Crusader arms backland

The saga continues.....

This morning I took a few shots with the new rifle and then found I wasn't getting ejection. Like the bolt was coming part way back and stopping. WTF?

So I popped out the pin to separate upper and lower, removed the bolt and the problem was pretty obvious. The gas key had come loose and was wobbling all over. Sigh. Removed the bolts, put on some hi temp loctite and screwed them back in. I'll probably stake them in the future.

Headed to the range and was going pretty good then I realized my arm was getting longer.....The handguard was slipping off! Sigh. Put it back on and tightened up the screws. At least the gas block appeared to be tight but I didn't play with it as the barrel assembly was pretty darn hot!

Burned through about 150 rounds with minimal problems that weren't what I think to be magazine related. Some mags the bolt locked back on a half full magazine which I think was related to that particular mag being a little off kilter after I polished up the mag well. When I got home I squared up the magwell a bit better. Then I played around with different mags both loaded and unloaded and tuned up the mag release button screws a bit.

Doubt I'll go to the range tomorrow but Saturday for sure.
 
Latest update:

Backlands Hunter Rifle #1 - Working great. Approaching 700 rounds fired, will probably surpass 1000 in a week or so.

Backlands Hunter Rifle #2- Loctited gas key working fine. Loctited handguard screws still holding up. The bolt face/firing pin hole/firing pin obviously has some sort of issue (maybe oversize hole) as it's cratering primers without pressure indicators. I'll get to that at one point, but it doesn't really effect function other than allowing crud to enter the firing pin channel. Which may have been the cause of my firing pin problem with BH#1 awhile ago.

I took a bit more careful look at the rifle to try to determine the random bolt lock backs and realized that there was minimal spring tension on the bolt release. Knocked the pin out and sure enough the detent was stuck too deep in the spring hole. I have been down this road with at least one AR15 and it appeared to be the same problem- The opening around the detent got peened over and was preventing it from extending properly.

I took out the awl on my multi-tool, poked the detent in with the point and reamed out the offending material with the blade part. I think last time I did this I used a tiny file and a small drill bit (used by hand) would also accomplish the same thing. It's really just a thin bit of material that needs to be removed. Since it's not uncommon on AR15's I'm sure someone has a Youtube video about it. :)

Anyway now #2 is running good.

One upgrade I will do is upgrading the charging handle. I've never really bothered to upgrade AR15's as the standard ones work fine. But the BH spring is VERY strong and removing a chambered round or clearing a jam using the charging handle is actually a bit of a chore. A bigger T handle would be preferrable as I can barely fit my thick fingers on the standard one. Which was never a problem with an AR s the buffer spring really isn't all that powerful.

So if you have recommendations, let me know.
 
Maybe something like this? Even though I own about a dozen AR15's I never bothered to upgrade the charging handles as it seemed unnecessary to me so I don't know much about aftermarket handles..


https://truenortharms.com/ar15_default_store_view/radian-raptor-lt-ambidextrous-charging-handle.html

raptor.lt.black_copy_5__47114.1661503467.jpg
 
Gatehouse said:
Maybe something like this? Even though I own about a dozen AR15's I never bothered to upgrade the charging handles as it seemed unnecessary to me so I don't know much about aftermarket handles..


https://truenortharms.com/ar15_default_store_view/radian-raptor-lt-ambidextrous-charging-handle.html

raptor.lt.black_copy_5__47114.1661503467.jpg
Click to expand...

Radian make a nice charging handle (I may have one or two) but if you don't know already just be aware that the left side is smaller than the right side. I typically charge with my left hand on the left side blade (which is the smaller half).

I had an oversized charging handle on another rifle where both blades where the same size and I much preferred it.
 
Hey everyone, I picked up a BH Elite from a local shop yesterday. Gave it a clean and lube, then took it out to the range this morning.

Fit and finish is a bit rough for a $2000 firearm, but the bigger issue: I’m getting occasional doubling. Pulled the trigger once and had two rounds go off.

Has anyone run into this with this model? I'm going home to inspect the trigger, any idea what might be causing it?
 
If your getting the odd doubling maybe the firing pin is sticking in the bolt
Either that or your not holding the rifle firmly enough and it’s bump firing?
 
I borrowed one of Gatehouse's Backland Hunters the other day to do some precision testing. Slapped a Vortex Razor g2 4.5-27 and an MDT Grndpod and Sendit level for the purpose of making it easier to extract the max level of precision out of the rifle.

I shot 10 round groups at 100yds of American Eagle 55gr 5.56, my plinking handloads (55gr Campros, PMC brass, 26.5gr BLC-2) and my precison handloads (75gr BTHPs, Fed brass, 23.9 N150).

The 55s were pretty terrible with the AE shooting about 4.5 moa and my plinking load doing approx 6 moa. The 75s performed shockingly well shooting just a hair over 1 moa (1.05 moa). I then shot the 75gr ammo on a group of targets I usually use to train for NRL Hunter/field matches that were at 400, 420, 465 and 625 yds. They were shot using bipod front, tripod rear and I made 1st round hits until I got to 625 (2/3 IPSC) where it took a couple rounds to get my wind call down (2.0 mil right iirc).

As an aside I had zero malfs over 65 rounds which is obviously a tiny sample size but it's something, I guess. The trigger is pretty bad but no worse than a GI trigger, I guess. Unless I'm missing something the safety is kind of a pita. Easy to push off when shouldering the rifle but awkward to re-engage when lowering the rifle. I also can't reach the right side mag release without breaking my grip so I guess the answer is to use your off hand on the left side mag release to swap mags. If you look at the primers in the photo they're all visibly cratered despite the handloads being quite mild. Food for thought.

Backlands-1.jpg


Backlands-2.jpg

Backlands-3.jpg

Backlands-4.jpg

Backlands-5.jpg

Backlands-6.jpg
 
firearm123 said:
Hey everyone, I picked up a BH Elite from a local shop yesterday. Gave it a clean and lube, then took it out to the range this morning.

Fit and finish is a bit rough for a $2000 firearm, but the bigger issue: I’m getting occasional doubling. Pulled the trigger once and had two rounds go off.

Has anyone run into this with this model? I'm going home to inspect the trigger, any idea what might be causing it?
Click to expand...

It sounds like this rifle has a strong spirit and does not want to be neutered to single shot per trigger pull as per our Liberal overlords. Better send it to me so I can evaluate.

On a serious note when this happened on a NEA AR15 I had it was due to a chipped sear. There were always lots of "learning opportunities" with that rifle.
 
Gatehouse said:
Yeah, probably. All rifles get a little worn after initial firing. If everything went well I wouldn't worry about it.
Click to expand...

What he ^^^^ said.

I think one of the pics is the groove where the charging handle is riding. You can grease or lube it up a little to lessen the wear but it will wear. Metal rubbing over metal.
 
Sniffer said:
What he ^^^^ said.

I think one of the pics is the groove where the charging handle is riding. You can grease or lube it up a little to lessen the wear but it will wear. Metal rubbing over metal.
Click to expand...
Good to know! My second semi after SKS lol
I'm taking it to the range again and see how it goes!! Thank you !!
 
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