blackthorne product's 20'' flattop report

[mrbgt]

well i got my command arms mount and my scope a tasco varmint ,target 6x24-42 here's some pic's .i pulled 1 in the first 3 ,dropped it a couple clicks then added the last 3 .i need to load some more ammo :wink:.50 gr. v-max moly coated 25.5 gr's of h335 http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/mrbgt/000_50.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/mrbgt/000_223.jpg

[jonboy20]

So what do you think of the blackthorne stuff?

[mrbgt]

i'm happy with it . the total cost was about $550 for the rifle with a cheap removeable sight , sling , magazine and double star lower ,add another $100 for the scope and mount. you can check the blackthorne thread in the battlerifle section for more details. most threads you read are pretty negative on blackthorne mostly due to their history . appaerantly they are hesse which isn't something to brag about , but the ar platform is usually just bolt together stuff from several manufacturers anyways (not too many companies build all the parts for the rifles they build) so i took my chances . so far it seems that most people that have purchased a kit from them have been happy. i did read on ar15.com someone had a kit with a barrel nut that was loose ...they weren't too happy ,of course the bashing of these kits there is unreal.

[Hoot]

I built their 20" A3 flat top and love it.

http://www.frontiernet.net/~hill195/AR%20Pix/blackthorne.jpg

After experimenting this spring with different loads, I have one that shoots sub-MOA at 100 yds, which unfortunately, is as long as I have access to at the nearby club. That sub-MOA is only achievable when I do my part well, which isn't too often. I recall my .22-250 bolt gun was more consistently accurate without trying so hard, but it had a lot nicer trigger. I didn't want to put any more money into the A3, but I may invest some dough in an RRA NM trigger for $92.00.

Hoot

[mrbgt]

i hear ya , shooting an ar with a stock trigger is a real job!with my bull barrel savage .223 its effortless to shoot under 1 moa , of course the things a pig, i wouldn't want to carry it all day.

[Hoot]

I found a fellow here in state with the RRA 2-Stage NM trigger kit for a reasonable price and picked one up. Nice light take-up but quite a lot of added force just before it breaks. Unfortunately, while it's behavior is more predictable, it did not tighten up my 100 yd groups one bit. :icon_neutral: This past Saturday, there was absolutely no wind at the range and all I could do was throw 1 to 2 1/2 inch groups, one after another. This was with match component hand loads, not milsurp ammo, off of my Caldwell Rock front and rear bags. I'm starting to wonder if you can accurize a stock HBAR to deliver consistent sub-MOA groups. After 50 frustrating rounds, I switched to my Ruger 10/17 bull barrel, bedded thumbhole stock 24X scope and proceeded to put shot after shot into a nickel at 100 yds, so conditions were good and my style was on.

My intention was to use this AR for ground hogs and prairie dogs, but now I'm considering putting the iron sights back on, putting the original FCG back in and keeping it just as a fun gun. While about the only thing I haven't tried was going with a free floating handguard, with the heavy barrel, I can't see how it would account for that much impact variance at only 100 yds.

Hoot

[mrbgt]

i think its in the weight distribution . on most hbar bolt guns the weight is kinda hanging off the front of the rifle ,which makes it pretty easy to control .the ar is tall and heavier in the middle which does seem to complicate things. but still 1 -1.5 moa is still going to kill lots of varmints. i like the look of the floating tubes but agree with you about the it not makeing much differance

[LCPL 4]

I'll add my range report here so we can keep the Blackthorne stuff together.

Went out yesterday afternoon and was finally able to shoot a couple of hours and get it sighted in.I went with the IBZO since I really don't have a place to shoot round here much further than 100m right now.

-1) I needed to adjust windage to the second mark left of center to get zeroed. Anyone else get less than stellar alignment?

+1)For the Ceiner .22 kit I just adjusted rear elevation to 4 instead of the 8/3 -2.

+2) No FTF, FTE, etc. Ran just fine.

It was raining off and on yesterday and I didn't feel like getting in the mud so all shoots shown are from the standing position. Lubricated with some teflon oil spray.

First pic should be the .22's federal bulk at 25m once I had everything set.

Second pic shows .223 remingtion 55grn at 25m at the top. Group on bottom is just under 100m with IBZO.

I'm pretty satisfied for a plinker. We'll see how long she lasts without a hiccup.