Lightweight M1A Project Part 2: Refinements and Capability Experiments
As the weight reduction phase of the build seems to have come to halt at about 7 pounds 12 ounces, it seems like it's time to make the most of the package. Which means weight will be creeping upwards, mostly!
The first improvement is the elimination of the wretchedly inaccurate 18 1/2" standard weight Criterion barrel. Found a completely unmarked 22" almost new GI profile barrel in a friend's barrel pile and got it for $50.
Screwed it on and test fired it on 06 Feb, using iron sights. No handguard- Why, I don't know. Even with headspace a bit short for 7,62x51 (single loaded only and checked for bolt closure each shot!) and a flash hider that came loose it shot better than the last barrel. Happy, happy, joy, joy!
It's worth the extra 2+ ounces. The length increase is more bothersome than the weight.
The first improvement is the elimination of the wretchedly inaccurate 18 1/2" standard weight Criterion barrel. Found a completely unmarked 22" almost new GI profile barrel in a friend's barrel pile and got it for $50.
Screwed it on and test fired it on 06 Feb, using iron sights. No handguard- Why, I don't know. Even with headspace a bit short for 7,62x51 (single loaded only and checked for bolt closure each shot!) and a flash hider that came loose it shot better than the last barrel. Happy, happy, joy, joy!
It's worth the extra 2+ ounces. The length increase is more bothersome than the weight.
Total Comments 2
Comments
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Finished chambering it 10 Feb. Had to carry it out a ways to comfortably accept Prvi Partizan ammo. Federal brass would not have required using a reamer at all! But the various NATO rounds all were too long at the shoulder. Amazing that the Federal match ammo is as good as it is...
Tightened up the flash hider. No idea why it became loose. Odd...
Had to put a regular hammer in as the Art7 prototype unit is going off for tests after it's many modifications.
Still contemplating another ACOG mounting solution.Posted February 12th, 2012 at 11:44 PM by jmoore
- Somewhat better results with the latest 22" barrel. Not as good as the "no name" NM barrel, but hopefully it's just settling in. ACOG results were questionable, so the big old 24x was used.
Ejection pattern with a GI hammer is still too far forward- unchanged actually from that using the ShootingSight prototype, so some tuning is in order.Posted February 17th, 2012 at 02:40 PM by jmoore
