Range Report – CZ858
I repeated much of the testing I did two weeks ago. The Red Dot base broke near the end of the last test while I was testing muzzle brakes, so I used the opportunity to install a 7X Long Eye Relief scope. I thought a 7X scope would be more appropriate for accuracy testing than a Red Dot.
The results were almost identical. I shot 4 groups (a handload and 3 flavours of Milsurp) all shot about the same (about 3.5”), similar groups to the last test.
I like this rifle. It shoots everything quite well and is measurably better than a SKS.
I have 3 of these rifles. The short barreled one has no optics, and at my age the opn sight is almost invisible, so it got a peep sight too. This is the L sight out of a AR15. The vertical rivet at the rear of the action cover has been replaced with a bolt that holds the sight in place.
Range Report – SKS with 4X scope
I repeated much of the testing I did two weeks ago. There is a general belief that the scope base integral with the action cover is too wobbly for any kind of accuracy. My rifles have been modified since the last test by running a ¼ x 20 tap through the cover pin channel. A bolt now holds everything solidly in place.
I added another SKS to the test. This one has a peep sight fitted to the cover. The peep off a Lee Enfield L sight.
The bayonet was removed from the SKS rifles for this test. My theory is that hanging a wobbly lump of steel on the end of a barrel does not help accuracy. I found that groups were rounder this time and a bit smaller.
The ammo was also shot again in my heavy barreled Remington 788. I made some Mexican Match (substituted a quality bullet for the milsrp FMJ. Various powder charges were tested. Best was 25.5 gr, which is about a half grain more than the factory charge. It grouped 1.030”
The approximate average group size of the rifles was:
Rem 788 – 1.25”
CZ858 - 3.6”
SKS – 4.0”
I repeated much of the testing I did two weeks ago. The Red Dot base broke near the end of the last test while I was testing muzzle brakes, so I used the opportunity to install a 7X Long Eye Relief scope. I thought a 7X scope would be more appropriate for accuracy testing than a Red Dot.
The results were almost identical. I shot 4 groups (a handload and 3 flavours of Milsurp) all shot about the same (about 3.5”), similar groups to the last test.
I like this rifle. It shoots everything quite well and is measurably better than a SKS.
I have 3 of these rifles. The short barreled one has no optics, and at my age the opn sight is almost invisible, so it got a peep sight too. This is the L sight out of a AR15. The vertical rivet at the rear of the action cover has been replaced with a bolt that holds the sight in place.
Range Report – SKS with 4X scope
I repeated much of the testing I did two weeks ago. There is a general belief that the scope base integral with the action cover is too wobbly for any kind of accuracy. My rifles have been modified since the last test by running a ¼ x 20 tap through the cover pin channel. A bolt now holds everything solidly in place.
I added another SKS to the test. This one has a peep sight fitted to the cover. The peep off a Lee Enfield L sight.
The bayonet was removed from the SKS rifles for this test. My theory is that hanging a wobbly lump of steel on the end of a barrel does not help accuracy. I found that groups were rounder this time and a bit smaller.
The ammo was also shot again in my heavy barreled Remington 788. I made some Mexican Match (substituted a quality bullet for the milsrp FMJ. Various powder charges were tested. Best was 25.5 gr, which is about a half grain more than the factory charge. It grouped 1.030”
The approximate average group size of the rifles was:
Rem 788 – 1.25”
CZ858 - 3.6”
SKS – 4.0”
