jtallen83

Doing something wrong numerous times and getting away with it is far from making it right. You are a big boy and have every right to risk your own arse. My concern is other inexperienced builders reading this and thinking it is OK to check headspace with the extractor and ejector in place or thinking the field gauge is a good enough check and then hurting themselves. Granted it is a slim chance but these protocols have evolved over the years for a reason. If people pointing out little details like this bothers you then you may be in the wrong place.................

I am finally getting some consistent groups from the build. X-Caliber had no clue when it came to gas port sizes and they were not afraid to lay out a line of bull and make themselves look stupid here. The fit and finish on the barrel was great, like a mirror inside. I had some issues with heat stringing but I think that may have been due to an uneven mating surface on the receiver, once lapped it seems to have gotten better now. After building with a Criterion barrel recently I doubt X-caliber and I will cross paths again, that Criterion shoots lights out, plug and play!

Get or make the tools to take out the ejector for headspace check. I like Pacific Tool and Gauge but would feel much more comfortable if the rifle passes with the Forster as well. Do you know anyplace you could get another bolt to check with the barrel?

Works great, six different rifles and two pistols over the last week and no issues! None of these weapons have had issues with cold in the past though, if it doesn't function below zero I don't own it long.

Cold is great in my book, keeps the riff raff out. I've worked and played in it my whole life and don't see that changing, Iowegian through and through. There is something about that below zero air that makes me feel alive...... and I get the range all to myself!

Welcome from Iowa!

My 16 inch rifle gas 308 X-caliber barrel came seriously under-gassed. Maybe measure the gas port in case someone here can give some guidance on what the size should be.

Now I do,

Welcome from Iowa! It's an ArmaLite so it will be fine wet, dry, and dirty.

What did you find under your tree this this year? I must have been a good boy this year, the wife gave me several items I can really use. A Gerber Center drive multi-tool, a Mirage Abatement Device from Black Hills Gear (suppressor cover), and three nice items from Beachin Tactical, Speed Sling, belt lanyard, and a mini fire starter kit. Except for the Gerber everything was Veteran made making the gifts just a little more special!

Merry Christmas All!

Thank you Sir! Looks like something worth supporting.

Can'y say that has been my experience. Small stuff like upper and lower parts has been ok, the Viper stock and patriot grip I bought were flat junk, very sloppy fit on the viper and had to grind a bunch to get the grip to fit. Both had a very slick, cheap plastic feel to them.

I know the new FGMM 185gr Bergers will fit.

Have that exact situation on my WWI P17. When I first got it there was a local collector of WWI weapons that showed me a copy of some period documents that included a letter from the war department ordering Remington to supply Winchester with several thousand bolts so the rifles could be completed in time for the troop deployment to Europe. Just so happened my rifle was one of those Winchesters built with Remington bolts and deployed late spring of 1918 in time for the allied offensive that summer. My rifle would be worth more on the collectors market with the addition of a Winchester bolt but I like it as is, original condition as it left the war.

You might be onto something there, seriously, check and see if there are patents. There are kits sold for reloading 22 rimfire so all you lack is someone to make the brass.

Did you watch the video posted above? That did it for me!

I have a Kestrel and haven't documented with it once. Haven't shot past 100 yards since I got so I didn't think it worth the effort. I really need to spend more time on these details, I see another benefit besides just the data, I'll shoot less ammo per range trip, I do tend to get carried away banging steel as fast as I can

No confusion really, my cold bore shot is about 2 moa off the group average on that target. So .6 + mils is in that wtf range. Even worse I can't blame it on a lack of copper.... I have about 600 rounds from the same lot so I will start doing a better job documenting each range trip and see where it leads me. I do save lots of targets but didn't really get info like temperature and such documented.

I have obviously got more going on with the 100 yard target above then, what should I be looking for? This shift is more than I am used to seeing but then I don't have a bunch of time with the suppressor in use yet, still would regularly see 1+ MOA shift on this rifle. This was a cold and somewhat clean bore, no copper remover but a few passes with a brush and patches till clean.

Yes, that is his website. He is on the up and up though, doesn't sell your email or info just wants to spread the word. He does alot for the industry and for military charities, just under $50,000 donated for sales of his book to the Sua Sponte Foundation and the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. Here is one of his podcasts; He does another that goes over legal issues related to firearms; https://firearmsradio.tv/trigger-words

The advantages in the Midwest Industries tube will show up under hard use.

They have certainly made improvements over the last decade. I have a good number of them but in the Elte series, nothing but praise for them. Not sure I would mess with the Banner line though, father-in-law got one of those in a package deal and it was pure junk, would not focus and very mushy adjustments, totally useless like the Bushnell of old.

I'm hoping his book will be under the tree so I can read more. He is pretty adamant that he can prove the cold bore shot theory wrong. Until I heard his podcast I thought this was a universally accepted fact but it's hard to dismiss a man with the experience he has. I am definitely going to keep track of this and put more attention in to that first shot.