by acknowledging a few things; first is that I am by no means a professional marksman and this is my first time trying out a “precision” rifle build. Secondly, and similarly to the first point, I was using inexpensive reloads which I have only recently begun to produce. Finally, I am a very impatient shooter... which is to say, after the first round goes off, I don't want to stop. So it was kind of difficult for me to force myself to slow down, take my time and wait for that absolutely perfect shot. But man, when I did just that, the results were quite promising. I shot 65 rounds total, about half of them grouping 1.5” to 2”at 100M when I did my part and fought against rushing through the five rounds. I want to say that I was waiting about 5 to 10 seconds between shots. When I caught myself “rapid firing” those groups opened up considerably, 3” to 5”. Here's the two last groupings I did that day:

View attachment 576801

My setup was pretty minimalist. I'm running an Atlas CAL bipod and a wedge-shaped rear rest on a standard wooden table at the range. Optic was a Primary Arms GLX 2.5-10x, shooting mostly at the 10x setting. The reloads in question utilize Campro 55gr projectiles seated to an OAL of around 2.250” containing 26.8 (+-.1) grains of CFE 223.

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Given the circumstances; the specific components used and the skill (or lack thereof) of the shooter, I'm pretty content with these results. I imagine someone using heavier bullets and a more ridged shooting platform would be able to obtain much greater accuracy, but alas I am cheap and tend to prioritize volume of fire over upmost bench rest accuracy. That being said I do most of my shooting off-hand at steel targets, so 2MOA is probably good enough for me. Now to see how the CZ 600 Trail compares...
 
Mine also does not like 55gr projectiles. Winchester white box, Remmy UMC and Federal bulk all shot 5" to 6" groups at 50 meters. Before I try heavier bullets I'll be having look at the crown of the barrel.
 
Managed to get one of the couple of 300blk rifles that showed up to CSC yesterday. The bad part is they made a mistake and shipped it instead of setting aside for pickup so I get to wait until to Tuesday or so to receive it. I'm looking forward to playing with 300blk and eventually doing some hunting with it.
 
My Bison has been a blast!
Just got even better now that their 20rnd mags are here:). Picking a few up at Tenda this weekend just in time for my next Range trip......

Update: picked up a couple at my LGS to test. They fit nice and snug vs my various AR mags.
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small sample size of only one five shot group each, but here's the results at 100M from a 12.5" Bison 5.56 with a 7x scope

Hornady 53gr Superformance V-Max : 1.1moa
Hornady 73gr Match ELDm : 1.9moa
 
It is representative of a missed opportunity in my opinion. With little further effort, these would be a slam-dunk.
They have already traveled down the path of making a proprietary magazine, not sure why BCL doesn't team with IBI or other barrel people to fix its Achilles heal.

I imagine a corrected chassis to be modular and other calibers like 6.5 grendel, 6 ARC, etc.
 
mmcintyre1220 said:
My Ruger American ranch prints .33MOA groups at 300 yards all day every day. Had it out to 500 Yards and I was around 0.65 MOA. 2 guys I shoot with struggle to break 1MOA @ 100 with their bisons.
Click to expand...

You sound like the guys that can hit a rabbit on the run in tall grass at 450 yards 15 minutes after sunset with a 22lr
 
I just received an email from BCL Customer Service.
They want to send me a new upgrade kit for my Bison to help alleviate possible light strikes.
1-firing pin
2-roll pins
1-bolt end cap
1-firing pin spring spacer ( if required )

I'm not experiencing light strikes but appreciate them being on top of things. Great Customer Service imo.....
 
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