I got my PDW upper today and got a chance to head to the range. The temp was 62 degrees and the rain varied from a mist to a steady, medium rain. All ammo was wolf 55 grain.
The goal was to swap my 14.5 inch barrel with fixed muzzle attachment to the PDW upper and make a lighter, better balanced gun, without having to go through NFA paperwork.
At the range, I fired a control group at 50 yards out of my XCR with the standard upper. I was still zeroed. I swapped the barrel, gas tube, and bolt to the new upper and fired a group. This group was the same size, but 2 inches low and 2 inches right. The necessary scope adjustments were made and a final group was fired and it was dead center.
I continued to work the gun firing a total of 40 rounds in the new configuration. Felt recoil was a little more, but I figured that as weight was down. I noticed that ejection was not as far as with my old upper but I would imagine that is a result of the new upper being dry and needing to wear in with the bolt.
Functioning was 100%. I fired from 100 yards and in, from prone, kneeling, and standing. The new configuration definitely feels more lively. Holding it steady in the unsupported position was a lot easier. You could feel the difference in carrying it as I walked to each distance.
I tried to come up was a way to determine how much the center of gravity moved rearward but could not come up with repeatable results. The gun definitely is less front heavy. Looks are subjective, but the exposed gas tube is growing on me. For me, I did not give up any useable rail space as the light and VFG are the same distance from the mag well as before and apparently I was not using the forward portion for anything but mounting a bipod.
Pics coming soon.
