First off, sorry I can't report on accuracy yet. Range conditions were not conducive to shooting for groups today so I mostly shot steel at 100 and 300m.
The fit and finish on the rifle is very good, not quite up to Swissarms level but good. I love the look of the green furniture and black metal.
In total I fired 311 rounds of mixed ammo (copper washed chicom, zinc plated FMS, Hirtenberger, and a small number of IVI). I believe that all of these are 7.62x51. There was a shift in POI of at least 4 MOA vertical between the FMS and Hirenberger when shooting at paper (Hirtenberger being higher).
The rifle had no fail to feed, fire, or eject issues. Ejection on setting one (only used one today) was very positive. I was shooting from a shack so I don't know how far and where they would go when unobstructed but they sure flew all around the shack.
The only operational issue that I encountered was the bolt release stuck three times forcing me to pull back on the bolt handle to release the bolt. I'll have a look at this when I clean the rifle. Having since the first outing, cleaned and lubed the rifle, the bolt release sticking has not reoccurred.
Interesting notes on the design, the firing pin is not free floating (there is a spring to prevent slam fires) and there is a large venting arrangement to direct gas down and away from the shooter if there is a case head failure.
Ergonomically the rifle has the same safety placement as the Swissarms PE90, I suspect that the shape of a persons hand makes this different for some people. For me I find the safety awkward to release and apply compared to an AR15. However, this is not too difficult to get used to, I find that I use my thumb to release and my trigger finger to apply the safety from the opposite side (it is ambidextrous). Overall the rifle is very comfortable to shoot, the length of pull is longer than a Swissarms PE90 and fits me much better. I always found the stock too short on the PE90. Recoil is much more pleasant than I remember the FN C1 being (not that I minded it). I found that if I concentrated on holding the rifle on target I could see the bullet impacts on the steel gong and 100m. After 311 rounds I have no tender body parts and did not experience any discomfort at any point.
For optics I mounted a Leupold MRT 2.5-8x Mark4 scope with an ARMS #35 mount (rings on base, no spacers). The eye relief is good with this mound and scope however is it a little bit high. Long term I would like a check riser of some sort on the stock. Perhaps ERE will incorporate one into the folding stock they are working on. The scope mount did come loose and needed to be tightened, I'll likely locktite this later. I have the scope mount tools and pull through (came with rifle) stored in the pistol grip where they just fit and don't rattle around.
Overall I was very happy with the SG542 and hope to get some accuracy testing done when it is warmer.
Having owned a SwissArms and now owning the SG542 I can clearly see that the SwissArms is a descendent of the SG542, some obvious differences are:
- butt stock and how it attaches to the lower receiver
- bolt hold open (part to upper receiver on SG542 and part of lower on PE90)
- gas block and front sight (complete unit is moved to disassemble gas system on SG542, fixed in place on PE90)(block is slightly loose)
- sights (front and rear are different design and don't have night sights)
- bipod and attachment of it are different
Below are photos of the rifle without cleaning after shooting 311 rounds. You can see that the side of the receiver gets beat up by brass like the Swissarms, it is not new now
Adding some photos, note that rifle has not been cleaned since the shoot today:
It was -20 again today but I headed back to the range. I shot Norinco copper washed ammo and Federal 168gr Gold Medal Match. Results where odd, some groups where good, some were bad. There was no wind so my breath and smoke from the rifle was hanging around me which was not ideal and I could not wear my glasses. Some groups where around 1 moa and others where around 4 or more. Over all I'd say the rifle was averaging about 3.5 moa today but there were some groups that looked really good. I've attached some of the best and not so good groups.
I re-tightened all the scope mounts, screws etc... to see if I could eliminate flyers. In the end I found that the flash hider is a little lose (similar to the looseness in the gas block). I'm not sure if this could be causing the inconsistent groups but it seems like a good possibility to me. Also I might have just been shooting badly, I haven't had much trigger time in the last year.
In total 387rds have now been fired through this SG542. Considering that most of it has been cheap Norinco ammo the rifle was still not to dirty though I have stripped it right down to look for any possible explanation for the inconstant grouping I've been getting. The only items that I can find are the slight movement in the flash hider and gas block. I think that it maybe possible to shim the gas block. The flash hider may require removal and replacement with a threaded unit (would have to thread the barrel).
I'll test the rifle again when the weather is warmer and hopefully I'm shooting better.
The flash hider pins were lose, a few gentle taps with the hammer and punch and they slid right out. The hider then lifted right off with no resistance, it is very lose on the barrel without the pins holding it in place. I think I could tighten the hider up by driving the pins in better but I'll try it without the hider first before I put it back on.
Today I returned the the range to try the rifle without the flash hider on. The rounds where shot in the order of, 168gr Gold Medal Match, 175gr SMK with Varget powder, Norinco Copper wash. Results seem better though puzzling, it seems like it should group better than it does. Conditions are still not ideal at the range but were much better. It was -1c today. Total round count is now 448 with no stopages.
April 9 2015 update: I've fired 670 rounds or assorted ammo through the 542 now with no stopages of any sort.
Shot some groups with the FAL flash hider on the rifle, was getting 5 shot 1.25 to 1.5 inch groups with Norinco copper wash ammo at 100m then shot a load of steel from 100 to 300m
The fit and finish on the rifle is very good, not quite up to Swissarms level but good. I love the look of the green furniture and black metal.
In total I fired 311 rounds of mixed ammo (copper washed chicom, zinc plated FMS, Hirtenberger, and a small number of IVI). I believe that all of these are 7.62x51. There was a shift in POI of at least 4 MOA vertical between the FMS and Hirenberger when shooting at paper (Hirtenberger being higher).
The rifle had no fail to feed, fire, or eject issues. Ejection on setting one (only used one today) was very positive. I was shooting from a shack so I don't know how far and where they would go when unobstructed but they sure flew all around the shack.
The only operational issue that I encountered was the bolt release stuck three times forcing me to pull back on the bolt handle to release the bolt. I'll have a look at this when I clean the rifle. Having since the first outing, cleaned and lubed the rifle, the bolt release sticking has not reoccurred.
Interesting notes on the design, the firing pin is not free floating (there is a spring to prevent slam fires) and there is a large venting arrangement to direct gas down and away from the shooter if there is a case head failure.
Ergonomically the rifle has the same safety placement as the Swissarms PE90, I suspect that the shape of a persons hand makes this different for some people. For me I find the safety awkward to release and apply compared to an AR15. However, this is not too difficult to get used to, I find that I use my thumb to release and my trigger finger to apply the safety from the opposite side (it is ambidextrous). Overall the rifle is very comfortable to shoot, the length of pull is longer than a Swissarms PE90 and fits me much better. I always found the stock too short on the PE90. Recoil is much more pleasant than I remember the FN C1 being (not that I minded it). I found that if I concentrated on holding the rifle on target I could see the bullet impacts on the steel gong and 100m. After 311 rounds I have no tender body parts and did not experience any discomfort at any point.
For optics I mounted a Leupold MRT 2.5-8x Mark4 scope with an ARMS #35 mount (rings on base, no spacers). The eye relief is good with this mound and scope however is it a little bit high. Long term I would like a check riser of some sort on the stock. Perhaps ERE will incorporate one into the folding stock they are working on. The scope mount did come loose and needed to be tightened, I'll likely locktite this later. I have the scope mount tools and pull through (came with rifle) stored in the pistol grip where they just fit and don't rattle around.
Overall I was very happy with the SG542 and hope to get some accuracy testing done when it is warmer.
Having owned a SwissArms and now owning the SG542 I can clearly see that the SwissArms is a descendent of the SG542, some obvious differences are:
- butt stock and how it attaches to the lower receiver
- bolt hold open (part to upper receiver on SG542 and part of lower on PE90)
- gas block and front sight (complete unit is moved to disassemble gas system on SG542, fixed in place on PE90)(block is slightly loose)
- sights (front and rear are different design and don't have night sights)
- bipod and attachment of it are different
Below are photos of the rifle without cleaning after shooting 311 rounds. You can see that the side of the receiver gets beat up by brass like the Swissarms, it is not new now
Adding some photos, note that rifle has not been cleaned since the shoot today:
It was -20 again today but I headed back to the range. I shot Norinco copper washed ammo and Federal 168gr Gold Medal Match. Results where odd, some groups where good, some were bad. There was no wind so my breath and smoke from the rifle was hanging around me which was not ideal and I could not wear my glasses. Some groups where around 1 moa and others where around 4 or more. Over all I'd say the rifle was averaging about 3.5 moa today but there were some groups that looked really good. I've attached some of the best and not so good groups.
I re-tightened all the scope mounts, screws etc... to see if I could eliminate flyers. In the end I found that the flash hider is a little lose (similar to the looseness in the gas block). I'm not sure if this could be causing the inconsistent groups but it seems like a good possibility to me. Also I might have just been shooting badly, I haven't had much trigger time in the last year.
In total 387rds have now been fired through this SG542. Considering that most of it has been cheap Norinco ammo the rifle was still not to dirty though I have stripped it right down to look for any possible explanation for the inconstant grouping I've been getting. The only items that I can find are the slight movement in the flash hider and gas block. I think that it maybe possible to shim the gas block. The flash hider may require removal and replacement with a threaded unit (would have to thread the barrel).
I'll test the rifle again when the weather is warmer and hopefully I'm shooting better.
The flash hider pins were lose, a few gentle taps with the hammer and punch and they slid right out. The hider then lifted right off with no resistance, it is very lose on the barrel without the pins holding it in place. I think I could tighten the hider up by driving the pins in better but I'll try it without the hider first before I put it back on.
Today I returned the the range to try the rifle without the flash hider on. The rounds where shot in the order of, 168gr Gold Medal Match, 175gr SMK with Varget powder, Norinco Copper wash. Results seem better though puzzling, it seems like it should group better than it does. Conditions are still not ideal at the range but were much better. It was -1c today. Total round count is now 448 with no stopages.
April 9 2015 update: I've fired 670 rounds or assorted ammo through the 542 now with no stopages of any sort.
Shot some groups with the FAL flash hider on the rifle, was getting 5 shot 1.25 to 1.5 inch groups with Norinco copper wash ammo at 100m then shot a load of steel from 100 to 300m
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