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Posted: 5/20/2006 9:06:03 PM EDT
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Hello all, I've been looking to slim up and trim down the fat on the ultimate day and night fighter in a 6.8 SPC platform. The good ol' brown truck arrived Thursday and I've been in awe ever since! I will first admit, this is my first Noveske AND Larue products I have ever owned. Shame on me I know for at least not trying out Mark's stuff a while ago. In regard to Noveske, been reading lot's informative posts over the last several months with their new entry into barrels and the KX3 flash suppressor and it all sounded like a very impressive system. When I also saw Larue could give me the rail real estate I needed and Noveske the 12.5" 6.8 SPC to bang (with punch) at 400M without breathing hard, I knew I could NOT pass this team up!! As Wes (MSTN) has always stated, if I ever need more than this, "to call in a JDAM!!"  Well proof is in the shootin' no matter how pretty the platform looks, and this is a looker! Oh before I go on, I have to say the Noveske folks sure the heck no how to frustrate a guy with their packing process!!  Here I am like a kid on Christmas morning attempting to tear open the package the upper came in, only problem, the 5 layers of paper wrap with packing tape on each layer is getting the best of me! I even unsheathed the 10" Tanto lying nearby, but thought better of it and politely curbed my demeanor and patiently opened each layer!  Of course I wanted to see the accuracy "out of the box" (I mean out the cement packing) so I mounted a Leupy 3.5-10 LRT and trucked up the mountain. I had just hand loaded some 6.8 SPC with 110gr V-Max and 29.0gr of H-322. Brass make up was with Rem. with the primer pocket and flash holes reamed and deburred. This is the load-up that has given me the best accuracy and velocity thus far with my 18" 6.8 Douglas barrel platform. Also, in my excitement getting to the range with this new toy, I forgot the darn Ohler (arggghhh), so I promise to post the velocities during the next go-around...Anyways, elevation 6900ft., sunny at 70deg, wind at my back 5mph, a perfect shooting day! The first squeeze surprised me, I have never shot this short of a barrel before (especially with a 6.8) and was ready to feel my body shake from the blast effects of a 12.5" barrel since the brick stall walls are very narrow at this range. This NEVER happened! I give incredible credit to the KX3 in this regard re-directing the gas forward away from me. The only thing I did notice was the slight stronger jump into my shoulder compared to my 18" 6.8. After 3 rounds at 50 yards to dial in, I went to 100 and all I can say is WOW! The shooting benches (did I tell you I hate benches, but no room here to lay prone) are inclined so I could not get the best rest under the butt of the SOPMOD, but recorded a 1-1/8" 5 round group! All the rest were 1-1/4=1-1/2". Simply amazing, and I know for a fact this platform will shoot MUCH better, no doubt about it if I was locked in a bit better. I then dialed in some dope and started to bang at a 200-yard plate. This is when the KX3 really showed its effectiveness with rapid fire "bangs". Getting back on target for follow-on was minimal with this system! The 300-yard plate was next, and it's sure awesome to wear electronic muffs to here the "booof" of steel! I then took the scope off and put the 552 on and the fun really began!! Multiple targets, triple taps at 20 yards, etc. I had a ball! Oh btw, did I mention, after 200 rounds or so, not a hick-up. This machine can and will run! My next shooting report will consist of some velocity data, I promise.  As I stated above, just too darn excited to get out there and shoot this puppy and forgot the Ohler...Presently with my 18" platform, I'm getting an average of 2580-2590fps, some of my work ups here, www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=118&t=242233&page=33 In closing, I am simply amazed at this platform, I've been wanting to slim down without sacrificing too much energy for longer range engagements and I think I have found the holy grail for me!! John Noveske and company, THANK YOU for the platform...The demo went VERY well today I might add..  The next shooting session will also go into the darkness where I hope the KX3 will shine with the NODS!  Below, I have attached some pics enjoy! Vic Load out here with the ARMS #40L, GG&G Multi Flex Base, EO and DBAL-A (Sqaured) IR Laser/Illum/Vis Laser   When the sun sets, the night will welcome the new AN-PVS-14 SB (Single Battery)     |
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Very nice Vic, I do like the looks of a long rail handguard with a tiny bit (or no) barrel sticking out. I had two KX3 thingies, I don't have any short enough barrels to realize its true usefulness, and the dang thing added so much weight to my MRP, I sold them both to a friend who put one of them on a cut down RPD without modification (1/2x28 threaded barrel), it does work pretty well in full auto, out of a 13" barrel I hope they make a lighter version of it, it really doesnt' have to be that heavy.  for using them 'pods Here's mine, not a 6.8mm though  
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Vic Sweet build. Did you get any bloom at night with the KX3? Now just go the next step and get one of these muzzle devices and eliminate all the flash   This rifle was built using my 12.5" 6.8 SPC barrel. I haven't tried it with my PVS14 yet but I have shot it at night and flash is nil. Denny |
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Duffy, indeed the KX3 is a bit big...It does balance out the weapon nicely though! Always good to see your environmentally safe LMT btw. Denny, I just knew you would rub it in with the BEST flash supressor out there on the market! What I REALLY need to do next is to send my rig to you for the fancy "Picasso" art work! I have not shot the KX3 at night. I am VERY curious and have only read they are very effective. Are they effective as a Vortex is what I need to see. It going to be a very good test. |
Amen to that Wes...Denny is right on as well. I've looked for a LONG time (and spent too much $$ over the years) for an all around package such as this. My beginning personal requirments were, a. Range, CQB to 400m+ with a round heavy enough not to take a "wind" hit or miminize this greatly. b. Accurate of course, 1MOA or better. c. Miminum to moderate recoil. c. Lght weight to hump a distance and short enough to fight CQB. d. Enough rail real estate. e. Must "see in the dark" with very miminal blooming (no supressor to be used) so the FH system has to be effective. *note* This one area TBD very soon, going to take a few digi mpegs through a NOD to see the effectivness of the KX3. Thus far, this system has met just about all my requirments, except for the verification of a "flash and NOD." I know for some, the 6.8 choice might not be viable due to ammo availability, I hand load everything lately, but a few agencies out this way are getting more and more interested in replacing thier uppers since we're seeing more and more factory ammo show up....Now if I can just find a 1000 rds of factory Rem match laying aorund? Ideas? |
Ain't that the truth. It's got frag range that's unbelievable with a 12.5" barrel, they're damn accurate, and it is a sweet platform to mount a can on. Vic, that rifle's a work of art! If the KX3 doesn't work out, Ron Smith has a 6.8 Vortex that will cut flash down to nothing. The blast from a 12" 6.8 isn't as bad as you would think w/o the KX3. |
Is that a .308 Surefire can? What barrel length is that on? |
DevL Yes, that is Surefire 308 can. The barrel is my Recon 12.5" 6.8 SPC barrel. Denny |
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Capn_Crunch, gonna do the flash study soon with the KX3, I am very curious. More on that here, www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=6&f=18&t=199255&page=1&#-1 COLE-Carbine, The rail is a Larue 12.0 SimonTan, your eyes do NOT decieve you!  (Camera blooming here, NOT the DBAL and the PVS-14) |
"The Smith Enterprise, Incorporated-marked line of suppressors are only available to the US Government, Law Enforcement entities and through Foreign Military sales (FMS) programs. SEI-marked suppressors are not available on the civilian Class III market." I've e-mail just the same. There's also a mention of a Mr. Fisher, whom I've also e-mailed. |
SEI has no problem with civilian sales. FWIW, they are located in Tempe Arizona. The issue is their desire not to become involved in civilian transfers. If you want an SEI suppressor, they have no issue with their dealers selling suppressors to civilians. |
I'm in the "boy, wouldn't a sound suppress be nice" stage. I have no idea if I could even meet the paperwork requirementnts, due to CLEO hand cramping. I'm open to but unknowledgable regarding the whole LLC (or whatever) alternate process, however. Before any of that effort is warranted, though, I first need to determine if there're options for a sound suppressor capable of mounting onto/over a Vortex. Ideally, this would be a barrel-clamped mount, so I could use the suppressor on long arms regardless of the presence of a Vortex. It doesn't have to be an SEI model. This thread has folks posting to it who own/use suppressors I could hope to gain knowledge from. I apologize for tangenting in advance and will gladly take the conversation to private e-mail to obtain solid info. |
Watcher, IM me your phone number and a good time to call. I've been on a R&D kick lately, and have some neat stuff for you. Still in preproduction phases, and you might have some input on a few things. |
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Took the Noveske out a few days back and finally chrono'd some data with both the hand loads and the Remington Express stuff. The gun HATED the Rem. Express stuff btw. Using 29.0gr of H322 and a 110gr V-Max with Rem brass, got the following 5 shot worth of data. 2408 2400 2416 2403 2422 Average: 2410fps Best Group Size 3/4"  The next string is with the Remington factory 6.8 SPC 115gr MC R68R2 2290 2220 2309 2291 2291 Average: 2280fps Group Size: 4.5"! I am a bit worried on the Remington Express accuracy...I need to obtain some Rem Exp. Match stuff to see how it performs. I will also try some Hornady I have laying around as well. I DO need to use factory loads so thus far the factory lots are concerning...Overall, the handloads are at 3/4" and this is what I have come to expect from this upper. A night shoot to follow to look at the KX3. I need to run more hand loads first, I ran out! |
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Victor, I have some bad news for you, very soon you will be permenately banned from the internet for having Way Too Many Cool Toys! It's really not fair for the rest of us and we're all starting to get a bit bitter. Nice stuff man. By the way, I love my 14, and Yes, I still owe you a write up and some pics. |
First off, VERY nice rifle! Second, I have to ask, does this rifle really have acceptable terminal ballistics out to 400+ meters or are we talking more of just excellent accuracy at those ranges (also very impressive in it's own right)? Just sounds like quite a distance for a 12.5" barrel considering the best .223/5.56 loads are said to be limited to around 100-150m out of a 14.5", (when talking acceptable terminal ballistics in the form of expansion/fragmentation/penetration). |
It's a 6.8, so yes it is acceptable. |
I realize this is in 6.8. I guess my real question is: Has there been proof through ballistics testing that a rifle in 6.8 with a 12.5" (or other SBR lenghts) barrel truely has acceptable terminal ballistics at those ranges? I keep seeing people make statements like this, but I can't seem to find any testing besides accuracy testing. Please help because I am considering such a build. (Note: Please forgive me if this seems like a hi-jack. I am not trying to do so, I am just considering a similar build and am looking for proof to the "holy grail" statement.) |
Out past 175M (at least) you can ruin someone's day with a 12.5". AFAIK, everyone that has done testing on the short 6.8's won't be giving it away unless you're a customer, or a gov entity. Making multiple 60 lb gel blocks ain't cheap, y'know
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You can gather a GREAT deal of info here on the 6.8! ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=118&t=282708 Hope this helps. |
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