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My 5.56 was running out of steam at distance in a match I had been shooting, and I had always wanted to try a Compass Lake Engineering barrel, so I decided to order one in 6.5 Grendel. CLE didn't expect to have Bartlein blanks until October, and Kreiger wouldn't even say when they would send CLE blanks, so I went with the Douglas blank CLE had in the shop. CLE quoted 12 weeks for delivery. Right on time, they called me to tell me the barrel was shipping, and they were charging my card. They even verified headspace with my own bolt that I sent them. That's exactly how the good barrel finishers do business!
barrel.jpg
The barrel was nicely finished and the bore, chamber, and interior of the barrel extension were very clean. I used a Strike Industries collar adjustable gas block to see how those work. So far, I think it's a winner. The barrel is properly gassed (rifle length, btw), so the collar stays wide open. I'll have to try it suppressed to really test the block. The block is easily adjusted through the handguard with a punch or Allen wrench. CLE might be using oversized barrel extensions like White Oak will do because the extension was a press fit into the Aero Precision upper that took a couple whacks with a mallet to get it seated all the way (which is a good thing).
targets.jpg
The picture of the targets shows the first 20 odd rounds down the barrel, all shot at 100 meters. Winds were gusty up to 25 mph. The shot to the top left is the first one down the bore. The center target is a group of Wolf Military Classic shot after adjusting the scope. That measured 1.58 moa, which is excellent for Wolf. Center right is a 7-shot group of Federal Premium with 130 grain Berger OTMs. That group measures 1.99 moa. The four shots touching measure .391" or .343 moa. Center left is five shots of Hornady Black ELDM 123 grain. It measures .806 moa. The bottom is another five shot group of Black ELDM after adjusting the scope. It measures 1.67 moa, with two shots on and two shots on the left edge of the 1" bull.
The Wolf averaged 2,623 fps, Federal 2,302, and Hornady 2,476.
All in all, I'm pleased with the CLE experience. That's probably the best I've had a barrel shoot out of the gate.
barrel.jpg
The barrel was nicely finished and the bore, chamber, and interior of the barrel extension were very clean. I used a Strike Industries collar adjustable gas block to see how those work. So far, I think it's a winner. The barrel is properly gassed (rifle length, btw), so the collar stays wide open. I'll have to try it suppressed to really test the block. The block is easily adjusted through the handguard with a punch or Allen wrench. CLE might be using oversized barrel extensions like White Oak will do because the extension was a press fit into the Aero Precision upper that took a couple whacks with a mallet to get it seated all the way (which is a good thing).
targets.jpg
The picture of the targets shows the first 20 odd rounds down the barrel, all shot at 100 meters. Winds were gusty up to 25 mph. The shot to the top left is the first one down the bore. The center target is a group of Wolf Military Classic shot after adjusting the scope. That measured 1.58 moa, which is excellent for Wolf. Center right is a 7-shot group of Federal Premium with 130 grain Berger OTMs. That group measures 1.99 moa. The four shots touching measure .391" or .343 moa. Center left is five shots of Hornady Black ELDM 123 grain. It measures .806 moa. The bottom is another five shot group of Black ELDM after adjusting the scope. It measures 1.67 moa, with two shots on and two shots on the left edge of the 1" bull.
The Wolf averaged 2,623 fps, Federal 2,302, and Hornady 2,476.
All in all, I'm pleased with the CLE experience. That's probably the best I've had a barrel shoot out of the gate.
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