FirearmsEnthusiast
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Kingston, ON
Quick report: I built our my MRA Renegade from a Windham Weaponry WW-15 VEX (Varmit Exterminator) donor rifle and the MRA build kit.
Overall, the quality of the machining of the MRA components is excellent. Everything fit well and went together easily, even the dreaded pivot pin retaining pin/spring installation.
The VEX has an excellent 20 inch barrel matched with a Compass Lake bolt. Barrel went on without issue and the design of the MRA bolt carrier is pretty ingenious - remove the gas rings from your AR bolt, and use some of the parts from the bolt (cam bolt, firing pin and retaining pin). Used Breakfree to lubricate the bolt/carrier interface and TW25B grease for the carrier itself in the receiver.
Action is extremely smooth and upper-lower lockup was good, but still some play that I may take out later with a tensioning screw.
I used both handloads and Federal AR ammo at the range today, and mounted a Nightforce scope in its Sphur mount.
First shot - slightly hugher recoil due to no gas system, and no AR "twang" from the buffer spring cycling. I was prepared to pull the bolt handle back briskly but to my pleasant suprise, the bolt cycled easily. Ejection was positive and the brass was cool to the touch like a bolt gun, with no deformation of the brass, or pressure signs. Primer strike was strong and centered.
I cycled another 50 rounds through the gun. Did an initial zero at only 50 yards to ensure I was on the paper, and first group sizes were under an inch at 50 yards.
Next steps will be to zero at 100 yards and develop some handloads for this gun. I will measure brass dimensions before and after firing, as I am hopeful that I may only have to neck size (so wierd coming from an AR platform).
A few photos of the gun below.
Thanks MRA for the innovative and well-made product. Highly recommended!
Sorry that the first photo is sideways - iPhone issue despite some editing.
Overall, the quality of the machining of the MRA components is excellent. Everything fit well and went together easily, even the dreaded pivot pin retaining pin/spring installation.
The VEX has an excellent 20 inch barrel matched with a Compass Lake bolt. Barrel went on without issue and the design of the MRA bolt carrier is pretty ingenious - remove the gas rings from your AR bolt, and use some of the parts from the bolt (cam bolt, firing pin and retaining pin). Used Breakfree to lubricate the bolt/carrier interface and TW25B grease for the carrier itself in the receiver.
Action is extremely smooth and upper-lower lockup was good, but still some play that I may take out later with a tensioning screw.
I used both handloads and Federal AR ammo at the range today, and mounted a Nightforce scope in its Sphur mount.
First shot - slightly hugher recoil due to no gas system, and no AR "twang" from the buffer spring cycling. I was prepared to pull the bolt handle back briskly but to my pleasant suprise, the bolt cycled easily. Ejection was positive and the brass was cool to the touch like a bolt gun, with no deformation of the brass, or pressure signs. Primer strike was strong and centered.
I cycled another 50 rounds through the gun. Did an initial zero at only 50 yards to ensure I was on the paper, and first group sizes were under an inch at 50 yards.
Next steps will be to zero at 100 yards and develop some handloads for this gun. I will measure brass dimensions before and after firing, as I am hopeful that I may only have to neck size (so wierd coming from an AR platform).
A few photos of the gun below.
Thanks MRA for the innovative and well-made product. Highly recommended!
Sorry that the first photo is sideways - iPhone issue despite some editing.
