This image is hidden for guests.
Please log in or register to see it.
The setup and test took longer than expected. Sorry it took so long and the lack of images. I'm close to exceeding the 11,000 character limit.
The Rifle –
Being a fan of the AR platform I decided that my next .308win would be in that category. In the last 8 years I've built plenty of AR-15s that are true sub-MOA tack drivers. For my first AR 308 I decided to buy a pre-built precision rifle.
My choices were vast, but I quickly narrowed it down to three contenders.
1) DPMS LRT-SASS ($1,850)
2) Armalite AR-10 Super SASS ($2,850)
3) GA Precision GAP-10 + req'd upgrades (3,200)
The 3/4 MOA guarantee on the GAP-10 pretty much sold me, but the price was a little scary. The DPMS LRT-SASS was the cheapest, but it would take another $800+ in upgrades to reach the level of precision the Armalite and GA Precision can achieve straight out of the box.
As my search continued, I received an email from a friend who knew I was on the hunt for an AR in .308win. He forwarded me an email from CenterFire Systems with a comment that read, "Armalite 308 SuperSASS for $2,242.00!" I was all over that like Rosie O'Donnell at a buffet.
Did I settle? Don't think so. Here's the specs:
* Adjustable Gas System to Optimize Rifle Function with Suppressor
* Armalite Floating Rail System with Rail Covers
* Magpul PRS Adjustable Buttstock
* Barrel: 20" Triple lapped, Ceramic Coated AISI 416R Stainless Steel Match, Threaded 5/8x24
* Rifling Twist: RH 1:10" 150-175 Grain, Recommended 168 Grain
* Front Sight Base: Quad Picatinny Rail Handguard
* Upper Receiver: Forged Flattop with Picatinny Rail & Laser Engraved Rail Numbering 7175-T74 Aluminum
* Lower Receiver: 7175-t73 Alumin20um (forged)
* Trigger: National Match two stage - 1st stage 2.5 lbs - 2nd stage 4.5-5 lbs
* Overall Length: 44.5"
* Weight: 12 lbs
* Accuracy: 1 MOA
* Included with Rifle: One 10 Round Magazine, One 20 Round Magazine, USMC Quick Adjustable Sling, rail-mounted Sling Swivels, Owners Manual, Limited Lifetime Warranty, Black Hard Case.
Sure, I'm going to get stung a little when buying additional mags, but it's only $10 more per magazine compared to the DPMS. Overall, this deal on the Armalite AR-10 SuperSASS and saving $600 was a No Brainer!
The Scope -
My required specs for a scope was demanding. First Focal Plane, Illuminated reticle, mil/mil, 30mm tube, 50mm+ obj, a Zero Stop on the turrets, and the glass needs to be a crystal clear. I knew this would be a $1500+ scope. My search lead me to several brands; Nightforce, Leupold, Burris, US Optics, Zeiss, and Schmidt & Bender. All of these scopes priced over $2300 with added options.
When Sniper's Hide announced the prototype release of the SuperSniper 5-20x FFP scope, I had to chime in. I love the SuperSniper line of scopes and to have one in a 5-20x would just be crazy! Long story short, the production one came out and the group buy/promo price of $1000 (Thanks Sniper's Hide, facebook fans, and SWFA). Another No Brainer. I bought one without even blinking.
The only thing lacking on this scope was that it did not have the Zero Stop. As it turns out I didn't really need a Zero Stop. This SS 5-20x has 10mils of adjustment per rotation of the turret. That's a lot of mils! It also had rotation lines, so I would know if I had traveled beyond a full rotation of the turrets. Honestly, I don't expect to go past one full rotation for quite some time. For $1000, this was the best option for me and I don't think I will regret my decision. Saving $500 is nice, too!
I went with an Deluxe Extended 30mm Scope Mount by Primary Arms. Pretty straight forward mount. Seems to be working well and at $60.00, it's hard to beat.
Accessories -
Bipod: Up to this point I've been really fond of the Harris Bipods. They've always been reliable and I don't have anything bad to say about them. They're good bipods. However, they did have some attributes that may hinder my attempt at being a better precision shooter. The Harris bipods had a bit more "flex" than I would be comfortable with. When I load the bipod, I don't want the bipod to bend or push back. I also don't want the legs to collapse under awkward shooting positions.
The recommendation from other were to invest 2x the money and get an Atlas BT10 Bipod from Accu-Shot.
"The Atlas bipod offers many features that place it in a category of its own. Those features include legs that move independently and can be deployed in a 45 degree position either forwards or backwards, in the traditional 90 degree position, and facing directly to the front or back, locking securely into 5 positions through a 180 degree arc. It provides the shooter with 30 total degrees left to right Pan as well as 30 total degrees of Cant; making it easy to align your cross hairs on the target regardless of the terrain. Offering the strength and stability that shooters demand, the Atlas provides rock solid support while weighing less than 11 ounces." - B&T Industries.
Monopod: Since I'm sporting a Magpul PRS stock, I had the option of using a monopod. This would aid in precision shooting. Combined with the Atlas Bipod, I should have a super stable shooting platform. There aren't many MFGs for monopods but Accu-Shot makes one to compliment their bipod, so the choice was clear. Accu-Shot BT12-QK.
"The Precision Rail Monopod (PRM) mounts to any 1913 style Picatinny rail. The PRM includes our push button deployment and retraction feature. All PRM's come with a Thumbnut which allows the operator to "lock" the knob creating an extremely solid shooting platform. The leg folds up and retracts out of the way when not in use. Every model is constructed of the finest materials and built to the highest standards right here in the USA. The metal Quick Knob (QK) offers the same fine elevation adjustments as our “Soft-Touch” knob but provides for a quick vertical height adjustment at the push of a button." - B&T Industries.
I struggled with the decision on these two accessories. I contemplated just using one of my many Harris bipods and a sandbag for the rear. In the end, I figured I saved $1,100 on the rifle and scope, so spending the $300 for these accessories would be justified. I would be pissed if I was on the firing line and my shots got garfed because I went cheap!
Ammunition -
Armalite recommends the 168 Grain bullets for this rifle. Most sharpshooters I know also recommend the 168 Grain HPBT or A-Max bullet for a 1:10" twist barrel. Ammo choice is good. Price ranged from $13.00-$45.00 a box of 20. Before I buy a case lot of any one brand, I usually to shoot a variety to see which brand the rifle really likes to eat.
My only requirements were:
* 168 Grain BTHP or A-Max bullet
* Needs to be "Match Grade" ammo
* Needs to have a consistent velocity and not deviate more than 50fps from shot-to-shot
* Needs to be clean
* Must be reloadable brass
Here's what I decided to test:
Federal Premium Gold Metal Match w/ Sierra Matchking HPBT $30-$35/box
HSM Match w/ Sierra Matchking HPBT $19-$23/box
Prvi Partizan w/ Match Hollow Point $13-$17/box
Federal's American Eagle w/ Open Tip Match $17-$21/box
The weather has been really bad lately. Either it's too hot, windy, humid, or rainy. Gotta love the Arizona Monsoon season! August 14th, the conditions were about as perfect as it was going to get. It's time to test the ammo and the rifle. The wind was almost non-existent, Temperature was 92 degrees, and humidity was just above norm. I had a nice stable concrete/steel platform to shoot off of. Mentally, I was in "The Zone". I fired three rounds of cheap ammo to warm up the barrel, and the test began. I was careful not to rush my shots. The ammo was expensive and I didn't want too many flyers. Some shots took as much as 1:15 seconds to squeeze off.
Prvi Partizan was the worst. It was dirty and the best group I could achieve was 2.0" @ 100 yards. I started getting really frustrated because I had high hopes for this ammo. I end up shooting 40 rounds to try to improve the results, thinking it was Shooter Error. Sad. Some claimed that this was as good as Federal Gold Metal Match. Not for me. If it can't hold at least 1 MOA, I'm not buying.
Federal's American Eagle was cleaner but would not do better than 1.5". I fired 20 round.
HSM Match was really inconsistent. I had groups ranging from 1.0" to 3.0". I fired 40 rounds. It also felt weird, as if the velocities were all over the place. It also had problems feeding in my bolt rifle. Let's call this one a loser.
As expected, the Federal Premium Gold Medal Match was the winner. My rifle shot a constant 1 MOA, with the best shot of the day at .75 MOA. The bolt rifle favored this one, as well. It also held 1 MOA. The bolt rifle could have done better if it had a better scope. I fired 40 rounds. The mirage started to kick up as the day progressed, and this scope didn't handle it well.
Conclusion -
The rifle is more than I expected. I truly believe that I can make this puppy drive 1/2 MOA with more trigger time. I can probably get there faster if I pony up some Lapua Match ammo. This Armalite SuperSASS is a badass! My testing was from a shooting bench. I just ordered a shooting mat and will have to retest the Federal Premium Gold Medal Match ammo. I bet I could get close to 1/2 MOA!
The scope is AMAZING! The clarity of the HD lenses was jaw-dropping. It was clearer than any scope I've ever owned and even my 20-60x spotting scope! The mil reticle was accurate and the rifle tracked perfectly. I was able to sight in the scope with just three rounds. It has a great field of view, the turrets adjusted easily and the "click" feedback was very positive. Side focus and magnification knobs were a bit snug, but should "break in" after a few more usage. I swear this scope will spoil me! I may never be able to look through a non-HD lens ever again.
The bipod and monopod was a real plus. The stability that was achieved was wonderful. I would never have been able to squeeze/hold a sand bag that long to maintain such accuracy.
The ammunition result was not what I had hoped for. Spending $35 for a box of 20 bullets HURTS! I really hoped that the Prvi Partizan would be better, as it was the cheapest. Luckily, I found a source to get it for under $18/box if I purchase 20 boxes or more. I can probably get a group buy with my friends and share the discount.
My overall investment came to just under $3,650. This includes shipping, tax, and the test ammo selection. I will still need to toss in another $100 for a good shooting mat and a nice rifle case. I think my investment was a good one. I can see myself having many years of fun shooting times with this setup. When I’m ready to move up to a precision 300 Win Mag, I can still sell it for a break-even price, or possibly pull a profit from it!
