I've posted this on other forums but I figured I'd post it here too for anyone interested in the old war horse. Just to give you all an overview, I was sent this stock system for a no-strings-attached transparent and honest test and evaluation. The following post is purely for informational purposes for anyone interested in the M14.CA Blackfeather chassis system. Other than receiving these products, I have not received any compensation and I have no financial stake in the company. I also reached out to my new friends at Leupold and they sent me this scope to demo for 60 days. The bipod is borrowed from a friend. I do un-biased and un-paid product reviews on M14/M1A products. Enjoy!

I spent about 3 hours trying different configurations the other night, trying to nail down the best combination that would give me the best cheek weld with the scope/base/rings I had. Leupold sent me some nice MK4 rings and I wanted to use them, but they were too high. I went back and forth between the RBS, the A2 stock and the CTR.

I was able to use them with my AR-15 A2 stock and a Bradley cheek rest, but the A2 buttstock does not work well with the Blackfeather. The way the stock meets the pistol grip creates an abrupt angle and does not allow a natural high pistol grip that I like to use when shooting. So off it came, as well as the Leupold rings.

I settled on some Warne steel low rings that I got locally. They were the lowest possible combination that I could find for a 30mm tube. The lowest possible setup would be with an ARMS mount, but this test is for the CASM with the Blackfeather stock, so that's what I have to work with.

The best stock to use would be a Magpul PRS with the adjustable cheek riser, but I'm running low on funds. I bought two different risers for the CTR stock I have on my AR; the low and the medium. Having all the parts here now, the high would have worked better, but the medium riser is workable.

The tube stock they sent me would be nice if it set higher as its the most comfortable, but it's just too low to use effectively with the CASM, a 30mm tube and a 50mm objective lens. I will eventually get a PRS at a later date so I can use the Accushot Monopod.

Once I got all sorted out on a final configuration, I did a thorough install on the CASM mount and I lapped/aligned the Warne rings. I finished installing the scope properly and found a good eye-relief position and leveled the scope as best as I could since I don't have the room to set a plumb line far enough in my house from the work bench.

The next step is to get it zeroed, work it out to 300 yards, then meet up at the club for the 600yd shoots. Once that's all done, I need to head out to Douglas ridge for the 1000yd shoot.

Here's the official parts list:
-M1A standard, GI barrel
-Blackfeather stock
-Leupold Mk4 ER/T TMR reticle, 4.5-14x50, M1 Turrets
-M14.CA SHG (Scout Hand Guard)
-CASM-II aluminum mount
-Warne steel low rings
-Atas Bipod
-Magpul CTR stock with medium cheek riser
-Hogue AR-15 pistol grip
-M14EBR.US trigger shoe

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

Oh, and for my final live-fire video, I'm going to extend an open invitation to anyone locally who wants to try out the rifle and get their feedback on it. I already have the guy who runs the tactical sniper matches locally on board and he's going to take her for a spin. I plan on getting novices, moderately experienced and very experienced shooters behind it as well as some active duty military/LEO types.

This rifle, with all the accessories and a full magazine of 20 rounds, weighs 13lb, 14oz.

I got a surprise e-mail last night from Frank at M14.CA. He's been reading my internet posts and I guess I won't be needing that PRS stock or any more cheek risers and I get to use the RBS again. He shipped me one of his latest creations; the HBA (High Buttstock Adapter). It literally puts the stock in-line with the bore and it puts your cheek weld where it needs to be to work with high power scopes.



He just came out with these and I think I vaguely heard about them a little while ago, but it was only mentioned on some Canadian internet posts. This is a limited run and it's not even on their website yet for order.

I'm VERY excited to get this piece of equipment!

Thanks,
Tony.

I'm really interested in hearing how she does at the longer distances.  

Nice post.  Good pics!

I received a similar email last night, so I ordered an RBS to go with the HBA that Frank is sending me.

So in keeping true to form, there's never a dull range report! I met forum member Freshmen at the range and expected to have a nice lit range. Turns out, there was a power outage a couple of days ago and it messed with the timer system that turns on the night lights and we were unable to activate the flood lights. GI3

Just to the right of the firing line is the parking lot behind a brick wall. One of the shooters drove his pickup to the edge of the brick wall and shined his headlights on the 100yd range. He was unable to shine it on the 50.



So that means we had to zero a new scope on a new mount at 100 yards. Add to the fact that it is very wet and there's no puff of dirt to tell you where you're hitting. I wasted about 12 rounds before I was on paper. Once I found paper, it was smooth sailing from there.

After establishing zero, I put a 3 round group with my plinker ammo in the upper right corner and had Freshmen shoot some SSA 168 grain stuff that he had. Groups were okay.





We put up a fresh target and alternated shooters and ammo. The first group was with the gas off and it was with 6x fired Winchester brass and annealed necks with 125gr TNT's. I shoot anything over 5x fired with gas off. My 5-shot group measured 0.788". Next, Freshmen shot a batch of my 125's and grouped 1.267. After that, we turned the gas back on and I shot a group of 168 FGMM which measured 1.480". Freshmen followed with a batch of SSA 168 which measured 2.096". I fired the last group of the day with my 168gr handloads I use for the 600yd line, 2x fired brass and it measured 1.498"







I'd say that was pretty pleasing results considering there were multiple shooters, multiple ammo types and poor lighting conditions. Average groups sizes with all the inconsistencies averaged 1.4285."

Now that the scope is on paper, the next trip will be at 200 and 300. Also keep in mind that I don't think either of us had ever shot with a bipod before. We did pre-load the bipod. I'll let Freshmen post his thoughts.

Also, don't discount the value of a good trigger shoe! Also, the only reason that we had a successful range trip was because we had good glass! My cheap spotting scope was darn near USELESS in that lighting condition. The 50mm objective on the Leupold really showed it's usefulness!

Tony.

Great work guys!

Thanks Kevin! It was a great time!

Tony.

That is a very nice setup indeed!

Great post.  Do I spy an old Savage next you?  That's one you don't see every day.  LOL.  

What did you mean by "5x" when you turned the gas system off?  I get that you were wanting to turn it off from maybe too much pressure.   But the "5x" part went over my head.  And furthermore, what made you choose 125's?   I would've thought there would be a lot of different loads to try and the 125's are kind of an anomoly in .30 cal.  Although I've shot some myself too at one time.

5x means it's been fired 5 times. After 5 times fired, you should scrap the brass as it's unsafe to fire in semi-auto. The case heads like to separate after 5 times fired. This was the seventh firing with this brass. Since you're not stressing the brass with the gas on, it's safe to fire in single shot. I didn't have any fresh brass loaded up and this range trip was a spur of the moment thing so I went with what I had. 125s are very accurate inside 200 yards. Past that, it's 135 for 300 and  past 300, it's 168+.  

Tony.

Aaaaaaah.

Another anomoly.  135's???  I've never even heard of that.  You've got some interesting pills.  How about some 147 fmj's?    

I've never shot overly far with my M1A.  But a fair warning, I've heard it said you might need 175's or heavier to go to 1K.  

You just gave me a new goal though.  200 is as far as I've shot mine and I'd like to remedy that.

Yeah, I've got some 175's I've never loaded up yet and a box of 178 A-MAX's to try as well. I've shot this particular rifle in a GI stock out to 600 a couple of times and it did well and that was using iron sights.

I've also got some 168 Berger Hybrids and 155 Hybrids to try as well.

Tony.

So much fun.  Hitting something with irons at 600.

Yes, it is! See the white speck at the center-end of the treeline? That's a 3'x2' saw blade section from a lumberyard at 675 yards. I managed to hit it with irons a few times. If we do this again next year, I will take this scoped beast out there and make music all day long.


That was me shooting prone that day.


No better way to get better at it than by just trying it.

Tony.

Prone is the way to go.  Especially on concrete with some good bags.  

That's some good shooting with the irons on your part.  Real good.

I've shot out to 600 with my 03A3".  But the target was much bigger.  A normal hipower match target.  What are they, like 48" black circles and about 54" total?  Or are they 5'.  I forget.  But big.  It was nice to at least hit it though.  I was actually just using American Eagle 150 grain FMJ's too.

After waiting patiently while RS production was increased to meet
demand, US end users are receiving their Blackfeather Rifle Systems