Part Two
I had previously decided that this build would have a CMC 3.5# flat drop in trigger, and it installed without a hitch. For those of you who have not tried them, this is an incredibly good feeling trigger for the money. A good friend who is a national level 3Gun Nation shooter recommended I try it, and it is beautifully efficient. You can buy them currently for $159 if you shop around. http://www.cabelas.com/product/CMC-Trigg...379139.uts (CMC's server is down currently)
However, the Spikes Tactical lower was built using the trigger than comes in the Precision Firearms kit. Looking at it, it seemed to be well made, with nicely polished surfaces. But good looks don't always equate to good function. In this case, however, they matched. This is without question the best parts kit trigger I've ever seen. It has NO creep, no rough grittiness, and breaks crisply at about 6-7 pounds. I haven't run my trigger gauge on it yet because I want it to settle in a bit to give a good idea of what its capable of, but I was VERY impressed with this trigger.
I did perform my standard 4-40 screw trick on the rear pin detent spring, so it doesn't take a hike when the castle nut is loosened.
So, with all the parts for the upper and lower installed, all that was left was to screw on the Seekins Precision muzzle brake to finish it off. (No Seekins isn't yet building Grendel brakes, but BHW uses a 5/8 x 24 thread and a 7.62 brake fits just great. This is the most effective 5.56 brake I've found, and because of the way its made, it is not terribly offensive to other shooters. http://www.seekinsprecision.com/parts-an...rakes.html
For a video of how well this brake works, watch this video of the 5.56 version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLDin9CmQp8
Finally, I attempted to top the upper with a 1-6 Vortex scope in a Larue 1.5 mount. The only problem encountered in the entire build popped up. Picatinny rails were originally designed so that crossbolts would hold whatever was mounted on them. The spacing had to be precise, but the width of the grooves was slightly less important. However, over the years, more and more QD mounts have made use of the Picatinny lugs by mating their own lugs into the Picatinny spaces. That is the case with the Larue. However, Precision is, well...... precise. They built the rail to the most precise standard they could, which meant that for some mounting systems, including Larue and Nightforce, the gaps were too tight. They went to the minimum dimension, while most other manufacturers used a nominal dimension somewhere in the middle. The problem was easily solved in my case, I simply relieved the two lugs necessary with a file. My upper will be cerakoted eventually, so no one will ever know.
I've spoken with Mark at Precision, and they had already adjusted their machinery to be a bit more forgiving after discovering the issues themselves.
Kudos to the fine folk at Precision, and especially to Mark for his help and advice. This combo is beautiful and hopefully will shoot as well as it looks.
So now, the 16 inch Grendel requires shooting, and I'll get to that either Friday or Monday.
Pictures will be done soon, (hopefully by this weekend).
I had previously decided that this build would have a CMC 3.5# flat drop in trigger, and it installed without a hitch. For those of you who have not tried them, this is an incredibly good feeling trigger for the money. A good friend who is a national level 3Gun Nation shooter recommended I try it, and it is beautifully efficient. You can buy them currently for $159 if you shop around. http://www.cabelas.com/product/CMC-Trigg...379139.uts (CMC's server is down currently)
However, the Spikes Tactical lower was built using the trigger than comes in the Precision Firearms kit. Looking at it, it seemed to be well made, with nicely polished surfaces. But good looks don't always equate to good function. In this case, however, they matched. This is without question the best parts kit trigger I've ever seen. It has NO creep, no rough grittiness, and breaks crisply at about 6-7 pounds. I haven't run my trigger gauge on it yet because I want it to settle in a bit to give a good idea of what its capable of, but I was VERY impressed with this trigger.
I did perform my standard 4-40 screw trick on the rear pin detent spring, so it doesn't take a hike when the castle nut is loosened.
So, with all the parts for the upper and lower installed, all that was left was to screw on the Seekins Precision muzzle brake to finish it off. (No Seekins isn't yet building Grendel brakes, but BHW uses a 5/8 x 24 thread and a 7.62 brake fits just great. This is the most effective 5.56 brake I've found, and because of the way its made, it is not terribly offensive to other shooters. http://www.seekinsprecision.com/parts-an...rakes.html
For a video of how well this brake works, watch this video of the 5.56 version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLDin9CmQp8
Finally, I attempted to top the upper with a 1-6 Vortex scope in a Larue 1.5 mount. The only problem encountered in the entire build popped up. Picatinny rails were originally designed so that crossbolts would hold whatever was mounted on them. The spacing had to be precise, but the width of the grooves was slightly less important. However, over the years, more and more QD mounts have made use of the Picatinny lugs by mating their own lugs into the Picatinny spaces. That is the case with the Larue. However, Precision is, well...... precise. They built the rail to the most precise standard they could, which meant that for some mounting systems, including Larue and Nightforce, the gaps were too tight. They went to the minimum dimension, while most other manufacturers used a nominal dimension somewhere in the middle. The problem was easily solved in my case, I simply relieved the two lugs necessary with a file. My upper will be cerakoted eventually, so no one will ever know.
I've spoken with Mark at Precision, and they had already adjusted their machinery to be a bit more forgiving after discovering the issues themselves.
Kudos to the fine folk at Precision, and especially to Mark for his help and advice. This combo is beautiful and hopefully will shoot as well as it looks.
So now, the 16 inch Grendel requires shooting, and I'll get to that either Friday or Monday.
Pictures will be done soon, (hopefully by this weekend).
You seek escape from pain. We seek the achievement of happiness. You exist for the sake of avoiding punishment. We exist for the sake of earning rewards. Threats will not make us function; fear is not our incentive. It is not death that we wish to avoid, but life that we wish to live. - John Galt