Made it to the range today and learned some stuff.
First thing, if you're going to run this custom barrel and gas block with an MREX rail, plan on using slightly shorter side screws on the bridge/saddle. I had to file off about two threads worth of length so they would not contact the gas block, placing a load on the barrel. No sweat using a small file. It would be better to use screws perhaps 1mm shorter.
I started out with a couple mags of German DAG at 50 yards. I got off one nice 5 rd group before range conditions went to hell and I started fighting variable 20 mph winds. Not much fun. See photo below:
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Not bad for 40 year old surplus. ~1.5-2 MOA.
After that I put a new target out at 100 yds and ran some XM80 2014 Lake City through the gun. Still fought the wind, played around with my scope, and tightened all the MREX screws another 1/8th turn. Best grouping shown below. Not bad for mil-spec M80 ball at 100 yds. A few fliers on my part.
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Next I ran a box of FGMM 168 gr through the gun in 5 rd groups. Not very proud of this, got impatient with some of the shots, pretty sure the gun and ammo can do better.
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Finally, I lit up a target with my own handloads in paced fast fire, full 20 rd mag. This is 150 gr FMJ Hornady over 47 gr of Power Pro 2000MR in once-fired Lake City brass and S&B Primers. The factory barrel shoots this load at 1.5 MOA.
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First 10 rds went into a nice 2" circle, then things shifted left as the barrel heated up. Not bad for non-custom loads.
Overall I'm impressed enough to sell off my factory barrel and start working up some custom loads for this. Going to try some 190 gr HPBT and maybe 208 gr AMAX next. Also maybe some 168 gr HPBT NCC in Winchester brass and Varget, see if I can get 2750 FPS and 1 MOA.