[EricCartmann]

This is the first time I have been to the range in a month and half so I was a bit rusty. I packed a cooler and food and actually spend 8 hours at the range today! I spent most of my time with my AR-10 SuperSASS but also spent alot of time with the Ruger 10/22. I also had to test some 556 loads.

Here are some pics:

AR10-SuperSASS, 20" SS Barrel, Leupold Mark4 3.5-10x42 illuminated TMR - This is the gun that will do most of the work today.

My 16" AR10A4 (CQB set-up) will also see some work today.

This is the 308 ammo I will be chrono'ing today. My Plinker Load, Lithuanian, South African, Prvi Match, Federal Gold Medal Match

100 yards will be the target distance. Chrono is 10ft away.

Other Stuff I brought to the range to play with

Metal Gongs in the shape of human silluottes at 200, 300, 400, and 500 yards to plink with.

 

[EricCartmann]

The following were shot out of the SuperSASS
AR10T SuperSASS, Leupold Mark4 3.5-10x42 illuminated TMR
Bench + Bipod
100 yards


Plinking Load3
- Winchester 147gr FMJ, Varget 44gr, Lake City 04 Brass, CCI 200 Primer, No Crimp
Mean Average (Foot per Second): 2673 <=== 10 Samples
High (FPS): 2697
Low (FPS) 2643
Standard Deviation: 17.10
Mean Radius (Inches): 0.85" <=== 10 shot group
Mean Diameter (Inches) 1.70"
Max Spread (Inches): 2.25"

Federal Gold Medal Match, 168 gr HPBT
Mean Average (Foot per Second): 2553 <=== 19 Samples
High (FPS): 2598
Low (FPS) 2458
Standard Deviation: 33.51
Mean Radius (Inches): 0.789" <=== 20 shot group
Mean Diameter (Inches) 1.58"
Max Spread (Inches): 3.25"

Prvi Match, 168 gr HPBT
Mean Average (Foot per Second): 2601 <=== 19 Samples
High (FPS): 2632
Low (FPS) 2608
Standard Deviation: 13.99
Mean Radius (Inches): 0.875" <=== 20 shot group
Mean Diameter (Inches) 1.75"
Max Spread (Inches): 3.25"

South African, 146 gr FMJ
Mean Average (Foot per Second): 2762 <=== 20 Samples
High (FPS): 2807
Low (FPS) 2734
Standard Deviation: 21.36
Mean Radius (Inches): 1.30" <=== 20 shot group
Mean Diameter (Inches) 2.60"
Max Spread (Inches): 6"

Lithuanian, GGG 04, NATO M80, 147gr FMJ
Mean Average (Foot per Second): 2770 <=== 14 Samples
High (FPS): 2836
Low (FPS) 2737
Standard Deviation: 26.47
Mean Radius (Inches): 1.69" <=== 20 shot group
Mean Diameter (Inches) 3.3"
Max Spread (Inches): 6.25"

 

[EricCartmann]

For Reference, here is the same Lithuanian ammo out of the 16" AR10
As you can see it is only 100 FPS slower and groupings were the same with the 20" AR10

AR10-A4 16" Chrome Lined Barrel (infantry weight)
Samson FF Rails, Eotech
Bench + Sandbags

Mean Average (Foot per Second): 2679 <=== 20 Samples
High (FPS): 2754
Low (FPS) 2644
Standard Deviation: 26.37
Mean Radius (Inches): 1.73" <=== 20 shot group
Mean Diameter (Inches) 3.47"
Max Spread (Inches): 6.25"

 

[Prizm]

Man, nice report. I love it. So what are your impressions of your SASS? Is it what you expected so far? How did you break it in? Mine will only shoot GMM so far. I've tried many others but the 168 Fed. is clearly the best for mine. By the way, what state are you in?

 

[EricCartmann]

I live around the Las Vegas area.

I broke it in by using the 110 round break in method recommended by Armalite and Knesek Guns for Stainless barrels. I am not a big fan of this type of break in because I am lazy and it takes a long time, but I figured, what the hell, not like I got anything else better to do.
- Clean Barrel after every shot for the first 10 shot (1 clean = 1 wet patch followed by 3-4 dry patch)
- Clean Barrel after every 2 shots for the next 20 shot.
- Clean Barrel after every 3 shots for the next 30 shot.
- Clean Barrel after every 5 shots for the next 50 shot.

Took me 4 hours total just to break her in!

Some other comments:

- I normally have very good luck with FGMM, but this particuliar box did not fair so well. There was about 150 FPS difference between the highs and low. My max spread for FGMM usually is not more than 50fps. Despite having the my worst 20 round groups ever with FGMM, it is still better than the best days for Surplus ammo.

- I was really surprise my 308 "Plinking Load" came very close to FGMM in performance. I will have to load up some Sierra MatchKings 168gr HPBT to see what this SuperSASS can do.

- I hear Lithuanian is near match grade ammo. For me this was not the case, it was even worse than South African. I got about the same groupings 3 different times. 2 sets were done on the SuperSASS and 1 on the 16"er.

 

[Prizm]

Only 4 hours for break in? Dude that's blistering compared to me. It took me 2 separate outings to get it done. I did the same as you but I put wet patches then dry till that thing is spotless then I shoot another. Right or wrong this thing is right near .5 moa far as I can tell. But I think I told you I had to send it back and let Armalite work it some more. I did shoot some Fed 150gr. off the shelf stuff once and it shot right at an inch or better, so maybe I need to try it again for plinking.

When I did that long range class I had 2 or 3 primers blow up in that FGMM. The instructors said they've been seeing that a lot over the past year and had contacted Fed about it. Apparently it's know that since the ammo crunch has been going on their quality control has dropped significantly so I'm not surprised about your velocity differences.

I bought some of that 168gr. AMAX stuff in the group buy so I need to try it out too. Fiocchi 168gr was a bust. Black Hills does ok but that GMM makes that gun act like a different animal.

By they way I have a POF .308 with 14.5" barrel on order. If it ever gets here I'll let you know how it shoots. They say they shoot very well. I've been next in line for 3 months now so I expect it by August. Dang near a one year wait.

Keep the info coming as you shoot. Great stuff!

 

[EricCartmann]

My 1st 5 shot with FGMM were all touching each other, so I know this gun is capable of a lot.

I noticed my scope mount was a little loose at the end of the day having very slight forward to back movement, probably about 5mm or so. I tightened down the quick release without tightning the bolt. Not sure if it was like that when I installed it or it eventually came loose, but I am sure it affected accuracy a little. But then again probably not as I got almost the exact same spread as my 16" AR10 using Lithuanian ammo.

I definately have to go back one more time and do more groupings.

 

[aziator]

Nice review Eric, I keep telling myself I need to get one of those. Maybe one of these days...

 

[Prizm]

Nice review Eric, I keep telling myself I need to get one of those. Maybe one of these days...

Aziator, you wouldn't be disappointed. The SASS is a very nice rifle. You can shoot so fast and accurate it's really quite amazing. I don't shoot long range very often and this gun makes me look like a superstar, so it's dang good.

 

[Guest]

sO WHATS YOUR OPINION OF THAT LITHUANIAN AMMO? it appears to be a little worse than the SA stuff in your guns.

 

[EricCartmann]

sO WHATS YOUR OPINION OF THAT LITHUANIAN AMMO? it appears to be a little worse than the SA stuff in your guns.

This is the first time I tried the Lithuanian and for me so far, it is no better than South African. I give both ammo props as they go bang everytime, but the Lithuanian is far from "near match grade" as some have claimed.

I bought a case of Lithuanian basically for the brass, but there is no NATO head stamp on the brass so this must not be really NATO ammo even though they claim M80 NATO.

My 308 "plinking load" kicks ass. It consistenly gets 2" max spread for 10 shot groups. This using badly malformed once fired NATO PMJ machine gun brass, and cheap 147gr Winchester projectiles.

 

[ny32182]

Eric, I always enjoy your range reports.

I have seen some people claim 1.5" or better for the Lithuanian out of a bolt gun. I've thought about buying some mostly for the brass as well, but haven't got around to it yet.

 

[magikbullet]

nice report!

that range looks awesome...

 

[gunner69]

That Lith stuff sure does shoot to the right alot??? WTF? Did the wind pick up or what???