SOLGW Mk10 Gen 2 in 308 have arrived - range results + first blood

pangris

I use infrared radiation ...to see in IPHY
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  • Feb 25, 2006
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    LA/TX
    I'm blessed to have three sons - two of them very strong twins - at 18, they're 6'4" and 225ish lb with abs. Consequently, proportionally, an AR-10 feels to them about like an AR-15 feels to the "average" guy.

    Last summer I took a Sons of Liberty Gun Works (SOLGW) Armorer’s Class and saw some of the LE guys who were using SOL Mk10s in the class, and had a discussion with Mike, the founder of SOLGW, about getting some MK10's. We took delivery of two rifles configured to our spec this week that check all our boxes -

    SOLGW Mk10 - Gen 2
    8 lbs 5 oz dry
    416R SS 3 groove polygonal rifled nitride barrels
    2 stage SOL triggers that are excellent - we have Geisseles or MBT's in everything else, and these are every bit as good as any Geissele trigger we own
    Hard chromed BCGs, bolts are dual ejector
    A5 buffer systems
    B5 furniture
    M89 rails
    Ambi 50 degree throw saftey
    Ambi bolt release
    Liberty ambi charging handle

    First impressions - the rifles performed identically.

    100% function - each rifle fired about 100 rounds, 50 no can, 50 with a Dead Air Sandman K.

    Ejection - 3 o'clock, dead 90 degree out of the rifles without a can, maybe 2, 2:30 with a can

    Accuracy - very acceptable, we were using 147 gr basic bitch to check function and get baseline zero's with a 3.5x ACOG and 1.5-6X USO then switched to 150 gr Speer soft point that we use on piggies - that historically isn't the most accurate ammo in the world, but it tracked out of these with what we've seen out of some of our other rifles that are MOA or better. Once these have at least 300 rounds out of them, I plan to put a 20X on them and test with Federal GMM 168, 175, etc to see what they can do

    Overall fit/finish/feel - First, I'll praise the triggers again - that's the interface with the rifle, and they feel great. The upper/lower receivers are tight, no wiggle or wobble. The anodizing is dark and crisp. They generally feel smooth, recoil is very manageable, gas system seems well thought out, no blow back in the face was mentioned even with cans.

    Thus far, 100% satisfied. I've chased the AR-10 dragon for quite some time and I think we have finally caught it, saddled it, and are riding it GOT style. We will be putting them into practical use in ~ 2 weeks in Texas on meat, can't wait to see the results there, but I suspect it is going to result in some dead pigs, coyotes, et al as the optics on top were selected to be specifically compatible with LRF thermal clip on units as pictured.

    THANK YOU to Mike and the SOLGW team for building rifles to our spec and delivering what we've been looking for - I hope these are the rifles my sons use for decades to come, and I believe they will be.

    The 9 year old and I will have to continue with the burden of being younger and weaker / older and weaker and running about with 300 BO's and 6.5 Grendels. We will break into big gun/little gun teams and see who kills more and if the 308 anchors them any better than the pipsqueaks we're shooting :cool: 9 YO with his custom Model 7 in 300 BLK also pictured under the watchful eye of his older brother. I'm glad to say there was a debate in the car home about who shot best that day.
     

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    @pangris

    Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to your follow up on the rifles and hunting.

    I am interested because I have young sons who like to hunt. Currently using bolt action CZ rifles modified by dad. They are excited to move up to self-loading rifles. I’d prefer to buy them a 1 and done self-loader probably in 6.5Creed (because I started using 6.5Swede decades ago as an upgrade from a surplus 7.62x51 mauser.)
     
    Another day in paradise - went to continue function/accuracy with the Mk10's + dial in the zero with thermal and had great results.

    This is the first time we've bothered to truly zero the Athlon - across 3 or 4 other guns, it was minute of pig enough that we didn't feel the process was necessary considering the +/- factor with thermal image. With these fancy new Mk10's and our upcoming trip, we wanted to get it dialed as perfectly as we could and it was easy - first group off circle = dial in some negative X axis and shazam, we're ready to whack and stack next week.

    Put about 40 through one and 20 through the other and same story, 100% function. Shot one group dialing in the ACOG that was ~1" at 100 with 150 gr Speer soft point, which I find promising. Once we get past the winter season, I'll do proper accuracy testing.

    Target pictured is @ 100 yards through a US Optics SR6 1.5-6 and Athlon CL35-640.
     

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    Kiddo got a coyote playing around at night at 200 yards with the Mk10 + Athlon CL35-640 - he also saw 4 packs of pigs while bowhunting when not carrying the rifle (n)

    Next run in two weeks or so. I told him he he should carry the bow and the rifle :unsure:
     

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    Reactions: LonewolfMcQuade
    A hair under 12 lbs loaded with 10 rounds of 150 gr speer, then the Athlon is a pound or so.

    The Dead Air Sandman K isn't the lightest, nor is the US Optics SR-6 + an LT-104 at almost 30 ounces for the scope + mount. The gun could probably lose at least a lb with the latest greatest lightweight LPVO and a Thunderbeast, but he is young, strong, and not footing the bill...