Originally Posted by
Surf
A few more thoughts.
Rob, I would say that your set ups above would do well as a competition rifle and your top rifle mirrors my dedicated set up pretty darn close but again I will mention that I am not a competition shooter, but (out)shoot with them often enough. :)
For myself on a true critical use rifle, I am not that comfortable or completely sold with the durability of many of the minimalist tubes on the market that I have used but I have yet to try a few of the newest designs however. I am sure with design development my mind will change. For my own personal feelings a critical use rifle will have a fixed FSB despite the arguments over durability of modern optics, etc, etc...
I have both an 18" intermediate length Noveske SS SPR barrel and a 16" midlength SS Noveske LW profile barrel. I personally prefer the 16" mid for weight and length savings and it is damn accurate enough to do what I need it to do out past competition distances. I really wouldn't have too much of an issue with a 14.5 either, other than the fact that I wanted the LW profile of the 16".
I have no concerns with the Vltor A5 on a critical use rifle, but I am not sold that I gained any benefit on performance.
EOTech EXPS, well I am an EOTech fan. I am of the camp that loves the ret. Use the 65 MOA ring like a big dot up close, small 1 MOA dot for precision, 6 oclock hash for precision at a specific close distance. Use it for ranging and for engaging moving targets at various distances & speeds. Durability has been good in the 553's and no issues that I have noted in the XPS line ups.
After running the MBK, Titan and Rolling Thunder, I really do prefer the BC, go figure? I also find that it is the only acceptable device for critical use.
BAD lever. Been running them for years, even on all of my critical use rifles. On a gaming gun, I can't see how it is not a clear advantage? There is no denying that even a highly proficient shooter can shave at least a couple tenths on reloads. If it works or is reliable on a rifle, it flat out works. The device really seems to have lost its flavor for some reason. No big deal as I was running them before they ever became the device du jour on the market or before they even hit the commercial market period.
As far as an ambi-lever goes, they go on almost all of my carbines.
On a critical use rifle the S3G is a no go IMO, too darn light. An SSA would be acceptable, but again as I always say a nice USGI is just as capable.