The Varmints are coming!!!!
- Thread starter alberta tactical rifle
- Start date
- Location
- Burnaby B.C.
The coloured one is in fact FDE right ? light is kinda funky for me in the pic and I am really hoping that is not OD. Mine is going to look butt ugly btw cant wait to see it
A2 stock black
A2 grip black
no ambi safety
od reciever/upper/barrel and hand guard (the basic one) I think if I remember
and a break on the end
A2 stock black
A2 grip black
no ambi safety
od reciever/upper/barrel and hand guard (the basic one) I think if I remember
and a break on the end
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Beautiful looking work, guys - great job!
I perserverated when ordering mine, and ended up ordering one most similar to the 3rd but in tungsten grey. Unfortunately, I went with the proof research barrel mostly for looks as I don't plan on overheating the barrel. Should have gone with the lightweight stainless and they'd be assembling mine now too!
Oh well, still going to be awesome when it gets here. Those of you who get your first need to get to the range ASAP and post some pics and accuracy results for factory ammo for the rest of us who are still waiting please. I've got a variety of FMJ, varmint and match ammo from Federal, Hornady, and Nosler between 55 and 77gr so we'll see what works best for mine. Its going to be used as a coyote smasher and paper puncher mostly.
Have a Nightforce NXS Compact 2.5-10x42 I'm probably going to put on it, or steal the Vortex PST 4-16 off my wife's rifle... Decisions, decisions. Was able to wait pretty patiently up to the Labour Day weekend, but its really getting tough now. Things are really going to get busy soon, so hope I get it before thanksgiving or it might be Christmas before I get to use it much
I perserverated when ordering mine, and ended up ordering one most similar to the 3rd but in tungsten grey. Unfortunately, I went with the proof research barrel mostly for looks as I don't plan on overheating the barrel. Should have gone with the lightweight stainless and they'd be assembling mine now too!
Oh well, still going to be awesome when it gets here. Those of you who get your first need to get to the range ASAP and post some pics and accuracy results for factory ammo for the rest of us who are still waiting please. I've got a variety of FMJ, varmint and match ammo from Federal, Hornady, and Nosler between 55 and 77gr so we'll see what works best for mine. Its going to be used as a coyote smasher and paper puncher mostly.
Have a Nightforce NXS Compact 2.5-10x42 I'm probably going to put on it, or steal the Vortex PST 4-16 off my wife's rifle... Decisions, decisions. Was able to wait pretty patiently up to the Labour Day weekend, but its really getting tough now. Things are really going to get busy soon, so hope I get it before thanksgiving or it might be Christmas before I get to use it much
Answering two questions at once. I cut out the area between two of the keyholes and then filed everything smooth so if the rail flexes it won't touch the gas block. The best group I've got is .4" and the average when I'm taking my time is .6-.7.
Guess I can let this cat out of the bag now...
I was lucky enough to time an email to ATRS updating my contact information with the partial completion of my build. Since I also had parts that could be used to complete the build and was conveniently making a trip to Calgary a couple weeks later I was able to stop by and the guys put the last couple finishing touches on my MV! I resisted posting this to prevent breaking the internet/ATRS' phone lines...
I went with a light contour stainless barrel, and for what I want the rifle for (3 Gun Competitions, general NR blaster, and maybe the odd coyote) I think it will be perfect. Note the light contour barrel is actual .625 not .750 as originally suggested on the order page. I had ordered mine with an A2 stock, which was the part missing, but had a PRS on hand that we used to complete the build. The PRS is a little heavy for the light weight barrel, but it actually balances out the rifle quite nicely. I like the way it handles now but I may try it with a lighter stock at some point too to see how I like that.
My general impression of the rifle: WOW! I really don't think anyone is going to be disappointed based on what I have seen on mine. Fit and finish on the receivers is excellent, as you would expect. Timney trigger, JP buffer system, Lilja barrel, nothing was skimped on here. Side charging system seems really well designed, with a steel dust cover and track that could be replaced in the unlikely event you managed to damage it. Nylon guide is a neat touch as well. BCG appears to be a DPMS modified for the side charging handle. This is the only part that feels 'basic' on the rifle. I would have gladly paid a little extra to have a higher end chrome/NiB put in I think, not that I have had or anticipate any issues at all with the supplied BCG, just seems a little basic compared to the other components used. My rifle has functioned flawlessly with every load and magazine I have tried for over 100 rounds.
On to the Fortis hand guard... As several have suggested, clearance to the gas block is very tight. My guess would be around .010" at the bottom of the gas block, maybe a little less. I don't intend to use my rifle as a bench rest / bi-pod shooting rifle, but it will be shot off barricades with a 6'2" 225lb man leaning into it at targets as far as 400-500 yards, so this was a little bit of a concern. There is a little extra meat on the bottom of the gas block and at my request/suggestion ATRS has agreed (great service here!) to remove ~.035" from the bottom of a gas block for me, bringing the total clearance to hopefully ~.045". This should be close to the same clearance around the top of the gas block where the gas tube is housed. I expect this modification to be complete and ready for some more serious accuracy testing next weekend. I believe the better long term solution to this (for the light contour anyways...) however is a re-design of the light contour barrel to use a .750 gas block. No reason for a .625" barrel to have a .875" gas block seat. For the heavy barrels sure, but it's not only overkill on the light, as we have seen is actually causes clearance issues with the slim light rails that guys ordering the light weight barrel are likely to go with. This along with the BCG are probably the only two parts of my rifle I would change, pretty minor overall. *Edit: Okay maybe I would add something in to retain the JP silent buffer assembly in the receiver extension tube as well... but again this is a pretty minor nit-pick.
Accuracy so far, even with the gas block clearance has been respectable (though I have been shooting off bags trying to not put a lot of flex/stress into the Fortis). With no load development I have been shooting just over MOA with Sierra 69gr Match Kings and Varget. These were loads I had worked up for another rifle. Even more impressively the rifle has been shooting 1.5 MOA or so with bulk 55 grain bullets loaded into mixed headstamp brass over surplus powder. I am pretty confident with the gas block clearance increased and some minimal load workup this will be a sub MOA rifle with match bullets, which will exceed my requirements for a lightweight barreled build. Realistically I will probably shoot some groups off a bench one or two more times, and unless there are major issues that will be about it for shooting groups with this rifle. The rifle is already more accurate that my Daniel Defense (which was pretty darn good for a chrome lined barrel...), so I see no need to obsess over it. I would imagine the heavy barreled rifles will do even better.
Thanks again ATRS, after only a couple weeks this has definitely become my go-to rifle. So much so it even has me considering a MH at some point...
Guys be patient... it will be worth the wait!
I was lucky enough to time an email to ATRS updating my contact information with the partial completion of my build. Since I also had parts that could be used to complete the build and was conveniently making a trip to Calgary a couple weeks later I was able to stop by and the guys put the last couple finishing touches on my MV! I resisted posting this to prevent breaking the internet/ATRS' phone lines...
I went with a light contour stainless barrel, and for what I want the rifle for (3 Gun Competitions, general NR blaster, and maybe the odd coyote) I think it will be perfect. Note the light contour barrel is actual .625 not .750 as originally suggested on the order page. I had ordered mine with an A2 stock, which was the part missing, but had a PRS on hand that we used to complete the build. The PRS is a little heavy for the light weight barrel, but it actually balances out the rifle quite nicely. I like the way it handles now but I may try it with a lighter stock at some point too to see how I like that.
My general impression of the rifle: WOW! I really don't think anyone is going to be disappointed based on what I have seen on mine. Fit and finish on the receivers is excellent, as you would expect. Timney trigger, JP buffer system, Lilja barrel, nothing was skimped on here. Side charging system seems really well designed, with a steel dust cover and track that could be replaced in the unlikely event you managed to damage it. Nylon guide is a neat touch as well. BCG appears to be a DPMS modified for the side charging handle. This is the only part that feels 'basic' on the rifle. I would have gladly paid a little extra to have a higher end chrome/NiB put in I think, not that I have had or anticipate any issues at all with the supplied BCG, just seems a little basic compared to the other components used. My rifle has functioned flawlessly with every load and magazine I have tried for over 100 rounds.
On to the Fortis hand guard... As several have suggested, clearance to the gas block is very tight. My guess would be around .010" at the bottom of the gas block, maybe a little less. I don't intend to use my rifle as a bench rest / bi-pod shooting rifle, but it will be shot off barricades with a 6'2" 225lb man leaning into it at targets as far as 400-500 yards, so this was a little bit of a concern. There is a little extra meat on the bottom of the gas block and at my request/suggestion ATRS has agreed (great service here!) to remove ~.035" from the bottom of a gas block for me, bringing the total clearance to hopefully ~.045". This should be close to the same clearance around the top of the gas block where the gas tube is housed. I expect this modification to be complete and ready for some more serious accuracy testing next weekend. I believe the better long term solution to this (for the light contour anyways...) however is a re-design of the light contour barrel to use a .750 gas block. No reason for a .625" barrel to have a .875" gas block seat. For the heavy barrels sure, but it's not only overkill on the light, as we have seen is actually causes clearance issues with the slim light rails that guys ordering the light weight barrel are likely to go with. This along with the BCG are probably the only two parts of my rifle I would change, pretty minor overall. *Edit: Okay maybe I would add something in to retain the JP silent buffer assembly in the receiver extension tube as well... but again this is a pretty minor nit-pick.
Accuracy so far, even with the gas block clearance has been respectable (though I have been shooting off bags trying to not put a lot of flex/stress into the Fortis). With no load development I have been shooting just over MOA with Sierra 69gr Match Kings and Varget. These were loads I had worked up for another rifle. Even more impressively the rifle has been shooting 1.5 MOA or so with bulk 55 grain bullets loaded into mixed headstamp brass over surplus powder. I am pretty confident with the gas block clearance increased and some minimal load workup this will be a sub MOA rifle with match bullets, which will exceed my requirements for a lightweight barreled build. Realistically I will probably shoot some groups off a bench one or two more times, and unless there are major issues that will be about it for shooting groups with this rifle. The rifle is already more accurate that my Daniel Defense (which was pretty darn good for a chrome lined barrel...), so I see no need to obsess over it. I would imagine the heavy barreled rifles will do even better.
Thanks again ATRS, after only a couple weeks this has definitely become my go-to rifle. So much so it even has me considering a MH at some point...
Guys be patient... it will be worth the wait!
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- Location
- Red Deer, Alberta
I dropped into ATRS on friday to pick up a Magpul pistol grip. I saw some of the finished MV rifles, they are indeed very nice. To anyone ordering a Fortis Handguard, I'd recommend the 12", as it ends just before the gasblock starts and you will not have any interference issues. Or order a different handguard with more clearance than the fortis if you want a longer one. Originally I had the 15" Fortis on my MH, I have since changed it to a 12" Fortis to eliminate the gasblock hitting my handguard while shooting off a bi-pod and throwing my groups off. I have seen a significant reduction in flyers in my groups on my MH. The gasblock on the MV is a 0.875" diameter, which is the same diameter as the MH. I'm pretty sure this is done for manufacturing reasons to keep parts count down.
- Location
- Red Deer, Alberta
I'd recommend the 12", see my other post.
- Location
- Red Deer, Alberta
All these super lightweight handguards flex, the fortis is no different. Yes it could happen shooting off of a bag as well.
- Location
- Red Deer, Alberta
Going by specs on the the Fortis & BCM websites, the KMR has 0.04" less clearance than the Fortis. I imagine a 13" would still cover the GB.
- Location
- Red Deer, Alberta
Here is a pic of my MH with the 12" Fortis handguard. I imagine a MV would be very similar since the gas system is the same length. The 12" 5.56 Fortis is listed as 12.42" and the 12" 308 Fortis is listed as 12.75". So the MV would have a tiny bit more more of a gap between the end of the rail and the GB.
I myself will be ordering a MV as soon as I'm done school and find a new job. This downturn in the oilpatch has really cut into my disposable income.
I myself will be ordering a MV as soon as I'm done school and find a new job. This downturn in the oilpatch has really cut into my disposable income.
ATRS as you have requested no one to call or email , I'll ask this question here.
Because you do not have my CFW barrel in yet , is it possible for me to still change my hand guard? To either the 12 inch or something else that will not contribute to inaccurate issues. Or could you modify the GB, as some else has mentioned.
Because you do not have my CFW barrel in yet , is it possible for me to still change my hand guard? To either the 12 inch or something else that will not contribute to inaccurate issues. Or could you modify the GB, as some else has mentioned.
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There's three fixes for it, remove matarial from the Handguard , remove matarial from the GB, use a shorter hand guard. Removing matarial from the GB sounds best to me, as long as there's no issues with that.Ugh. I hope the 14" fortis doesn't throw off my accuracy too bad
Maybe Rick or Shawn can suggest something.
