Many Americans seem to have been born with a .30 caliber fixation, nothing to be ashamed of believe me. But there is a rivalry coming for America’s top spot, and its coming from the metric system believe it or not. 6.5 caliber cartridges are nothing new, even in North America. Today we are going to discuss a variety of the 6.5 cartridges and why they have such a cult following that continues to grow. Perhaps by the time we are done, you might feel a taste for the 6.5 Koolaid yourself.
the Ruger American Rifle is available in various calibers like 6.5CM and 6.5 PRC
6.5 or .264?
I remember speaking to an old gunsmith who claimed to have trained under P.O. Ackley. He told me that allegedly Ackley believed the 6.5 to be the ideal bore for accuracy. I believe both of them were simply a product of their time, and I also believe there isn’t an “ideal bore”. Instead there are simply perfect proportions, bullet lengths and angles as compared to the bore.
What you cannot deny is that 6.5mm bullets (or .264 inches for the Yanks) typically have excellent ballistic coefficients (BC). And these high BC bullet are usually easy to get up to excellent speeds due to their weights. Most 6.5 bullets fall within the range of 100 to 150 grains.
Whether .264 or 6.5, there is an incredible variety of cartridge cases designed to push them. And choosing which one of these cases is incredibly important as to the performance. A diminutive 6.5 Grendel can shoot the exact same bullet as the massively overbore 26 Nosler, but the performance will be just as distinct.
The Rise of 6.5 Cartridges
Back in the late 19th century, the 6.5 craze had already begun in Scandinavia with the 6.5×55 Swedish. It was used widely for so many purposes and in such numbers that it spilled into other firearm markets. For over a hundred years the Swede’s have been taking moose and reindeer with a 6.5. This might be downright shocking if you are one of those who uses a 300WM to pile up a 110-pound bean field whitetail from a ground blind.
both of these elk were taken with 6.5 cartridges, on the left a .260 Ackley, on the right a 6.5 Creedmoor, both taken from 520 yards. Watch the VIDEO HERE
It took some time for the 6.5’s to catch on across the American heartland. Ballistic tinkerers like the aforementioned Mr. Ackley made wildcats like the 6.5-06 popular. There were others like the 6.5 Remington magnum, but they didn’t catch on like their designers had hoped. It was like trying to sell a bullpup to Americans who love AR15’s.
One of my favorite cartridges for largely sentimental reasons is the .264 Winchester Magnum. A product from the 1950’s, it actually predates its 7mm twin, the 7mm Remington Magnum that gained far more attention.
this bull fell at 500 yards to my father’s .264 Win Mag shooting 140 gr bullets
Modern 6.5 Cartridges
Most of us are likely more familiar with modern 6.5 cartridges, but which one will best suit your needs? Many people love to hate on the 6.5 Creedmoor, but it’s impossible to deny its versatility. And it’s literally a ballistic twin to the 6.5×55 and we’ve already discussed how useful that cartridge has been and still is today.
Over a decade ago, there was an outright brawl between the three most popular 6.5 cartridges in the precision shooting space. The three protagonists were the 6.5 Creedmoor, the equally new 6.5×47 Lapua, and another American classic the .260 Remington. All three were hugely popular for short-action precision rifles, but the Creedmoor has seemed to win the popularity contest. Each of them had their strong points, but there’s nothing wrong with any of them.
The newly popular 6.5 PRC has gained an impressive following among big game hunters. While it often shoots the same bullets as the Creedmoor, it shoots them much faster. With a four to five hundred feet per second advantage, the PRC is lighting on deer and elk.
In long-action cartridges, Nosler more recently released their 26 Nosler cartridge. With a huge powder column, it is made to move fast. Of course this comes with a Nosler sized price tag as well.
Considerations
All of these cartridges have positive attributes that you should consider for your purpose. Whether you are a casual hunter, a serious competitor or even a Law Enforcement sniper there is something for you in this family of cartridges.
If you find yourself shooting deer or other comparable game within ranges of two to three-hundred yards any of them will do. One of my kids will be hunting with a 6.5 Grendel this season, shooting 120 grain bullets. Another of my kids will be hunting with the same little .260 I built for him when he turned 12.
My brother and I both will be shooting 6.5 PRC’s most likely, which are definitely good for a bit more distance. We’ve both taken .260’s and Creedmoors beyond the 1,000 yard line, but the PRC is a better tool for such a task.
My father would be shooting his .264 Win Mag, which he’s used in the past to take mule deer, antelope and mature bull elk. Sharing a ballistic profile with the 6.5 PRC it too has a more useful range envelope.
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.
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.
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 Short Barrel 6.5 Creedmoor
Weight
6.8 Pounds
Barrel Length
18-Inches
Barrel Twist
1:8 inches
Barrel Thread
⅝-24
Finish
Graphite Black Cerakote
Overall Length
38.5-Inches
Length of Pull
14-Inches
Capacity
4+1 rounds
Safety
2-Position
Stock
Polymer 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
It had been some time since I checked in on Franchi, long enough that I had no idea they made a rifle that was right up my alley. Today I bring something a little different and new, a fresh look at the Franchi Momentum Elite Varmint rifle.
I’d always known Franchi as a reputable shotgun manufacturer, but partially because I’m a rifle nerd I never really looked into the brand. Until I found out they made a bolt-action rifle. But would this first impression of Franchi’s rifles sway me into a fan?
Franchi Momentum Elite Varmint 6.5 Creedmoor
Franchi Momentum Elite Varmint Rifle Features
Caliber
6.5 Creedmoor
Barrel Length
24 Inches
Barrel Twist
1 in 8 inches
Capacity
One 3-round and one 8-round magazine
Trigger
Adjustable 2-4 Lb
Bolt
Three-lug 60-degree throw
Muzzle
Threaded ⅝-24 includes radial brake
Recoil pad
Interchangeable for LOP
Finish
Midnight Bronze Cerakote
Accuracy Guarantee
1 MOA
Warranty
7 Years
Opening the box of the Franchi Momentum I was impressed, the handsome look and some of the extras included caught my eye immediately. As we spread the items out I saw an included matching thread protector should you decide to remove the muzzle brake. I inspected the curious polymer magazines which both fit nicely into the rifle, released by a button within the trigger guard.
Shouldering the rifle I could appreciate the texturing of the stock in its grip areas, as well as the raised comb to align with optics. Again I was impressed seeing QD flush cup in the stock for sling attachment. This made for easy attachment of my sling. The stock came without the traditional front sling stud installed, which made sense because of the QD cups. But a sling stud was included that you can use to attach a bipod up front, you just pull out a plastic plug and screw it in.
I lifted the bolt and gave it a few strokes, the short throw was very nice and quick. The chromed and fluted bolt slid nicely within the action, though it did seem a touch longer than I was expecting. The back end of the bolt comes awfully close to my nose when pulled to the rear.
The Relia Trigger of the Momentum felt fantastic. I thought about adjusting it but I ended up just leaving it right where it was, as it functioned perfectly and broke very clean. The safety is a two position on the right side of the bolt-shroud, it has a slightly oversized lever which makes it very easy to find and operate. The Momentum uses a V-block style recoil lug, with two notches cut into the bottom of the action. The recoil lug is v-shaped and fits into the stock and engages the action notches.
The twenty-four inch fluted barrel looks great with its Cerakote finish. I broke free the muzzle brake which was much easier than I expected, for some reason manufacturers love to attach muzzle devices like a wheel lug-nut. This one came right off with minimal effort, it was secured with threadlocker that I cleaned off the threads. The handsome tenon would be perfect for mounting one of my suppressors later.
I was quite surprised how much the Momentum resembled the Ruger American, another rifle I quite enjoy. Testing would tell if it would match the performance.
Franchi Momentum Configuration
Before heading out to shoot the Momentum, I needed to kit it out. For that I started with a good riflescope. I mounted a brand new Athlon Optics Helos 2.5-12X42 scope, I think this is a great size for hunting rifles. This rifle would end up doing quite a bit of deer hunting and this scope would be provide great features for that purpose. I mounted the scope in a set of Warne rings, and attached them to the included picatinny scope rail of the Momentum.
After installing the front sling-stud, it was easy to attach a Harris SL bipod which would allow supported shooting. Additionally using the provided QD cups, I attached a good QD sling using the pushbutton swivels.
Having pulled the muzzle brake off, I also planned on shooting the rifle suppressed. For that purpose I grabbed my Banish Backcountry suppressor. The lightweight titanium construction is great for hunting rifles, and with its interchangeable hub system you can fit it to any rifle.
All that was left was a good selection of ammunition to feed the Franchi. For that I grabbed a few boxes of Sierra Matchking Competition, some Hornady 140gr Match, Federal Gold Medal Match 130gr, and some DTM 140gr Match ammunition.
this suppressor was a great match to the Momentum, read more about it here: Banish Backcountry review
Shooting the Franchi Momentum
The Momentum ended up being a very pleasant rifle to shoot. The muzzle brake was very effective at reducing recoil, but for obvious reasons we did most of our shooting with a suppressor. We shot the rifle in the arid mountains of the Great Basin, with some gusting winds every now and then. Testing a variety of ammunition from various different positions and distances.
Ergonomics
I was pleased with the feel of the Momentum’s stock and action. The grip area has a nice vertical feel to it, and the textured areas make it easy to hold on to. The grip and comb can both be removed and changed for different height and feel. I suppose that requires you to purchase the additional parts since they don’t come with the gun but you have the option to adjust at least.
The 60-degree bolt throw was really nice and allowed quick manipulation of the bolt. Though I did notice that the rear of the bolt almost touches the raised comb of the stock. I did on at least one occasion pinch my finger between them.
Controls of the Franchi Momentum are fantastic. The trigger feels great right out of the box, and though its adjustable I saw no reason to mess with it. The oversized safety makes it easy to both identify and manipulate the safe condition of the rifle. The magazine release being tucked within the trigger guard is just stiff enough to avoid being pressed accidentally.
Accuracy
The one MOA accuracy guarantee of the Franchi Momentum is nice, I would prefer a half MOA guarantee, but preferences are like you know whats…
That said we had no problem shooting what we were aiming at with the Momentum. The rifle shot well with all the ammunitions we tested, but seemed to really like the Hornady Match and Federal Gold Medal. We shot the rifle as far as 730 yards, and considering the windy conditions it did very well. Even at that distance a coyote wouldn’t be safe from this Elite Varmint rifle.
As you might imagine, bolt action rifles are pretty reliable. And the Franchi Momentum proved to be just that. We experienced zero failures while shooting the rifle, no feeding issues of any kind, and positive ejection was the norm. The rifle cycled through rounds smoothly but for a slight issue I had with magazines that I’ll detail below.
Value
This particular rifle was bought on a promotion, a good one from Sportsmans Warehouse. And I must say that at the price of that promo it was a no-brainer. But even at the regular street price between about 750 to 850 dollars, this gun is a pretty safe buy. The standard momentum rifles can be had for even a hundred or more less. But the Elite Varmint models command a little higher price with their heavier barrels and camo finishes.
Pros and Cons
There are just a few things I didn’t like about the Franchi Momentum Elite Varmint. Some of them are a little subjective I’ll admit, but others were more a general concern. The interchangeable comb is nice, but the one that came with the rifle forced you to remove it in order to pull the bolt from the action. Not a big deal, but they could have made a slight indent at the front to avoid this. That also might have prevented fingers getting pinched between the bolt shroud and the comb.
The magazines worked fine, but I did have a small gripe about them. First off, everybody is switching to AI mags. There are plenty of inexpensive options for AI mags out there, and I can’t imagine why Franchi didn’t just make the rifle accept AI mags instead of having to manufacture their own. Additionally, the Momentum mags have a little ramp at the front of the follower, and when you run the bolt slowly it hangs up on the ramp when it gets between the bolt-body and the bolt-lugs. It works fine when you run it fast, but its a little irritating when you don’t.
On the positive side, the Franchi Momentum has some great features to appreciate. Despite my gripes the stock is great and feels comfortable while shooting. The addition of the QD sling cups was a touch of class. The action feels fantastic and runs cartridges flawlessly, and the trigger is crisp! The included pic-rail for optics mounting is another added value, and its all pretty handsome finished in the Bronze Cerakote. Flutes in the barrel reduce some weight, but they also add some aestheticly pleasing lines to the rifle. And thank goodness they didn’t miss the boat by leaving the muzzle feature-less, and even gives you options with the brake or simple thread protector. Of course, all this wouldn’t mean much if the rifle didn’t perform well, but it most certainly does.
The Verdict
I would happily recommend this rifle to someone looking for a hunting rifle. I could see myself hunting for decades with a rifle like this, and whether it was coyotes out in the desert or big bull elk up in the high country I would feel confident going after them with the Franchi Momentum in hand.
Turns out that I should have paid more attention to Franchi. Because the shotguns they make that I enjoy so much were just the beginning of my infatuation with the Italian brand. I am looking forward to seeing this rifle put to good use this fall, and every confidence it will work well.
I guess you could say I’ve always been a Ruger fan, the very first centerfire rifles I bought were from the 75 year old manufacturer. Back then, I couldn’t have known how many Ruger rifles would come my way. And in the many years since I have found many virtues in Ruger’s firearms. Today we are taking a look at the new Ruger American Gen 2, a modestly priced rifle made for the American shooting public. The Gen 2 Ruger American builds on the reputation of the incredibly popular Ruger American, which has become a mainstay with firearms enthusiasts and gun shops.
all kitted out for big country
I bring you this review today, because I quite enjoyed the Gen 1 Ruger American. So I purchased the new Gen 2 to see how they compare, and if the upgrade is worth your time. Some of this review will be comparing the rifle to its predecessor, as well as comparing it to other competitors rifles. The market that the Ruger American is after, is incredibly competitive. Price is a big factor, as is performance and reliability. Let’s start down the bore…
Ruger American Gen 2
Specifications
Caliber
308 Winchester
Barrel Length
20 Inches
Barrel Twist
1:10
Stock
Gen 2 American Gray Splatter polymer
Overall Length
41.25 inches
Length of Pull
12-13.75 inches
Capacity
3 Round included
Magazine
AICS pattern
Barrel
5 Groove Spiral Fluted
Weight
6.2 pounds
Material
Alloy Steel
Finish
Gun metal gray Cerakote
Sight option
Picatinny scope rail
Muzzle thread
⅝-24 threaded with radial brake
MSRP
$729.00
the bolt-stop does double-duty serving as a timing guide for the bolt assembly
The Ruger American Gen 2 rifle is based on the American action, a steel action with a three-lug bolt. The oversized bolt-body in my opinion gives the action its smooth stroke, and it is guided by the bolt stop which does double duty keeping the bolt clocked properly. Its bolt-handle is oversized and threaded 5/16-24 to allow changing it should you desire. The large round bolt-knob gives great purchase while running the bolt.
For a trigger, the American uses Ruger’s Marksman trigger which can be adjusted from 3 to 5 pounds. As usual, there is a blade safety on the trigger, something I am not particularly fond of. On the action-tang, there is a three position safety. With a bolt-lock safe position, as well as safe with bolt operation, and the firing position.
note trigger blade safety and AICS magazine release
Caliber Options
One of the many appealing options of this rifle is the spectrum of caliber options. Nearly any sized cartridge can be put into the American action. According to Ruger’s website, these are the current options:
22 ARC
.243 Win
.270 Winchester
6mm ARC
6mm Creedmoor
30-06 Springfield
6.5 Grendel
6.5 Creedmoor
6.5 PRC
223 Remington
308 Winchester
7mm PRC
204 Ruger
7mm-08 Remington
300 Win. Magnum
350 Legend
450 Bushmaster
400 Legend
There are three distinct Gen 2 American models, the Standard we have here, the Ranch model that uses shorter barrels and a Cobalt Cerakote/FDE color, and the Predator model that uses a longer barrel and Bronze Cerakote on green color.
All the above options made it challenging to pick one, as several of them are my fave’s. But I ended up going 308 Winchester simply because it’s such an easy choice and quickly comparable to other rifles.
the radial muzzle brake of the Gen 2 American, nice flats made removal easy
All models of the Gen 2 American rifle come with the spiral fluted barrel, and comes with a threaded muzzle should you wish to change the muzzle device. I would certainly take advantage of this feature to see how the rifle shot suppressed. Getting the brake off was easy with provided flats, and I appreciated that it hadn’t been torqued on by the same guy who did my Gen 1.
The polymer stock feels like an upgrade from the Gen 1. It feels a bit harder and less flexible, which was one of my complaints about the Gen 1. While there is still some flex in the stock, at a price point like this it’s tough to ask for more. Interestingly, the magwell area of the stock is interchangeable. This allows the same basic stock to be used, and simply change out the magwell depending on the cartridge feeding needs.
a look at the magwell and its detail
Apart from the handsome finish, the stock also features an elevated comb. This was very welcome, as it allowed perfect alignment of my eye with the scope once mounted. At the tail-end, you find a very soft rubber recoil-pad. I imagine this is very nice on the larger long-actions, as well as the short-action’s like mine. I also like the way they set the rear sling-stud at an angle, the natural angle it would pull from on the sling.
Ruger American Gen 2 Setup
As a hunter at heart, I wanted to set this rifle up the same way I would to hunt these wild Rocky Mountains. The Gen 2 American would be a great rifle for the kind of hunting I do, so I picked out some great accessories for it.
A Riflescope
A good hunting rifle needs a good scope. The wide open mountains where I hunt and shoot definitely need something suitable for long-range shooting. I like semi-compact scopes like 3-12X or 3-18X for my hunting rifles. But because I could, I picked a higher magnification scope. The Maven Optics RS3 is a 30mm scope with a 5-30X magnification spread, and it fit the space on the Ruger American perfectly. I used a set of Warne scope rings that set the height perfectly on the pic rail of the receiver.
A Suppressor
The radial brake on the muzzle of the Ruger American rifles works well to reduce recoil. But there are a few things I don’t like about it; for starters its way too damn loud. Aside from the noise, radial brakes often kick up dirt and debris when you shoot. Both of these issues can be addressed by adding a suppressor, and it will make you more popular among your shooting friends and women of culture.
the Ruger American makes a great suppressor host
Because the Ruger American Gen 2 rifles are pretty light, I wanted to add a suppressor that would keep it that way. For that purpose I installed my Banish Backcountry suppressor, it’s lightweight titanium construction and compact size matched the Ruger handsomely.
Additional Accessories
I prefer to shoot from a supported position, so most of my rifles have a bipod installed. And this little Ruger would get the same treatment. For simplicity I installed one of my Harris 3-9 bipods, its a well-known option that I use frequently so it was an easy choice.
Because I like to shoot extensively, I also figured I would get some extra magazines for the rifle. Since Ruger did me the favor of making the American Gen 2 accept AICS magazines, I could select from a variety of options from 3 to 10 round capacity.
Other than a good sling, this rifle was ready for field shooting. By pure luck I happened to visit a public range that day, something I prefer to avoid. But it gave me an easy opportunity to boresight the rifle using my tool-less method, and zeroing the rifle with just a couple shots.
Ruger American Gen 2 Rifle on the Range
With targets hung at one hundred yards, I snuggled-up behind the rifle and settled my eye through the scope. I’d already loaded the magazine with a fine selection of Hornady Precision Hunter 178 grain ammunition. I touched off the first few rounds, and made a scope adjustment to bring my impact and aim-points together. After a few more rounds, and shooting a few groups, I felt it was close enough to call for now.
First Impressions: Running the bolt on the Ruger American Gen 2 felt great, but I did notice that the very first few rounds I really had to run the bolt like I meant it. Whether it was the ejector tension or something else, it seemed to not like being pussy-footed into battery. This issue went away with additional shooting. I also found that the magazine fit quite tight, which is good for a hunting rifle, but bad when your trying to hurry up the next magazine into place. I’m sure with practice this will get better. The trigger felt great, whatever the factory setting is works just fine for my shooting needs.
one of the better groups from my testing
From there, we would venture into the high country where I spend most of my time. The snow covered mountains where deer, elk and moose wander is the best place to practice in my opinion. Practicing where I hunt helps familiarize with real world shooting, and better preps us for hunting season. And that is where we would put the little Ruger American through its testing.
Shooting long-range with the Ruger American was fantastic. Hitting 1 MOA sized targets at distances like 730 yards was easily repeatable, and brought a smile to my face. Using a drop chart I’d calculated prior allowed me to make deadly accurate shots at various real-world long-range hunting distances. From 450 yards and in, it seemed we couldn’t miss while shooting the DTM match ammunition.
Shootability
I already mentioned the little issue I had closing the bolt too slow, that issue seemed to be mostly related to break-in. The three-lug bolt of the American has a shorter bolt throw than some of its competitors, which makes it easier to run. I really liked the round bolt-knob and saw no reason to change it to something different, but it’s nice to know you can.
The new three position safety worked great, though I don’t often use them. I did think that there is a good positive click between settings, though it was also easy to think you un-safed the rifle and still have one more click to go.
extraction and cartridge cycling was flawless
Ruger’s Marksman trigger felt just like I expected it to, and for a rifle at this price point I wouldn’t complain. I mentioned I don’t like blade safeties, mainly because of aesthetics, but I found this trigger and I immediately got along. It felt crisp and predictable, allowing me to shoot some pretty good groups.
The stock has a nice feel to it, the texture is nice for gripping it. And yet it seems the stock is thin enough in all the right places to get a good grip even with smaller hands. My kids were all quite comfortable behind the rifle, which is an easy test metric.
I did notice that my MDT 10 Round magazine seemed to rub the bottom of the bolt while reloading. It never interfered with operation, but perhaps another 10-round option wouldn’t rub.
Reliability
It seems the second generation Ruger American continues the reliable operation established by the first generation rifle. During our testing, the rifle never malfunctioned. It fed flawlessly from the factory magazine as well as from several aftermarket mags. Cycling a variety of ammunition types without issue, with clean and smooth ejection.
I expect that long-term testing of this rifle will show continued reliability. With a rifle priced around $600 or less, you can expect there will be some plastic parts which some of us feel are less durable. However it feels like the Ruger American Gen 2 rifle has a healthy balance of good materials where it matters. And I expect this rifle will last me a long time.
Ergonomics
Ruger engineers really got it right when designing this stock. The grip angle is comfortable making the rifle easily manipulated. The grooves in the fore-end are great for holding onto the rifle, and one-handed carrying. The bolt-throw and controls of the rifle are all easily accessible and function smoothly. I couldn’t find anything I didn’t like about the ergonomics.
Accuracy
Hornady 178 gr PH
Hornady Black 155 gr
DTM 175 gr Match
0.923 MOA Average
0.944 MOA Average
0.597 MOA Average
Only accurate rifles interest me, and in my experience I’ve had some very accurate Ruger rifles. You can read more about my other Ruger experiences here. The Ruger American Gen 2 fit in with my excellent past experiences, the rifle performed very well right out of the box.
The above accuracy results are a pretty good average, though there were plenty of better than average groups. I’d expect if you handloaded for this rifle it would be easy to tune them to what this rifle likes. And doing so, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if this rifle shot 1/2 MOA groups regularly.
Value Proposition
I often mention my secret fascination for inexpensive rifles that shoot like very expensive rifles. This little Ruger definitely gives me those vibes, much like other Ruger rifles this one seems to punch above its weight.
You’ll have a hard time escaping the feel of a six-hundred dollar gun, but as the hits keep coming you won’t care. You really get a great functioning and sweet shooting rifle for that price. Ruger has done well in this realm of firearms, and it seems the American Gen 2 rifle has upped their game a little bit more.
With new features like the safety and trigger, the Gen 2 may or may not be worth upgrading for you. If your Gen 1 shoots good, roll with it. I do prefer the handsome looks of the second generation myself.
Recommendations
I mentioned this rifle market is incredibly competitive, for just a little more you can get some nice rifles. And there are certainly cheaper options as well. There are some great Bergara rifles that are around the same price, and bring Remington 700 compatibility which is very nice. Mossberg and Savage both make cheaper rifles that can perform well, but based on my experience with them I would choose the American over those even at their lower price. And for a hundred or two more dollars you can get into a Tikka T3, which is also a fantastic rifle.
If the cost dictates your choice then go the way you must. The Gen 1 American’s can often be had for less, as can the other brands I mentioned. If you’ve got your sights set on this rifle I can strongly recommend it.
Conclusion
The Ruger American Gen 2 rifle turned out to be exactly what I thought it would be. A great little hunting rifle with features and price that appeal to the heartland hunters of America. There are few things you’d need a bolt-action rifle for that this rifle wouldn’t do quite well. I would feel more than comfortable taking this rifle on a backcountry elk hunt here in these mountains. And that is what matters most to me; would I take it hunting.
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O.F. Mossberg & Sons has been around for over a hundred years now, crafting firearms for American hunters and shooters. Being a bit of a rifle enthusiast I never had much experience with Mossberg firearms as they were mostly shotguns. I do remember my little brother knocking ducks out of the sky with his Mossberg Model 500 though. Today we are looking at something relatively new from the Connecticut based manufacturer. The Patriot series of rifles has already been around for years, today we are going to have a look at the basic Mossberg Patriot Synthetic rifle chambered in 6.5 .Creedmoor.
The Patriot came to me already configured from the vendor with a Vortex 3-9 scope already mounted. Not sure if they did it right or not, but it seemed to function as designed so I ran with it. It appeared to be the exact combination you might pick up from your local sporting goods retailer. It’s a simple rifle that retails for under $400.
Mossberg Patriot
A good trigger is always a welcome feature, and the Patriot trigger feels pretty good
I am not new to Christensen Arms rifles, I’ve been lucky to play with several of them over the last couple years. But today we are looking at a new to me rifle; the Christensen Arms MPR 6.5 Creedmoor.
The Modern Precision Rifle (MPR) is Christensen’s version of a light-weight sharp-shooting rifle. Whether it’s used for competition shooting or as a sniper rifle, the MPR brings some very modern touches to the precision rifle market. But are those features worthy of praise?
The MPR
Christensen’s MPR is based around their stainless steel action, a two-lug action very similar to the very popular Remington 700 like many other modern actions. The rifle tested here is chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor, using a short action bolt. Like most Christensen rifles, the MPR is heavily reliant on carbon fiber.
Its carbon-wrapped match-grade barrel is largely responsible for the rifle’s lightweight, as are other parts of the chassis. At the end of the barrel it is threaded 5/8-24 and is fit with a matching muzzle brake for additional recoil reduction.
At the heart of the chassis is an aluminum block where the action is mounted. And the handguard is bolted on to the front and is made from a carbon fiber shaped tube. The MPR uses the very popular AICS pattern magazines and they feed nicely into the magwell of the rifle. Inspecting the grip looks to be a basic AR-15 type pistol grip, this is a nice feature as you can install whichever one suits your fancy.
The folding stock hinges just behind the tang of the action, I really like the way they designed the hinge mechanism. It’s quite tight and locks up as if there was no hinge at all. Just be careful to keep skin away from the area while folding or you may bleed a bit.
Fortunately the butt stock of the MPR is completely adjustable, which makes it very nice to adapt to each individual shooter. The whole thing is pretty handsome and put together very nicely.
Surely I was going to need a good scope and at least a bipod to shoot this rifle well. I installed a Primary Arms ACSS Apollo 6-30X56 riflescope in a ZRO Delta Mount . To simplify I went with a Harris 6-9 bipod attached to the pic-rail on the bottom of the MPR handguard. For ammunition I brought along a few boxes ofHornady 140grain match ammo. With everything put together, leveled and balanced I adjusted the rifle to fit me, and headed out for the range.
First Impressions
The Christensen Arms MPR 6.5 Creedmoor was plenty comfortable to shoot. It weighed so little compared to other similar rifles I have. As I sat behind it on a bench I ran the bolt a few times and felt the break of the trigger just to familiarize myself with it. Its bolt was easy to lift and snap shut, and the Trigger Tech trigger as usual felt outstanding.
I loaded the magazineand closed the bolt. As I broke the trigger everything felt right, the recoil was quite modest and running the bolt for round two sent the empty case flying. The M16 style extractor of the MPR does a great job getting brass out of the way for the next round.
I fired a few more shots and adjusted my scope to get a proper zero. At that point I tried to settle down as best I could and shoot a few good groups using both the Hornady and some Federal 130 grain match. I felt quite good about my shooting but I was not super excited about the grouping downrange, the first three groups of five-shots measured right around an inch. I tried again with my other ammo selection and got very similar results, my only hope is that perhaps this rifle doesn’t like what I feed it. And maybe there is something out there it will shoot better.
Into the snow
We decided to take the rifle for a hiking trip into the snow-covered Rocky Mountains, and I brought another type of Hornady ammunition to see if perhaps it faired better. With all my gear stowed on my back, my son and I headed into the cold.
The open country where we live makes an excellent place to hunt and shoot. Here in these breezy canyons I wanted to see how the MPR shot. Mainly to see how it would perform at longer distances and real-world shooting scenarios.
Normally this time of year I shoot at tiny snow patches in the dirt. But due to winter part 2, I was instead shooting at little dirt patches in the snow. The first target was about a three-inch muddy spot surrounded by white snow. I figured it would be easy to spot the impact and judge the shot.
After loading the rifle I steadied it and focused on my point of aim nearly four hundred yards away. I pressed the trigger and the suppressed gust of pressure echoed across the canyon. I’d added my Yankee Hill Machine R9 suppressor just to see if it helped the performance of the rifle.
The contrast of dark splattered dirt across the snow, and my hit was close enough to call it good in my opinion. So I continued my search for additional targets. We repeated the process until I had exhausted my curiosity and ammunition supply.
I’ll be honest up front, I wasn’t exactly sold on the aesthetics of this rifle when I first saw it. I couldn’t exactly say what I didn’t like about it. But it has certainly grown on me a bit over the last few weeks. Everybody else thought it looked great so I’ll assume its just my weird taste.
I was really hoping this rifle would shoot better than it did. To be fair it is not a new rifle so its possible that it has been rode hard and put away wet too many times. But a rifle like this should shoot half-MOA groups all day. I just couldn’t get it to reliably do that.
On the plus side, I really appreciated many of the rifles other qualities. The light weight is always appreciated. And its comfortable and adjustable chassis made shooting it very pleasant. Little features like the folding mechanism, great trigger, awesome cycling and threaded barrel made adapting the rifle to my purposes easy. And of course improved my shooting experience.
I must say that I liked this rifle more than I expected to. And yet I’m torn because I am simply uninterested in rifles that won’t shoot reliably sub MOA. I’m lucky to have rifles ranging from discount economy models under four hundred dollars up to production sniper rifles that cost seven thousand dollars. And even the cheap ones I can typically get to shoot consistently sub MOA and often 1/2 MOA.
The Christensen Arms MPR 6.5 Creedmoor surely could be an outstanding rifle, I’ve heard of others that shoot outstanding and accurately. If this one did, I think I’d be hard pressed to let it go. But with a street price just under twenty-four hundred dollars, I’d need more convincing.
I say one example because there are so many great examples it would be daunting to list them all. Today’s subject is a great example to start with, precision shooting and long-range were once a rich man’s game using only custom built rifles. This rifle however is every bit as competitive, and is much easier to obtain for mainstream shooters looking for entry to the precision shooting circuit.
The Savage Model 110
Savage has been in the bolt-action rifle business for a long time, and in my opinion they have done a pretty good job of offering an affordable rifle that punches above its weight. Back when it was all custom rifles, Savage model 10’s and 110’s were often the choice for an effective donor action that wouldn’t break the bank.
The model we’re testing today utilizes Savages popular Accu-trigger, floating bolt-head, and tang-mounted safety. These are common and popular features for the Savage, and well tested over the past decade. On top of the tubular action is a 20 MOA scope mounting rail, also very common on long-range rifles. The base gives a canted starting point for your scope, which allows the internal movement of your reticle a wider range of travel, and helps keep it further from the extreme ends of its travel.
A twenty-six inch stainless barrel is mounted in the action, and it features a heavy profile and a one-in-eight-twist. The threaded muzzle carries a dual ported muzzle brake to help reduce recoil. Before the Fudd’s chime in about 6.5 Creedmoor’s being weak and not in need of recoil reduction, let’s make it clear: Recoil reduction in competitive shooting isn’t about weakness, it’s about spotting your own hits and misses. Muzzle brakes keep you on target so you can hopefully see your impact.
MDT has been building precision rifle chassis for quite some time, and their ACC rifle chassis is one of their more popular competition models. The chassis is compatible with many of the more popular rifle actions, allowing users an upgrade.
The chassis is built from aluminum, and features a skelotonized buttstock with completely adjustable positions. An adjustable pistol grip also allows customization for the user, making the rifle as comfortable as possible. MDT’s chassis is also compatible with the standard Accuracy International pattern magazines, which is a must have nowadays. The foregrip of the rifle is M-Lok compatible to allow adding accessories like weights and barricade stops. Or any other ad-on that PRS type shooting utilizes. There is also a built in ARCA rail on the bottom of the foregrip, this allows the rapid attachment of other support accessories and mounting the rifle atop a tripod.
But how comfortable is it?
I wasted no time prepping the rifle to be range-ready, I added a Harris bipod mounted to an ARCA clamp for easy adjustment on the ACC ARCA rail. And for a scope, I wanted something that would match the rifle’s needs, so I mounted my Kahles 318iin a set of Vortex rings. Once everything was together, I laid behind the rifle to adjust everything to my taste and prepared for the range.
As I lay on the firing line, looking through my little Kahles. I couldn’t help but think; this rifle is quite comfortable. And in no time I would produce some great results because of it.
I loaded a magazine with my Hornady Match ammo, closed the bolt and focused on the target. Tightening up my grip against the trigger, I pressed till it broke. It felt great, the recoil was linear and even, I ran the bolt fast and fired another. And continued till the mag went empty.
The TiN coated bolt of the Savage 110 action was smooth as could be. But I did notice there was a slight hitch in the feed as the cartridges went forward. Every so often I would have to pause my push of the bolt and start again to get it to feed right. I think perhap it didn’t like that particular magazine. Because it seemed to go away when I tried it with a polymer magazine from Magpul.
The rifle shot great besides that. It was easy to keep shots on target though the best I could get the rifle to group was around 1/2 MOA but average was more like .75 MOA. Not bad but also not what competitors would look for. Competition rifles often shoot sub .5 MOA and even as small as .4 or .3 MOA.
I ran the rifle through an afternoon of shooting, burning up my ammunition. It was very enjoyable and ended up teaching me a few things. I also added a Accuracy Solutions Bipod extender to see how it affected the rifle and its shooting, the results were steadier.
The MDT chassis played a big part in the comfort and ability to shoot the rifle well. I was quite pleased with how it felt in my shoulder, and adjusted properly it was a perfect fit for me.
Pros & Cons
I guess there are few things I wish were better, first and foremost would be accuracy. The rifle is apparently not new so I have no idea how many rounds it has downrange. It wouldn’t surprise me if it was excessive.
The magazine hiccup was also a little disheartening. Though I don’t think it’d be hard to correct with a little lip adjustment. But other than that I think the rifle is an outstanding piece of work, chassis and rifle both fit very well together.
The chassis is easily and quickly adjusted to fit any shooter. Its forend is easily adapted to accept accessories with its M-Lok slots and ARCA rail at the bottom. The feel of the chassis was excellent with a naturally occuring “gas-pedal” for the thumb (if you don’t know you gotta look that one up).
The Savage action is like every other savage action I’ve ever shot, not exactly tight but still runs like a sewing machine. All these years later I still don’t particularly care for the Accu-trigger. I usually take them off on personal rifles, but I must admit it is not bad. The muzzle brake was very effective at reducing recoil, and keeping the rifle on target.
In Closure
Despite being a little bit let down by this particular rifle’s accuracy, I still overall liked this setup. With a drop in barrel replacement it could be back in sub-half MOA accuracy if needed. Making everything about it helpful to any shooter in a competitive shooting scenario.
Howa has long been a trusted brand for affordable performance. In today’s article we will be discussing another model from Howa, a variant of the model 1500. The Kratos 6.5 Creedmoor is sold as a hunting rifle and introductory precision rifle, built on the durable 1500 action and placed in a synthetic stock ready for whatever activity you choose.
The Kratos
The God of war seems a bit off for the name of a hunting or match rifle, but here we are. The features that set he Kratos apart give it some excellent handling and performance. The synthetic stock feature bedded pillars in its composite structure to keep the action firmly stabilized. The model I received came with both a hinged floorplate and a detachable box magazine system that holds five rounds. The exterior of the stock features a very nice texturing that allows excellent handling, and the whole thing is finished off with an attractive camouflaged paint pattern.
The 1500 action and barrel are also Cerakoted in a tan color, which makes the whole thing quite handsome. Controls on the action include a right side safety near the bolt-shroud, and opposite that is a petite bolt-release lever. The bolt is a ninety-degree two lug type, it uses an M16 type claw extractor and a traditional plunger ejector.
The barrel itself is a twenty-two inch eight twist barrel of a fairly light profile. Nothing wrong with that for a hunting rifle, but it did seem a little light for even an entry level match rifle. This was of little concern to me, as the only plans I had for the rifle was as a hunting tool.
The muzzle of the rifle features a very slender muzzle brake with radial ports to reduce recoil. Underneath the brake were a clean set of 1/2-28 threads, perfect for mounting a suppressor. The rifle I received also came with a one-piece scope base, which would reduce the time needed to get a scope mounted and on the range.
Range Preparation
The first thing I wanted to add to the rifle was a good scope, I had a Crimson Trace Hardline 3-12 scope handy, and already in a mount. This made installing it a breeze, leaving me needing only to zero the gun and get shooting. But before that, I installed a Harris bipod and I also grabbed my Yankee Hill Machine R9 suppressor which would make a nice addition to the ensemble.
With several hunts coming in the next few weeks, I wanted to make sure the rifle was ready for anything. Both my wife and son would also be hunting this year, and I was going to see if either of them wanted to try the new Howa as their main gun. That being the case I grabbed a couple different selections of ammunition, a Hornady 120 grain Match Load, as well as my own custom hunting load featuring the Patriot Valley arms Cayuga bullets. I’ve used these bullets many times in the past to take deer and elk, and these 122 grain bullets loaded in the 6.5 Creedmoor have dropped elk with outstanding performance.
After packing up all my gear and accessories, I took the Howa to my shooting spot. With a target hung at one hundred yards, I laid down behind the Kratos and bore-sighted the scope. I zeroed the rifle using the Hornady ammo, and also tried some 130 grain Federal Gold Medal ammunition. They all shot equally, so I tried my Cayuga hunting load as well. They averaged right at one MOA with a five shot group.
With a little refinement I figured I could tighten that up before hunting season. I would prefer the rifle shoot half MOA groups, this better consistency is very handy when shots get longer.
One thing I noticed while shooting the rifle at one hundred yards was how much I liked the two-stage trigger. You could tell it wasn’t a seven thousand dollar sniper rifle trigger, but it still was a great little trigger and better than average for a hunting rifle. I also noticed just the slightest bind on the bolt when running it, but it was also dry. I added a touch of lube to the contact points and it ran as smooth as could be.
Now that I had the rifle zeroed, I figured I would do some real world shooting. My favorite part of shooting here in the mountains is that it allows me to practice in the same scenarios that I would during a hunt. I picked out a rock about the size of a deer’s vitals, I picked it because it had the right shape, and lay surrounded by nothing but dry dirt. I ranged it with my LRF, and the range came back at four-hundred-twenty yards. It was a steep canyon and my target lay deep below me, so I dialed the elevation correction, subtracting for the incline of course. I favored into the wind which was coming down the canyon, and took up the first stage of the trigger. When my hold was just right, I pressed harder and sent the shot crushing the thin rock into the dirt.
With a fresh sense of confidence, I decided to try another shot. This one was straight across the canyon, with a good wind blowing at full-value. The laser came back with six-hundred and fifteen yards, so I again corrected my scope elevation for the distance and evaluated the wind as I lay there. A full MIL into the wind seemed a bit much, but I’ve certainly misjudged the wind before so I held the full MIL. After breaking the trigger again, I watched my bullet impact a few inches downwind of where I wanted it too. Shoulda probably held 1.1 or 1.2 MIL, but that is exactly why I like doing this, to get more experience doping the wind. Continue Reading Here…
PROS AND CONS
Having taken the Howa Kratos into the field several times now, I have been able to form an opinion worth sharing. First let’s talk about shootability, the stock feels great in the hands and its handsome to boot. I already mentioned the great trigger, and I love a good two-stage. The detachable magazine did seem a bit janky, in that I would occasionally get a failure to feed from a nose-down cartridge. The magazine itself felt pretty thin, which didn’t fill me with confidence either. I will likely just run the hinged floorplate for hunting purposes.
The muzzle brake was surprisingly petite, but it did reduce some felt recoil. Though with a Creedmoor I’m not sure if its needed. I much preferred shooting with my suppressor, additionally I don’t care for radially ported brakes due to the dirt they kick up when shooting.
There were a couple issues feeding from the magazine but that could have just been our test mag. When we swapped out to the floorplate it ran much smoother
As far as accuracy is concerned, I found it to be plenty accurate for a general-purpose hunting rifle. For an entry level match rifle, I think it could shoot better, either purpose would benefit from better accuracy in my opinion. Before hunting season starts, I will be refining my loads to see how good the little Howa can shoot.One last point is that even for an entry level match gun, the Kratos could benefit from a heavier barrel. Thinner barrels seem to wander as shot strings get longer. Hopefully for hunting, we’ll only need to shoot it once.
Could be more accurate, especially for a match rifle
Would benefit from heavier barrel
Some issues feeding from the magazine
Not a huge fan of radial muzzle brakes
CONCLUSION
With an MSRP of $650 I think the Kratos is a safe buy. Its handsome looks and suitable performance coming from a reputable company like Howa is likely all you need to make a choice. In my opinion this is a great little rifle, I think if my son ends up using it next month he may fall in love and have to hold onto it. And that would be just fine with me.
The model we’re testing today utilizes Savages popular Accu-trigger, floating bolt-head, and tang-mounted safety. These are common and popular features for the Savage, and well tested over the past decade. On top of the tubular action is a 
The Savage action is like every other savage action I’ve ever shot, not exactly tight but still runs like a sewing machine. All these years later I still don’t particularly care for the Accu-trigger. I usually take them off on personal rifles, but I must admit it is not bad. The muzzle brake was very effective at reducing recoil, and keeping the rifle on target.
