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Wilson Combat: Testing the 30AR

ccoker

Gunny Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Jul 2, 2008
1,200
40
58
Central Texas
www.tacticalgunreview.com
Bill sent me this, figured you guys might find it interesting

<span style="font-weight: bold">From Bill Wilson of Wilson Combat</span>

When Remington first anounced the release of the relatively new .30 RAR cartridge and R15 rifle in this caliber I have to admit I was initially under impressed. Being an avid 6.8 fan I have to admit based on factory published ballistics for it's 125gr bullets I simply didn't see any real gain over good 6.8SPC loads. Now that I have some "hands on" time with this new caliber I'm begining to see some real potential especially for hunting. Over the past month I've spent a lot of time experimenting with the .30 RAR as to load development and building guns. I now have close to 1000 rounds down range now (of widely varying loads) through the following guns:

DPMS 20" medium weight upper (long gas)
Wilson Combat 16" Recon (mid gas)
Wilson Combat 11" suppressed SBR (CAR gas)

<span style="font-weight: bold">Here are my observations:</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold">Positive</span>

The cartridge case is VERY strong, in fact so strong it makes it hard to read pressure signs.

It seems to be capable of VERY good accuracy, can't wait to get some match grade barrels made up in a couple of twist options.

With bullet weights of 125gr or less I personally see no substantial gain over the 6.8SPC, however with 130gr to 150gr I'm seeing some terminal performance gain both on paper and in the field (dead hogs).

It's easy to reload and seems to be happy with several different powders and a wide variety of bullets.

With close to 1000rds downrange through 3 guns I have had 100% function, so it's obviously reliable.

Fits in a standard AR15 platform so can be light and compact, MUCH better than the big and heavy AR10. A 30RAR upper will work just fine on your 5.56/6.8 lower, something the .308 doesn't have going for it.

Modest recoil, about like a .243 in a comparable weight bolt gun so will still be a good choice for female and youth shooters/hunters.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Negative</span>

Low magazine capacity if compared to a 5.56 or 6.8, 4rd mag is about the same size as a 10rd 5.56 and the 8rd is the same size as a 20rd.. This is due to it's single stack design, but may be one of the reasons it feeds so well, I've even shot some flat point bullets designed for the .30-30 and they fed........... Low magazine capacity will probably prevent it from ever being a serious "tactical" weapon except for a SWAT sniper.

Can buy new cases!!!!! Being an avid handloader it's a major pain (and expense) to have to buy factory ammo and blast it away to get cases!!! Hopefully Remington will start selling cases soon as this would be a big boon to the cartridge popularity.

Only 4 factory loads are currently available: 125gr FMJ, 125gr CoreLokt, 125gr Accutip and 150gr CoreLokt.

No load data except for Hodgdon/IMR powders is available.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Reloading observations</span>

IMR8208XBR, Benchmark and H322 seem to be excellent powders. I have also got acceptable results with AA2460 (shoots great, but seems to dirty up my suppressed SBR much worse than extruded powders) and R10X (lighter bullets).

Several bullets have worked well for me, but for now I've settled on 150gr Nosler Ballistic Tips and Accubonds for these T&E guns since they seem to shoot the best with them. I think the caliber is at it's best with the 130gr Barnes TSX or with various 150gr bullets. If you don't own a 6.8SPC you may want to play with the lighter bullets, but they don't interest me.

With 150gr bullets I'm getting 2275fps out of my 11" SBR, 2500fps out of the 16" Recon and 2600fps out of the DPMS 20" in 90+ degree weather.

Cases seem to last 5 or 6 loadings with full charge loads.

<span style="font-weight: bold">General observations</span>

Ballistically it's a .300 Savage if you compare them in the same barrel lengths. Out of a 11" SBR I can duplicate the ole reliable .30-30 fired from a 20" barrel (with the added bonus of being able to use high BC bullets), so obviously it will get the job done in the hunting field even out of short barrels.

I'm impressed with it enough that Wilson Combat will build a few rifles/uppers and see if there is any demand???

<span style="font-weight: bold">Pictures of our first 16" Recon and 11" suppressed SBR T&E guns and targets attached.</span>

30RAR1.jpg

30RAR21.jpg

30RAR31.jpg

30RAR41.jpg

30RAR51.jpg

30RAR-target-11.jpg

30RAR-target-21.jpg

Bill Wilson
Wilson Combat
870-545-3618
http://www.wilsoncombat.com
http://www.circlewcranch.com
 
Re: Wilson Combat: Testing the 30AR

nice write up. i wondered about that little cartridge when it came out

anyone know what scope mount is on that AR?
 
Re: Wilson Combat: Testing the 30AR

count me in for an upper or at least a barrel

really wish u would build some factory 6.5 Grendels
 
Re: Wilson Combat: Testing the 30AR

Does anybody know the twist rate of the sbr?
 
Re: Wilson Combat: Testing the 30AR

Interesting. Not much info out there besides a magazine article, and this. Pretty cool figures with the 16" upper and the 150gr bullets. With a 155 AMAX this could be a cool gun to shoot random crap with at mid-long range.
 
Re: Wilson Combat: Testing the 30AR

..

What is that highly accurate suppressor mounted on both of the prideful accuracy builds of one of America's finest builders?

Hey lets check the targets...well, I'll be....

Yes it.....yes it is....and that was after testing just about every and any .30 out there. Both of those 100% titanium, 360 welded, forward purge, low pressure, etc. etc. etc.


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