Re: ARP Paint Job
DTech Upper
-22 inch Shilen barrel - fluted, integral compensator, 1 in 10
-Some kind of microslickery on bolt - not actual microslick, but something in that vein
-Badger Tac Latch
POF Gen III Lower
-RRA LPK
-1.5 lb. Jard Single Stage trigger
-KNS Gen III anti-rotate pin kit
-Hogue grip
-Magpul PRS
-Accushot monopod
5-20 SS
Larue 158, I think
USO Swivel level
I was shooting RL-17 through it, and was getting smokin velocities, but was seeing some of the inconsistencies others were reporting with that powder. It shoots well with plastic tip bullets - Nosler BT and Horn. VMax's of most weights. It does not shoot well with harder to stabilize bullets (1 in 10 limitation) such as Berger VLD's. I have shot 58, 65, and 87 gr VMax's as well as 70 gr Nosler BT's. It likes them all. ARPredatorHunter (who painted it) is also a WSSM AR fan. I respect his opinion, and he helped me look for a Dtech upper, and gave a lot of advice on setup, etc. that helped me with building this gun. He is a huge fan of H4895, and if I am not mistaken shoots it in this caliber as well. Based on that, I am going to be trying H4895, and some H4350 behind some 75 VMax's when I get a chance to get out to the range again.
Mine does not seem to have the feed/eject and dirty operation issues I have seen reported with other Dtech guns in WSSM calibers. I cleaned it before I sent it to ARP for paint, but before that I ran just shy of 200 rounds through it in varying conditions without a hiccup. I have shot 0.6 MOA groups with a couple of loads with this gun, but have not broken the 0.5 MOA barrier just yet. That could be load development, or in all honesty, it could be me. Time will tell with this next round of load development.
Arnie and I had a chance to do some prairie dog whacking with this gun (among others) earlier this summer. I have shot at least 5,000+ prairie dogs in my life with everything from 22 shorts to my 300 WM. I can honestly say that I have never shot anything that is as devestating as this gun on PD's. It makes them do things that I have never seen. Most guns will open PD's up - it is not hard to do. However, most times everything is still connected with skin. This gun will cut them clean in two (or times three). That was with a 65 VMax at just shy of 3800 with RL-17. The H powders with slightly heavier bullets may be slightly less impressive, but I think will make a better long range coyote round. If not, they still sell those 65's.
I have been shooting some Federal headstamp brass that came with it, but recently came into a stash of Winchester that I had a member on here anneal for me. I have not dipped into those yet, but I understnad they have more consistent neck tension and last through more reloading cycles with the annealling. The gun is hard on brass - no two ways about it.
Casey
