Pathfinder2041

Took a while for me to break in the barrel. Working through FGGM and Black Hills ammo, the rifle was capable of shooting MOA and near MOA and holding it out to 200 yards (my longest range available regularly). Handloading has earned me a load with Barnes 130 grain TTSX that is lights out 1/2" load at 100 yards using varget. 150s, 155s, and 168s are just so-so with a lot of effort put in for not too much return.

I have tried load ladders with TAC and Varget. I have not achieved repeatable results with the 130 grain SOSts or 125 SSTs. My rifle is very finicky with light bullets with those powders.

So Benchmark is the cats meow with light 308 Winchester projectiles???

Have a decent supply of Varget and Tac for 168 grain AMAX and 165 SGK out of my rifles. For those rounds I am using Winchester brass and CCI BR primers. I have not been too successful using either powder with 130 grain and under bullets with LC or Winchester brass. I can get 1.5 MOA and under accuracy and consistency but want a better load for punching paper and varmits at 250-350 yards. I have access to Benchmark, H322, CFE 223 in my bunker. In your opinion, which one of these powders should I experiment with when I do my next load test with the lighter projectiles? Is there another powder that I don't have that has better potential with lighter bullets? the bullets in question are 130 grain SOST, Hornady 125 grain SST, and Barnes 110 grain TTSX (not the black tip, the blue one). Rifle is a 308 AR 10 with 16" Balistic Advantage barrel. Rifle currently prints 3/4" MOA with 168 grain FGMM and about the same with 165 grain AMAX and 165 SGK handloads.

the muzzle crown has a manufacturing defect in it. Shot FGMM 168 and 175 grain loads with the smallest group right at two inches. Prior to cleaning, when viewing the crown there is a bright (non-powderfowled bump) in the crown in the 3 o'clock area of the crown. Contacted the builder and will be returning for replacement.

Just cleaned the upper and with the BCG out, tried the wiggle test. I could not feel any play between the barrel and receiver. I'm going to reload some 178 grain AMAX bullets with varge to powder and try again with a different scope I own that is working fine on a different rifle. If the results are similar, it's going back to the shop for a repair/replace. thanks for all of the help and suggestions!

I think it's the barrel nut too! I want to check but afraid I'll eat the cost of the upper if I disassemble it to check.

Barrel is a 1/10 twist stainless steel. The barrel has a proprietary muzzle break that is very effective. I had the front of the rifle supported with a atlas bipod, the rear was in a Caldwell bag. I torqued the scope in the mount this morning with a fat wrench set on 35 ft pounds (may be inch pounds, will clarify later if needed). The fit between upper and lower receiver is pretty tight. I am willing to try a second scope to remove that variable, but the scope and mount was used to shoot a sub MOA group on a PWS Mk216 upper & FGMM.

Just Recieved an upper that I bought with a Blastic Advantage barrel in a Aero precision Upper receiver. Upper has a Aero melonited bolt carrier group. Current round count is 125 rounds and barrel was broken in for first 30-40 round by shooting and cleaning. Lower has Girsiele trigger. rifle shoots 3.5" groups with Black Hills Gold 175 grain tipped match kings at 100 yards. 3.25" groups with Hornady precision hunter 178 grain ELX rounds. 2.5" groups with black hills gold 168 grain AMAX. FGMM 168 grain SMK was nettin a 2" group. scope was able to assist with a clover leaf sub MOA group on another 7.62 upper receiver. my first thing to do is send this back foe inspection and repair/replacement. My question is what could have caused this? My first guess is barrel nut not torqued or barrel to upper mating surface on the upper is out do spec or not square. Any ideas on what could cause this?

Going to chronograph the load sometime this week.

First test with TAC yesterday.

isn't the bullet strike at 4 o'clock, just off the target actually two holes??

that thing looks sick!

Has anyone on the forum bought one or have first hand experience with these rifles? I have had a chance to hold one but am uncertain if the $2500 price is worth the coin?

Ordered two boxes to test the FCC load in my rifle for accuracy and velocity (PWS Mk 216). Based on initial performance data, will buy projectiles to reload to see if the performance and accuracy is repeatable with prepped LC brass and TAC or CFE223 powder. Just finished a load ladder with TAC and Hornady 125 grain SST. One nasty hole at 100 yards! Going out Thursday with a chronograph to get velocity readings on this load for ballistic tables.

What is the OACL of the loaded ammo? I found and ordered the bullets from midway, and want to replicate the Federal load for SOST rounds to best of my ability. Also, any information on the BC of this round? Thanks in advance.

Because I'm curious. Is the performance of this bullet out of an AR10 or SCAR(H) platform good enough to pick this projectile over a Hornady 125 grain SST or Barnes 130 TTSX? I plan or getting 20-100 rounds of loaded ammo when PSA gets it back in stock to see how it will perform in my rifle. I would just like an opinion of folks that have used this to see if there is a cheaper bullet to reload?

168 grain A Max loaded by freedom munitions is a good load in my rifle. The gold box Black Hills ammo with the 168 grain A Max is a fantastic performer.

I understand the desire for the upgrade, the "boots on the ground" definately need a rifle that can stand up to the abuse one will get in an M RAP or Stryker. I remember when the Army had civillians that were quailifed to "rebuild" small arms on post. I used to take my companies M-60s to Depot level maintance when they needed a major overhaul. For the mechanicly inclined, this seems like a modifacation that could be performed in the company area. No need to change the weapon system without changeing the bullet it shoots. If Big Army is going to stick with 5.56, then the M-4 just may soldier on for the next 25 years until caseless technology catches up with desired performance.

Thanks for the replies. I have some 155 and 168 grain AMAX loaded from Freedom Munitions that I am grouping and bullets that I will reload with TAC, CFE 223, and Benchmark to determine my rifles favorite.

Has anyone uused these bullets on thin skinned game? What were the results? I have other bullets to work up, but so far these two projectiles are scary accurate out of my rifle. THanks for the replies in advance.

Hello from Tacoma!

Mod1, 16" 1-10 twist barrel.... really likes TAC and controlled chaos bullets...

I found a good accuracy node at 44 grains of TAC under the 145 grain CC bullet. I was getting 2725 FPS average with 13 FPS SD. I'm happy with this!!

The weather is great for my business, I run a warehouse that sells bicycle parts! It seems like summer came a month early this year!! These are first world problems!