24" Radical Firearms barrel and Schedule 40 Handguard

[bj139]

So I thought... what the heck. Why not put an extra long handguard on an AR?
I glued together one of my Schedule 40 Specials in what ever pipe length I had left which turned out to be 40".
The Radical Firearms barrel had a muzzle brake which I left on.
I had the good sense to wear glasses.
Anyway, gas shot out the holes in the barrel nut on shot number one hitting me squarely in the face.
I removed the muzzle brake and fired 2 more shots and did not hit the target at 50 yards after I had boresighted.
Less gas hit me in the face. Feeling at this point that the extra long hand was not such a good idea I removed it and put on a 24" handguard.
I finally hit the target and shot 10 Hornady Black and about 20 Wolf steel.
The Radical Firearms barrel shoots OK (about 2 MOA with Black and 4 MOA with Wolf).
It has the potential to get better with reloads.
I segregated the 10 Black so I can shoot them from the same barrel after I reload them.



Last evening, I installed a pic rail in the end of the 22" Handguard for a bipod mount.
I will shoot with the bipod next range trip in this configuration.

[Kswhitetails]

How flexible is the sch 40 that long?

[StoneHendge]

I gotta think all that weight hanging on the barrel interface has a pretty big impact on POI. Don't let any politicians see it - the bigger the barrel shroud, the more assaultier the gun.

[Sticks]

How was the noise level? Giant blast forward device?

[bj139]

KSW,
The schedule 40 is really too flexible to mount a bipod at the end of 40", I think.
I thought I might have a bullet strike on the interior of the handguard but there was none.

SH,
I thought the extra length may have made it more assaultier but it was the opposite.
I could not fit it in the width of my car and it handled like a Kentucky longrifle. I was always bumping the muzzle into something.
Still, I think it was good for cheap grins.

Sticks,
I was thinking I might get a muffled whoomp sound but the muzzle blast through my muffs sounded like normal gunfire.

I think the best part about this is it finally got me to install a Pic rail at the end of a long handguard.
I won't know if this is a good idea until I try it. At 22", the schedule 40 handguard seems stiff enough to not deflect to barrel contact.

[bj139]

I shot $10 of Wolf steel ammo today with my 24" Radical Firearms barrel with 22" handguard and bipod.
The rifle was almost too long to fit on the bench.
There was a lot of movement in the scope as compared to the Lead Sled I normally use as I was propping up the grip with my left fist.
In spite of that I shot my best 5 shot group ever with Wolf steel ammo.
After about 10 rounds I noticed that recoil had pulled the handguard partly off the barrel nut.
I loosened the hose clamp and reseated it. I will have to drill and tap into the barrel nut for some screws.
Other than that function was flawless. I was shooting with a gas block and there was no FTF or FTE.
I shot 2 boxes of ammo in 5 round groups with the muzzle brake and without.
The results were better without the brake then I put the brake back on and shot group #7 at 1.5 MOA for 5 shots.
Isn't the bullet from Wolf steel ammo designed to be unstable? That could be why they are all flyers.

[Sticks]

...

Isn't the bullet from Wolf steel ammo designed to be unstable? That could be why they are all flyers.

Nah. The Wolf Steel case is for a 6.2 Grendel.

[bj139]

I was thinking about how people shoot 3 shot groups and they say the first 2 are at 0.3 MOA with one called flyer.
In these 40 shots, not a single bullet hole is touching another bullet hole. Thus, they must all be flyers.

[bj139]

Nah. The Wolf Steel case is for a 6.2 Grendel.

Is that a type 2 chamber or a type 2 boltface?

Edit: Small bore Grendel, I just got it.

[grayfox]

Some wolf brass-- I mean, steel, has vibranium mixed in so it shoots better... gotta get the right Lot numbers though!!!!! :p

[CastleBravo]

I'd like to see a shorter tactical version with a t-junction vertical grip.

[bj139]

I'd like to see a shorter tactical version with a t-junction vertical grip.

You mean a plumbing configuration that is illegal in the state of Kalifornia?

[bj139]

I shot this 24" Radical Firearms barrel and Schedule 40 handguard today.
I had no FTE or FTF or any FTs at all. My handguard did fall off however due to recoil. I have to re-engineer a jury rigging.
American Gunner results were quite good for me.

[rabiddawg]

Must be Really hot where you are at!!

Careful you don’t get splinters

[bj139]

Must be Really hot where you are at!!

Careful you don’t get splinters

94F today. I haven't worn long pants in weeks.
Those are my double barrelled gun cases and they double as pants, too.
I went from size 40 pants to size 36 in the past few years so I have a lot of extra large gun cases

Another benefit is when the neighbors say, "What ya doin?" I just say, "Taking out the laundry".

[Kswhitetails]

BAHAHAAA I was gonna mention something... I'm really glad rabid beat me to it. But that answer, ROFL! Love it, double barrelled gun sock!

P.S. -
Do you keep big optics, or is your double barrelled gun sock just glad to see me?

[bj139]

BAHAHAAA I was gonna mention something... I'm really glad rabid beat me to it. But that answer, ROFL! Love it, double barrelled gun sock!

P.S. -
Do you keep big optics, or is your double barrelled gun sock just glad to see me?

That can be a problem with transport. The really big one often sticks out the end of the pant leg.