Homebuilt JT Dist bull barrel range report

[powderedtoastman]

So, I built this upper to be a coyote rifle. I used a BCM upper receiver topped with a Nikon ProStaff 4-12x40 in a Nikon P-223 mount, JT Distributing 20" bull barrel at 1x8 twist, and an AP Custom 15" handguard. The lower is a stag, mil-spec single stage FCG, and magpul stock.

For my ammo I loaded Berger 77 grain OTM bullets into brand new Winchester casings, and filled them with 22.7 grains of Hodgdon 4895. It is a compressed load. After a 5 round "break in" it started zoning in at 100 yards.






I am happy with the results, considering two things:
1.) The last time I shot at Sac Valley was about 3 or 4 years ago, and all they had were those red plastic shooting rests, and that's what I used here. Horribly unstable for bench shooting IMO, but better than nothing. After packing everything up, I saw they have sandbags now.......doh!
2.) I made the mistake of staying up WAY too late last night, and drinking WAY too much coffee and a fat can of monster on an empty stomach before going to the range. I was shaking like a paint mixer at certain times. Never again.....(I say that NOW...)

Oh yeah, and the rifle that did it:

[captbilly]

Considering the conditions I would say not bad.

If I drank a bunch of coffee and Red Bull I think you would probably have to take me away in a stretcher. Also your lack of recent range shooting is going to have a negative impact on your shooting in the best of circumstances.

Give us another report when not "under the influence". If you can get to 0.7MOA or below on 10 shot groups then I would say you are doing very well. I am not a fan of using 3 shot groups, unless you do a number of them and use the average. The statistical significance of a single 3 shot group is very low. You can often get a single 3 shot group that is way better than what the rifle is regularly capable of. From a purely statistical perspective a 1 MOA 10 shot group is as good as a 0.66 MOA 3 shot group (maybe that's a 5 shot vs 10 shot group?).

[NorCalFocus]

If its a coyote gun, why don't you have a bi-pod installed on it?

Great shooting however.

[powderedtoastman]

I had just barely finished getting it together

[NorCalFocus]

Lol I'm only busting your chops man.

[russ69]

Your targets were talking to me. It looks like you were shooting off a hard (bouncy) surface or you had the front of the gun on the rest. As soon as you said you used a red plastic rest, it all made sense. Try it again but it looks like your gun can shoot.

[powderedtoastman]

Well, my goal was to build a "budget" precision coyote rifle. All in all I paid about 850 for this complete rifle, since everything was purchased used less the upper receiver and barrel. I'm yearning to get some more trigger time. Next trip I'm planning on having a bipod, and shooting it prone.

[TruEdge]

Nice rifle and good grouping. Coyotes beware..

[powderedtoastman]

Nice rifle and good grouping. Coyotes beware..

Thanks! One thing I'm definitely going to do soon is upgrade the trigger system. It currently feels like two rocks grinding together...