Range Report! Re-barrelled to non-restricted Bushmaster ACR
- Thread starter Brobee
- Start date
Are you going to come up with a less Russian-sensitive target, perhaps somthing jihadist-themed? Or is that too hot to handle these days? I really like the good job done approximating the flash hider, though I'd have been tempted to go with a non-pronged design. If you ever drop it and bend or break a prong, you may have lost the whole bbl - unfortunately.
- Location
- Durham Region
Very Nice...very very nice.... I hate this site.... far too many things to spend money on.
Super good point on the flash hider.....it amazing how sometimes even the blatantly obvious escapes me when dreaming up the project specs.
Re Russian Boris...l was going to stick with the ski mask for the first series of targets, and if the league panned out then I would do a jihadi themed series. If the idea of a Russian is offensive, folks could always think of him as a throwback IRA kinda guy
Cheers,
Brobee
canucklehead
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Calgary, AB
Brobee - mine arrived... just wanted to share a pic with the rifle length handguard. A little heavier than I expected it to be, even with the polymer forend.
Canucklehead - I originally had my acr equipped with a vortex hd gen II razor....it was super nice glass, but it weighed in at 25oz without the mount!!! I tried really hard to like it, but it just weighed too much and turned the gun into something of a beast. So I tried everything else again:
- elcan spectre dr: too heavy, reticle too thick
- aimpoint comp m4s: what I'm used to, but my older eyes need some magnification
- eotech exps3-2: nice, but I still need magnification
- trijicon acog ta31f: not bad, but don't like fixed power
Where I landed was right back with my old standard: a leupold vx1 rimfire 2-8x28. I sent it to Korth to have CDS turrets installed and a parallax reset to 100 yards. The scope weighs 8oz, and its amazing how much handier the rifle is with a lightweight optic. I might still try again the ultralight 2 power, as well as a couple from leupolds' 1.5-5 line. It's surprising t me that the trend in low power variables has moved towards heavier and heavier scopes. I'd love to see someone apply themselves to a lightweight 1-4 variable.
I found a couple of authentic bushmaster polymer handguards (with heat shields) at Wolverine...they should arrive next week sometime and I'm excited to see now they might dial back the weight too. It looks Ike they are shorter than the one you have pictured above.
Anyway, nice rig! I'll be excited to read how she shoots.
Cheers,
Brobee
- elcan spectre dr: too heavy, reticle too thick
- aimpoint comp m4s: what I'm used to, but my older eyes need some magnification
- eotech exps3-2: nice, but I still need magnification
- trijicon acog ta31f: not bad, but don't like fixed power
Where I landed was right back with my old standard: a leupold vx1 rimfire 2-8x28. I sent it to Korth to have CDS turrets installed and a parallax reset to 100 yards. The scope weighs 8oz, and its amazing how much handier the rifle is with a lightweight optic. I might still try again the ultralight 2 power, as well as a couple from leupolds' 1.5-5 line. It's surprising t me that the trend in low power variables has moved towards heavier and heavier scopes. I'd love to see someone apply themselves to a lightweight 1-4 variable.
I found a couple of authentic bushmaster polymer handguards (with heat shields) at Wolverine...they should arrive next week sometime and I'm excited to see now they might dial back the weight too. It looks Ike they are shorter than the one you have pictured above.
Anyway, nice rig! I'll be excited to read how she shoots.
Cheers,
Brobee
canucklehead
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Calgary, AB
Thanks Brobee... This optic is actually the 2.5-10x24, since I'll be using it for a little more 'precision' than some of my other .223 blasters. It's a little heavier than my NF 1-4x, but I find this one a little more versitile!
The only thing I'm finding is that just while handling it, I tend to drop the mag while 'indexing' my finger outside the trigger guard. Never had this problem with the AR's. It will definitely take some getting used to!
No heatshield in this forend... not sure if I really need one, but very interested to see your without the 'enhanced' rail!
The only thing I'm finding is that just while handling it, I tend to drop the mag while 'indexing' my finger outside the trigger guard. Never had this problem with the AR's.
It will definitely take some getting used to!No heatshield in this forend... not sure if I really need one, but very interested to see your without the 'enhanced' rail!
The only thing I'm finding is that just while handling it, I tend to drop the mag while 'indexing' my finger outside the trigger guard. Never had this problem with the AR's.
I found similar issue the first couple times I picked up my ACR, but never dropped the mag. I just didn't like the idea of resting my finger on the mag release. I use the ridge just below the mag release as a landmark and keep my finger there.
Coyote Hunting Range Report!
So there I was...
An early morning chinook wind was starting to pick up, and the sunrise streamed out below the dark arch of the cloud cover. I'd spent the half hour before legal light quietly walking across a stubble field to get into position for first light, then climbing two thirds of the way up the big ridge overlooking a fence line transecting a large bowl - quintessential foothills-ranchland-calling-country! I'd been here for the first time yesterday morning, enlisted by my wife as a favor to my daughter's grade 1 teacher who's family has ranched this particular piece of land for the past four generations. She was complaining to my wife about how brazen the coyotes were getting out at the ranch, and my wife happily volunteered "the husband!"....god I love my wife!
I'd squaked up a half a dozen yesterday, and managed to shoot 2 out of the six. I would have had a third, however I was hunting with my Ruger M77 in .308 winchester. Why my .308 winchester? The only .223 guns I have right now are my Bushmaster ACRs, and I figured it might be a bit much for the grade 1 teacher if I showed up with my black rifle. So my .308 it was. Then the animal presentation for the third coyote had him skylined along the top of a ridge above me at the grand-old-gimme range of about 35 yards. I doubt my .308 would have even slowed down...so he got the free pass and I spent the rest of the day cursing my choice of rifle for the morning.
Fast forward to this morning...the urge to get more coyotes was much stronger than my urge to stay politically correct, so out came the ACR!!
I made one stand with the intent to call, however the couple coyotes that responded came from directly downwind and had me made at 400 yards or so. *Sigh* So I picked up and moved 500 meters upwind along the ridge and set myself up in the snowdrifts along the edge of a small pocket of poplars. Rather than call, I waited. The sunrise came and went, and the wind began to pick up as the light started to transition from that brilliant sunrise-under-the-clouds to that greyish light of a strong chinook day.
Then I saw them. Three of them broke from a clump of bush directly west and about a kilometer upwind from me and began to mouse along the east-west fenceline that would bring them within 150 yards of my stand. They disappeared and reappeared several times as they slid through the swells of the landscape. I double-checked the range to various spots along the fenceline, then settled in behind the rifle and got to work at trying to calm my mounting excitement. I figured the highest probability shot was a small knoll that measured exactly 200 yards from my position I mentally reviewed my trajectory as I'm zeroed at 250. Yup...I should hold about an inch or two low. The sun was directly at my back, and as the safety came off I wondered if I might be able to score a double...
Through the riflescope I could see all three...a big male, what I figured was his mate, and a younger coyote. The big male crested the small knolland I took up the first stage of my Geiselle Super ACR trigger. A quick squeek on my predator call stopped him and I dropped the hammer. CRACK! The 55gr barnes varmint grenade caught him with pretty much perfect shot placement, and he crumpled on the spot. WOOHOO!
I broke position on the rifle to look over the scope at what the other two were doing, which was the hard run back to where they came from. I gave a couple of yelps on the call, but alas they did not stop so my overreaching ambition for a double went empty.
But then the sun broke through the scattering clouds, and I went to take a photo of the big boy to show the landowner. I quickly forgot about my disappointment at the double, as I realized this was my first kill with the ACR! The big male was beautiful. He had a full winter coat, and his face was all scarred up from whatever fighting he's been doing as mating season gets into full swing. He'll make a prime hide for sure!
Notes: I have not yet sussed out a sling for my rifle, and wandering all around without one is a bit of a pain. Must add a sling to the setup! In the carry around all morning department the low power leupold variable is great. It's not too heavy, and the 8 power high end of it's magnification range is ample for coyotes anywhere within my point blank maximum trajectory when zeroed at 250 yards. I have not had a chance to test out the low end yet, but I have a plan for a couple of weekends from now where that might just be the ticket! The Super ACR trigger is beautiful. If there was only one mod I could do for the rifle, this would win hands down. The enhanced handguard is a bit of a pain to carry around, and it's super cold when you have the gloves off! I can hardly wait for the factory polymer handguard to arrive next week.
In the magazine world, I had brought both an MSAR 5/30 polymer magazine as well as a couple of LAR 10 rounders. The MSAR makes the rifle much more comfortable to carry around - both from the big-handle-department as well as the thermal insulating properties of the polymer it's made of. Again...think about carrying it by the mag with no gloves on! Also, I used the MSAR 5/30 mag as a monopod, and it was about the perfect height to get over the stubble I was laying down in.
So there's the story of my first fur fetching adventure with my non-restricted ACR. When I was walking back to the car, I ran into the landowner who was getting ready to go for a horse ride. It kinda made me laugh when she asked; "That's a fairly unusual looking hunting rifle....what can you tell me about it?"
Thanks for reading!
Cheers,
Brobee
So there I was...
An early morning chinook wind was starting to pick up, and the sunrise streamed out below the dark arch of the cloud cover. I'd spent the half hour before legal light quietly walking across a stubble field to get into position for first light, then climbing two thirds of the way up the big ridge overlooking a fence line transecting a large bowl - quintessential foothills-ranchland-calling-country! I'd been here for the first time yesterday morning, enlisted by my wife as a favor to my daughter's grade 1 teacher who's family has ranched this particular piece of land for the past four generations. She was complaining to my wife about how brazen the coyotes were getting out at the ranch, and my wife happily volunteered "the husband!"....god I love my wife!
I'd squaked up a half a dozen yesterday, and managed to shoot 2 out of the six. I would have had a third, however I was hunting with my Ruger M77 in .308 winchester. Why my .308 winchester? The only .223 guns I have right now are my Bushmaster ACRs, and I figured it might be a bit much for the grade 1 teacher if I showed up with my black rifle. So my .308 it was. Then the animal presentation for the third coyote had him skylined along the top of a ridge above me at the grand-old-gimme range of about 35 yards. I doubt my .308 would have even slowed down...so he got the free pass and I spent the rest of the day cursing my choice of rifle for the morning.
Fast forward to this morning...the urge to get more coyotes was much stronger than my urge to stay politically correct, so out came the ACR!!
I made one stand with the intent to call, however the couple coyotes that responded came from directly downwind and had me made at 400 yards or so. *Sigh* So I picked up and moved 500 meters upwind along the ridge and set myself up in the snowdrifts along the edge of a small pocket of poplars. Rather than call, I waited. The sunrise came and went, and the wind began to pick up as the light started to transition from that brilliant sunrise-under-the-clouds to that greyish light of a strong chinook day.
Then I saw them. Three of them broke from a clump of bush directly west and about a kilometer upwind from me and began to mouse along the east-west fenceline that would bring them within 150 yards of my stand. They disappeared and reappeared several times as they slid through the swells of the landscape. I double-checked the range to various spots along the fenceline, then settled in behind the rifle and got to work at trying to calm my mounting excitement. I figured the highest probability shot was a small knoll that measured exactly 200 yards from my position I mentally reviewed my trajectory as I'm zeroed at 250. Yup...I should hold about an inch or two low. The sun was directly at my back, and as the safety came off I wondered if I might be able to score a double...
Through the riflescope I could see all three...a big male, what I figured was his mate, and a younger coyote. The big male crested the small knolland I took up the first stage of my Geiselle Super ACR trigger. A quick squeek on my predator call stopped him and I dropped the hammer. CRACK! The 55gr barnes varmint grenade caught him with pretty much perfect shot placement, and he crumpled on the spot. WOOHOO!
I broke position on the rifle to look over the scope at what the other two were doing, which was the hard run back to where they came from. I gave a couple of yelps on the call, but alas they did not stop so my overreaching ambition for a double went empty.
But then the sun broke through the scattering clouds, and I went to take a photo of the big boy to show the landowner. I quickly forgot about my disappointment at the double, as I realized this was my first kill with the ACR! The big male was beautiful. He had a full winter coat, and his face was all scarred up from whatever fighting he's been doing as mating season gets into full swing. He'll make a prime hide for sure!
Notes: I have not yet sussed out a sling for my rifle, and wandering all around without one is a bit of a pain. Must add a sling to the setup! In the carry around all morning department the low power leupold variable is great. It's not too heavy, and the 8 power high end of it's magnification range is ample for coyotes anywhere within my point blank maximum trajectory when zeroed at 250 yards. I have not had a chance to test out the low end yet, but I have a plan for a couple of weekends from now where that might just be the ticket! The Super ACR trigger is beautiful. If there was only one mod I could do for the rifle, this would win hands down. The enhanced handguard is a bit of a pain to carry around, and it's super cold when you have the gloves off! I can hardly wait for the factory polymer handguard to arrive next week.
In the magazine world, I had brought both an MSAR 5/30 polymer magazine as well as a couple of LAR 10 rounders. The MSAR makes the rifle much more comfortable to carry around - both from the big-handle-department as well as the thermal insulating properties of the polymer it's made of. Again...think about carrying it by the mag with no gloves on! Also, I used the MSAR 5/30 mag as a monopod, and it was about the perfect height to get over the stubble I was laying down in.
So there's the story of my first fur fetching adventure with my non-restricted ACR. When I was walking back to the car, I ran into the landowner who was getting ready to go for a horse ride. It kinda made me laugh when she asked; "That's a fairly unusual looking hunting rifle....what can you tell me about it?"
Thanks for reading!
Cheers,
Brobee
Hokus Grey
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Somewhere between "WTF?" and "FTW!".
Great pics and they story is much appreciated! Great Sunday reading.
So, what did you tell the landowner?
So, what did you tell the landowner?
Great post! However a little advice, perhaps be a little less cuddly with dead coyotes in future. My former girlfriend found a flea in our bed the day after a successful coyote hunt. She was... Underwhelmed. Fwiw I'm told that its possible to get mange as well. I'm much more cautious when skinning now.
What's the weight of your current setup?
What's the weight of your current setup?
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Great post! However a little advice, perhaps be a little less cuddly with dead coyotes in future. My former girlfriend found a flea in our bed the day after a successful coyote hunt. She was... Underwhelmed. Fwiw I'm told that its possible to get mange as well. I'm much more cautious when skinning now.
What's the weight of your current setup?
Great adventure sharing thanks Brobee
But I had to include the comment above, yikes
I can see my wife's expression when I try to explain that I have fleas 'cause I was intimate with a coyote 
Also, I second Leonidas's question regarding the weight/balance of your non-restricted ACR 
Just saying that makes me very happy Keep at it!! I did not kill very many my first couple years either. But believe that every time you see one run away, there is a lesson for you there somewhere. Once you accumulate enough of those lessons, your score will improve...
I explained to the landowner that it was a semi-auto project rifle I'd been playing with that shot the .223 remington cartridge. I showed her one and compared it to my .308 ammo I had in the car, and offered her my opinion about why it was a better (less dangerous to others) coyote hunting round. I also showed her the pin in the magazine, and explained the spirit of the law behind it. I finished with the anecdote about the using the magazine as a rest to clear the stubble - her end comment was something to the effect of "well....so long as it helps you hunt them I'm all for it!". I love ranching folks!
flipincanadian said:
I have used the MSAR mags for a couple outings now, no issues to report yet! I have not done a 5,000 round torture test yet though, so take that for whatever it's worth.
Leonidas said:Great post! However a little advice, perhaps be a little less cuddly with dead coyotes in future. My former girlfriend found a flea in our bed the day after a successful coyote hunt. She was... Underwhelmed. Fwiw I'm told that its possible to get mange as well. I'm much more cautious when skinning now.
What's the weight of your current setup?
Haha...been there and done that, and have the t-shirt to remember it by. I'll never, ever, ever forget that phonecall back 10 years ago when my wife and I were dating...."Brobee.....(said through clenched teeth with a monster pregnant pause to follow....then more pause as the static gets louder on the phone.....)......I'VE GOT FLEES! I was in the doghouse for a long time.
Now, I have a can of raid in my backpack and the coyote gets a good dose before any cuddling happens. Also, all my clothing, even the underwear....we have lots of windows in the house and I'm slowly teaching the neighbours that to look in is at their own peril) goes into a bag with some raid before it goes into the wash after coyote hunting.
When the polymer handguard arrives, I'll make a post comparing the weight of the two as well as a quick report on the balance point of the rifle.
Cheers,
Brobee
