I managed to take a personal day to finally test out my M25 in the chassis that JAE sent me. It is a very robust chassis and it's a rock-solid platform for any action.
To be fair, I will disclose that I've been running a test on this M25 with the 5R barrel. I hadn't cleaned it in about a year, since I started testing loads for my hunting trip last year. I've got at least a couple, more like a few hundred rounds through it and I hadn't run any kind of patch through the bore. I decided to at least run some patches with some Kroil through it to start things off. I'll be doing a good copper-solvent cleaning before my next range trip.
This was also my first time out with the new GG&G heavy bipod. This is the most awesome rifle/chassis/scope package I've ever owned.
I warmed up the barrel with some new 150 grain FMJ warm-up ammo that I'd never tried before. It was very slow, in the 2500FPS range. It shot very well, considering it was made with little care and it was crimped. The 9 shots that landed on paper grouped 1.239".
I followed up with groups of different loads, chronographing the data. I shot two different 168gr loads that measured 1.623" for 10 shots, 1.159" for five shots (finished off a box) and another group for 1.811".
I also ran some 175 grain loads which measured at 1.655" for 10 shots and some 125's for 1.372". I finished off with a 5-shot string of 175gr FGMM which measured 1.374"
I also made an attempt at the 20-shot hot dot contest and filmed a 15 second video for your viewing enjoyment.
I'm very happy with this chassis and I've only just begun to play with it. I still need to mess with the front band tensioner to optimize my groups and give the barrel a good cleaning and start from scratch.
More to come as I discover more about this chassis.
On a side note, just as I was finishing my testing, someone showed up with an M1A standard in a SAGE ALCS chassis and some kind of Burris scope (Eliminator, I think) mounted on it. I casually walked over and asked how he liked the package. It turns out, it was his first time out with it. He had just bought it from Cabela's and he really knew nothing about it.
I gave them a quick rundown on the platform and answered a few questions. I also had my Blackfeather and showed them the trigger group I had with the trigger shoe. I also had the Shooting Sight EBR trigger installed in my M25 and I let them run a few rounds through it. After seeing the difference in comfort and crispness, he was sold on the Shooting Sight trigger.
I did have on embarrassing moment where I was showing them the JAE and I couldn't pull the operating rod back. After some fiddling around, my spring guide shot out the bottom of the mag well! Then it occurred to me that I forgot to install a standard connector pin when I dropped it in the chassis. I had a flush-fit pin that I use for glass bedded stocks. OOPS! Well, I made it over 100 rounds before I noticed there was a problem.
Tony.
To be fair, I will disclose that I've been running a test on this M25 with the 5R barrel. I hadn't cleaned it in about a year, since I started testing loads for my hunting trip last year. I've got at least a couple, more like a few hundred rounds through it and I hadn't run any kind of patch through the bore. I decided to at least run some patches with some Kroil through it to start things off. I'll be doing a good copper-solvent cleaning before my next range trip.
This was also my first time out with the new GG&G heavy bipod. This is the most awesome rifle/chassis/scope package I've ever owned.
I warmed up the barrel with some new 150 grain FMJ warm-up ammo that I'd never tried before. It was very slow, in the 2500FPS range. It shot very well, considering it was made with little care and it was crimped. The 9 shots that landed on paper grouped 1.239".
I followed up with groups of different loads, chronographing the data. I shot two different 168gr loads that measured 1.623" for 10 shots, 1.159" for five shots (finished off a box) and another group for 1.811".
I also ran some 175 grain loads which measured at 1.655" for 10 shots and some 125's for 1.372". I finished off with a 5-shot string of 175gr FGMM which measured 1.374"
I also made an attempt at the 20-shot hot dot contest and filmed a 15 second video for your viewing enjoyment.
I'm very happy with this chassis and I've only just begun to play with it. I still need to mess with the front band tensioner to optimize my groups and give the barrel a good cleaning and start from scratch.
More to come as I discover more about this chassis.
On a side note, just as I was finishing my testing, someone showed up with an M1A standard in a SAGE ALCS chassis and some kind of Burris scope (Eliminator, I think) mounted on it. I casually walked over and asked how he liked the package. It turns out, it was his first time out with it. He had just bought it from Cabela's and he really knew nothing about it.
I gave them a quick rundown on the platform and answered a few questions. I also had my Blackfeather and showed them the trigger group I had with the trigger shoe. I also had the Shooting Sight EBR trigger installed in my M25 and I let them run a few rounds through it. After seeing the difference in comfort and crispness, he was sold on the Shooting Sight trigger.
I did have on embarrassing moment where I was showing them the JAE and I couldn't pull the operating rod back. After some fiddling around, my spring guide shot out the bottom of the mag well! Then it occurred to me that I forgot to install a standard connector pin when I dropped it in the chassis. I had a flush-fit pin that I use for glass bedded stocks. OOPS! Well, I made it over 100 rounds before I noticed there was a problem.
Tony.
