Apache Gun Works 243 Match break in

[LoneWolf]

So I took my rebarreled Mausingfield to the NCSA Pala Long Range Steel match today to break in the new AGW barrel. Yes I broke it in at a match! Long range steel from 315yds to 885.

Funny thing is out of 15 shooters I took 3rd with only 59rds through the tube at match end.

I hit 15 out of 22 shots as the match ran a little slow. Low score for me, but was enough for a podium visit.

Match started walking in from as follows 885, 851, 771, and 675. 3 targets at each line. Then jumped to 315, 415, and 480.

I didn't have any dope for the long shots other than chrono data and had a hard time on the small plates. Also think the barrel got faster right around 35 to 40 rounds. I shot 30 before the match started to zero and chrono, then did a quick dope check to 545. Had an SD of 10FPS on a 10 shot string at 2965 average.

Barrel is a 26" 8 twist 243Win in a heavy Varmint contour. Load was 41.5grs of H4350, trimmed virgin hornady brass, CCI 200 primers and a 105 Berger hybrid seated .020 off the lands.

Going to try some 105 AMAXs and see if they'll shoot a little tighter for the shorter ranges.

Thanks Jim for another awesome barrel. Once I have it dialed in I look forward to a little more consistency in my dope data.

[LongRange]

Very nice....15 outta 22 with a new barrel is pretty impressive...cant wait to see what it does when you get it dialed.

Jim has my first 28" 260 shilen barrel that has 28-2900 through it...it will come back re-chambered with .220 free bore and 3" shorter....ive never had a barrel set back so this is kind of a test...a guy at our matches claims he has a 6.5cm krieger thats been set back 3 times and was at 7000 round count.

[LoneWolf]

All lines went big target 5-6MOA est, 3-4 MOA, and about 1-2MOA. They very at each line. Good challenge in the wind though.

I was reminded that even with my 243 recoil control is a must!

[LongRange]

yep...as much as I hate to admit it I'm thinking about a muzzle break on the new bartlien barrel.

[LoneWolf]

APA Gen II Little B@stard. No Smith needed for timing, most effective brake on the marker for 6 and 6.5's

[LoneWolf]

http://precisionrifleblog.com/2015/06/24/muzzle-brakes-field-test/

Here you go

[LongRange]

APA Gen II Little B@stard. No Smith needed for timing, most effective brake on the marker for 6 and 6.5's

ive been eyeing the fat B and the LB...you think the LB is the way to go?

[LoneWolf]

I'm very happy with my choice. Fat B* better for large caliber.

[BlueDog]

I've got a Gen II Fat B* on my 308. I'm very happy with it. My other 308 sports a JP Enterprises (Cooley) brake that also works well reducing recoil. Both reduce about equally, but good heavens, the JP has WAY more muzzle blast. Knowing what I know now, I would rather have two Fat B*'s!

[LongRange]

Well after reading through a lot of that testing ive desided to send in my app for a job lol!!

Honestly after reading if i go with a break it would be another jp recoil eliminator...i had the factory break then a badger before i ended up with the JPRE on my 300wm...the JPRE was the only one of the three that pushed straight back with no muzzle rise but TALK ABOUT LOUD....i shot my 300 at 2 matches and was politely ask if i have something else to shoot please bring it lol!

[LoneWolf]

You know it's funny because shooting next to brakes rifles is just part of the game to me anymore. At tactical matches it doesn't bother me much even when shooting a stage to shooters at a time. I guess it's the "hyper focus" during stages on the clock. But if there's a stage where all shooters are on the line at the same time sometimes double ear pro is a good idea. I always wear electronic muffs though as they seem to provide best protection for me.

[LongRange]

ive become use to the breaks myself but on a 6.5 or 6mm they arent as bad as a magnum shooting heavy bullets...my 300 with the JPRE would knock a gallon water jug over from 3ft away.

on a side note...i just talked to manson about my reamer and they are about 12wks out...i thought they where 2-4wks.

[eddiesindian]

Ive become so accustomed to breaks that Im not all that comphy sending rds on any rig without one.
Cooley,s so far for me have worked well with keeping good poi in ck. muzzle climb is minimal .
If I do shoot at a range, the inclosed area ei: metal roof and sides adds to the db level but I simply double up my ears plugs.
I sure wish my 6.5 LRP came with a threaded barrel. I can handle the jolt but its difficult to track poi without the break.
Im playing the "I refuse to do anything/upgrades etc.." to my LRP. Plain jane rig has proven to be accurate and consistant.

[LoneWolf]

Might be to AMAXs. They only need 2.75 OAL to just kiss the lands, which gives me back a lot of mag length in the case I need to seat them longer.

Probably won't get to try them out till next weekend though.

[LongRange]

Might be to AMAXs. They only need 2.75 OAL to just kiss the lands, which gives me back a lot of mag length in the case I need to seat them longer.

Probably won't get to try them out till next weekend though.

Post up how they work out...have you shot any of the SMKs?

[LoneWolf]

Haven't played with the SMK's hoping for good results with the AMAXS at $20/box

[LongRange]

Yeah I've hopped that several times and it just never worked out for me.

[LoneWolf]

I know you tried the BTHP's didn't see you post about the AMAXs.

[LongRange]

the 123g amaxes shot the best in that 30" criterion barrel but that barrel had some SERIOUS issues and is being turned into muzzle breaks...i shot 178g and 208g amaxes in my 300 and 140g amaxes in my 260 and none showed enough promise to pursue...though i have tried in the 260(about 800 total)with a few different barrels...and in my 300 the 208g match shot good)...im not saying they wont shoot im just saying they have never shot for me..plus as far as i know theres not a lotta guys winning matches with them...i believe the last 3 years berger has dominated your type of shooting and lapua has been second...last year i dont think anyone shot sierras but they have always shot great for me...ive shot a lot of bergers and they are a PITA...ive also shot over a 1000 139g lapuas(which shoot fantastic)and i may be back to them in the short action when its done...my problem at the time with the lapuas was that id run into pressure before i could get them to the velocities i wanted(due to the long bearing surface and case capacity)but im over the whole high velocity thing LOL...ive got 100 each berger,lapua and SMKs to test in the short action when its done.

[eddiesindian]

I to went a-max and hoped for the best. inconsistency was always the end result.
you never know though. Your tube may like them.