06-07-2020, 01:13 AM
Well, shot it to 500 yards today to get it's drop data and see if it can shoot at distance. All development is done, from break-in, chrony work, drop data collection. All told about 65 rounds on barrel outside of what Hornady put through it before it left the factory. Here goes...
Initial Impressions & Measures:
36 3/8 long
6 lb 3.0 oz including 10 round magazine
Trigger Pull out of the box just a smidge over 3 lbs
Stock weight 1 lb 9 oz
Barreled action weight with bolt and action screws 4 lb 6.5 oz
Barrel and action without bolt/action screws 3 lb 10.5 oz
Bolt weight 11.5 oz
Action screws 0.5 oz
Magazine weight 3.0 oz (c-products xcl-r 10 rnd pistol mag I previously ordered)
Scope rail length 6.0
Barrel contour medium
Rifle did not come with a magazine (Ive emailed Clay about this) He had to send them off to get pinned, it's apparently on way.
14 LOP (CZ 527 13 7/8)
Cycles 10 rounds with the c-products magazine no problem
You can cycle it with safety on
Stock feels solid, barrel channel clearance great and even
Action bedded into dual aluminum v-blocks and action screws were very tight from factory
Balance point naked carrying one handed in front of the magazine is close to neutral, slightly tips towards tail, noticeable better than my 20 CZ
Did a variation of the Proof Research break-in (shoot 3 clean, repeat, shoot 5 clean and done) I did 3,4&5. Cleaned up quicker than i was expecting from a factory barrel, not as quick as the Proof Barrel i did before this but somewhere between it and typical factory barrels i've done in the past.
June 2, 2020, first on paper, for 200 yard zero and group checks. First 2 shots at 200 from bore sighting, were almost in the same hole, what a start. Took a few singles to bring into center of target and tracked in very easy. Then first two 3-shot groups shot, one right at moa and the other just over ½ moa (factory hornady black ammo). Then chrony work, 10-shot string averaged 2386 fps. The 4 shot string I took previously averaged the exact same so not quite at 2400 fps but maybe in time? (apparently 100-150 rounds to see peak speeds) Likely closing in on 45 rounds on barrel. Conditions 21 degree c, 29% humidity, 1006 in/hg and 23 km/h winds gusting. I shot into the wind, I know myself and the gun can do better, feels like ¾ moa wont be a problem in good conditions. Next shoot to collect drop data to 500 so a turret can be ordered up. Nearly done, very happy.
June 6, 2020, 500 yard drop data collected and converted. On this scope the cds-zl turret adds 1.2 moa per 4 clicks instead of 1. Bonus! As it gets me another 50 yards in dial up, they say 14.8 moa dial up capable on cds-zl turret, well 600 yards now comes at 13.5 moa and 625 at 14.58, so should see 50 yard markings from 250 to 600 yards no prob and still dial right to 625, further to this a just a touch under 1600 fps lands right at 600 yards also(efficiency maxed).
Last two shots at 500 yards were 2.5-2.75 apart, I felt very good about both, they were on a clean target, no other shots taken. I knew Id ruin the group by not pulling a 3rd shot as perfectly as those two so I didnt take a 3rd shot. All evidence to this point shows its just a bit over ½ moa potential and there it did it again at 500 yards. Always end a day on a high note. It mirrored my better groups from previous 200 yard day.
Now, i've also taken the trigger spring out and cut a couple coils off which brought it down to 2.5 lbs but found it too light, used the little allan adjustment screw to bring it back up to 2 3/4 lbs.
Now, here's for the downsides, and maybe a bit nitpicky.
1. Bolt doesn't lock down on safety, you can unload it on safe. This is a pro/con to people. I'd probably prefer the bolt locked down on safe, not a huge deal.
2. The trigger has creep. If you play with it at home, or i'm sure on the bench squeaking out the best groups you can you'll notice it. I did not notice it shooting the drop data etc. today. So for real world not much of an issue imo.
Something else to note:
On the 200 yard paper day...i shot my 20" howa and 20 1/4" cz grendel same day. Chronied all 3 and checked some accuracy etc.
A major bonus is the Ruger handles the recoil the best, it's the lightest hitter even though with ammo it's about 7.5 lbs and same as the CZ. The CZ has the sharpest recoil. The Howa in the middle and whats cool about that is the Howa is 6.75 lbs scoped with its 5 rounds of ammo(3.25 oz per 5 rounds of ammo) (custom in milled out mdt chassis build). The average velocity of the CZ is 2529 fps now with 20 1/4" barrel(Original 23 5/8" barrel it did 2552 fps, so only lost 23 fps), the Howa does 2503 fps and the Ruger 2386. So maybe felt recoil is directly related to the velocity of these 3? hmmm Accuracy wise the Howa is a rock star, it's half moa or less easily, hunting or paper, just incredible really, one of the most accurate rigs i've ever had. The cz for me puts out a few 1/2 moa-ish groups out but probably 75% more groups around the moa mark. The Ruger is doing 50/50 on the 1/2moa/1moa groups so it feels more accurate than the CZ. I'll take it.
All shooting done with factory hornady black 123gr eld-m ammo.
Anyway, this little Ruger is pretty handy little carbine. I'm quite pleased with it's performance and handling.
I topped the Ruger with a Leupold fxII 6x36 wide duplex that went to Korth for a cds-zl elevation turret, went there at 9.5 oz and came back at 9.5 oz (new turrets this year, 1" zero lock, one revolution). As i discovered putting a target turret on a fixed 4x leupold before, the moa count is not as the scopes come...ie; 1/4 moa per click. I should have been 11.5 moa to 500 from 200 yard zero but in this case with the RAR Grendel and the 6x36...i got to 500 with 9.5 moa(in clicks) i got 1.2 moa per 4 clicks instead of 1moa. Which turned out to be a bonus as i'll get another 50 yards out of a revolution, gets me to 625 yards in the 14.8 moa of adjustment these cds-zl's will allow. Anyway, getting pretty technical and it took a little excel work to get it all converted but now have all the data to order up the turret i need for the elevations/temps i want.
Initial Impressions & Measures:
36 3/8 long
6 lb 3.0 oz including 10 round magazine
Trigger Pull out of the box just a smidge over 3 lbs
Stock weight 1 lb 9 oz
Barreled action weight with bolt and action screws 4 lb 6.5 oz
Barrel and action without bolt/action screws 3 lb 10.5 oz
Bolt weight 11.5 oz
Action screws 0.5 oz
Magazine weight 3.0 oz (c-products xcl-r 10 rnd pistol mag I previously ordered)
Scope rail length 6.0
Barrel contour medium
Rifle did not come with a magazine (Ive emailed Clay about this) He had to send them off to get pinned, it's apparently on way.
14 LOP (CZ 527 13 7/8)
Cycles 10 rounds with the c-products magazine no problem
You can cycle it with safety on
Stock feels solid, barrel channel clearance great and even
Action bedded into dual aluminum v-blocks and action screws were very tight from factory
Balance point naked carrying one handed in front of the magazine is close to neutral, slightly tips towards tail, noticeable better than my 20 CZ
Did a variation of the Proof Research break-in (shoot 3 clean, repeat, shoot 5 clean and done) I did 3,4&5. Cleaned up quicker than i was expecting from a factory barrel, not as quick as the Proof Barrel i did before this but somewhere between it and typical factory barrels i've done in the past.
June 2, 2020, first on paper, for 200 yard zero and group checks. First 2 shots at 200 from bore sighting, were almost in the same hole, what a start. Took a few singles to bring into center of target and tracked in very easy. Then first two 3-shot groups shot, one right at moa and the other just over ½ moa (factory hornady black ammo). Then chrony work, 10-shot string averaged 2386 fps. The 4 shot string I took previously averaged the exact same so not quite at 2400 fps but maybe in time? (apparently 100-150 rounds to see peak speeds) Likely closing in on 45 rounds on barrel. Conditions 21 degree c, 29% humidity, 1006 in/hg and 23 km/h winds gusting. I shot into the wind, I know myself and the gun can do better, feels like ¾ moa wont be a problem in good conditions. Next shoot to collect drop data to 500 so a turret can be ordered up. Nearly done, very happy.
June 6, 2020, 500 yard drop data collected and converted. On this scope the cds-zl turret adds 1.2 moa per 4 clicks instead of 1. Bonus! As it gets me another 50 yards in dial up, they say 14.8 moa dial up capable on cds-zl turret, well 600 yards now comes at 13.5 moa and 625 at 14.58, so should see 50 yard markings from 250 to 600 yards no prob and still dial right to 625, further to this a just a touch under 1600 fps lands right at 600 yards also(efficiency maxed).
Last two shots at 500 yards were 2.5-2.75 apart, I felt very good about both, they were on a clean target, no other shots taken. I knew Id ruin the group by not pulling a 3rd shot as perfectly as those two so I didnt take a 3rd shot. All evidence to this point shows its just a bit over ½ moa potential and there it did it again at 500 yards. Always end a day on a high note. It mirrored my better groups from previous 200 yard day.
Now, i've also taken the trigger spring out and cut a couple coils off which brought it down to 2.5 lbs but found it too light, used the little allan adjustment screw to bring it back up to 2 3/4 lbs.
Now, here's for the downsides, and maybe a bit nitpicky.
1. Bolt doesn't lock down on safety, you can unload it on safe. This is a pro/con to people. I'd probably prefer the bolt locked down on safe, not a huge deal.
2. The trigger has creep. If you play with it at home, or i'm sure on the bench squeaking out the best groups you can you'll notice it. I did not notice it shooting the drop data etc. today. So for real world not much of an issue imo.
Something else to note:
On the 200 yard paper day...i shot my 20" howa and 20 1/4" cz grendel same day. Chronied all 3 and checked some accuracy etc.
A major bonus is the Ruger handles the recoil the best, it's the lightest hitter even though with ammo it's about 7.5 lbs and same as the CZ. The CZ has the sharpest recoil. The Howa in the middle and whats cool about that is the Howa is 6.75 lbs scoped with its 5 rounds of ammo(3.25 oz per 5 rounds of ammo) (custom in milled out mdt chassis build). The average velocity of the CZ is 2529 fps now with 20 1/4" barrel(Original 23 5/8" barrel it did 2552 fps, so only lost 23 fps), the Howa does 2503 fps and the Ruger 2386. So maybe felt recoil is directly related to the velocity of these 3? hmmm Accuracy wise the Howa is a rock star, it's half moa or less easily, hunting or paper, just incredible really, one of the most accurate rigs i've ever had. The cz for me puts out a few 1/2 moa-ish groups out but probably 75% more groups around the moa mark. The Ruger is doing 50/50 on the 1/2moa/1moa groups so it feels more accurate than the CZ. I'll take it.
All shooting done with factory hornady black 123gr eld-m ammo.
Anyway, this little Ruger is pretty handy little carbine. I'm quite pleased with it's performance and handling.
I topped the Ruger with a Leupold fxII 6x36 wide duplex that went to Korth for a cds-zl elevation turret, went there at 9.5 oz and came back at 9.5 oz (new turrets this year, 1" zero lock, one revolution). As i discovered putting a target turret on a fixed 4x leupold before, the moa count is not as the scopes come...ie; 1/4 moa per click. I should have been 11.5 moa to 500 from 200 yard zero but in this case with the RAR Grendel and the 6x36...i got to 500 with 9.5 moa(in clicks) i got 1.2 moa per 4 clicks instead of 1moa. Which turned out to be a bonus as i'll get another 50 yards out of a revolution, gets me to 625 yards in the 14.8 moa of adjustment these cds-zl's will allow. Anyway, getting pretty technical and it took a little excel work to get it all converted but now have all the data to order up the turret i need for the elevations/temps i want.