Now that I have my MK18, that gun wears the Aimpoint T-1 and is what I primarily shoot and train with. My idea is to turn my 16" gun into more of a precision-ish gun. Main uses will be deer hunting, coyote hunting, precision plinking out to 600, and if needed for a go-to “outside” rifle.
At the same time, if I take an out of state carbine class, I can easily throw my T-1 back on the 16" gun and go to school. (Yes I know I can file a form 5320 for travel if I want to do that).
My optic is on its way and should be here by Wednesday this week. IT is a Leupold MR/T 1.5-5 illuminated SPR. The rifle currently has a LW Daniel Defense 16" CHF Mid-gas barrel in it. After reading Tridents report on the 14.5" CHF barrel, I’m wondering if I wouldn’t prefer an SS barrel like the BCM or Ranier Arms “Match” barrel. Then again, the CHF barrel is nice and light and will have a longer life.
I guess it depends on how “precision” I want the gun to be. The plan is to use the 75 gr Black Hills Match ammo I have on-hand, and the lower has a KAC 2-stage in it, so those two variables are taken care of. The magnification range of the scope is somewhat limiting for a true “precision” rifle, but then that’s not what I really want anyway. I want more of an “accurized” general purpose outside rifle.
I’ve only shot it with the T-1 on it and only out to 50 yds. It does well enough. I guess your point is to shoot it with the scope and see how it does before swapping the barrel.
Using a 1-4x Scope my 16" Rainier Arms CHF Barreled upper will hit the 8" Swingers at our 300yd line using 55gr and 75gr handloads. Its pretty much a DD barrel if that helps you at all.
I just acquired a centurian upper with a stainless barrel. I’m waiting on my optic (1-4)so I haven’t put any rounds through it yet. I’m on the fence about the SS barrel but I’m going to give it a shot. I didn’t order the upper. The barrel was already on there so I’m not going to swap it out just yet.
Start by defining your accuracy requirement in measurable terms such as “1.25 moa with 75gr Amax as loaded by black hills”.
You don’t have to use THAT spec, but that was just an example of a spec you could make up.
Choose whatever spec is appropriate to your uses.
Then see how the existing barrel performs.
Then consider replacing the existing barrel or other components if the gun does not meet the defined accuracy requirement.
I strongly advise against swapping out the DD barrel before you get a good scope and shoot for best accuracy using some good ammo, like something from Black Hills.
Most barrels are more accurate than their shooters.
If you have only ever taken it to 50 yards, then it is doubtful that you will outshoot it at 600. Not trying to be insulting, but your skill level is probably not there yet and your barrel will most likely shoot better than you are able at 600 at this time. I say try shooting your current barrel to extended distances when you get your scope and see if you can produce results that you are happy with before you consider dropping extra coin on a SS barrel that you might not need.
I would max out my potential with what I have before upgrading. A SS barrel has a limited life, why waste some of it learning when you could do it with a CL? I’d shoot the CL and get good at LR and then consider if you need to upgrade.
I’d think about cranking a new upper together before replacing a good DD barrel. But if you do want a new barrel, what brand would it be?
Moreover, I wouldn’t think you’d end up shooting the barrel life out of an SS, and if you have the ability to, you’re lucky.
Please let me clarify, I have shot long range before, so I wouldn’t necessarily be “wasting” time learning with an SS barrel.
This is what I swapped for my MK18:
And This is what it did at 100 yds (top two shots were before an MOA click of correction):
And this is what it did at 600 yds (3" target dot):
Still, I think I’ll give the DD barrel a try before I swap it. 100% torso hits at 700 and 100% head hits (10") out to 500 would make me happy. I think this barrel will do that with match ammo and a good trigger; both of which I have.
I’ve been running a BCM 16in SS410 middy for 3 years now as my 3gun rifle. Average around 5,000 rounds a year thru it. Mostly 55gr handloads and 69gr handloads and I can tell you this, with the 1-4 Vortex PST MRAD that I ran this year, I’m confident out to 600.
No accuracy issues at all, its held up very well, I clean the barrel and chamber only 1 time a year and thats when my 3gun season is over in November. BCG gets wiped down and relubed between each match but otherwise I don’t do anything to that gun.
I think that you’re facing a first world problem: do you stick with a probably great barrel, or upgrade to a new stainless barrel? Given the general tenor of your post, I don’t think you’d just be ordering any old barrel that happened to be stainless, but would spend the time and money necessary to figure out exactly what you wanted.
There are different conditions for gear changing. You can go from good to bad (say, taking a 6920 and festooning it with UTG stuff), bad to bad (‘upgrading’ a low end rifle with low end parts), bad to good, or good to good. It sounds like you’re considering good to good.
In the end it’s going to be how you want to go. Do you “need” to change? Probably not. Should you change? Heck, why not? Try new things, within reason.
