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+--- Thread: My Ballistic Advantage build (/showthread.php?tid=14865)
My Ballistic Advantage build - Greyling - 02-28-2018
See, I want one of those fluted ba barrels bad, or even one of the broup buy faxons, but the reported accuracy is not outstanding. 1-2 moa. About what the Bear Creek barrels are reporting as long as you dont get a bad one.
My Ballistic Advantage build - Popeye212 - 02-28-2018
Greyling Wrote:See, I want one of those fluted ba barrels bad, or even one of the broup buy faxons, but the reported accuracy is not outstanding. 1-2 moa. About what the Bear Creek barrels are reporting as long as you dont get a bad one.
After what I read about Bear Creek and it was few like you said you can get a lemon. Chances were a little high for me I ordered BA 20". Money no object would really like to try a Bartlein. Those keep coming up roses.
My Ballistic Advantage build - kcb38 - 02-28-2018
Kswhitetails Wrote:We really do need a like button. Glad you're seeing action with it.
bj139 Wrote:The barrel should get better as you fire more rounds.That would be nice. If nothing else, I'm sure the groups will tighten up as I get everything adjusted to fit me better and get some more time behind the trigger.
Greyling Wrote:See, I want one of those fluted ba barrels bad, or even one of the broup buy faxons, but the reported accuracy is not outstanding.Don't put too much stock in my range report yet. It was the first time out with a new build, with lots of distractions and and iffy shooter behind the trigger.
I have another BA barrel (in 5.56) that's like a frickin laser beam. I'm sure when I get more time on this rifle, I'll see better results. If not I have no doubt that BA would make it right.I already have a few ideas about how to make my shooting position more comfortable and more steady, so I'm sure I'll be seeing better results.
My Ballistic Advantage build - Popeye212 - 03-11-2018
How is that "budget" coming so far I'll add mine later it's still in progress.
My Ballistic Advantage build - kcb38 - 03-12-2018
Haha, the "budget" was shot the minute I started this build. I look at it this way though, by shopping the sales and only buying stuff when there was a better than average discount, I "saved" between 750 and 800 bucks on this rifle. See? It's all a matter of perspective.
I haven't had a chance to get it back to the range to really evaluate its accuracy though. We got a ton of snow last week and I'm still cleaning up the damage from that. This weekend looks nice though so I'm hoping to shake some time loose to get out there. Hopefully I'll have better results this time. I really want to like this BA barrel...
My Ballistic Advantage build - kcb38 - 03-12-2018
One thing I'm doing to try to tighten up the groups is attach a bag rider to my hand guard. I don't get good results shooting from a bipod on the bench (long story - working on that too). The PRS stock is good on a rear bag but the rounded hand guard doesn't help stability at all. I got the idea from this guy:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]11303[/ATTACH]
Here's a thread where he describes his build:
[URL="http://www.65creedmoor.com/index.php?topic=7886.0"]http://www.65creedmoor.com/index.php?topic=7886.0
[/URL]
Ultimately I will be shooting from the bipod but for bench shooting and evaluation I think this will be the best option for me.
My Ballistic Advantage build - kcb38 - 07-08-2018
I finally managed to get this rifle back to the range today but there's no joy in Mudville (or Langhorne as the case may be) tonight. I did manage to adjust my gas block to solve the bolt over base issue I was having, so I have that going for me but... I still can't get this thing to group the way I hoped it would. I put about 120 combined rounds of Hornady American Gunner, Black and SST through it and the best I could reliably manage was about 1.5" groups. Most were well bigger than that. Not so much because of the occasional flyer, just bad grouping.
I have to attribute some of this to my shooting. I just don't seem to get comfortable behind this rifle like I do with my bolt guns. I can't seem to find a technique for holding it that yields consistent results. At first I used a bipod and a Protektor rear bag rest. I meant to bring a strip of wood to clamp to the bench to give me something to preload the bipod against but I left it home. I did the best I could without it but couldn't put consistent forward pressure on the rifle to utilize that technique. Then I switched to a mechanical front rest. The results were slightly better but still not what I'm looking for. I didn't get a chance to make the bag rider I described in my last post so I'm sure there's some improvement to be had in the stability of the setup, what with the fairly rounded handguard and all.
As far as the rifle itself, I'm very happy with the Hi Speed Match trigger and although I'm not in love with the Sightron S-Tac scope, it's really more than enough at the distances I'm shooting. I really paid attention to the details when I put this thing together so I don't think it's an issue with the build. I went over it to make sure everything is still tight and found no issues there. I am starting to wonder about the barrel though. It has a couple hundred rounds through it now and I'm going to give it a really good cleaning. I'll likely be using JB Bore paste to be as thorough as possible. I've read about a few new barrels that responded positively to a cleaning like that after a break in period. Hopefully this will be one of those cases.
Beyond that I'm not sure what to do. Maybe if the groups don't improve I'll try swapping out the scope with a known good one. That and work on my technique I guess. If I can't come to grips with that part of it I'll start a thread in the Marksmanship Training section.
My Ballistic Advantage build - Popeye212 - 07-09-2018
I've gotten sub moa with 8208xbr and 123 smk but i think it will do better. Still trying different loads will let you know. I can tell you that barrel is not broken in yet. On the gas issue they ported to run in a Carbine length system.
My Ballistic Advantage build - kcb38 - 07-09-2018
Popeye212 Wrote:I can tell you that barrel is not broken in yet.
I'm definitely not giving up on it but you don't think it's broken in after 200 rounds? Not arguing, just asking. Most of my rifles have come around by now if they were going to.
Popeye212 Wrote:On the gas issue they ported to run in a Carbine length system.
I don't remeber exactly what the measurement was on the port but I do recall it was a little on the small side for a RLGS. I was surprised to find that I actually had to close it down a little to get it to cycle properly.
My Ballistic Advantage build - StoneHendge - 07-09-2018
Do your groups tend to have more dispersion either horizontally or vertically? Horizontal can be an inconsistent (tight) grip if your not comfortable behind an AR.
My Ballistic Advantage build - kcb38 - 07-09-2018
Vertical and horizontal I'm afraid.
My Ballistic Advantage build - kcb38 - 07-11-2018
Turns out the rings on my Recon mount were loose. I torqued them but held off on the purple loctite I normally use until I was sure the scope was where I wanted it. I guess I forgot to go back and do it because it was loose enough that the scope had moved quite a bit from it's original position. Once I re-level the scope, torque and loctite the screws I 'll give it another go.
My Ballistic Advantage build - Kswhitetails - 07-11-2018
That’ll do it. It’s nice to see an obvious problem fix an issue, even if it comes at the cost of out dignity. I’m betting you have better results now. And if not, now you KNOW this isn’t your issue next time.
My Ballistic Advantage build - kcb38 - 07-11-2018
Well hopefully it's that simple. Obviously a loose mount isn't going to help my grouping but I'm thinking there's a lot of room for improvement with my shooting too. I was shooting 0.5 MOA and better with my bolt guns a couple weeks ago and I tried to shoot this one the same way. That didn't work out so well. I really need to pay attention to my follow through and the other things that differentiate gas guns from bolt guns. The mount is a good start though and I have high hopes for my next range trip. Fingers crossed!
My Ballistic Advantage build - kcb38 - 07-12-2018
Well I can say that after a trip to the range tonight that tight scope rings are much better than loose. I forgot the good ammo at home but managed to keep everything under 1.5 MOA with American Gunner. Groups averaged right around 1 MOA. Now I just need to work on my trigger pull and follow through, remember to bring some better ammo and I'll really be able to see what this BA barrel will do.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]12226[/ATTACH]
My Ballistic Advantage build - Popeye212 - 07-13-2018
Can we get a "Budget" update....
My Ballistic Advantage build - kcb38 - 07-13-2018
Haha, sure.
Aero assembled upper : free with barrel purchase
BA 20" DMR profile stainless Barrel: $228
Seekins Adjustable gas block: $55
Stainless Gas Tube: $15
VG6 Gamma brake: $40
Toolcraft complete BCG (kept the bolt as a spare): $69
Group Buy Monster Bolt: $55
Radian Raptor LT Charging Handle: $46
Odin Works O2 Lite Hand Guard: $140
ADM Recon QD Mount: $135
Sightron S-Tac 4-20X50: $399
Aero Gen 2 lower 39.99
AR Stoner LPK (no grip or FCG): $22
Geissele Hi Speed Nat'l Match Trigger: $199
Damage Industries Buffer Tube Kit with Chrome Silicon Spring: $30
Ergo Tactical Deluxe Grip: $32
Magpul PRS Gen 2 Stock: $180
So that totals up to approximately $1700 with a few bucks here and there for miscellaneous stuff. Not very "budget" friendly but it would've been a lot more if I hadn't been shopping the sales daily for months.
My Ballistic Advantage build - Popeye212 - 07-13-2018
About the same build and about the same I amount I spent on mine.
My Ballistic Advantage build - kcb38 - 07-14-2018
So while cleaning this rifle last night I realized the barrel isn't quite centered in the handguard. After inspection it appears that the handguard is angled slightly left and down as compared to the rail on the receiver. And yeah, it's just enough for the gas block to touch. Unfortunately it can't be repositioned, as the screws that secure it to the proprietary adapter just pull it right back out of line when they're tightened. So now I have to disassemble it, which means removing the brake and the gas block, then reverse the adapter nut and see if it cants the other way. If so, that will verify that the adapter is the issue and it'll have to go back to Odin.
My Ballistic Advantage build - A5BLASTER - 07-14-2018
kcb38 Wrote:So while cleaning this rifle last night I realized the barrel isn't quite centered in the handguard. After inspection it appears that the handguard is angled slightly left and down as compared to the rail on the receiver. And yeah, it's just enough for the gas block to touch. Unfortunately it can't be repositioned, as the screws that secure it to the proprietary adapter just pull it right back out of line when they're tightened. So now I have to disassemble it, which means removing the brake and the gas block, then reverse the adapter nut and see if it cants the other way. If so, that will verify that the adapter is the issue and it'll have to go back to Odin.
Who's handguard are you useing?
Just would like to know, thinking of trying a different handguard on my 22 inch build, been useing seekins for a good bit never a problem with them, but time for something diffrent