Leonidas24
08-01-11, 14:26
I've been trying to get out to the range to do the accuracy test for the Hornady 55 gr Moly V-Max that I bought with my wedding gift money (thanks grandma.) I finally went today and besides having a small case of dehydration and sweat in my eyes I think it was a great success. To set the scene for everything here's the rifle's major specs that actually contributed to today:
DD LPK w/ standard GI trigger
Magpul CTR w/ an H2 in the tube
VLTOR MUR-1 Upper
Rainier BCG
Noveske 12.5" SS Barrel
Surefire MB556K
Troy MRF-MX
Leupold Mark AR 1.5-4x20
American Defense 1" Recon Mount
http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/6383/img1613ry.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/841/img1613ry.jpg/)
http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/599/img1612un.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/109/img1612un.jpg/)
I started out shooting regular 55 gr PMC FMJ to get the scope on paper as it had never been shot off this gun before. After firing 150 rds of that I was satisfied with the repeatability of the rifle at 100 meters and was averaging about 2-3 inch groups. Also for reference the range I shot at was a local indoor 100 meter range that IS NOT AIR CONDITIONED. I want to say the temp of the firing pit was around 85-90 degrees Fahrenheit. I was shooting off a Harris bipod secured to the rail with a KAC bipod mount and a bean bag under the stock. I was firing from a standing bench rest position because the chair for my lane was broken.
Starting out at 50 meters to confirm zero I fired off 20 rounds of the Hornady 55 gr Moly V-Max and achieved an average of 1/2-3/4" 10 shot groups. I wasn't surprised about this after hearing the great success people have had with it in the past and was expecting great accuracy at 50 meters.
After calling back the target and changing it out for a fresh one I sent it out to the 100 meter line and locked in a fresh mag. With x4 magnification I don't think I did too bad for the first group. I haven't measured this one yet but it looks to be about a 1.5-1.75" group to my untrained eye. If it wasn't for that flyer I pulled I'm sure it would have been closer to 1".
http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/7236/img1604tu.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/197/img1604tu.jpg/)
This is the second group of 10 that I fired:
http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/3639/img1605iw.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/683/img1605iw.jpg/)
With an extreme spread of 1 inch dead even I averaged out about .85" for the whole group. I never in the two years that I've owned this rifle through all the changes that has been made to it would have expected it to shoot a group this well even with the Hornady moly V-max.
From 2009 to now I've fired at least 6,000 rds through it in classes and range trips every 2-3 weeks. I know it's nearing the end of its life but this Noveske barrel is beyond accurate this far into the game. I wish I'd done testing on it a lot earlier than this and with a more powerful scope but for a GI trigger and Leupold x4 Mark AR this is pure gold in my opinion.
I can do nothing but praise John and the great work that goes on over at Noveske in the manufacturing of these barrels. Top notch.
~Rob
Edit: Additionally I noted that the Hornady ammo had noticeably less recoil that the PMC I was shooting. Secondly I also noticed that there was very little muzzle flash coming from the brake; as opposed to Federal XM193 that produces a huge fireball and the PMC which has a decent flash signature. The Hornady muzzle flash on the other hand was more closely concentrated near the ports and from my view never extended beyond an inch from the muzzle.
DD LPK w/ standard GI trigger
Magpul CTR w/ an H2 in the tube
VLTOR MUR-1 Upper
Rainier BCG
Noveske 12.5" SS Barrel
Surefire MB556K
Troy MRF-MX
Leupold Mark AR 1.5-4x20
American Defense 1" Recon Mount
http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/6383/img1613ry.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/841/img1613ry.jpg/)
http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/599/img1612un.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/109/img1612un.jpg/)
I started out shooting regular 55 gr PMC FMJ to get the scope on paper as it had never been shot off this gun before. After firing 150 rds of that I was satisfied with the repeatability of the rifle at 100 meters and was averaging about 2-3 inch groups. Also for reference the range I shot at was a local indoor 100 meter range that IS NOT AIR CONDITIONED. I want to say the temp of the firing pit was around 85-90 degrees Fahrenheit. I was shooting off a Harris bipod secured to the rail with a KAC bipod mount and a bean bag under the stock. I was firing from a standing bench rest position because the chair for my lane was broken.
Starting out at 50 meters to confirm zero I fired off 20 rounds of the Hornady 55 gr Moly V-Max and achieved an average of 1/2-3/4" 10 shot groups. I wasn't surprised about this after hearing the great success people have had with it in the past and was expecting great accuracy at 50 meters.
After calling back the target and changing it out for a fresh one I sent it out to the 100 meter line and locked in a fresh mag. With x4 magnification I don't think I did too bad for the first group. I haven't measured this one yet but it looks to be about a 1.5-1.75" group to my untrained eye. If it wasn't for that flyer I pulled I'm sure it would have been closer to 1".
http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/7236/img1604tu.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/197/img1604tu.jpg/)
This is the second group of 10 that I fired:
http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/3639/img1605iw.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/683/img1605iw.jpg/)
With an extreme spread of 1 inch dead even I averaged out about .85" for the whole group. I never in the two years that I've owned this rifle through all the changes that has been made to it would have expected it to shoot a group this well even with the Hornady moly V-max.
From 2009 to now I've fired at least 6,000 rds through it in classes and range trips every 2-3 weeks. I know it's nearing the end of its life but this Noveske barrel is beyond accurate this far into the game. I wish I'd done testing on it a lot earlier than this and with a more powerful scope but for a GI trigger and Leupold x4 Mark AR this is pure gold in my opinion.
I can do nothing but praise John and the great work that goes on over at Noveske in the manufacturing of these barrels. Top notch.
~Rob
Edit: Additionally I noted that the Hornady ammo had noticeably less recoil that the PMC I was shooting. Secondly I also noticed that there was very little muzzle flash coming from the brake; as opposed to Federal XM193 that produces a huge fireball and the PMC which has a decent flash signature. The Hornady muzzle flash on the other hand was more closely concentrated near the ports and from my view never extended beyond an inch from the muzzle.