Updated post 61. TL;DR changed scopes, better groups.
After a long wait, my ATRS Modern Varmint finally arrived. I ordered in May, and it was completed in early December. However due to some PAL issues, ie I forgot to renew until the last minute, I only just received it a few days ago. An initial inspection shows that it really is a well made firearm. When I pick it up, it feels solid. It is also quite lightweight, for an 18.5" barrel, I think. I am used to my Swiss Arms, as well as my keymod XCR; it feels lighter than both. I will get them all weighed up in the next bit to find out exactly where they are at.
The specs on this MV are as follows:
-Medium contour Lilja barrel
-A2 grip
-A2 stock
-FORTIS forend
-I also have a 12.5" PRI forend. I really want to turn this into a Mk. 12 inspired gun, so where I can I am buying the proper parts to do that. I think it will be awesome to have a non restricted "Mk. 12".
-ATRS LFE (I think?)
-Nightforce NSX compact 2.5-10x24 (again, for the "Mk 12"). It has a pretty big dot in the middle of the reticle, not exactly conducive to precision shooting, ha. Great scope, though.
Anyways, no one cares about specs. People only care about how the thing shoots! And in that regard, it is a resounding... ok? I really shouldn't say it like that, but sadly, so far that's how it seems. I have only shot 53 and 55 grain projectiles (55 gr PMC Bronze; 53 gr Hornady Superformance) through it, but it really is about the same, or likely a bit less accurate, WITH LIGHT PROJECTILES as my Swiss. I am hoping to throw some 75 grain Hornady match ammo downrange in the next day or two, and I am also hoping to use some proper bags. As you can see in the pictures, I was not using anything special to shoot from. I had a bench, a front rest, and I was using a spare mag to stabilise the rear. I know, not what I should have done for my first shoot, but come on, it was -1, I had to get out there and shoot!
The trigger is a beautiful thing. So far I would likely say I prefer the Swiss trigger to it, but that is likely only due to the fact that I have a metric crap tonne of rounds downrange with the Classic Green. This trigger will grow on me fast. Very crisp, very predictable.
Breakdown for cleaning is ridiculously simple. A single pin. Pull the upper and lower apart. I like it.
So, my first impression is that this is a very well made gun. It feels solid, it is light, and it looks great. I am assuming it is reliable, but my 70 rounds with 0 stoppages/issues don't really count for much, yet. I do hope that using a proper rest my groups will improve, but quite frankly, even if they don't, I think it is still doing pretty well for a black rifle, and I am very happy with it. It will also be fun to try some 3 gun with it this year. I am assuming it will work a little nicer than my Swiss, and having 10 round mags will just make life oh so much easier. I just wish, being a lefty, I would have got the ambi mag release. Seriously, I buy an expensive gun and the Mennonite in me kicks in for that? Oh ba yo!
The gun:
The shooting bench. I would recommend these Herter shooting benches to anyone and everyone. <$150!:
The target. The left two targets had 10 rounds of PMC Bronze each, the right two had 5 rounds of Hornady 53 gr. Superformance each:
After a long wait, my ATRS Modern Varmint finally arrived. I ordered in May, and it was completed in early December. However due to some PAL issues, ie I forgot to renew until the last minute, I only just received it a few days ago. An initial inspection shows that it really is a well made firearm. When I pick it up, it feels solid. It is also quite lightweight, for an 18.5" barrel, I think. I am used to my Swiss Arms, as well as my keymod XCR; it feels lighter than both. I will get them all weighed up in the next bit to find out exactly where they are at.
The specs on this MV are as follows:
-Medium contour Lilja barrel
-A2 grip
-A2 stock
-FORTIS forend
-I also have a 12.5" PRI forend. I really want to turn this into a Mk. 12 inspired gun, so where I can I am buying the proper parts to do that. I think it will be awesome to have a non restricted "Mk. 12".
-ATRS LFE (I think?)
-Nightforce NSX compact 2.5-10x24 (again, for the "Mk 12"). It has a pretty big dot in the middle of the reticle, not exactly conducive to precision shooting, ha. Great scope, though.
Anyways, no one cares about specs. People only care about how the thing shoots! And in that regard, it is a resounding... ok? I really shouldn't say it like that, but sadly, so far that's how it seems. I have only shot 53 and 55 grain projectiles (55 gr PMC Bronze; 53 gr Hornady Superformance) through it, but it really is about the same, or likely a bit less accurate, WITH LIGHT PROJECTILES as my Swiss. I am hoping to throw some 75 grain Hornady match ammo downrange in the next day or two, and I am also hoping to use some proper bags. As you can see in the pictures, I was not using anything special to shoot from. I had a bench, a front rest, and I was using a spare mag to stabilise the rear. I know, not what I should have done for my first shoot, but come on, it was -1, I had to get out there and shoot!
The trigger is a beautiful thing. So far I would likely say I prefer the Swiss trigger to it, but that is likely only due to the fact that I have a metric crap tonne of rounds downrange with the Classic Green. This trigger will grow on me fast. Very crisp, very predictable.
Breakdown for cleaning is ridiculously simple. A single pin. Pull the upper and lower apart. I like it.
So, my first impression is that this is a very well made gun. It feels solid, it is light, and it looks great. I am assuming it is reliable, but my 70 rounds with 0 stoppages/issues don't really count for much, yet. I do hope that using a proper rest my groups will improve, but quite frankly, even if they don't, I think it is still doing pretty well for a black rifle, and I am very happy with it. It will also be fun to try some 3 gun with it this year. I am assuming it will work a little nicer than my Swiss, and having 10 round mags will just make life oh so much easier. I just wish, being a lefty, I would have got the ambi mag release. Seriously, I buy an expensive gun and the Mennonite in me kicks in for that? Oh ba yo!
The gun:
The shooting bench. I would recommend these Herter shooting benches to anyone and everyone. <$150!:
The target. The left two targets had 10 rounds of PMC Bronze each, the right two had 5 rounds of Hornady 53 gr. Superformance each:
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