We were chatting in a thread about whether we needed the traditional 18’ SPR rifle. I have one and like it very much. But there is certainly an argument for a 16’ SPR Light. I recently built one, or Mark recently built one for me and it turned out quite nice.
Noveske 16 Recon, Geissele 15MK1, SSA, AAC brake and Can, Vltor A5…bla bla bla NF scope bla bla
Then there is the traditional 18’ White Oak.
Both guns shoot exceptional. I just put the monopod on the PRS stock. Not sure I like that. Another noteworthy, I much prefer the full sized Nightforce scope. Eye relief on the 2.5-10 is not comfortable to me.
My druthers might be, put the big scope on the small gun. I like what I like.
We have toyed with a new 77gr SMK load with XBR powder. It has been great with most guns, the White Oak did not like it? You don’t know till you know.
I have a 16" recon Douglas barrel from Centurion Arms that I built into a “SPR light”. I’m still looking around for glass. The 2.5-10 NF was a consideration but I haven’t been able to find one locally to test.
I like my 16" light SPR/Recce type rifle. But instead of doing a heavy 5.56 SPR, I think I might just make the jump to a 16".308 SPR type rifle. Maybe something like this, ( http://www.laruetactical.com/predatobr-762-16inch ) but setup with my choice of optic (http://www.laruetactical.com/leupold-mark-6-3-18x44mm-w-larue-tactical-lt104-34 ) , buttstock, muzzle device, etc. I believe the 2.5-10 NF would be a good fit for it, but I also prefer a scope that has a little larger eye eyebox, even though it may weigh a little more.
Nice guns guys. The Larue is quite nice, but spendy for sure.
I would like to try the US OPtics line for my SPR’s sometime. They have a 1.8-8 something in that range that is very nice. However, Its not like those are sitting around your gun shop either though, to check out.
I have a Bushnell 1-6 which is OK, but doesnt quite fit the SPR roll. Very nice on an AR, just not SPR.
My first SPR-type was 18" and my second was based on a BCM SS 16" middy upper, but come to think of it, I haven’t even shot it yet :eek:
My most recent barrel purchase was a DD 18" S2W barrel for the game gun I’m building. I mainly went with that just to have more weight forward as it wont be a “field gun”.
I’ve heard many are sub-MOA but for a game gun, I just need it to be around 1.5moa.
I do like the familiar size of the 16" compared to the 18".
EDIT: What’s the difference between 18" and 16", ~50fps?
I thought the name for a “light SPR” was RECCE, no???
my new build (many thanks to Markm for the VLTOR upper) has swayed away from the “heavy” in favor of the “light”. that is, I decided to go with a 16" BCM 1/8 stainless barrel with 12" Centurion rail that I was going to build into a general purpose gun, instead of the 18". that “heavy” barrel has found another home…
two things pushed me in this direction - one, the appearance of the Vortex PST 2.5-10x32 FFP scope. it’s light and compact and looks to be excellent for the distance I see a 5.56 is useful at. this gives me an alternative to the NF at about 1/2 the cost. we will see how it works out.
and two, I think 16" will be much better suppressed. it will be wearing a 51T blackout FH in the meantime.
I still have plans for a “heavy” SPR that may evolve into a larger caliber - 6.5 or .30 caliber but for now, that is on hold…
Light being the key word here for me. Reece does not equal light :p. You can build a 12.5 inch gun that weighs a ton and a 16 inch that weighs a ton and a half. I have had one. I had a Vltor VIS that weighed 60 lbs by itself. Those things are beefy.
I don’t need a pencil barrel, but I can appreciate improved mobility.
There are endless configurations. It’s all about what you want.
If you could post up a review of that optic if you get it, that would be awesome. I am stuck on what kind of glass I want to put on my 16" SPR, and I feel 1-4 is quite lacking.
60 lbs??? :eek: you sure it wasn’t bolted to the bench?
anyway, I know what you mean… the original format of the upper that the barrel came from was a RECCE with a 1-4 but it was heavy for that. so that scope went onto a 16" DD V7LW and the barrel got pulled, FSB shaved down, and it’ll be fitted with this Vortex when it comes in. it won’t be a “walking around” rifle then but it was borderline before. the LW DD is accurate enough that it can do justice to the 1-4 and it’s weight with the scope is fine.
as my Dad always used to say, “there’s more than one way to skin a cat”, which always had me wondering about him but that’s another story…
I’d be happy to but I really don’t have anything that I can compare it to. there is a guy on Sniper’s Hide that has this and the Nightforce and compared them along with pictures. he claims it’s 90% of the NF at half the cost.
I understand about the 1-4. I have one and the barrel I have is accurate enough that it outruns the scope pretty quickly. if you accept that the 5.56 is capable (not necessarily effective) out to 700 or so yards, then you need a few more X’s on top to reach out with any precision. it’s not necessarily the weight, but IMO, when you go to a scope with anything other than a 1X on the bottom, you changed the role of the gun…
edit: I just checked email and got a Fedex notice that the scope was shipped today, ETA 3/13…
[QUOTE=ra2bach;1577696]I thought the name for a “light SPR” was RECCE, no???
I decided to go with a 16" BCM 1/8 stainless barrel with 12" Centurion rail that I was going to build into a general purpose gun, instead of the 18". that “heavy” barrel has found another home…
Very interested to hear how that barrel shoots and how you feel about the handling of that barrel/rail combo…I very much like that rail and have been considering that barrel.
The scopes on these guns is an interesting topic. Here is where I have been and my current thinking.
Like many, I have run red dots and ACOGS, and I love both.
Red dots, CQB to 300 yards.
The ACOG takes me to 500. And 300 with good precision. Center mass to 500.
We run a Bushnell 1-6.5. It gives a little more precision out to 500 and could shoot further, he’ll I’ve hit steel at 1000. But to shoot SPR precision from 400 -500 and up, you need turrets to dial you in and hash marks become a bit sloppy. Vortex has a cool set of hash marks for judging distance and the Bushnell can be dialed in if you take off the turret cover. Not so feasible.
This takes me to your optics 1-8 or 2.5-10 that you dial turrets. To each his own but I go from ACOG to 2.5-10. With training you could love the 1-6.5’s, but I prefer the simple and durable ACOG. Admitting, I need more time on that Bushy.
Even though you have little to compare it to, let us know how you like that Vortex. That market has very little good alternatives.
I do want to try the US OPTICS with Ergo dial in the 1-8 variety.
interesting conversation in this thread. I am in the middle of building a RECCE with a BCM 16" SS410 as well. I was considering putting the 15" NSR on it when I can get my hands on one. I agree with PB about when you put a scope with a bottom of >1 then you change the role of the rifle, but the 1-4 being lacking in the range department. I can’t afford a USO 1-8x so I was looking at the SWFA 1-6x FFP.
I am still not sold on that scope though until I read more reviews from users, but that is where I am leaning. PB, I noticed you have atlas bipods on your rifles. Is the Atlas really worth the extra $100 over a Vltor bipod?
EDIT: What’s the difference between 18" and 16", ~50fps?
for me, it’s not the velocity increase so much as the slightly smoother easier, rifle recoil. it’s small, but it helps you stay on target a little better.
gratuitous pic of my SPR with USO (used as a secondary in the mammoth sniper challenge team match). normally, this wears a swaro z6i 1-6x
Edit to add: I like the rifle gas port as this makes for an easy use of rifle length handguards. As to function the port position is not as important in my opinion as is the port size! Buffer or carrier weight and springs can compensate for quite a bit to get the feel just right.
With the possible exception of sustained fire situations, I would prefer a lighter barrel than I built this one with. Rock 5R 1 in 8 twist, heavy fluted under the handguard (Apex/Blackheart) Lower Colt Hbar Elite with Giessele triger now.
Rational is that my SBR with an ACOG mounted has proven tremendously effective beyond the expected ranges normally associated with short barrels, velocity difference is about 225 ft/secs. That doesn’t equate to lots of distance.
I think the ultimate SPR is an 18inch with rifle gas. Lots of ‘duty’ related ones out there, but I think the JP ‘gamer’ guns makes the best of the breed. Great barrels, tunable gas, LMOS BCG and a strong brake all make for an easy shooting, really accurate upper to put lead on target at distance.
I’ve been wondering the same. I’ve had an 18" rifle upper in mind for a while, but haven’t committed due to other projects. But there is this nagging in the back of my mind about it, saying maybe I should go for a 20" SAM-R style.
