12" Monster barrel range results and chrono data

[PA_Allen]

I recently purchased a 12" Monster barrel and bolt from BFT in the latest group buy. I just got the upper assembled last week and was able to take it out for its first test run today. I thought folks would be interested in some real-world results from the Monster barrels.

Build specs:
Monster 12" barrel and bolt
Aero Precision standard AR flattop upper
Bootleg adjustable bolt carrier
MI combat rail 10.5" length
cheap set screw attach aluminum gas block from the drawer and carbine length gas tube
Thunderbeast CB brake


Range 100 yards, temp 80-83 deg, shot from prone from back of truck bed off of sandbags.
I gathered up several loads that I had on hand for my 16" Grendel and simply used them for this initial test with no tweaking. No barrel break in or tuned loads etc. I simply set up the chrono, got a rough zero and proceeded to shoot for groups and velocity data. Barrel was not allowed to cool between groups. Velocities and groups represent 3 to 5 shots depending on the load. All loads except for the first 123 AMAX group were shot with my TBAC CB9 suppressor attached and the bootleg carrier set on the "suppressed" setting.

Results:

123 gr Amax, 28.9 gr TAC
group 1 - 2225 FPS - 0.78"
group 2 - 2276 FPS - 0.73"

100 gr. NBT, 30 gr 8208
group 1 - 2432 FPS - 0.57"
group 2 - 2392 FPS - 0.59"

100 gr Nosler Partition, 30 gr 8208
2383 fps - 1.24"

123 gr SST, 28 gr 8208
2218 FPS, 0.81"

123 gr SST, 31.2 gr CFE223
group 1 - 2270 FPS - 1.14"
group 2 - 2272 FPS - 0.85"


100 gr NBT group 2


123 AMAX groups. Bottom triangle is 3 shots without suppressor. Top triangle is 3 shots with suppressor. Slight POI shift about 0.5" up and right.

Overall I was very impressed with the new barrel. It seems to shoot most everything well without any load development at all. Now I just need to decide what load to go with for deer season this fall......
- PA

[biodsl]

Wow. All for $133. Amazing.

Remember when you had to pay thousands for a rifle that shot sub minute? Now we have pistols that do it for $133.

[Lemonaid]

Nice! It somehow seems unfair that you didn't have to struggle and suffer to get good results.

[peak98]

Outstanding results, excellent shooting as well. I wish I would’ve picked up one of these barrels. I do have a 20” Monster that I haven’t done anything with yet, think I’d like the 12” more in the deer stand though. Congratulations again, keep us posted with any new groups, I’d be interested in how it’s shooting after 2/300 rounds for sure.
peak98

[PA_Allen]

I got to take the 12" out again today to try some new loads.

All loads use 120 gr NBT, Lapua Brass and Rem 7.5 primers, 2.270" OCL. Average velocity of 10 shots and group sizes are for 5 shots through my Monster 12" barrel with 9" TBAC suppressor.

28.0 gr 8208 XBR - 2160 FPS, 0.75-0.80" groups

29.0 gr RL15 - 2071 FPS - 0.85-0.90" groups

31.5 gr CFE223 - 2,220 FPS - 1.00-1.25" groups

29.0 gr TAC - 2257 FPS - 0.60-1.05" groups

Overall I like the "feel" of the gas system best when running the 8208 and TAC loads, and but the TAC load was about 100 FPS faster. The RL15 load was smooth running but slow. Accuracy was plenty good enough for hunting with any of the loads and the POI was similar with all loads.
Hope some of you find this useful.
- PA