All posts by coldboremiracle

CVA cascade, cascade SB, 6.5 creedmoor, athlon optics, heras spr,

CVA Cascade SB

Product review, Shooting hardware, , , ,

Introduction

Today we are bringing you another rifle review, and I’m a bit excited about this one. Our subject is the CVA Cascade, which entails quite a few models. The model we are looking at today is the Cascade SB which I assume means Short Barrel. I’ve had the luck of playing with another Cascade in the past, and I quite enjoyed it. So I was excited to see how this newer model performed to see what if anything changed.

CVA cascade, cascade SB, 6.5 creedmoor, athlon optics, heras spr,

The CVA Cascade SB

The Cascade is a bolt action rifle, with a three lug bolt resulting in a 60 degree lift. It has a similar design to the Ruger American action, using the bolt release as a bolt stop to prevent it’s aft travel as well as to keep the bolt clocked properly.

CVA cascade, cascade SB, 6.5 creedmoor, athlon optics, heras spr,
note rear action screw in front of the trigger, instead of on the tang

A Remington 700 style trigger is used, and it is fed by a detachable magazine that holds 4-rounds of 6.5 Creedmoor. There is an interesting change from typical bolt-action design; the rear action screw has been placed in front of the trigger, instead of in the tang at the rear of the action.

The threaded eighteen-inch barrel is of a slightly heavier profile than typical hunting rifles, but I am here for it. I like the performance of medium weight barrels over the skinny barrels typically used on hunting rifles.

CVA cascade, cascade SB, 6.5 creedmoor, athlon optics, heras spr,
                                   CVA Cascade Short Barrel 6.5 Creedmoor
Weight6.8 Pounds
Barrel Length18-Inches
Barrel Twist1:8 inches
Barrel Thread⅝-24
FinishGraphite Black Cerakote
Overall Length38.5-Inches
Length of Pull14-Inches
Capacity4+1 rounds
Safety2-Position
StockPolymer w/ Veil Tactical Black Camo Finish

CVA Cascade History

CVA is a well known brand among smoke pole subscribers, I can remember hearing about CVA muzzleloaders as far back as I can remember. Connecticut Valley Arms has been around since the early seventies, and before entering the centerfire market had been best known for pioneering inline muzzleloader rifles. Their bolt-action inline muzzleloaders likely had something to do with the Cascade’s development. As it would seem they decided to bring their manufacturing and knowledge to the centerfire realm with the Cascade series of rifles. 

the Cascade SB fit perfectly into my Eberlestock Just One backpack

CVA has been aided in their ascent by its parent company BPI Outdoors, who purchased the company just before the turn of the last century. BPI manufactures multiple brands in the same space as CVA, which also adds to their knowledge and position.

CVA Cascade SB Review

As usual, I would take the Cascade up into the Rocky Mountains above my home to test it out. The solitude seems to help focus on the function and flaws of the guns I test. But before we got to that point, I would need to prepare the rifle for this outing. 

First up the rifle would need a scope, I settled on using the Athlon Optics Heras SPR 6-24×56. The rifle had come with some Weaver scope ring bases installed, so I simply bolted up the scope using a set of Warne split rings. With the scope leveled and mounted I boresighted it using my toolless method. Next up I would stick a Harris 6-9 bipod to the front sling-stud for supported shooting. And lastly because I’m a purist, I installed my Banish Meateater suppressor on the muzzle. Before doing so I changed out the suppressor’s muzzle bushing to the smaller 6.5 for maximum suppression. 

I gathered up a variety of ammunition to test in the rifle, with factory options from Federal, Hornady, and Sierra. And again because of the purist in me, I also brought some of my favored handloads to see how the Cascade liked them.

CVA cascade, cascade SB, 6.5 creedmoor, athlon optics, heras spr, PVA Jetblast Muzzle brake
the PVA Jet Blast muzzle brake was an excellent option for the Cascade

For maximum compactness, I also shot the Cascade with only a muzzle brake installed. For that I used the Patriot Valley Arms 6.5 Jet Blast brake. It is self timing, and very lightweight, which makes it quick and easy to install and remove. And it is exceptional at reducing felt recoil while shooting, even with a modest cartridge like the 6.5 Creedmoor.

Shootability

The oversized bolt handle makes for easy operation of the action. It has a smooth lift and stroke, better I would say than some of the typical comparable actions. There is less slop in the bolt while it is open, giving a much better feel of quality and control. 

CVA cascade, cascade SB, 6.5 creedmoor, athlon optics, heras spr, PVA Jetblast Muzzle brake
the bolt handle and smooth mag make cycling cartridges effortless

It came as no surprise that the trigger felt great, while I saw no reason to adjust it. I like knowing that I can. It’s also nice to know you could swap it out for one of the popular aftermarket triggers like Timney or Trigger Tech.

With such solid construction, the Cascade SB has minimal recoil, particularly with a suppressor or muzzle brake installed. I could see myself adding a stock pack to the rifle, as the comb is a touch low for the scope as I had it mounted.

CVA cascade, cascade SB, 6.5 creedmoor, athlon optics, heras spr,

Reliability

Cycling cartridges through the Cascade was fantastic. The polymer magazine is particularly slippery, which resulted in flawless feeding. So smooth in fact that there is little difference between running the action with or without cartridges. The bolt uses a sliding extractor to pull the cartridge from the chamber, and the single plunger ejector does a fine job of expelling the spent cases from the action. 

CVA cascade, cascade SB, 6.5 creedmoor, bolt, bolt-head,
bolt-head detail, note extractor design and ejector plunger

While we experienced no malfunctions while shooting the Cascade SB, it did seem that because of the tight fit of the bolt to the action, it was susceptible to crud building up. After shooting quite a bit, some of the debris from shooting did cause the feel of the bolt to suffer a little. Not a huge deal, but worth noting.

Ergonomics

I will say this about the rifle, as I pulled it naked from the factory box, my first impression was different. I wouldn’t say the gun is heavy, but it feels thick and stout. It has a robust and solid feel that delivers a great sensation of quality.

The rubberized exterior is very easy to grip, and feels good in the hands. The buttstock too is very unlikely to slip out of place, as it too has a soft rubber feel. This helped when running the oversized bolt knob, generally there is great purchase on everything. The safety requires a fair amount of pressure to engage, which is fine by me. That makes it harder to accidentally safe the rifle in the heat of shooting.

CVA cascade, cascade SB, 6.5 creedmoor, athlon optics, heras spr,
The CVA Cascade is a perfect fit for this open country

Releasing the magazine from the rifle is done at the front of the magwell. It was very easy to eject the magazine, I was actually worried it might be too easy, resulting in a lost magazine. But the release is safely recessed to avoid just such a thing.

Accuracy

I had a lot of hope for the Cascade in the accuracy department. I wouldn’t say I was let down, I was just hoping it was going to be a touch better. It definitely liked the Sierra Bullets Match King ammunition, and would regularly print 3/4 MOA five shot groups. I am quite confident that with a little load work up I can get it shooting even better.

As it was, I was using the Cascade SB to engage targets the size of a deers vitals at 300 and 450 yards without a care in the world. It certainly made me wish I was deer hunting with this little rifle instead of just playing.

CVA cascade, cascade SB, 6.5 creedmoor, athlon optics, heras spr, target, accuracy
a typical group from the Cascade SB shooting SIerra Match King ammunition

Value

A quick search of the internet shows the Cascade SB we tested here today can be had for under $650. In my opinion that is a pretty good price for what you are getting. There is a great deal of competition for rifles like this in the four to seven-hundred dollar price range. For a touch more money you can get something very similar like a Franchi Momentum or a Tikka T3. And for a little less money, you can get something like a Ruger American Gen 2. All of these are good choices, and very competitive. I would say that the Cascade seems to match the quality of the higher price point rifles mentioned above, despite its lower price.

Cascade Pros and Cons

Keeping in the same line of comparison with those other comparable rifles, I wish the Cascade had a higher comb to rest your cheek on. Both the Ruger and Franchi mentioned have a high-comb that is perfect for sight alignment. And while 6.8 pounds isn’t heavy in my opinion, the Cascade could shave a little more weight by adding some flutes to the barrel. Some folks might prefer the rifle was fed by AI pattern magazines, and I’ll admit it wouldn’t hurt my feelings. But as good as this magazine works and fits flush, I’d keep it just like it is. 

All three of these rifles can be found at Sportsman’s Warehouse

ruger american, franchi momentum, cva cascade,

The action on this rifle feels great, it cycles cartridges smoothly and is built to last. Great trigger and magazine operation matched by good looks across the board on this rifle. There is little not to like about the Cascade, it is compact and great for maneuvering through forests and mountains. And it shoots as good as it looks.

Final Thoughts on the Cascade SB

I was very optimistic about how I would feel about this rifle, and after shooting it for a few weeks now I think those feelings were right. The CVA Cascade SB is a very stout little rifle, it has smooth function with fantastic features for hunters. It is compact and very maneuverable which is handy when you are pursuing anything. It shoots well and has very reliable operation, again, one of the few things I would change if I could would be to flute the barrel to lower weight. But even that isn’t much of a problem. I really like the Cascade SB, and I look forward to taking it into the forests this fall to put it against our mule deer and elk. I expect it will perform very well.

-CBM

CVA cascade, cascade SB, 6.5 creedmoor, athlon optics, heras spr,
Vector Optics, continental, 1-10x28, ffp, lpvo,

Vector Optics 1-10×28 Continental Rifle Scope

Optics, Product review, , , , , ,

Preface

I am always on the search for the perfect low power variable optic (LPVO), I find them optimal for medium range carbines. And lately, I’ve been on a big medium range kick. Today we are taking a look at a new to me LPVO with some great potential, that scope is the Vector Optics 1-10X28 Continental. The Continental is a 1-10 first focal plane (FFP) scope with a MRAD reticle and 10 MRAD turrets. After a quick look, I felt quite confident I was going to enjoy this scope, but how well could this scope made in China perform?

first look in the box

Vector Optics Continental

The Continental series of optics from Vector feature 34mm tubes, and an impressive erector and turret structure. As a 10X variable, the magnification ring rotates approximately 180 degrees to go from 1X to 10X. The locking turrets give 10 MRAD per rotation with 1/10th MRAD clicks, with very audible and tactile clicks.

The elevation turret also features an impressive zero-stop function, that is both precise and solid. Additionally, there is a visible and tactile indicator that pops up with a red pin that you can both see and feel when you turn into the second turret rotation. And when you turn into the third rotation, it pops up even further, exposing a silver layer under the red pin indicator.

Inside the scope you will find the VET-CTR reticle, a milling type reticle with a large outer ring for encircling targets up close. As you zoom in the scope you will find a Christmas-Tree-style drop grid, as well as a smaller circle around the center crosshair. When illuminated by the 11-brightness settings, only the large outer ring, and the small inner ring are lit up. At 1X the illuminated rings of the reticle closely mimic the reticle used in many holographic sights. Once the scope is zoomed in beyond about 5X, the outer ring disappears leaving only the center ring illuminated. This gives the feel of a red dot aiming scenario, but you obviously have all the rest of the reticle detail as well.

the VET_CTR reticle seen at low power

Features

Tube Dia34 mm
Parallax Setting100 yards
Click Value1/10 MIL
Turret FunctionZero Stop, Turret Lock
Elevation Adjustment Range51 MIL
Windage Adjustment Range51 MIL
Diopter Compensation-3 to +2
Illumination Setting11 Brightness settings
Battery TypeCR2032
Battery LifeN/A
WaterproofIP68
FogproofNitrogen Filled
Shockproof1000 G
Housing Material6061-T6 Aluminum Alloy
FinishMatte Black
Length278 mm / 10.9 in
Weight651 g / 23.0 oz
Items in the PackageA Pair of 34mm Picatinny Scope Rings, A Spare Elevation Turret (Without Zero Stop Feature), User Manual, Lens Caps and Cleaning Cloth, etc

My very first impressions of the 1-10 Continental as I lifted it from the box were very good. It feels quality made, and has perfect resistance on the controls. Optically the scope looks fantastic as well, it feels like a true 1X meaning you can shoot with both eyes open with minimal dispersion between each eye’s perception.

the WLVRN works great with the Yankee Hill Machine Turbo T3

Shooting with the Vector Continental 1-10X28

Before heading to the range to shoot with this scope, I wanted to get it mounted and bore-sighted to the rifle. The rifle I chose for testing the Continental is my Desert Tech WLVRN, it is a multi-caliber rifle that I switch barrels back and forth between .223 and a custom 6ARC that I made for it. To mount the scope, I selected a cantilever mount from Zro Delta. After leveling and mounting the scope, I bore-sighted it to be at least close to zeroed before leaving the house.

the VET-CTR reticle seen at 10X

In my humble opinion, LPVO’s are ideal for short to medium range shooting, typically on a carbine rifle. There is great reason to believe that fast and loose shooting is done well with lower magnification, especially if you can keep both eyes open. But because I enjoy shooting further distances as well, the Continental 1-10 also presents you with the option to engage medium range targets as well. The turrets allow you to correct for distance, and provided you have a gun with the reach, you could easily engage out to a kilometer with such a setup.

That said, most of our shooting with the Continental was done inside the 400 yard-line. The WLVRN in .223 is quite accurate, and hitting small distant targets from supported positions was pretty solid. And even without support, you can quickly engage and take down targets at closer distances.

Vector Optics, continental, 1-10x28, ffp, lpvo, Desert Tech, WLVRN, suppressor,

Optical Performance

The bright image projected from the Vector Continental was beautiful. I very much appreciated the edge to edge clarity on the scope, at either end of the power spectrum. The reticle was clear and crisp, which can often be a challenge with FFP scopes.

Vector Optics, continental, 1-10x28, ffp, lpvo, Desert Tech, WLVRN, suppressor,
the Zro Delta scope mount made a perfect companion for the Continental

Picking out small details at distances like five to seven-hundred yards was easily doable, for example; a small animal like a squirrel was easily targeted at these distances. There is perhaps only one thing I would change about this scope and that would be to add adjustable parallax. Many LPVO’s come with set parallax, the Continental like many others comes set at 100 yards. For much of your shooting purposes this will be more than fine, but once you start reaching out to longer distances it can affect your ability to make hits. You can certainly work with it, but it would be very nice to have the ability to adjust for parallax.

Reliability

I really like to turrets of the Continental series of optics. The clicks are very clean and audible, which allow you to be very precise with your measurements. The 1-10 model has an impressive amount of erector movement when you consider the firearms it is likely to be used on. The scope comes with two different elevation turrets, one for use with the zero-stop and the other for use without it.

The controls of the Continental 1-10 are intuitive, and allows the shooter to be consistent in adjusting the sight. Measuring the recticle travel against the turrets show very consistent and accurate erector travel, back and forth movement of the controls proved to show reliable movement.

Ergonomics

Vector Optics, continental, 1-10x28, ffp, lpvo, Desert Tech, WLVRN, suppressor,

Zero-Stop

The way to set the zero-stop requires removing the elevation turret, you gently push in the inner ring of the turret and rotate it according to the arrow printed on it. If zeroing the rifle requires you to dial down on the turret, you might have to remove the turret and release the zero stop by pushing in and turning it counter to the arrow indicated underneath.

After zeroing the rifle, you can again pull the turret off. This time rotate the inner ring with the arrow indicator. When the inner ring engages a locking pin, you will hear an audible click. That aligns the turret with the zero, and you can reinstall the turret. Check to see that it aligns properly on zero after installing.

Vector Optics, continental, 1-10x28, ffp, lpvo, Desert Tech, WLVRN, suppressor,

Value

The Vector Continental line of scopes seems to offer some outstanding value. Features you would find on much more expensive scopes are included, and they not only look good but they function as you’d expect as well. If you are looking for an affordable 1-10 LPVO scope, you should definitely give this one a look.

Vector Optics, continental, 1-10x28, ffp, lpvo, Desert Tech, WLVRN, suppressor,

Pros and Cons

If I had to mention something I would change about this scope, it would be the parallax. I wish it had the same parallax adjustment of its larger Continental siblings. Mainly because a 1-10 power scope can certainly be used out to distances as far as a kilometer, and at distances like that you absolutely need to adjust for parallax. That said, as long as you understand the fixed setting, this scope is still quite useful at such distances.

On the positive side, this scope offers a great deal of features and a good value. The glass looks fantastic, especially considering the price. The reticle is clear and very useful at all the different magnification settings. The large 34mm tube makes a strong base for the scope, and finish and fit of the whole unit is very satisfying.

Vector Optics, continental, 1-10x28, ffp, lpvo, Desert Tech, WLVRN, suppressor,

Conclusion

If you find yourself evaluating short to medium range optics, you should at least consider the Continental 1-10. Whether it be for a medium range carbine or a small scout style bolt-action rifle, this would be a great optical sight option. Again, if it had adjustable parallax I probably would buy two or three more of these for all my carbines. But that’s just me, many of you may not be concerned or need such a feature. Its a beautiful image with precise aiming points for multi-purpose use, if that is something you are looking for you’ve found it here.

-CBM

Check out more optics review here, including other Vector Optics models

FN M249, M249 S, machine gun

The FN M249 S: A civilian SAW

Product review, Shooting hardware, , , , ,

Introduction

Some firearms are simply iconic, perhaps because of media and movies, or perhaps because of a stellar record in military service. Today we bring you one of those firearms, or at least a civilian legal version of it; The FN M249 S. The SAW is a light machine gun chambered in 5.56 and can be fed by either a belt of linked cartridges or Stanag magazines.

The FN M249 S

The M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) is operated by a single person though under heavy use could be served by two for ammo support. The M249 has an interesting operating system as well as a host of interesting features.

  • Caliber: 5.56x45mm
  • Operation: Closed-bolt
  • Mag Capacity: 200 Rd. belt or 30 Rd. mag
  • Weight: 17.2 lb.
  • Barrel Length: 18.5″
  • Overall Length: 40.75″
  • Overall Height: 9.5″
  • Trigger Pull: 8 – 15.5 lb.
  • Twist Rate: 1:7 RH

Whether you shoot the M249 from the prone position using the included folding bipod for support, or attaching it to a pintle mount for shooting from a vehicle, you will want some support for this seventeen pound machine.

The gun is fed from a plastic ammunition case that attaches to the bottom of the rifle. Belted ammunition is pulled from the box and fed into the action from left to right, spent cases and the M27 links are spit out as rounds are consumed.

The full-auto version of this rifle used by militaries fires from the open bolt, while this semi-automatic version fires from the closed bolt. Operation of the action is done using gas pressure tapped from the barrel that pushes a healthy piston and operating rod.

Ammo is loaded by opening up the feeding tray on top of the gun, and setting the belted ammo into the feeding pawl. With everything accommodated the tray is closed and locked at the rear. The feeding pawl pulls the belted ammo one round at a time into the gun, and the curious action strips the round from the links as it is chambered.

There is a two-position carry-handle mounted to the rear of the barrel that also comes in handy while swapping barrels. Interchanging barrels on a hot or compromised barrel is a regular occurrence for machine guns, and it was easily done even by a novice like myself. Simple sights including a hooded pin up front on the gas block, complimented by an adjustable rear sight make directing fire pretty self explanatory.

As you might imagine, the trigger is long and not impressive for someone coming from a marksmanship mindset. There is a push-push safety just like the one you learned on when you were a kid. And once you’ve committed to pulling the trigger there is plenty of exercise for your finger with all that curling.

Range Preparations

Apart from the obvious task of linking a bunch of ammunition together, all we did was mount up a Trijicon ACOG. It wasn’t exactly a match for the SAW’s in military use, but it was certainly good enough to do the trick.

Linking up 5.56 ammo is easily done by hand, but I would recommend something faster for best results. Once linked, the belt is laid in the plastic ammo box that closely resembles shoddy tupperware. There are other belt housings available but we only had the plastic box available.

Shooting the FN M249 S

Getting behind the M249 I was a bit excited, despite not being fully automatic. I was excited to see how this complicated machine worked after having seen all the inner workings that seemed a bit more complex than the typical guns I handle.

Finish Reading here

Bear Creek Armory, bc-15, bolt action, shooting

Bear Creek Arsenal BC-15 Bolt Action

Product review, Shooting hardware, , , , , , , ,

Preface

We live in an interesting time, never before has there been so many options for firearms enthusiasts. And at the very same time there is a breathtaking assault against the right to obtain and bear all these arms. Todays subject might appear up front to be a step backwards in firearm design, but it for sure is a step towards countering the assault against second amendment rights for some. Today I present to you the Bear Creek Arsenal BC-15 Bolt-Action rifle. Your eyes aren’t fooling you, this is indeed a bolt-action AR-15 essentially.

That is why I said it might seem like a step backwards in firearm development, but you will soon see what makes this product a good idea.

The Bear Creek Arsenal BC-15 bolt-action rifle

Its appearance as an AR-15 rifle is by design, lets look at the rifle’s features to get started. The lower receiver is in fact a completely normal BCA complete lower, just like every other BCA lower it uses all the same parts interchangeably. (That will come in handy later) Where it differs is the upper receiver, though it also uses a great deal of the same parts there as well.

Edited to add: I enjoyed this rifle so much, that I ordered a second upper. This time an eighteen-inch heavy-barreled 6.5 Grendel. I wanted to have options, as well as another capable rifle for larger purposes. The Grendel upper shares much of the same features, but obviously runs on different magazines.

bear creek arsenal, bc-15, bolt-action, 6.5 grendel, amend 2 magazine, grendel magazine,

The Curious Bolt Design

The semi-auto bolt-carrier has been replaced by a different carrier, similar to the semi except missing the rear-most part. This results in the carrier having a fork-like back end. The bolt itself appears to be a standard AR bolt, with no gas rings installed. It rides in the bolt carrier secured by a regular cam-pin, but there is no cam-path cut into the carrier. The resulting motion looks like this; as the bolt handle is pushed forward, the bolt engages the barrel extension the same way it would in a semi-auto, but it rotates and goes into battery when the bolt-handle is pushed down.

Bolt Operation

The operation feels weird for several reasons, first off; the buffer in the stock applies spring tension on the bolt when pulled fully to the rear. This spring pressure is only felt about halfway forward from the extreme rear of the bolt stroke. Secondly; there is another spring behind the bolt inside the carrier. It keeps the bolt all the way forward when pushing into battery, but it also causes some back pressure when chambering a round. And a springs the bolt handle back when it is lifted out of battery.

one down side to the design is that you can’t field-strip the rifle without tools

At first it is quite awkward, and not what you are expecting. However, once you get the hang of it, it is actually quite fast. The opposing forces from the bolt-spring and the buffer spring actually seem to help you run the bolt faster. Once you get over it, its no bother at all.

The Barrel

From the barrel extension forward, as best as I can tell it is 100% the same barrel used in other comparable rifles. Which makes sense from a manufacturers perspective. Since no gas-block is needed, they simply installed a ring over the gas-block perch to prevent gas from blowing out the gas hole. The barrel is truly free-floated in that nothing touches it forward of the barrel nut.

The muzzle is threaded 1/2-28 like most 5.56 barrels, and it came with BCA’s typical muzzle device. I would be changing it out for my Yankee Hill Machine Turbo T3 suppressor almost immediately.

When shooting the 6.5 Grendel upper, I used my Banish Meateater suppressor. It was very pleasant shooting the Grendel with this suppressor.

garmin Xero C1 chronograph, athlon rangecraft velocity pro chronograph, chronograph, doppler radar, athlon Rangecraft velocity pro chronograph, Garmin Xero C1 chronograph, chronograph, comparison, review, garmin, athlon, 6.5 grendel, bear creek arsenal,

The Rest

Everything else seemed pretty typical Bear Creek parts, the handguard used on all their AR’s, the lower parts and buttstock all look and function just like you’d expect them to. I’ll give them points on their pistol grip, I do like it much better than most typical grips. They also put one of those accuracy wedge pieces of polymer in it to keep the upper and lower from wobbling.

Other Models and Calibers

Bear Creek also makes these options in other calibers, and you guessed it they also make it in a large frame configuration as well. The options are actually pretty impressive, you can get either Parkerized barrels or 416 Stainless. There are also a great variety of barrel lengths you can choose from, as short as 7-inches and up to 22-inches. And perhaps too many chamberings to mention but I’ll try:

BC-15 Bolt-Action CalibersBC-10 Bolt-Action Calibers
5.56 Nato.243 Winchester
.223 Wylde6.5 Creedmoor
.224 Valkyrie.308 Winchester
.300 Blackout8.6 Blackout
6mm ARC
6.5 Grendel
7.62×39 Soviet
350 legend
450 Bushmaster
458 SOCOM
12.7×42 (50 Beowulf)

Shooting the BCA BC-15 Bolt Action

To properly give this rifle a test, I took it across the state to ensure it got to see some country. Initial testing was done in the desert south west, coyote and jack rabbit country. Unfortunately neither of them showed up for the test, but the rifle worked great.

Ergonomics

I will say for sure that it took a little bit to get used to the bolt-throw on this rifle. It is unlike any other bolt-action I’ve ever operated, the lift is very short and the stroke has various degrees of resistance. It took me a minute to figure out what I was doing wrong, but once I got a feel for the operation it became second nature and particularly fast. The buffer spring pressure almost helps you transition from rearward motion to forward by adding spring pressure.

I did notice with the second upper in 6.5 Grendel the bolt was a little more finicky. I am not sure that this had anything to do with the cartridge difference or bolt-face change. Or if it was simply a side effect of mass-produced parts and tolerances.

bear creek arsenal, bca, bc-15, bolt-action, ar15, bolt-action AR15, 6.5 Grendel, Maven optics,

The rest of this rifle is 100% pure AR, so you already know what that feels like. The trigger that came in the rifle was nothing to write home about but it did not keep the rifle from shooting well. I like the rubberized BCA pistol grip, it gives great purchase and is quite comfortable. The butt stock on the other hand could have come from a CAR-15 airsoft clone, or perhaps even a Nerf gun, but it worked just fine.

the BC-15 Bolt-Action would serve well as a hunting rifle

Reliability

As is typical with bolt-action rifles this one was 100% reliable. The only issues I had were part of the learning process with operation the bolt properly, as well as some ammunition that was a touch long for the chamber.

The rifle cycled cartridges flawlessly, and tossed them out in a neat pile. Feeding from P-Mags is one of the appealing features of this rifle, and it worked great. I was a bit irritated with the AR bolt catch that would lock the bolt up when the last round was fired, but I should have anticipated it.

the rifle feeds flawlessly from P-Mags

Accuracy

None of the previous aspects really surprised me, but I was a bit impressed when I put the rifle on paper at 100 yards. With cheap ball ammo the rifle would shoot groups averaging slightly over 1 MOA, and when using PMC Match 77 grain it would print five-shot groups around .6 MOA quite reliably. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that modern manufacturing processes can produce 1/2 MOA guns that shoot that well for less than $450. I look forward to trying some additional handload options to see if I can get it to shoot even better.

The Grendel, while still shooting sub-MOA deserves a little more attention. I intend to keep tuning handloads to find one that shoots even better. I expect I should be able to shoot 1/2 MOA groups with it as well.

some of the .223/5.56 accuracy results
6.5 Grendel, target, accuracy, bear creek arsenal, bca, bolt-action,
Another example, this time of the Grendel grouping

Value

I did a quick and simple glance over the 223 bolt-action rifles for sale at Sportsmans Warehouse. And of the fifty plus options available there, only half a dozen of them were in the same price range as this rifle. I’ve shot some of those rifles and they didn’t print groups like this as easily.

The great shooting performance of the BC-15 Bolt-Action rifle means it could serve well as a varmint rifle, target shooting or any other similar activity. And because it is essentially an AR-15 there is no shortage of ways to improve it, which takes me to the next subject.

the push of a couple pins allows you to swap from one upper to another

My working theory is two-fold; this rifle being a bolt-action type, there are far less likely to be laws infringing on the right to keep and bear it. So for folks who live behind enemy lines in shit-hole states like California or Maryland, they can finally join the ranks of AR-15 owners, even if they have to cycle the action by hand. And I suppose they can pick fights with the pump-action Ak guys.

The second part of my theory is that buying this “bolt-action” rifle in restricted states, is a perfectly legitimate reason to have a completely functional and uninhibited AR-15 lower receiver. And with the push of a couple pins you can enjoy the same liberties as free men everywhere.

shooting groups for accuracy analysis at 100 yards

Pros and Cons

The popularity of the AR-15 family of rifles has brought the prices down, and since this rifle borrows so much from the AR family, it too has benefitted. Having a great many parts and accessories interchangeable is a great asset, and allows you to set this rifle up however you see fit.

bear creek arsenal, bca, bc-15, bolt-action, ar15, bolt-action AR15, 6.5 Grendel, Maven optics,
testing my 6.5 Grendel handloads

While it may take a minute to get used to, the rifle works quite well. And its performance on the range was refreshingly positive. Reliable function paired with the incredible compatibility makes it both fun and versatile. Because the rifle shoots better than I had anticipated, I’m actually considering putting a better trigger in the rifle. The mil-spec trigger it came with isn’t terrible but could be better, and I’d like to see how much accuracy I can squeeze out of it.

the Kahles 318i was an excellent scope to test this rifle’s potential

Based on price alone, I think this rifle is pretty damn reasonable. But there are few things I’d change if I could; First off is the super cheap butt stock. I understand why they use cheap ones, as lots of folks change them out anyways. I for sure will be changing it something different. There is also a little pet peeve of mine about putting company logos all over the place, like, you could just put it on the receiver and call it a day. But that is of course just a subjective complaint. Honestly I don’t know what else I’d change on this rifle after what I’ve mentioned.

Final Thoughts

Some folks might chuckle at the idea of a bolt-action AR, I’d be lying if I didn’t say I did the same. But the more I thought about it, and especially after shooting this little rifle quite a bit, I can say my mind has been swayed. Not saying I would give up my traditional bolt-guns in favor of this one, just that I can absolutely see the reasoning behind this design, and a value in having it.

The Bear Creek Arsenal BC-15 Bolt-Action rifle gives a pretty impressive performance considering the sum of its parts. Aside from that, it offers gun owners in tyrannical states an option to play in the AR-15 world. And it does all this for a pretty reasonable price attainable by average Americans. I look forward to putting this rifle to good use on some varmints this spring.

-CBM

2026 Update:

Last season my son used the BCA bolt-action upper in 6.5 Grendel to shoot this handsome little buck from almost 300 yards. And I continue to use the .223 bolt-action upper for fun plinking and varmint hunting. Still love these things.

mule deer, deer, deer hunting, ar15, bear creek arsenal, bolt-action ar, 6.5 grendel,
mueller, mueller optics, tachunter, 6-24x50, scope, riflescope, quattro 15, bolt-action, bolt-action AR, 223, suppressed, yhm fat cat, coletac
PFI, pride fowler industries, evolution, rifle scope, bergara b-14, hmr, reticle

RR Evolution 6.5 Creedmoor Riflescope

Optics, Product review, , , ,

Introduction

Pride Fowler Industries (PFI) has been making weapon sights for over twenty years. I suppose you could say they are a little old school, considering they were making optical sights for the military before red dots were a thing. The small optics firm has been making sights and reticles with a specific purpose to enhance aiming and reduce engagement times. That brings us to todays subject, a review of the PFI RR Evolution 6.5 Creedmoor riflescope.

Yes, a scope purpose built for 6.5 Creedmoor rifles. As well as other ballistically similar cartridges. The Evolution riflescope is built on a 30 millimeter main tube, and uses a 50 millimeter objective. Its a 5X zoom scope with a 5 to 25X magnification spread. Inside the Evolution houses its signature feature, the PFI Rapid Reticle. A Ballistic Drop Compensating (BDC) reticle designed to allow users to engage one target after another as fast as possible. Without having to adjust for drop at a given distance, the Rapid Reticle (RR) speeds up engagement, you simply hold a position on the reticle depending on the range.

There has long been various schools of thought when it comes to elevation corrections at long-range. Having used both the hold-over technique and the dial-the-turret elevation correction, I can see positive aspects to either way. Though for the most part I have used the latter, but today we’ll see if the PFI Evolution might convince me to change my ways.

The PFI Evolution 6.5 Creedmoor Riflescope

The Evolution scope comes with a variety of valuable features and accessories. Though its feature set is more inline with its Rapid Reticle purposes than what the rest of the optics market is currently doing. For example; many optics manufacturers have evolved to larger turret values like 10 or more MRAD per rotation. But since the Evolution is designed to holdover, such broad adjustments aren’t needed.

  Pride Fowler RR Evolution 5-25X50 6.5 Creedmoor Riflescope Features
Magnification5-25X
Tube Diameter30 Millimeter
Objective Lens50 Millimeter
Length 15.9 Inches
Weight15.9 Ounces
Reticle Focal PlaneFirst Focal Plane
Reticle Rapid Reticle BDC
Turret Values⅛ MOA
Turret Rotation (per turn)7.5 MOA
Reticle IlluminationGreen and Blue with 6 Brightness settings
Battery CR2032
Finish ColorsBlack or Green Anodizing
Parallax Adjustment50 Yards to Infinity
Included Accessories50mm Sunshade, 30MM scope rings, Service tools, Manual

As I unboxed the scope, and inventoried the various parts, I was surprised to see not only a sunshade but a set of scope rings to mount the scope. It seems that foreign built rifle scope’s continue to try and add value including more and more accessories like these.

First Inspection

As I prepared the scope for mounting, I familiarized myself with the scope and its controls. I was immediately intrigued by the curious reticle design. It has some similarities to other BDC reticles, but one of the very first things I noticed is that the reticle isn’t traditionally centered in the scope. The reticle moves as you zoom in, much like any other FFP scope. But instead of moving forward with a centered crosshair, the whole reticle grows and the 100 yards zero point moves up towards the top of the field of view. It was curious to say the least, as was the illumination. The reticle can be illuminated in either green or blue, with six brightness settings. Unfortunately there are no off positions between the settings.

Feature Detail

Looking at the reticle itself, there is a lot going on. The design allows ranging using either a 9 or 18 inch target, you can simply bracket the shoulders of an unsuspecting IPSC target with the 18-inch bracket that matches. And that is your distance, which you can then hold over using the scaled reticle. There are up to 20MPH wind holds incorporated on the edges of the reticle, to allow you to counter wind drift. On either edge of the reticle, there are two different sets of numbers. The right side of the reticle is calibrated for 500 feet above sea level (ASL), the left side is calibrated for 6000 feet ASL.

The Turrets were another interesting departure from the norm. Because this scope is designed to be used as a holdover optic, there is much less mechanical adjustment. With only 7.5 MOA per rotation, it is far less than a mainstream turreted scope these days. But when you consider that the turrets are only used to zero the scope, it makes a little bit more sense.

Mounting the Evolution

The rifle I would mount the Evolution scope to was a Bergara HMR Carbon, the rifle closely matched the scope’s ballistic profile. The 22-inch barrel would shoot 140 grain match ammunition well, which would make a perfect way to test the scope.

Using the provided scope rings, I attached the scope on the rifle’s scope rail. Torquing down the rings to spec, and ensuring a level mounting. It was then time to boresight the scope, which I did using my tool-less technique. There was a slight difference than normal, as I had to center the 100 yard aimpoint in the bore instead of simply centering it as usual.

my Bergara HMR Carbon made an excellent host for the Evolution Scope

On the Range

I’m at home in the open country of the west, and thats where we put the Evolution scope to use. Both in the dry sandstone deserts of the south west and the arid snow covered Rocky Mountains. This would give the opportunity to try the scope in various density altitudes varying from 2000 to 7000 feet ASL. Just because it was relevant, I wanted to try a variety of 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition to see which one aligned best with the drop curve in the RR Evolution’s reticle.

Ammo Tested

With the scope zeroed, I took note of the various point of impacts from the different ammunition types which was within reason. Then we started stretching it out to various distances to see how it lined up.

I picked a target at 730 yards downrange, with clear dirt around it to easily spot misses. I knew that the right side numbers of the reticle would be way off, so I used the left side of the reticle numbers for reference. I held for the distance using what appeared to be the 725 yard line on the reticle, and knowing there was decent breeze moving full-value from right to left I held into the wind. The first shot hit a bit low, and my wind call was a little undervalue. I made a quick correction with my hold point and sent another round which impacted mere inches from my point of aim.

adjusting the parallax setting was nice, but I did find it was easy to accidentally turn on the reticle illumination

I repeated the process a few times at various distances, out to 900 yards. It was a good exercise in wind judgement as well as figuring out the reticle. Using the various subtensions of the reticle to correct for the slight variations in ammunition and elevation.

Optical Performance

Looking through the Evolution scope next to other optics that day, I could pick out some differences. I wouldn’t expect a scope at this price-point to compare with 3000+ dollar German or American made scopes. You could see a little more aberration at the edges, and perhaps not quite as clear at high power. But it was certainly good enough to engage softball sized targets even at 900 yards. I found myself not using the full 25X for various purposes as the holdover points were closer to the edge of the scope that way. The parallax adjustment worked great, keeping both the reticle and target clearly defined.

Holding Over

I’m used to dialing for distance but occasionally holdover for shorter distances and quick shots. So it took a little getting used to only holding over with the Rapid Reticle. Using the hold over marks on the reticle certainly does make for faster transitions between targets, especially once you get them figured out.

Likely due to the elevation, I found that frequently my holdover didn’t line up with the numbers. This wasn’t a surprise, and one I was prepared for. With variables in elevation and different kinds of ammo, you simply have to adjust. The Federal 130 grain ammo was faster than others, which meant it was hitting higher at the closer distances by a little. I’d take note for the next engagement, and it wasn’t long before I had a little dope card for each ammunition type. Perhaps the 450 yard mark on the reticle was more like 425 yards, but if I were to go down in elevation a couple thousand feet it might be right on.

Repeating this process is both fun and educational, and even if you never intend to shoot this way, its something we should all experience. It helped me better understand the flight path of the various ammunition types and how to anticipate hits using the Rapid Reticle.

Pros and Cons

I did find myself slightly irritated with the way the reticle moved with magnification. At 25X where I might like to use the scope for shooting tiny groups on paper, the 100yd aim point is all the way at the top of the field of view. I ended up backing it off slightly to better see both the target and reticle. The same scenario played out at the bottom of the reticle, the furthest holdovers on the reticle left the field of view at max power. I don’t always shoot at max power myself, but I know some folks do.

If I had to say something else about the scope that I disliked, it would be the turrets. I suppose it makes sense since the focus of this scope is not on turrets, but the reticle.

Another positive aspect of the scope design, is that it does remove some of the guess work for newer and less-experienced shooters. Once you figure out the intricacies of the reticle, you don’t need to spend a lot of time thinking, you can simply hold and shoot.

It’s also not hard to work out the differences, for example; maybe with your gun the 500 yard holdover is actually 475 yards. These are things you can find out on your own, and once confirmed you can take note of corrected data. Speaking of corrected data, that brings me to our next subject.

The BDC Conundrum

It would be reckless of me to not to address the BDC conundrum. BDC reticles give a set of measurements for holding over at specific distances, just as custom engraved turrets provide calculated elevation corrections. Both the custom turrets and BDC reticles are created using ballistic data of the bullet specified. Using the bullet performance numbers from the manufacturer, as well as velocities and atmospheric information, you can create a drop profile that is reflected in either a BDC reticle or custom turret.

the Rapid Reticle seen at lower power magnification

There is an issue however with this approach that must be understood. Bullets for the most part are pretty consistent, as is gravity and gun powder. But the medium bullets travel through can vary greatly depending on conditions. The air we shoot through changes consistency depending on weather conditions, temperature and humidity both have much to do with ballistic performance.

Any BDC reticle or customized turret is going to be based on a specific point of conditions, and when those change it will affect your bullet’s flight accordingly. This is something you MUST understand properly if you plan on using either a BDC reticle or customized turrets. Understanding how atmospheric conditions will change your bullet’s performance and points of impact is paramount to shooting long-range properly.

Value Proposition

The improvement of foreign made riflescopes has been impressive over the last few decades, in particular those made in China. I remember when Chinese made optics were jokingly poor quality, and yet today there is a massive selection of riflescopes from China that are very competitive in every way. (for now)

This scope from PFI shares a great deal of value in that twenty years ago I would have expected to pay twice or more for a similar feature set. Even so, the discount optics market being as cutthroat as it is, there are other scopes with very desirable features and quality that cost even less.

For the $800 asking price, this riflescope has some good features. The 5-25 zoom is very popular with long-range shooters, and if you like holding over instead of dialing corrections then this reticle also offers great versatility. The added value of rings is convenient as well.

PFI, pride fowler industries, evolution, rifle scope, bergara b-14, hmr

Conclusion

If you like using hold-over type optical sights, then you are likely already familiar with some of the intricacies of using them. The Rapid Reticle Evolution 6.5 Creedmoor riflescope offers you a bright clear image, with fine adjustment capabilities for zeroing. A smooth zoom feature allows you to quickly adjust for different distances and ranging necessities, and precise parallax adjustment for fine adjustments and clear reticle placement.

It may not be whats en vogue in today’s long-range shooting community, but there is certainly a place in long-range shooting for the Evolution scope.

-CBM

For more scope reviews click here

vector optics, continental, 5-30X56, rifle scope

Vector Optics Continental X6 5-30X56 Riflescope

Optics, Product review, , , ,

Preface

In my endless quest to get hands on every riflescope available on todays market, I bring you another scope review. This one comes from Vector Optics, which has been in the optics industry since 2005. Vector Optics has a stated goal of changing our perspective of what a “made in China” riflescope means. In furtherance of this goal, Vector seeks to build the most value in a riflescope possible. Today I find myself in a position to evaluate exactly that, and I bring you a review of the Vector Optics Continental X6 5-30X56 riflescope.

The Vector Optics Continental is built on a 34MM maintube, with a 56 millimeter objective lens up front. The erector assembly while fairly petite, carries a robust elevation turret that has twenty-six MRAD of elevation. Inside you’ll find the EBC-MBR MRAD illuminated reticle. All these features fall into the set of a serious long-range rifle scope, lets go deeper into this scope review.

The Vector Optics Continental 5-30X56

                        Vector Optics Continental 5-30X56 Riflescope Features
Magnification5X-30X six power zoom
Objective Lens56 Millimeter
Tube Diameter34 Millimeter
Ocular Lens42 Millimeter
Field of View24.5-4.1 feet @100 yards
Eye Relief4.0 Inches
Length15.4 Inches
Weight 28.6 Ounces
Click Value1/10 MRAD
Mechanical Elevation Range26 MRAD
Mechanical Windage Range16 MRAD
Parallax/Focus Range10 Yards to Infinity
ReticleEtched glass VEC-MBR
Reticle IlluminationSix Position Red 
Battery TypeCR2032
Turret Values10 MRAD (100 clicks) per turn
Zero-stopAdjustable
Included Accessories34mm picatinny high rings, sunshade,, lens caps and cleaning cloth

Vector Continental Features

So far you might have figured out this scope has an impressive suite of features, and all the right ones for most precision rifle shooters. The broad 34mm tube has become the standard for tactical long-range shooting, as it allows greater internal travel for larger elevation corrections. Large lenses compress great detail into the image viewed through the scope, and with a parallax adjustment down as close as 10 yards make it suitable for rimfire purposes. A six-position illumination knob with off settings in between sits outside the focus turret.

the included tool for adjusting turrets was handy and prevented overtorquing

The turrets of the Continental are quite impressive. Ten MRAD per rotation of the turret is what I consider a minimum these days for a serious scope. But theres more; the turrets feature a push/pull locking system, as well as an adjustable zero-stop. The elevation turret also features a revolution indicator that is both visible and tactile, it pops up red upon hitting the second revolution. And when you reach the third revolution of the turret it pops up further still, exposing a silver ring under the red. This feature is excellent for keeping track of what rotation you are on. The Continental also comes with a second elevation turret that allows you to function without the zero-stop and rotation indicator.

the two included elevation turret options

Added Accessories

Aside from the extra elevation turret, the Continental also came with a sunshade which has become common practice as well. As have the inexpensive flip caps that often come with scopes, particularly those made in China. It also came with all the necessary tools to service the scope, including a plastic tool to safely loosen and tighten the turret screw.

the included scope rings from Vector

What hasn’t been a typical included accessory is a set of scope rings. I was actually expecting something a little more “economic” to put it candidly. But to my surprise, the rings were actually quite nice. Triple-screw rings with Torx fasteners on both the ring-cap and the pic-rail clamp.

Mounting the Vector Continental

Because I am so familiar with it, I decide to initially mount the Continental to my Desert Tech SRS M2. The included rings were a perfect fit for the height of the scope over the long picatinny sight rail. After leveling the scope in the rings, I torqued them down using my torque limiter T15. The wide coverage of the rings appeared to give great purchase on the scope, which should hold even under heavy recoiling cartridges like the 338 LM.

the SRS fitted with the Continental scope and Area 419 equipped Atlas bipod from B&T

It was then time to boresight the combo, using my visual tool-less boresighting method. Adjusting the scope to match the bore of the rifle would put it on paper at 100 yards. After shooting a few rounds to make final adjustments for zero, it was time to adjust the zero-stop.

Setting the Zero-Stop

Once you have the rifle zeroed properly, the zero-stop can be set. The way to set it requires removing the elevation turret, you gently push in the inner ring of the turret and rotate it according to the arrow printed on it. If zeroing the rifle requires you to dial down on the turret, you might have to remove the turret and release the zero stop by pushing in and turning it counter to the arrow indicated underneath. Approximating the amount you think you’ll need to dial down.

vector optics, continental, 5-30X56, rifle scope, zero-stop, turret
under the elevation turret you can see the zero-stop feature

After zeroing the rifle, you can again pull the turret off. This time rotate the inner ring with the arrow indicator. When the inner ring engages a locking pin, you will hear an audible click. That aligns the turret with the zero, and you can reinstall the turret. Check to see that it aligns properly on zero after installing.

On the Range

For starters, I used the Continental on my Desert Tech SRS M2. Using a 22-inch 6.5 Creedmoor would make for pretty easy and predictable shooting. The SRS M2 uses a 30 MOA tapered optics rail, which would allow me to maximize the elevation adjustment available in the scope.

Optical Performance

With a 6X zoom the Continental has an impressive magnification range. I had brought along my Kahles 318i as well, and I took the opportunity to look through both scopes at five and eighteen power to see how they compared. It came as no surprise that the Kahles was clearer, with a slightly less hazy image than seen through the Vector scope. I would expect the Kahles to look better at four and a half times the cost.

While it might not have been as clear as the Kahles, it was certainly very usable. The clear image was as good as any Chinese scope I’ve used at that power range. I often find that folks with poor eyesight have more to say about optical quality than I, so keep that in mind.

Ergonomics

I was very happy with the controls of this scope, the textures of the control surfaces were just right. And the resistance to the magnification ring and parallax adjustment were also appropriate. The turret lock is both crisp and audible, so you’ll always know when you’ve locked or unlocked it. And the clicks are also quite crisp and audible, so you’ll have no problem simply counting the clicks if you are dialing blind.

Tracking Performance

Few things have made riflescope more friendly over the last few decades than matching turrets and reticles in my opinion. Being able to spot an impact at 900 yards, quickly measure it and dial a correction, and hit with a following shot is much easier with such a scope. The Vector Continental worked perfectly for dialing corrections, and the reticle gives you a great deal of data points to use.

Measuring the movement of the reticle proved to show repeatability and accurate movement. I like to bolt down my scopes to an immovable object, and run the turrets up and down repeatedly to see how close they track. The Vector Continental was as close to the actual distance adjusted as most scopes I have checked. With less than plus or minus 1/10 MRAD across 20 MRAD of adjustment.

VEC-MBR Reticle

Using reticles for their actual purpose has gotten much easier as they have developed better options. The VEC-MBR reticle of the Continental gives you some great features like an open center, a Christmas tree style drop grid, meter ranging bracket, and an illuminated center. I am not a big fan of incredibly busy reticles, but I found this one to be fine enough that it hasn’t bothered me. It was very effective at measuring corrections and holding wind.

Value

I have had a great variety of Chinese and other Asian made riflescopes, both good and bad. I will certainly say that they have come a long way from the comically poor quality from decades ago. After shooting with the Vector Continental now, this might be the best value for a high-power precision long-range rifle scope I’ve seen yet. After opening the box and seeing the presentation, features and the image through the scope I was actually blown away at the $700 price on Euro Optic.

Pros and Cons

The Vector Optics Continental 5-30X56 has a fantastic feature set, with all the features most precision rifle shooters are looking for these days. Professional finished looks that don’t suggest it was made in a sweat shop, and matched with good lenses that provide great detail. Excellent controls make this scope a precise tool for hitting targets, as do the little extras that matter like zero-stop, turret rotation indicator, 10 MRAD rotations etc.

Included extras also greatly improve the value of this scope, even the packaging gives the feeling of a high quality product. The scope rings were also a nice touch I wasn’t expecting. My very initial thoughts about this scope seem to have been right, its as though Vector engineers channeled some European scope design and brought it all together for less.

If I had to come up with something to dislike, it could really only be the Chinese origin of this scope. I never liked the idea of my sport/defense products being made somewhere besides at home, but thats the world we live in currently.

the view through the Continental at around 24X

Final Thoughts on the Continental

The foreseeable future it seems will be filled with more and more options for shooters, which is a nice thing. Vector Optics has done an excellent job changing what Made in China means. I expect that competition among the optics manufacturers will continue, and we will see more rifle scopes like the Continental that break molds and drop prices.

The Vector Optics Continental X6 5-30X56 riflescope offers impressive performance that would do well for most shooters. It is an excellent value if you find yourself wanting to compete with your financial superiors without spending your children’s future on a scope. Be it plinking in the hills like me, heavy varmint hunting, or shooting PRS competition, I expect the Continental would do well.

-CBM

Looking for a scope? Check out these other reviews

custom 10/22, ruger 10/22, .22lr, Athlon Optics, helos,

Athlon Optics Helos BTR 2-12X42 Riflescope

Optics, Product review, , , ,

Preface

I’ve been lucky to be able to use quite a few high quality riflescopes in my day. In fact, I remember when the optics market was starved for lower-priced high-quality riflescopes. Today I bring you another product review that has satisfied that market, the Athlon Optics Helos BTR 2-12X42 riflescope.

I have used a few riflescopes from Athlon Optics, and they have all been positive experiences. So I was again optimistic to have a look at this new to me scope.

Athlon Optics, Helos BTS, 2-12x42, riflescope, Franchi Momentum

The Helos BTR 2-12X42

Athlon Optics Helos BTR Gen2 2-12X42 FFP IR MRAD Features
Power Magnification2-12X
Objective Lens42 MM
Tube Size30 MM
TurretsLocking MRAD
Reticle Focal PlaneFirst Focal Plane
Eye Relief3.6 Inches
Field of View @ 100Yards55.7 to 9.6 Feet
Turret Click Value0.1 MRAD
Turret Adjustment per Turn10 MRAD
Total Elevation Adjustment32 MRAD
Total Windage Adjustment25 MRAD
Parallax AdjustmentSide Focus/ 10 yards to Infinity
Weight25.4 Ounces
Length11.8 Inches
ReticleIlluminated AHMR2 MRAD
Athlon Optics, Helos BTS, 2-12x42, riflescope

Helos BTR Features

The Athlon Optics Helos BTR 2-12X42 riflescope is built on a one-piece 30mm tube with a 42mm objective lens. Like pretty much every scope manufactured in modernity, the Helos features fully coated lenses and is filled with Argon to purge the internals.

In the middle of the scope you will find a robust erector system that incorporates the parallax/focus turret. On the top of the erector assembly you will find a 10 MIL locking turret, it locks using a pretty standard push-pull with a snapping sensation so you can be sure it is locked or not. The windage turret also locks, and shows you 5 MIL left and right on its markings.

The elevation turret includes a zero-stop ring that can be set once your rifle is zeroed. This helps avoid loosing track of what scope revolution your zero in on. It’s a robust zero-stop design too, which is much appreciated.

Athlon Optics, Helos BTS, 2-12x42, riflescope, zero stop

The Focus knob shows various parallax ranges from 10 yards to infinity, which turned out to be pretty accurate. Stacked on top of the focus turret, there is a secondary rheostat control housing the CE2032 lithium cell for the reticle illumination with various brightness settings.

Athlon Optics, Helos BTS, 2-12x42, riflescope, lithium cell battery

Unboxing the Helos

When the Helos arrived, I carefully opened the handsome box. I must say that Athlon does a great job at presenting their product. The box has a great many details, and included some great add on accessories. After pulling the scope itself from the foam, I took inventory of the other goods. The typical owners manual, battery, lens cloth, and tools for servicing the scope were there. But there was also a 42MM sunshade which is nice to have, as were the front and rear flip-caps to protect the lenses. Additionally, there was a polymer throw-lever or “cat-tail” as some call it that attaches to the magnification ring to enable faster zooming of the scope. It was time to get this scope mounted and ready for the range.

Athlon Optics, Helos BTS, 2-12x42, riflescope, throw lever
the throw-lever was a nice accessory, though I would have liked an aluminum one

Mounting Solution

I ended up using the Helos on two different rifles, in order to give it a proper workout. The first rifle was a custom 10/22 I put together, you can read about it HERE. The other rifle was a Franchi Momentum Elite Varmint rifle chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. For mounting on the 10/22, I used a Primary Arms 30mm scope mount, and alternatively when mounted to the Franchi I used a set of Warne 30mm rings. The two different mounting solutions worked well, giving unfettered access to the Helos features.

custom 10/22, ruger 10/22, .22lr, Athlon Optics, helos,
the Helos made a great accessory for my 22, as did the YHM Phantom 22 suppressor

Shooting with the Helos BTR

My initial excursions with the Helos were using the 10/22. I used the turrets to quickly zero the rifle, followed by slipping the turrets to zero. This is done by removing the screw in the center of the turret, then you can pull it off, and reset the turret on the zero. After reinstalling the screws on both turrets, we were ready to shoot.

I have always been impressed with the optical quality of Athlon Optics, every one of their products that I have tried has been impressively sharp and clear when considering the price. The Helos BTR was no exception, and using the parallax adjustment to focus at targets as close as 10 yards is convenient for a .22lr rifle.

custom 10/22, ruger 10/22, .22lr, athlon optics, helos gen 2 BTR 2-12x42

Shooting the rifle out to distances like 150 and 200 yards gave opportunity to do elevation corrections using the turrets. The clicks are crisp and audible, making it easy to make small corrections without even coming off the scope.

The AHMR2 reticle was also convenient for measuring and correcting for drops. I suppose I could have done without the ring in the center, but when you use this scope at 2X you can see why its there. At 2X the reticle is so fine, and the target area so wide, that you really only need to bracket the target inside the ring. You can almost use the Helos like a red dot at that power setting, especially with the illumination powered up. I also really appreciated the illumination settings, with an “off” setting between each power setting.

Athlon Optics, Helos BTS, 2-12x42, riflescope, AHMR2 FFP IR MIL reticle,
the AHMR2 FFP IR MIL reticle seen at 12X

After a few range trips with the Custom 10/22, I decided to give the Helos BTR another task. I remounted the scope in a set of Warne rings on top of a Franchi Momentum Elite Varmint rifle chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. This rifle was certainly up to longer shooting distances, and would give the scope more of a workout. It would also allow us to evaluate the scopes ability to show detail at further distances.

Franchi Momentum Elite Varmint, 6.5 Creedmoor, Athlon Optics Helos 2-12x42
the Athlon Helos BTR made a great companion for this Franchi Momentum, read about the rifle here

One again I zeroed first the rifle, then the turrets were set back to zero. I also took the opportunity to set the zero-stop. The zero stop is a brass ring that you can adjust to stop the turret rotation from going any lower. Its easily done by loosening three Allen screws, and turning the ring to the bottom stop, then retightening the screws.

With that process complete, it was time to get shooting. I started by shooting a few groups with the rifle at a hundred yards. I often prefer higher magnification when doing accuracy testing, mainly just to see my aimpoint better. But the 12X of the Athlon Helos did just fine for my purposes.

Franchi Momentum Elite Varmint, 6.5 Creedmoor, Athlon Optics Helos 2.5-12

We then turned our attention downrange, picking out various targets in the hills and ridges beyond. We’d pick out little white rocks surrounded by dirt for easy impact spotting, and shoot until the rock disappeared. Using the Helos to spot misses at distances like seven and eight-hundred yards was certainly doable, and the fine center-dot of the reticle made a good aimpoint even at small targets at those distances.

As we moved from target to target it gave me pause to appreciate the throw lever that Athlon had included with the scope. I frequently run the zoom back on forth while shooting, and having a throw-lever like this was very handy. I also like the 180 degree rotation of the magnification ring, the only downside is when the throw-lever and bolt-handle get too close.

Franchi Momentum Elite Varmint, 6.5 Creedmoor, Athlon Optics Helos 2-12x42
the Franchi Momentum with the Athlon scope and Banish Backcountry suppressor

Pros and Cons

My cons for this scope are few and perhaps picky. For example, I really like the throw lever they included, but its also made of pretty soft polymer. This could be to make it less likely to snap off when bumped into something while hiking, which I totally understand. But I also feel like it might still be pretty easily broken or damaged. I also smashed my finger a couple times while running the bolt vigorously by running into the throw-lever.

On the plus side, this scope comes with some great features and accessories. The throw-lever, the sunshade, and even the cheesy flip-caps are nice to have. At least until you buy some better ones.

Athlon Optics, Helos BTS, 2-12x42, riflescope, Franchi Momentum
parallax adjustment as close as 10 yards was a nice feature, but obviously not for this rifle

I absolutely love the 10 MRAD turrets, it used to be that scopes in this price range all had five or six MRAD turrets. But manufacturers have gotten the memo, and making turrets 10 MRAD per turn is much better, and greatly reduces the likelihood of loosing track of your setting. The locking feature of the turrets is also very nice, and well executed.

Another feather in the cap for this scope is the zero-stop, which is not only functional but also robust. I dislike mushy or imprecise zero-stops, and this one is neither. The reticle is great for measuring misses and holding corrections.

Athlon Optics, Helos BTS, 2-12x42, riflescope, Franchi Momentum
shooting long-range with the Athlon Helos BTR from my Precision rifle Solutions tripod

The Verdict

I keep on having good experiences with Athlon Optics products, and my complaints are few. The Athlon optics Helos BTR Gen2 2-12X42 would be a great little scope to leave on my 22, or mount to my hunting rifle. It gives clear presentation of the landscape and target, and come with great tools to help you engage with them. All this at a competitive price and with a solid warranty should it go wrong. For most of us, our shooting isn’t life or death, (unless its about dinner) and these scopes are more than adequate for those purposes. Offering a fantastic experience for a good price.

-CBM

Check out more rifle scope reviews HERE
Black rain Ordnance, custom 10/22, ruger 10/22, .22lr, primary arms GLX, 3-18

Building a custom 10/22

Product review, Shooting hardware, , , , , , , ,

Preface

Perhaps the granddaddy of all training rifles is the lowly .22 long rifle, and today we are going to dive into one of the most iconic and successful rifles ever to be chambered thus. Sturm Ruger released the 10/22 over sixty years ago, and it has been a steady flow of production ever since. Because of its popularity the 10/22 has been improved, altered, shortened, and folded a dozen different ways. And its huge popularity continues to make it an excellent choice today, which is what bring us together today; I’m building a custom 10/22, and it looks like you’re coming along with me.

custom 10/22, ruger 10/22, .22lr,

Why a Custom 10/22?

With so many models available from both Ruger, and other manufacturers like Bergara, Magnum Research, and many others, you might ask why make your own? Well because this is America, and we often like to do things that are challenging if only to bask in the success. People have been tinkering with 10/22’s for decades, much like the extremely popular AR15. The simplicity of configuring the rifle to exactly your liking seems to be something gun owners take great pride in.

custom 10/22, ruger 10/22, .22lr, primary arms GLX, 3-18

Let me also clarify; “building” a custom 10/22 is a little bit of a misnomer. Lots of folks like to refer to their custom rifle as a “build” when in fact they’ve only assembled a variety of parts using no more than a few Allen wrenches or a screwdriver. A true build in my opinion included machining, cutting, bonding, coating etc. But for todays purpose, we’ll run with it.

Many folks are deep into 22’s for other reasons. For example, if all you can afford to shoot is a .22LR, then you’ve got to roll with it. Other folks have legal restrictions because of tyrannical despots with brain rot (yes I’m talking about you California). Those folks often dive deep into rimfires because it might be their only choice for a fun and configurable firearm.

Lastly I’ll bring up those who find great joy in the challenge. Whether it be the diminutive .22LR cartridge, or the application of it in marksmanship. Many rimfire enthusiasts enjoy the inexpensive challenge of competing against others, to play the marksman game at an abbreviated cost.

custom 10/22, ruger 10/22, .22lr,
all the components coming together

My Custom 10/22

I don’t suppose I fit into any of those purposes for my custom 10/22. Today I am putting this rifle together simply because I can, and I enjoy shooting. And despite my immersion in the gun world, I have yet to own a 10/22. And I decided it was time to change that.

custom 10/22, ruger 10/22, .22lr, Athlon Optics, helos,

I started out with a list of various components, that would eventually come together as a complete rifle.

Steal His Look with the Parts Listed Below

Rifle ComponentWhere to purchase (click)
ReceiverBRO -22 Action
Trigger BRO-22 Trigger assembly
BarrelSummit Precision 16” Black Carbon
ChassisKRG Bravo 10/22
MagazinesRuger BX magazines
Rifle ScopeAthlon Helos 2-12 — Primary Arms GLX 3-18
Scope mountPrimary Arms    —     Area 419 
Arca RailArea 419 ARCA Lock
Bipod MDT Grnd bipod
SuppressorYHM Phantom 22

Receiver

There are countless good 10/22 receiver options from a variety of manufacturers. For this project I decided to use the BRO 10/22 action from Black Rain Ordnance. This action had some great features like an integral sight rail machined into it’s billet 6061 Aluminum structure. I picked up a BRO trigger as well, which is also has a billet aluminum structure instead of the plastic one many 10/22’s have.

custom 10/22, ruger 10/22, .22lr,

Since I already had a partially filled cart with them, I also opted to try the BRO extended magazine release. This outstanding addition puts a simple push lever on the trigger guard much like the big precision rifles use.

custom 10/22, ruger 10/22, .22lr, trigger
All the pins had more than enough friction to keep them securely in place

One of the great things I really appreciated about the BRO action, is how tight the pins fit. The 10/22 trigger group is held in place by a few pins, that notoriously fall out anytime the action is outside of the stock. But the BRO pins fit so tight that they need to be tapped in with a little pressure. This results in an incredibly solid fit, unlike some other models. I’ve never liked how wobbly the extended magazines are on standard 10/22 rifles.

Barrel

For the barrel I went with a Summit Precision carbon fiber wrapped sixteen-inch barrel. Not that I’m worried so much about weight with this gun, I just like the look and quality. I also like supporting local businesses too. The flashy barrel also has a threaded muzzle which is a requirement for all my firearms now, since I refuse to shoot without a suppressor. The barrel dropped right into place, and was held there by the two V-block screws.

custom 10/22, ruger 10/22, .22lr, summit precision, carbon fiber

Chassis

Mounting the barreled action in a chassis was my next step, for that I chose the KRG Bravo chassis for the 10/22. I’ve got other KRG Bravo stocks, and I always love their ergonomics and the way they accept all kinds of customization.

The Bravo chassis fit the BRO action so snug I probably didn’t even need to tighten the action screw. It actually took me a sec to perfectly set the action pins so there was zero protrusion. Otherwise I could not get the action to seat in the chassis. The fit was as perfect as I could imagine. The Bravo has polymer ribs to add stability to the 10/22 magazine, resulting in a much stronger mating of the two parts.

custom 10/22, ruger 10/22, .22lr, KRG Bravo

Additionally, and why I chose the KRG Bravo, there are plenty of spaces to add accessories to the chassis. I added one of my favorite accessories, the Area 419 ARCA Lock rail. this allows you to quickly attach and adjust the location of bipods, bags, and other accessories. After installing the ARCA Lock rail, I attached an MDT Grnd bipod for supported shooting.

Sight Options

Initially I installed an Athlon Optics Helos BTR 2.5-12X42. I mounted the scope using a Primary Arms 30mm scope mount, which ended up being a little higher than I would like but it was serviceable.

custom 10/22, ruger 10/22, .22lr, Athlon Optics, helos, 2.5-12x42

I also swapped out the Athlon scope for another one of my favorites. The Primary Arms GLX 3-18 I have used on I don’t know how many rifles now. The 34mm tube of the scope actually sat a little lower because of the Area 419 Scope Mount so I liked the fit a little better. Both of these scopes were a reasonable fit for the type of shooting I would do with this rifle. For a rimfire rifle like this, I like having the ability to zoom out to lower magnifications like 2.5 or 3X. My other .22 rifles have 3-15X scopes on them, I think its a pretty good variable range for useful little rifles like this.

custom 10/22, ruger 10/22, .22lr, primary arms GLX, 3-18
You can read about both the Primary Arms GLX 3-18 and Area 419 Scope mount here

Shooting my Custom 10/22

Accuracy

Accuracy is very dependent on ammunition, and with .22LR its very easy to find low quality ammunition. I had fairly low expectations mainly because I have no interest in buying the more expensive 22 ammo. All I wanted was a gun that I could hit squirrels a hundred yards away with cheap ammunition like you’d find on sale at the hardware store.

Considering that, I think this rifle turned out pretty reasonable. Depending on the ammo it will shoot around one-inch groups at 50 yards, but with its preferred ammo it will do a little better still.

Black rain ordnance, custom 10/22, ruger 10/22, .22lr, primary arms GLX, 3-18
some typical groups shooting at 50 yards

Reliability

Some of the things I noticed while shooting the rifle were it took just a few rounds to get broken in, but within the first magazine it was humming along perfectly. It came as no surprise to me that this rifle ran flawlessly after that, as a sixty-year-old design I think they’ve worked out the bugs. Even with my tinkering and using different parts it all basically came together perfectly.

Primary arms

The controls of the BRO action are quite nice. The knurled and oversized charging handle gives good purchase for running the bolt, and the bolt-lock-back feature is hugely improved over the original Ruger design. No more fiddling with the bolt-catch to get it to close, simply pull it back and let it slam. There’s even a slight cutout of the improved mag catch to allow better engagement with the bolt catch. And the mag release itself is fantastic to operate from any position.

black rain ordnance, custom 10/22, ruger 10/22, .22lr, primary arms GLX, 3-18

Ergonomics

The ergonomics of the KRG Bravo chassis are outstanding. I love the grip angle, and the way it presents the trigger to your finger at a right angle. The length of pull is a tiny bit short as it came, but it also came with a spacer to increase the LOP so its not an issue. I left it in its factory configuration because my kids would be shooting it often.

You can also remove a section of the lower part of the buttstock to expose a nice butt-hook. I found it mostly unnecessary as the rifle was plenty easy enough to manipulate as it was. You can also add things like a picatinny rail to the back should you wish to add a monopod or something. QD-cups can also be added to the buttstock for sling attachment, and at the front of the handguard on either side there are M-Lok slots to add other connection points.

custom 10/22, ruger 10/22, .22lr, aerea 419 arca lock rail
the Area 419 ARCA Lock rail and MDT Bipod worked perfectly together

My high mounted scope was easily adjusted for because of the adjustable comb height on the Bravo. And should I end up using a different scope or mounting system, it will also be quick to adjust.

Suppressor Host

I mentioned I would be shooting mostly suppressed with this rifle, that is my general practice. For this purpose I would use my YHM Phantom 22 suppressor, the Phantom is a great match to the rifle. As with nearly all semi-autos, you can expect the 10/22 to run dirtier when suppressed. In fact rimfire rifles seem to be even dirtier than centerfire rifles when suppressed, that would mean lot’s of cleaning is in the future for this rifle.

custom 10/22, ruger 10/22, .22lr, bolt
doesn’t take long to get dirty when shooting suppressed

I don’t regret anything though, as the quiet pop of the rifle is very pleasant while shooting, even without ear protection. Another side effect of shooting suppressed is the additional gas coming from the action. It’s no big deal if you are shooting outside which I always do.

custom 10/22, ruger 10/22, .22lr, krg bravo, yankee hill machine phantom 22 suppressor
this suppressor is one of my favorites, you can read why in my review of the YHM Phantom 22

Value

Most of the time you talk about custom rifles, value and cost goes out the window. With that said, I think 22’s can be a little easier on the billfold. This project easily tipped the scales around $1200, but when putting together what you want I think most of us aren’t as concerned with the nickels and dimes so much as the end result. But if you are the kind of guy who shoots 22’s because they are cheap, you may want to stick to a less expensive factory 10/22.

Pros and Cons

The cons of this project are fairly minimal and predictable. I’ve already mentioned that it is not inexpensive, but most people who start down the custom rifle path know that before starting. I also mentioned the filthiness of suppressed shooting, but again that comes with the territory.

The pros of building a rifle like this however are bountiful. With a massive supply of parts and aftermarket support, there are untold combinations you can explore. And because it has been done countless times by so many, you can always find some hairy redneck like me who has already tried what you are thinking and build from their experience.

custom 10/22, ruger 10/22, .22lr, primary arms GLX, 3-18

The 10/22 has remained so popular for many reasons, it is simply too much fun to shoot. And the fastest way to burn through a brick of ammo and have a good time doing it. The predictable function is reassuring, the modularity of the KRG Bravo made it easily adaptable to various purposes. The accuracy and balance of the Summit carbon barrel made it deadly and comfortable. A great trigger pull matched by an equally sharp look made this whole project a joy.

Black rain Ordnance, custom 10/22, ruger 10/22, .22lr, primary arms GLX, 3-18
the Area 419 ARCA Lock rail made for excellent tripod shooting

Final Conclusion

Building a custom rifle might be intimidating the first time, but it will become an addiction just like hunting or casting a line. You might have assembled this gun a little differently than I have, heck, I might do it differently again just to see another way. Picking your parts and making your own custom rifle is an incredible learning experience and brings great satisfaction. Let me know what you think of this project, and how you would have done it differently.

-CBM

Like 22’s? Here’s another one you might like: the Ruger Precision Rifle .22lr