I went shooting a little today. Kerri was going to go but stayed home. I wanted to help a friend and first time ACOG owner sight in a new TA31f, and shoot my new MRP. I also had Kerri's Lilja barreled Recce we got from MSTN. Wow, I swear that Lilja barrel cant be beat. Between it, a Kriegered SPR Mod-0 I built, true clone Mod-1 we got from MSTN, this 16" stainless match barreled MRP I just picked up, MSTN's Devgroup Lilja gun will shoot one on top of the next.

I dont recall who or when or why, but someone got me shooting 3 shot groups. I've been reading more about how much better 5 shot groups are. So today I start doing 5 shot groups. One on top of the next on top of the next for five shots with Fed Gold Medal. That Federal continues to be the best ammo out of all my guns. This new Hornady 75r TAP is a real close second. I swear the Black Hills ammo I shoot, no matter what grain, blue or red box, is better than standard ammo, but is noticably worse than the Federal and TAP. The Black Hills is much less money though.

I was hoping for better with my MRP. I have a TA31 ACOG on it for now, but used a KAC trigger in it. Sub moa, but the Lilja was stomping the MRP. Granted, the Lilja gun has the NSX 2.5-10 on it, and the thin NPR2 reticle really helped me slice the tiney dots on the shoot n see targets I was using, but still, was hoping for more out of the stainless MRP

A more powerful scope with more precie reticle would have helped, but Im still up in the air about what scope to use on this MRP. The Shcmidt and Bender Short Dots have really got my eye, but even these are only 4x. I checked one out at a Pat Rogers class this past December, and again at Shot Show. Looked great and clearly had the best illuminated reticle between it, the Night Force and the Leupold M2. To me this means it would probably be the best for use of close targets. But I was just sent a link where 3 of them had major issues at a recent Pat class somewhere else? I think Im moving away from the Leupold the more I think about it, and the more I shoot Kerri's NF, the more I like it. So Im still very unsure what will make it on top of the MRP.

new-argirl's Lilja barreled Recce


My new MRP


Friend sighting in new ACOG


Best group of the day, new-argirl's Lilja Recce with 69gr Federal Gold Medel @ 100

Oh, something else I noticed... Both these Recce's have 16" barrels and LMT Sopmod stocks. When you stand them up side by side, the MRP is significantly shorter than the other. They should be roughly the same overall length, but they arent. I know my MRP came with a stock A2 flash hider and the Lilja Recce has a Vortex, but this isnt even whats making the difference. Best I can figure is the MRP receiver and rail are, as you know, one single unit, and I think the lack of a barrel nut etc enables the rifle to be somewhat shorter in length.

I dont know exactly what it is I am saying other than these two guns, both with 16" barrels, both with the same exact stocks, are not the same length. The MRP is definately shorter despite its having a 16" barrel as well. Looking at the two side by side the best I can come up with is that the lack of a barrel nut cuts down on the overall length of the gun. How this makes it shorter when both guns have 16" barrels I dont know.

I dropped both guns off at work already or I'd take a picture to show you what I mean. If you looked at it yourself, it would be evident. Im still clueless as to how it is, I just know it is.

Quoted: Are you sure the Llija barrel is 16"?I also have a Llija Recce barrel and it is longer than my 16" carbines.I beleive they are 16.5".SJR556.

like I said, Im not sure of anything other than the difference in length. I'll ask Wes at MSTN if the DevGroup Lilja barrels are greater than 16". This is one of those over run barrels or something. That would explain it for certain, but I havent a clue.

I HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO ME. MY FIRST 16" MRP SEEMED AWFULLY COMPACT.

THEN I REALIZED IT CAME WITH A 14.5" BARREL INSTEAD OF A 16" BARREL. A 14.5" STAINLESS BARREL, NO LESS.

IF IT HAS A CARBINE LENGTH GAS SYSTEM ... IT'S A 14.5".

WES GRANT
MSTN.BIZ

OK, I will try to get this sorted out tomorrow when I am back at work. I swear my MRP has a midlength gas system, I recall looking to make sure. But I dont have anything in front of me right now. I'll check both against other 16" and 14.5" guns tomorrow, take some pictures, and find out whats going on.

WELL, THE VORTEX IS LONGER THAN THE A2.

WES

Quoted: WELL, THE VORTEX IS LONGER THAN THE A2. WES

Thats true, it is, but the difference in length is not at the flash suppressor. Put it this way, side by side, the A2 suppressor on the MRP "ends" where the base of the Vortex begins. It is a noticable difference. Pictures to follow tomorrow.

Quoted: Are you sure the Llija barrel is 16"?I also have a Llija Recce barrel and it is longer than my 16" carbines.I beleive they are 16.5".SJR556.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner. My MRP is a 16" barrel, the Lilja is slightly longer. I Did not get a precise measurement to absolutely confirm that it is in fact 16.5", but Im sure if it isnt that, its close enough. So, please ignore everything I said about the 16" Lilja barrel, it is, in fact, something like 16.5".

See, all those guys who said longer barrels are more accurate must have been right!

IF I HAD TO THEORIZE, THE PROBLEM COULD WELL BE ONE OF HOW THE MILITARY AS WELL AS CRANE SOMETIMES SPECIFIES BARREL LENGTH COMPARED TO HOW THE B.A.T.F. DOES.

REMEMBER WHEN EVERYONE THOUGHT THE SPR'S WERE 18.5". THEY ARE ACTUALLY 17.9", THE WAY THE BATF (CORRECTLY, I MIGHT ADD) MEASURES AN AR-15 BARREL. APPARENTLY, CRANE WAS JUST MEASURING THE TOTAL LENGTH.

THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE 6.8 SPC BARRELS. REMEMBER?

SO, THE SAME COULD HAVE HAPPENED IN THIS CASE. LET'S SAY DEVGROUP SAID THEY SPECIFIED BARRELS 16.5" IN LENGTH. IF SO, THEY GOT BARRELS SLIGHTLY LONGER THAN THEY BARGAINED FOR. AND WE GOT CONTRACT OVERRUN BARRELS!

BTW, IT'S NOT THE 1/2" OR SO THAT'S MAKING THE BARREL SHOOT SO WELL ... IT'S THE BARREL!

WES

Quoted: BTW, IT'S NOT THE 1/2" OR SO THAT'S MAKING THE BARREL SHOOT SO WELL ... IT'S THE BARREL!

yea right... everyone knows longer barrels are more accurate!

I agree, its not the half of an inch, but it sure is something. Of the 17 or 18 AR's her and I own, including at least 5 or 6 precision guns, it is the hands down best shooting gun we have. Awesome gun Wes, thanks to you and Paul as always!