I took the gun out today and dumped the first mags through. Quite frankly, I couldn't be happier with the results. The gun, once I tuned the gas system and rezeroed my optic, shot to my expectation and then some. The barrel is worth it, my muzzle break heated up quicker than the front end of the barrel. Periodically after firing a string of groups I would purposely grab the barrel, not once did I feel it get beyond luke warm. I fired 120 rounds through it, I shot some groupings pre-break-in and then after break-in I have pictures below(I know, that's a little dumb... but if it is stupid but works, not really stupid). Recoil on the gun felt less than my 18in once I got the gas system dialed in. Weight on the gun feels no different that my previous setup and the barrel balanced out quite nicely. Group sizes... the thing that all of y'all are waiting on, as you can see from the photos below, are quite promising. As far as I can see, that barrel and gun, given some time to 100% settle in, IS GOING TO SHOOT!!! Hands down, one of the best purchases I have EVER MADE!!!!! I am sad that I didn't hop on this train sooner. Now I did have some variables today 1. I don't use a sled or sandbags(I know I should, however I am a dirty sinner and don't lmao) and 2. the range I shoot at has some pretty loose(putting nicely) tables and seats that wiggle and wobble when you sneeze wrong on a good day. So when taken into account, realize that my groups are worse case scenario in every way possible as noted with a couple of photos. The 2 photos you see without the break-in title are both after break-in, the pre break-in flyer is me pulling the shot. I hope you guys enjoy the thread as much as I enjoyed making it. I also hope this helps anyone looking to upgrade to carbon fiber, but don't want to pay Proof Research price tag.
Looking good for anything if your not using a rear bag! With some well executed StoneHendges. Be careful with the heat. My 223 arrived today and I'm pretty impressed. But it's not how hot the cf gets, it's the steel core inside. If anything, the muzzle brake is going to cool faster than the steel barrel core since the brake has 100% air flow around it while air flow on the core is hindered by the cf sleeve.
I may have mine up and running by the weekend if I can find something to put on the muzzle and borrow a Timney from my 300 BLK while I wait for Geisseles to go on sale. The steel core in front of the gas block looks to be about the same 0.625" diameter as in my 20" 223. If it's not too expensive, I want to get a thermometer and compare how fast the BSF cools with my 20". Take 10 or 20 shots with the same ammo and then see where the temps are at intervals - ill probably try and measure by the chamber and just past the gas block. If I can't get a thermometer in the cutouts, they both have 15" rails so I could do the measurement there.
Nice! So far so good though, glad you got your .223 in. I am also not noticing a big weight difference from my 18in setup to the 20in. I have actually been a lot more comfortable, the barrel and handguard have balanced the whole gun out quite well. I've got my gas block tuned, although I think it could be tweaked a smidge more. However, that will be for another range session.
fixin Wrote:Nice! So far so good though, glad you got your .223 in.
I may have gotten the barrel in, but the handguard and LPK have been relegated to FedEx "Sure"Post hell. Ordered from Brownells, 9.5 days ago, FedEx has been taking it on a tour of their Denver facilities. Estimated delivery is on Wednesday, which would put it at 13 days for a 850 mile trip. I think the Wednesday estimate is aggressive since it hasn't even gotten into the hands of the USPS yet.
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There is no such thing as "free shipping". This was supposed to be 4-7 day shipping. It should be on the short end of that coming from Iowa to CO. Thing is, Brownells is supposed to have a note on my account to not get the USPS involved with any of my orders.
Been there, done that, have the gray hairs to prove it.
UPS or FedEx to USPS and OnTrac. Packages take a minor vacation at the closest distriburtion facility before they decide to go where they are supposed to go.
Had an OnTrack shipment sitting in their warehouse in Denver for 2 weeks. Tracking showed it scanned in, but nobody could find it (holiday and short staffed was the excuse). Then it was scanned out, sent to a local warehouse outside of Greeley for another week - a Greeley address being the final destination.
Excuse my language, but damn that is no bueno. For me all of my parts arrived on time and with no issue even with USPS. I actually received everything earlier than expected.
Last time I ordered something from Brownel's, it went from Kansas City to Wichita (12 miles from my home), got on a plane, went to St. Louis, then back on a truck and came to my house via Kansas City, got on the same truck it started on, and was delivered 13 days after purchase. (it was supposed to be delivered in 3 days...)
It was fun to post on FB about my new Hornady Micrometer stem's journey home.
Nothing kills the incentive of men faster than a healthy sense of entitlement. Nothing kills entitlement faster than a healthy sense of achievement.
Kswhitetails Wrote:Last time I ordered something from Brownel's, it went from Kansas City to Wichita (12 miles from my home), got on a plane, went to St. Louis, then back on a truck and came to my house via Kansas City, got on the same truck it started on, and was delivered 13 days after purchase. (it was supposed to be delivered in 3 days...)
It was fun to post on FB about my new Hornady Micrometer stem's journey home.
That's hilarious! LOL, I can only hope it came with full commentary and lots of laughs.
The postperson cometh! Almost altogether. Waiting on FedEx with scope mount and ups with trigger - both should arrive tomorrow. We'll see when muzzle brake shows up - Rainier isn't the best at sending tracking numbers, but I can at least work on breaking him in without the brake.
Fixin, did you measure your chamber of all? Mine is definitely rather tight. 77 gr NCCs are 2.23+ to the lands. That's a bullet most people just load at 2.26 without thinking about it. Not complaining at all - 70 gr RDFs are 2.27 so I should be able to load them at Pmag length and 75 VLDs are 2.32 which means I stand a chance with ASC mags. Going to measure again in the a.m.
StoneHendge Wrote:The postperson cometh! Almost altogether. Waiting on FedEx with scope mount and ups with trigger - both should arrive tomorrow. We'll see when muzzle brake shows up - Rainier isn't the best at sending tracking numbers, but I can at least work on breaking him in without the brake.
Fixin, did you measure your chamber of all? Mine is definitely rather tight. 77 gr NCCs are 2.23+ to the lands. That's a bullet most people just load at 2.26 without thinking about it. Not complaining at all - 70 gr RDFs are 2.27 so I should be able to load them at Pmag length and 75 VLDs are 2.32 which means I stand a chance with ASC mags. Going to measure again in the a.m.
Not yet, I haven't been home as of recent. I got invited to go visit a friend of mine in Colorado and see a MLS soccer game. I am now in the Dallas area visiting family. I will be getting home soon and I'll measure chamber depth and post up additional groupings here soon. I just purchased some of the federal fusion 120gr and I am a bit curious about it. I am also going to try and look for the american eagle 120gr and hopefully some more 90gr TNT or 123gr ELDs. I am insanely curious of how the 90gr will shoot now that I am sufficiently shot the barrel in to inquire about it. I am still quite happy with how everything is playing out with the gun. I am now only waiting on my form 4 to get kicked back(which by the looks won't be around until december time frame) and I'll be 100% operational instead of 99% ... Oh the woes of waiting on something so useful and yet so "dangerous" according to people who know next to nothing about them LOL
Got the BSF 223 out today for break in. Compensator arrives Tuesday so I stopped by the LGS for a thread protector which I basically hand tightened down against 2 crush washers. It did loosen a tad a few times. Zero'd at 50 yards per scope instructions and each shot pretty much went where the adjustment should send it. Took advantage of a target someone left on the 50 yard board. This was with 32ยข Norma TAC 223 55gr FMJ. Both are three shots. The stringing on the second is likely me. Both off front and rear bags and I had to use charging handle to chamber each one - wasn't cycling and I need to check gas block alignment.
I think it will work! Groups widened significantly to 2 MOA at100, but that's pretty much been my experience with the ammo through 1:8 twist barrels.
I think the barrel is a tad on the fast side - I got 3075 with the Norma vs 3070 I get with my 20" BHW (which has 5P rifling and is pretty much average) and 3150 that I used to get with my old 24" Anderson bull barrel. Probably a little bit due to the tight chamber.
Looking forward to working up 77s. It should be a sub MOA barrel with decent ammo and I'm pretty hopeful that the 1/2MOA potential is indeed there.
Alright everyone got to the range finally, the barrel is slowly working its way into a groove. I actually haven't shot anything that the barrel doesn't do at least OK with. I just picked up a shooting mat to get off of the "bleeping bleep bleep bleep" tables and took it out with me this past monday. I used it to dampen my terrific(sarcastically speaking, I don't think I am all that great of shot, at least I have A LOT more learning to do anyway) shooting, and eliminate as many more variables as possible. I have to say, I AM STILL QUITE HAPPY about the barrel and the gun as a whole. The barrel can definitely shoot the 123 ELD, down below is my best group yet with that load. It isn't the best looking group, because I had to do a "on the fly" change to my hold. Look close enough and you'll see a nice pretty olympic ring looking group minus the random smaller hole(that's my hold change, as in, I am shooting at the cleanest spot of someone else's leftover target and see what happens). The federal fusion however, did not shoot all that great. The consistency was there, but I couldn't get the load to group very well. Is it minute of deer? Yes! Is it minute of awesome? Not so much, as a hunting load though I would trust it in the accuracy department. I am definitely going to go back and keep trying everything, especially now that I have a much more stable platform to work with and I am going to switch off of the "shoot and see" targets as well. I have noticed my OCD kicks in whenever I am able to see my shots due to my burning desire to have the gun shoot as good as I want it to, so I am switching to the idea of "The less I see, The better I will perform" philosophy. I have already been powering down on my optic and have been controlling my breathing as best as possible so that is covered. The use of a rear bag would absolutely improve my shooting, but my preference is not to use it. I still like the idea of flying by the seat of my pants shooting, it suits my tastes. Anyhow here are the groups from this past range outing. There will be more to come! I am feeling the "Revenge of the Fusion", "Comeback Kid TNT" and "Born Again ELD" will be happening, plus a guest appearance by "Mystery of the American Eagle" will be happening in the near future. Once again, I would like to thank y'all for reading through and paying attention to my rants on this thread, I have actually been thoroughly enjoying the "guinea pig" status for this barrel.
-Zach
lmao) and 2. the range I shoot at has some pretty loose(putting nicely) tables and seats that wiggle and wobble when you sneeze wrong on a good day. So when taken into account, realize that my groups are worse case scenario in every way possible as noted with a couple of photos. The 2 photos you see without the break-in title are both after break-in, the pre break-in flyer is me pulling the shot. I hope you guys enjoy the thread as much as I enjoyed making it. I also hope this helps anyone looking to upgrade to carbon fiber, but don't want to pay Proof Research price tag.
