Finally had a comprehensive range day with my recently tuned Ranch Rifle, warmed up courtesy of Great West Gunsmithing. The work that was performed was the Package 3, plus a rail:
Ammunition: I was shooting both SS109 55gr and Wolf 62gr.
The rifle is a Series 186-xxxxx, with a 1:7 barrel, favoring heavier bullets and started life as a stainless model in the factory softwood stock.
The work was completed quickly, and the rifle beat my newly ordered Aimpoint home. As soon as my CompM2 arrived, I slapped it on and headed out. Of course, step one was dialing in my iron sights, and I experienced a little problem when I tried to establish zero. As I tried to adjust the strike of the bullet downwards (it printed 4" high at 25yd), I reached the limit of how far the rear sight could be adjusted for range. I am going to readdress this, but the short version is that I need to hold about 2 inches low with iron sights. I don’t know if this is an artifact of the barrel shortening and subsequent front sight repositioning or something else.
Nonplussed, I replaced the Aimpoint and zero’d the scope. The scope performed well, and I was able to enjoy the improvements to the rifle. The trigger was vastly improved, and the brass no longer ejected 15 feet forward! Instead, the brass pile ended up about 3 feet from me. The rifle functioned flawlessly, even after a heavy session with dirty ammunition. I was shooting from a rest for zero, but after the rifle was zeroed, I shot offhand, and appreciate the quicker handling that resulted from the shortened barrel.
Accuracy: this is the kicker. Prior to GunDoc’s efforts, the rifle printed at 4-4.5” (CTC) at a 100yds, with the occasional flyer out to 6”. Yesterday, from the 25yd line and with a cold barrel I put 3 rounds into a single ragged hole. At 100yd, I achieved two 1.5” groups, and that is with a red dot, milsurp ammo and a non bedded stock. Even the worst groups, including flyers, averaged 2.5MOA”! With a scope of modest power (the Leupold scout, forex), a bedded action and higher quality ammunition, this rifle could easily flirt with the 1MOA mark, from a bench.
Fit and finish of the work is excellent and the DuraCoat was cosmetically flawless. I did perform a bore check prior to shooting and found a little piece of tape hiding just inside the barrel, but no drama. The improvement in the trigger has to be experienced to be believed. The email communication from GunDoc was clear, quick and frequent, keeping me assured that all was well (this is the first mail order smithing that I have purchased).
If I had to do anything differently, I would have added the extended mag release to the package, and perhaps replaced my iron sights with an aftermarket set.
I heartily endorse GWS and the GunDoc!
Pics later! Crossposted to the Perfect Union BBS and LJ *Guns*.
- Trigger job
- Shorten and recrown the barrel, reattach the front sight
- Recoil buffer and gas port bushing
- Polish and adjust the gas block
- Duracoat (matt black)
- Smith brake
- Ultimak rail
- Hogue Overmold (my addition)
Ammunition: I was shooting both SS109 55gr and Wolf 62gr.
The rifle is a Series 186-xxxxx, with a 1:7 barrel, favoring heavier bullets and started life as a stainless model in the factory softwood stock.
The work was completed quickly, and the rifle beat my newly ordered Aimpoint home. As soon as my CompM2 arrived, I slapped it on and headed out. Of course, step one was dialing in my iron sights, and I experienced a little problem when I tried to establish zero. As I tried to adjust the strike of the bullet downwards (it printed 4" high at 25yd), I reached the limit of how far the rear sight could be adjusted for range. I am going to readdress this, but the short version is that I need to hold about 2 inches low with iron sights. I don’t know if this is an artifact of the barrel shortening and subsequent front sight repositioning or something else.
Nonplussed, I replaced the Aimpoint and zero’d the scope. The scope performed well, and I was able to enjoy the improvements to the rifle. The trigger was vastly improved, and the brass no longer ejected 15 feet forward! Instead, the brass pile ended up about 3 feet from me. The rifle functioned flawlessly, even after a heavy session with dirty ammunition. I was shooting from a rest for zero, but after the rifle was zeroed, I shot offhand, and appreciate the quicker handling that resulted from the shortened barrel.
Accuracy: this is the kicker. Prior to GunDoc’s efforts, the rifle printed at 4-4.5” (CTC) at a 100yds, with the occasional flyer out to 6”. Yesterday, from the 25yd line and with a cold barrel I put 3 rounds into a single ragged hole. At 100yd, I achieved two 1.5” groups, and that is with a red dot, milsurp ammo and a non bedded stock. Even the worst groups, including flyers, averaged 2.5MOA”! With a scope of modest power (the Leupold scout, forex), a bedded action and higher quality ammunition, this rifle could easily flirt with the 1MOA mark, from a bench.
Fit and finish of the work is excellent and the DuraCoat was cosmetically flawless. I did perform a bore check prior to shooting and found a little piece of tape hiding just inside the barrel, but no drama. The improvement in the trigger has to be experienced to be believed. The email communication from GunDoc was clear, quick and frequent, keeping me assured that all was well (this is the first mail order smithing that I have purchased).
If I had to do anything differently, I would have added the extended mag release to the package, and perhaps replaced my iron sights with an aftermarket set.
I heartily endorse GWS and the GunDoc!
Pics later! Crossposted to the Perfect Union BBS and LJ *Guns*.
