the 16" Carbine model. I saw a post a couple weeks back wondering about the rig, so I thought I'd comment.
First of all, I've only fired a handful of rounds through it thus far, but so far so good.
The case is actually a cut down .284 win, and uses .452 diameter bullets. The case is nearly as long as the .460 S&W, and would develop ballistics close to what that cartridge does in a handgun, when the BM is fired in it's 16 inch carbine barrel. In other words, not a ".45-70 semi-auto", but close enough for most big game, if that's your intent.
Here are a couple of quotes I wanted to try to address (from the previous thread on the topic), based on my limited exposure to the rifle/round:
"Part of me thinks it's awesome, but then there is those 5rd mags. It seems silly to make that cool of a round for the AR-15 and only make 5rd mags for it. And the upper costs more than a good lever gun, a lever gun that holds 5rds (of .45/70).
Not to mention all the big bore uppers who's sales aren't doing so hot as it is. (Can anyone say Leitner-Weise, AKA the original HITRON?) Hopefully the ammo support from Hornady will be great enough to get the product off the ground."
- Well, it's not a cheap rig. I paid $1,200 for the Carbine, plus scope (the new Weaver Extreme 30mm illuminated reticle - very nice scope for the $$$), sling, Ace FX stock, and all other goodies to make it field ready. I will say, though, that it's the tightest fitting AR I've seen in a long time.
- The 5 round mag thing is interesting. They ship it with a 5 rounder, obviously, to make it legal for hunting in most states. All the mag is is a 20 round AR mag with a single-shot follower. In taking it apart, however, they've substituted the standard 20 round spring with a longer one that takes up more room. That's the way they reduce the capacity from 7 (which is what you get when you put a standard spring in) to 7. I swapped out the springs, and have an 7 rd mag. The 30 rounders hold 10.
- As far as all of the other big bore AR rounds go, I'm hoping that Hornady's backing will mean good things. They seem to support a round when they bring it out . . . even when sales are less than "brisk" (see .405 Win, .480 Ruger). The cases could also be made from .284 Win brass, apparently.
" The only magazines they can get to reliably function so far are the five rounders."
- Don't know. My 30 rounder with standard AR spring, and the single shot follower popped in works fine so far.
Anyway, basically all I've done so far is function fire the thing. Looks like it'll be a ton of fun. I'm looking forward to getting some handloads built with Hornady 300 gr. XTP's. Should be able to get 1800 or so out of them with no problem. Considering that's a good 200 fps more than a .454 Casull can do from a long-barreled handgun, it oughta be a blast to hammer out 10 round mags with!
I bought the 80 rounds of factory ammo that the shop had. Will salvage the brass and play with it as time allows. I'll report back further findings when I can.
see ya
First of all, I've only fired a handful of rounds through it thus far, but so far so good.
The case is actually a cut down .284 win, and uses .452 diameter bullets. The case is nearly as long as the .460 S&W, and would develop ballistics close to what that cartridge does in a handgun, when the BM is fired in it's 16 inch carbine barrel. In other words, not a ".45-70 semi-auto", but close enough for most big game, if that's your intent.
Here are a couple of quotes I wanted to try to address (from the previous thread on the topic), based on my limited exposure to the rifle/round:
"Part of me thinks it's awesome, but then there is those 5rd mags. It seems silly to make that cool of a round for the AR-15 and only make 5rd mags for it. And the upper costs more than a good lever gun, a lever gun that holds 5rds (of .45/70).
Not to mention all the big bore uppers who's sales aren't doing so hot as it is. (Can anyone say Leitner-Weise, AKA the original HITRON?) Hopefully the ammo support from Hornady will be great enough to get the product off the ground."
- Well, it's not a cheap rig. I paid $1,200 for the Carbine, plus scope (the new Weaver Extreme 30mm illuminated reticle - very nice scope for the $$$), sling, Ace FX stock, and all other goodies to make it field ready. I will say, though, that it's the tightest fitting AR I've seen in a long time.
- The 5 round mag thing is interesting. They ship it with a 5 rounder, obviously, to make it legal for hunting in most states. All the mag is is a 20 round AR mag with a single-shot follower. In taking it apart, however, they've substituted the standard 20 round spring with a longer one that takes up more room. That's the way they reduce the capacity from 7 (which is what you get when you put a standard spring in) to 7. I swapped out the springs, and have an 7 rd mag. The 30 rounders hold 10.
- As far as all of the other big bore AR rounds go, I'm hoping that Hornady's backing will mean good things. They seem to support a round when they bring it out . . . even when sales are less than "brisk" (see .405 Win, .480 Ruger). The cases could also be made from .284 Win brass, apparently.
" The only magazines they can get to reliably function so far are the five rounders."
- Don't know. My 30 rounder with standard AR spring, and the single shot follower popped in works fine so far.
Anyway, basically all I've done so far is function fire the thing. Looks like it'll be a ton of fun. I'm looking forward to getting some handloads built with Hornady 300 gr. XTP's. Should be able to get 1800 or so out of them with no problem. Considering that's a good 200 fps more than a .454 Casull can do from a long-barreled handgun, it oughta be a blast to hammer out 10 round mags with!
I bought the 80 rounds of factory ammo that the shop had. Will salvage the brass and play with it as time allows. I'll report back further findings when I can.
see ya
