Breaking in the new (to me) PTR-91 SC

[FRAG-AFE]

The bolt does lock open, I can even pass a single sheet of tissue paper between it and the scope. Man is it close though

[FRAG-AFE]

Now for the fun part. I've spent all of this time and money setting up. I managed to acquire a total of 13 20-round magazines, and I purchased ammo as it came available. Admittedly, my original intent is to hand load for this rifle. I also know that it has a habit of denting the poo out of the brass. Because it was a nearly new rifle, I picked up a range of surplus through match grade ammo and some things in the middle. Most with varying weights so that I could try to figure out what bullet weight the rifle likes, which brand it seems to like, etc. in order to give me a good starting point when I do get to reloading (currently on hold due to a lack of powder and primers)

So me and a couple friends went to our "range" location this afternoon and I brought some generic Brazilian bulk ammo (147gr), Magtech (150gr), Federal Fusion (180gr), Federal American Eagle (150gr).



First, it was hot. I mean, the report said that it was mid-80s, but with no shade it is just absurdly hot. Second, according to the Kestral there was an almost constant tail wind of 4-8 mph. Third, don't judge me ;-)
I was out here just as much to have some fun breaking in a new rifle as I was to see how accurate it could be with me behind it (I'm not the best out there, but sometimes I like to think I'm almost good) I did not bring anything to measure actual groups, I did not walk down the range to change out the targets after every time I used them (you'll see below), and by the end of the day I had fired roughly 120 rounds our of this sweet rifle and I have the bruises to prove it

Before reading below, please remember that this rifle was quoted from PTR Inc. as being a 2 - 3 MOA rifle. They did admit that given proper ammo it might drop into the 1-2 MOA range, so that's what I would like to aim for eventually as I get more comfortable with it.

The following are all at 100 yards except where noted.

So, first I decided to go through the stuff I knew I didn't have a chance of reloading, the Brazilian bulk ammo. I experienced only 1-2 failure to extracts from this ammo, could be chalked up to the break-in period, could have been that the ammo expanded too much in the chamber due to it being low quality. The world may never know. It took some time to get it into a group that I would accept as being accurate. Partly me, partly being impatient and not waiting for either a steady wind or a drop in the wind.
3-inch orange target, ignore the low flyer (it was from earlier). The sheet behind it is 1" square. Not too bad for my first time out with a .308 and using the Brazilian surplus
This is a three shot group using the Federal Fusion bullets. It also makes me sad. The Fusion was a decently accurate round, but my rifle hated it. It turned a beautiful magazine fed semi-automatic rifle designed to be a perimeter sniper into a mostly accurate bolt-action without any of the advantages of a bolt-action rifle. Not buying that again.
Sadly, this was my best group of the day. Why is this sad you ask? First, ignore the other bullets on the target, I was using the bench and firing through the chronometer so I was using the same target one of the other guys was using. So I didn't adjust the scope, I just kept aiming at the center. This group was not done with some awesome match grade ammo, nothing I hand loaded with case and precision, nothing special at all. One of the other guys brought some bulk Russian Brown Bear 145gr steel cased ammo that didn't extract properly from his rifle so we traded 20 rounds for 20 rounds. What you see in that circle is a 5 or 6 round grouping (I can't remember). Prior to moving to the bench I was 6 for 6 on cans of soda (12 reactive targets for $1.97. Just shake them up and leave them on the berm. Don't worry, we pick up all brass and clean up the area when we leave)

I have no pictures of the Magtech. Not only could I not land one on the 3" target reliably, it also jammed almost every shot I took.

Next, two of us decided to see what we could do... I assure you there is a target in this picture (slightly left of center):

Couldn't see it? Here it is with my camera fully zoomed in:

What you can see in orange is a target 18" wide and 36" tall. The yellow to the left is a standard bowling pin.
Using a sweet slide rule that my friend bought (I gotta get one of those http://www.mildot.com/ ) then double checking the calculation against the GPS waypoint he had placed at the target earlier, we determined that the target was roughly 807 yards away. He managed a hit on his second shot in the lower right corner. Using my magazine of American Eagle I managed a shot after 3 shots (learning how to use the turrets and holdover was cool). The nice thing is that, once I figured out my aim point I took another shot immediately after and scored another hit. I really wish I had checked the grouping at 100 yards with the American Eagle... next time.

Conclusions? I won't be buying Fusion, Magtech, or Brazilian again. I might try another box or two of Brown Bear if I can find it, and I didn't use my match grade Fiocci this trip. Other conclusion, much like the forums suggested, this rifle likes lighter rounds (150 and below worked best today) I want to try some Hornady 155gr if I can find it but I won't be going up above that again.

[FRAG-AFE]

After today's outing, I have determined a couple things about my rifle and future needs.

1 - the trigger is in need of some refinement. I have heard nothing but good things about Bill Springfield, and at $59 it seems like a great deal compared to paying the $700 for a PRG-1 trigger pack ( http://triggerwork.net/hk9xrifles.html )

2 - an upgraded recoil buffer, muzzle break, or both are needed in the future
$98.95$149.95

3 - I may get some better ergonomics if I shell out the $30 for the adjustable stock extension
$29.95

Looks like I need to start saving up again.

[RedDogFabrication]

Looks good man, If it were me I would do trigger, buffer, brake in that order. The trigger on that rifle is a good military trigger but it was way too heavy. Recoil was not bad but It could use some work. and if the buffer solves it then no need to change the brake which can change the harmonics of the barrel, for good or bad. I think you need to find some Hornady A-max, after all you are a Honady guy "fanboy" sorry could no resist being a dick. Before any one jumps me, I was the other guy at the range.

[FRAG-AFE]

It's cool, I am a self admitted Hornady fanboy AND and H&K fanboy. The XTP rounds run perfect through my P30. Not to mention my while reloading setup is Hornady.

I didn't want to tag anyone in this post without talking to them first. Glad to see you subscribed.

Back on topic, I agree about the order to get things done. It felt like I was dragging that trigger on sandpaper on first shots. If I caught the reset it wasn't bad for followups. If $60 fixes that then it is well worth it. In addition, what's an extra $ 50 to get the buffer that has gotten such great reviews if it means I don't need to mess with a barrel that can clearly perform better than advertised (referencing the Brown Bear ammo)

[BPTactical]

You are wanting precision rifle accuracy out of a main battle rifle.
You are chasing your tail.
Even the vaunted PSG is not capable of the same accuracy of a dedicated precision rifle. No need to get the high dollar recoil buffer, just get the Buffer Technologies buffer for $15.00 or so.
Trigger work will help, YMMV with Springfield-he used to be great but I have had to rework a couple of his that were not so good. As of the last couple of years it seems his work has suffered. Check Williams for trigger work, http://www.williamstriggers.com/
Check the triple frame to barrel, if it is welded to the barrel forget it, you don't have a floating barrel so harmonics are of minimal value. I have seen both on a PTR and barrel wise the PTR barrels are heavier profiles, again minimizing harmonic issues.
One of the biggest detriments to accuracy on the HK platform is the mechanics of the locking system and the chamber flutes.
For optimum accuracy the bolt must go into battery and lock up the exact same way, every shot. Mechanical consistency. Due to "battle rifle"tolerances and the roller lock up this is virtually impossible to achieve. The flutes aid in case extraction by gas flowing back as the breech unlocks, essentially floating the case out of the chamber. Great for reliability but rotten for accuracy and it allows debris and carbon to blow back onto the bolt face, further hindering accuracy.
Not knocking the HK platform at all, my favorite MBR. Rock solid reliability, good accuracy and will eat any ammo you feed it.
Just not a precision rifle even in the PSG configuration, more of a DMR.

[FRAG-AFE]

Thanks for the link to Williams, I'll be checking it out later. You are correct about the barrel, it is a heavy barrel AND it's spot welded to the snowman (triple frame, whatever you want to call it ). Still, I like the flash suppressor and why change something if I don't need to.

I would also state that I agree with you about this rifle never matching up to a precision rifle, it's just not what it was made for. However it shows promise as a reliable and decently accurate rifle after the first day out with it. As I stated earlier, the fine people at PTR Inc. rated this as a 2-3 MOA rifle. I have no illusions of ever getting it sub-MOA. But if I throw a few mods at it and I can manage somewhere between a 1-2 MOA I'll be a happy guy. The other guys at the range can probably attest to this by my "evil laugh" every time I popped one of the soda cans at 100 yards . I admit, it's not going to get a .38 group like RedDogFabrication had on the same day (super sweet BTW). For reference, his is the one on the table in the pictures.

I am aware of the locking system on the rifle and so far it's holding specs on my home testing with the feeler gauge. The roller system was a bit of a selling point for me, I think it's really neat. Since replacement rollers of varying sizes are available cheap, should it ever fall out of tolerance I can easily swap them out.

At the end of the day, this is a hobby. I'm trying to put everything I was looking for when I was considering this rifle into one thread to make it easier for the next guy. Of course, I already covered some of it with the "will it fit in this breakdown case" and "how tight will that 42mm scope be on a 1" riser with the bolt locked back?"

[jerrymrc]

If you ever get down this way I will give you a few rds of ammo to try. The late Aussie surplus (88-92) is just about as good as it gets. I worked long and hard to get a handload to be as good in my Fal's.

[FRAG-AFE]

I get down that way once or twice per month. Want any of the stuff I listed (except the fiocci or the American Eagle, I still want to test that) I'm up for trading a few rounds for a few rounds in the name of ammo experimentation.
Send a PM though before this gets tagged as belonging in the marketplace that I'm nit allowed in yet ;-)
I'm too new to be breaking rules here

[Great-Kazoo]

Only 1 question. How come Goliath is not included in your avatar?