6.5 AR Build - Back to the range

[wreckster84]

Possibility of short throat? Any markings of bullets cycled through without firing (done in a safe manner)?

Also a valid point, I looked at OAL/COAL but could not detect differences. I don't have a chamber/throat gauge so it would hard to know. Certainly the combination of crimp + jump = added unknowns.

[wreckster84]

When the Hornady 123 grain SST ammo was introduced it generally shot as well as the 123 grain A-Max ammo. The 123 grain SST cannelure is there to help hold the lead core into the jacket since it is designed as a hunting bullet. Once Hornady dropped the 123 grain A-Max and started selling the 123 grain ELD-Match ammo is when reports of poor accuracy surfaced with the 123 grain SST factory ammo.

I have never accuracy tested the 123 grain SST Bullet as a reloading component but would be curious if the accuracy is better than the factory ammo. A Friend used to load 123 grain SST in Lapua cases with CCI 450 primers and around 31 grains of LeveRevolution powder. He shot several hundred of these in his SAAMI spec Brownell’s/Liberty barrel. His barrel had a short throat but since it was accurate and he rarely shot factory ammo he kept it. This was one of the very first Brownell’s 6.5 Grendel barrels before Satern/Liberty switched to the Grendel II chamber.

I suspect the current 123 grain SST ammo doesn’t have the tighter tolerance control as the 123 grain ELD-M ammo or the previous 123 grain A-Max which are sold as Target ammo. I’d say the 123 grain SST ammo has a larger accuracy standard lot to lot compared to the ELD-M.

Thanks for the insights. To throw another wrench in the monkey works, the bulk 123g BTHP Hornady American Gunner ammo, while "cheap", is amazingly accurate from the Howa sporter barrel but I never tried it in the AR upper.

[wreckster84]

You guys have let me off without posting pictures far too long. I hope this link works.
https://imgur.com/a/iIhUhL0

[Lemonaid]

Link works. The barrel, barrel nut and gas block look just like my Bear Creek Arsenal one.

[Kswhitetails]

Bear Creek Arsenal setup. Hopefully, it was a cheap upper. If it wasn't, it was oversold.

The SST isn't any better as a component than it is from Hornady as loaded ammo. Folks are welcome to try, but it's not the Grendel hunting bullet Hornady made it to be. Vascar hit it all squarely on the head. Along about the time the ELD-m replaced the Amax, the SST hit the fan so to speak...

If the 16" group buy is available now, I wouldn't wait. You won't gain much over the 16 waiting for the 18, and you'll get something that - how'd you put it - "will shoot as well as the shooter"? For the price, you're likely to do fine getting the 16 now, and when the 18 is in stock, selling the 16 for the 18 at that time. Just an idea, and you'd probably spend less money and time making it shoot than you will finding the magic with the BCA...

Good luck, frustration in your rifle is no place to stagnate. Replace that barrel and get hunting.

[Mopar forever]

I have the same barrel ...BCA 18 s/s fluted and I had put about 400 rounds through it. It hated the Hornady sst but would shoot the Eld-m good(around 1 moa )but the Hornady American gunner 123 (bulk 200 case) Was a little bit better ..... BUT ... it would only do this for 20 rounds at a time. Didn’t matter how long you waited between shot. Shoot 4 5 shot groups and then it would go to around 3-4 moa groups. If you was just hunting with this gun it would work great !!!! I could always hit exactly we’re I wanted to with a cold bore shot ..... just not shooting over and over. I still have it but also bought a different upper that has a Faxon match series barrel. It shoots about the same but doesn’t change after it gets hot. Good luck