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Posted: 6/18/2010 11:58:40 AM EDT
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Actually this was my first total assembly. I took it out today and just wanted to share the results. I've done a few kits already, but this was my first rifle where I selected different components based on what I wanted. I wanted to build an accurate longer range target/ varmint rifle with a clean uncluttered look to it. I also wanted to support manufacturers that were, at least, regional to me and do it at the lowest cost possible and still have quality. This is what I chose to assemble:   24" bull barrel, heavy receiver-ed AR 15 in .223. Components are: SI Defense billet lower - Awesome people to work with and more importantly excellent machinework, quality and finish. Based out of Kalispell, Montana. I highly recommend them. DPMS slick-side, high-riser upper - I've had nothing but perfect performance from their products and I wanted a thick, ridged upper with the riser machined into it. This serves a function of a integral truss across the upper receiver to add strength and rigidity. It also keeps my scope ring mounts short and ridged as well. Lower parts kit was also from them. All trigger work was done by me. Essentially, it is now a two stage with a 3.5 lb pull. A little heavy yet, but very crisp. They're out of St Cloud, Minnesota. 24" fluted bull barrel with 1/9" twist - Also a DPMS piece. I really wanted a Lilja Barrel from Montana, but came across this deal at a gun show and couldn't pass it up. Chromed slick sided SP-1 style bolt - Young Manufacturing. Had to go all the way to Arizona for this one. Awesome machining and finish. The lack of serrations keeps with the look I was after. Vortex Scope - 6.5 through 20x magnification with side focus through a 50mm objective lense from their Viper line. For the price, the glass is outstanding and is a seems to be a rugged unit thus far. Their glass work is subcontracted overseas but are assembled in Madison, Wisconsin. Mounted in a set of Burris Extreme Tactical low height rings. All of the various other parts such as the furniture etc, came from God knows where as they were gun show specials. Total cost for absolutely everything as it was shot today: $1379.53 All parts were new and nothing used was utilized in this rifle. I think it shoots pretty good:  101 yards, sunny with a very light wind from behind. 5 shot group. Ammo was Black Hills "Seconds" 69 grain Sierra Matchking hollow points. Shot 5 shots (under blank) while scrubbing bore between shots at first. Second string of 5 is shown after some correction. Shot a third string of 5 after pulling it left and down one click and it shoots top of the dot like I like. I didn't take a picture of that as I started having fun playing black-out with the orange center.  I can't wait for this barrel to settle in a little and start going for distance. Thanks for looking and a huge thanks to this site and it's members for all the help and information while working on this project. Edit for spelling, usage and scope model. |
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Quoted: Nice gun, and good shooting. How is the clarity and brightness on that Vortex? Thanks. To make sure no one gets lost here, the Vortex scope I have is the Viper 6.5-20x50, I'll edit my original as I forgot the model in the OP. The brightness actually surprises me some. I was messing around with it last evening as the sun went down and it seems to gather light really, really well. Does it do it as well as a NF or USO, probably not but we're talking about a scope that is one fifth the cost too. I bet you couldn't tell much difference between a good Leopy and this though, a percentage point or two is all. I will tell you it will put a Mark AR down in the dirt and run with the big power Nikon Monarchs that I've been behind lately and it's still at a third the cost. The clarity could be slightly subjective as my eyes are not what they used to be but I could focus in and see what I needed to. The side focus is handy where its at so adjustments aren't a problem. But I would say that if you crank it up to 20x and against the stop, I seemed to have to re-focus a little bit. It seemed pretty solid from 6 - 18x though. The sight picture is pretty forgiving as in you don't have to stay perfectly behind it to keep it from "shadowing". You can kind of plop down behind it and see through it just fine. Same thing with the focal length too. Some of the cheap scopes I gotten for the kid's rifles are just horrible for this. One interesting thing I've noticed with the target dot version of this scope that I got is that when you are "off-center" but still in full view (no shadowing) of the site picture, the dot will offset to the side of the cross hairs. It is incredibly slight, be I can use that to make sure I'm centered behind the scope perfectly. You would think that these two sections of the reticule would be in the same plane but maybe on different sides of the same lens? Maybe my eyes are really going to hell, but I swear I can see it.  All in all, it's really good glass for the money. I took a chance buying this scope as I don't have a dealer around to sneak a peek through one so to speak before hand. I figured they have an excellent reputation for customer service and I have seen promising reviews thus far so I pulled the trigger on one. I can honestly say I'm happy with my purchase and I'm an old cranky bastard.  I really want to look through a PST now. |
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Sweet rifle and nice shooting. I'm finishing up collecting all the parts for my first build - still need barrel (which I've ordered and am waiting for from WOA) and carbon fiber handguards and barrel nut I still need to order. I hope mine shoots as well as yours
I have two scopes and a monocular from Vortex and and very happy with all of them - I'll definitely be giving them more business in the future. |
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