MarinePMI

My apologies for necro'ing a thread, but just wanted to add a little bit to information/opinion gathered here. First of all, in most of the UK, I'd say the cheaper kestrel and your cellphone app would be sufficient. You have (at least when I was last there) pretty decent cell coverage across the country, so a cell phone for a ballistic app makes sense, especially if it's just plinking or varminting on some pasture. That being said, I'd add that a Kestrel is most importantly a good training aid, for learning to call the wind speed. In dynamic hunting (or tactical) situations, pulling a Kestrel out to read the wind is farcical. Where the higher end Kestrel's come into play, is when they have the AB software with the custom bullet models (higher end models). Those custom curves are much more reflective of what a bullet will do in reality, than most cellphone ballistic apps. Is it worth the extra coin? That's really up to the shooter and their situation, but make no mistake, at range the CBM's (derived from actually shooting, and tracking the bullets on Doppler radar) show a marked improvement over the antiquated methods that give a more linear drop projection as the BC decays in flight (especially trans sonic). To be fair, sometimes they still need to be "trued" slightly. But once calibrated, the ballistics from a Kestrel 5700 (or Garmin 701 or their new watch) they are spot on. In the US, many places don't have good cell coverage, as well as the heat here can be pretty intense, which can (and does) force a phone into an automatic shutdown if left too long out in the direct sun. Kestrels (and the like) don't suffer from that weakness. I've seen a lot of shooters have their phones go down due to heat, in the middle of a match, leaving them with no ballistic data to work with. They either learn to right it down in advance, or they migrate to a high end Kestrel. <shrug> It's all about what works for you and your situation (location, training level, etc.)....non of these options are a pancea for not practicing or preparing.

FYI...AI has an AW mag designed for 6mmBR based cases coming out later this year.

ds1, The only thing I have seen that reduces the perceived recoil on a PCC is the Silent Capture Spring tuning kit for an AR in 9mm. It works well from what I have been told, but you lose the "last round bolt lock". I still may try it on the one AR 9mm I have. Honestly, I think recoil management is more of a fitment issue. If the PCC fits the shooter, then recoil can be managed (IME) and reducing it becomes moot. As mentioned previously, when I moved the SRO to my Scorpion, I had also replaced the crappy, ill fitting factory stock with a MagPul Yugo AK stock with riser. That change in geometry with the stock change, along with the SRO on a riser, really improved my ability to square up on the PCC, and manage the recoil of that big CZ bolt slapping back and forth. Concur on the Holosun's; they're a cheap alternative to an RMR or EOTech...but you get what you pay for. I was not impressed...but they do work for the budget conscious. I wish the Shadow was available in my state (California), but alas it is not. So I just live with a CZ 75TS as it is in it's stock form, with it's iron sights. Here's a link to the SCS. I have one in a .223 AR, and it really smoothed out the recoil impulse (being a tall guy, the AR's never fit me well). SCS 9mm Short

ds1, Nice. TBH, I just switched one of my PCC's (9mm) from an EOTech to a Trijicon SRO (1MOA) on a riser. Perhaps it is just me, but I found it much easier to get on and track targets than the EOTech. If POI is a concern, then running it with a straight RMR=>Picatinny adapter may get you where you want to be...low to the bore line. The SRO also has the benefit of being able to be left on for a year before the battery dies. My EOTechs have consistently eaten batteries like a fat kid eats doughnuts. Anyways, I thought it worth bringing up... br

I too, am awaiting the shipment of these rifles (paid for mine last week). As to PRL, I think the international competition is going to be held in Spain next(?) year. Call it the international finale or what not, but it appears the Aussies, South Africans and others will also be fielding a team to represent their country at the finals. It should be interesting...

Markymark is correct. I recall, now that he mentioned it, that those holes are indeed for the top barrel shroud (which comes in various lengths, and can be moved to support scope length differences when mating to a clip-on NV or thermal).

The 45 degree keyslot was so the internal weights in the foreend, could be fastened via screw holes along each side. The availability of magnum bolts and a 223 conversion kit (still in the design phase) are another few new additions. Existing AT's will be able to get upgrade kits if desired.

Just use a threaded collar, similar to self timed muzzle brakes. Just turn it a full rotation and then lock it down. Adjust as necessary until you find the right amount. David Tubbs talked about this for muzzle brakes as well; adjusting them to change where/when the expansion chamber receives the gas. I'd imagine the same would hold true for supressors/moderators. https://www.americanprecisionarms.com/products/gen-2-little-stripey deckchair-muzzle-brake

Nice work! I have a similar rifle; Origin action, but with a left hand gain twist barrel for the Valkyrie in a JAE chassis.. I think the GT helps with accuracy in the Valkyrie due to the long for caliber bullets, and bullet deformation as the hit the lands.

Ya think? Ouch (my thumbs hurt, just thinking about turning 400 cases).

Most all of them work with a bit of tweaking/truing. The AB CDM's tend to be the most close to reality, but any of them can be made to work reasonably well. They're all based on one of two different calculation models, so take your pick. For reference, I've run Kestrels (4500 and 5700 AB models), Streak Pro, JBM, Garmin701 AB, and a Revic smartscope. They all work, if the data going in is good data.

What catch-22 said.

Yep. Just one...out of 150 students. Kind of tells you something just by that. As to bashing the brand, I don't think that's what I was doing. I was just pointing out that there are better, proven, reliable options. If that hurts someone's feelings because I don't own one, well...those are someone's feelings. I don't need to own a Hipoint pistol to know they're not a top of the line pistol either. To say you have to own something to know something's deficiencies is just utter crap. But again, just my opinion...

Yep. Don't own any. But after 5 years running a precision rifle club with well over 100 members (and God knows how many visitors), I don't need to own every scope brand to see trends. You can make your snarky remarks, but it still doesn't change what I've seen. IOR's have unreliable QC. They have some nice looking glass, which means f*ck all, if it doesn't track. Our range runs out past 1/2 mile, and we shoot weekly, so every scope we see is being pushed to perform. Then again, your friend's brother's cousin's next door neighbor may have actually turned the turrets against a tall target test at that game fair, and it just wasn't what you wanted to hear. My, what nice blinders you have on; must make life more orderly and comfortable.