urx
26-10-2006, 04:12 PM
Well, I splashed out on the .22lr semi auto I've always wanted.
It finally arrived this week and first impressions were very favourable.
The rifle is solid and business like (as you would expect) its heavy and long so not one for lightweights I suspect ;) the magazine is the full size steel 7.62 box mag with a .22 mag insude that looks and feels well made rather than knocked together. cocking is as per the fullbore with a cocking handle on the left side, towards the front of the receiver. Nice large ejection port on the right and a heavy sludgy trigger which is what you would expect from a military training rifle. I suspect impromptu drops on the floor would not result in an accidental discharge. The stock is of the folding type which requires 8 hands. push on a small button side ways then push the stock downwards to unlock then swin to the right till it loks in place. Reverse the procedure to extend. Its a substantial stock with a thin rubber recoil pad and looks fully capable of whatever military rifle butss do. There is a nasty gouge in the steel of the stock which looks to be have been there since manufacture so I'll be seeing if that can be replaced.
The safety on the left is so heavy (at the moment anyway) as to be virtually unusable so its just as well it isnt a match trigger. The receiver locking catch is on the left to the rear of the safety and a good push on this unlocks the receiver which hinges on a pin towards the front. The gun needs to be cocked before opening if the bolt is to be removed. The top cover stays in place for this but the Tapco scopemount/top cover needs to be unscrewed to remove at the same time as the bolt etc. I havent investigated this yet so it maybe resolvable.
Nice long barrel with a flash hider threaded on which has a serrated end ...looks suitable for punching through walls etc :eek:
Next, whats it like to shoot?
well I had a quick plink with the FAL last night after putting the scope mount cover on board and fitting a bushnell scopechief.
The initial results were more inspiring than my first few shots with the AR15/conversion in .22lr which had trouble holding all the rounds inside a 2" circle at 25yds.
I tried Winchester, RWS and Remington subs through it. the remingtons cycled maybe 2 out of 3 shots. The RWS maybe 1 cycle from every 2 rounds and the RWS was basically straight pull.
Accuracy with all was surprisingly good considering the end of the barrel looks like it hasnt been crowned :eek:
All shots grouped ok with RWS being best, popping 4-5 inside less than an inch easy. occasional fliers, as was expected with a brand new gun but all still inside the black. So far so good.
Cycling problem seems to be that although it fires, extracts and strip the next round, either the mainspring or hammer spring (or both) is/are too strong and the hammer isnt cocked. Think maybe I need to get some spare springs and experiment with weakening them slightly.
It was very quiet to shoot with the subs and I think the local bunnies should be very afraid.
oh yes and just in case it will accept the standard bayonet for use when the bunnies charge and you are out of ammo ;)
Overall :D and so far so :cool:
Updates as the rifle wears in and I get used to it
It finally arrived this week and first impressions were very favourable.
The rifle is solid and business like (as you would expect) its heavy and long so not one for lightweights I suspect ;) the magazine is the full size steel 7.62 box mag with a .22 mag insude that looks and feels well made rather than knocked together. cocking is as per the fullbore with a cocking handle on the left side, towards the front of the receiver. Nice large ejection port on the right and a heavy sludgy trigger which is what you would expect from a military training rifle. I suspect impromptu drops on the floor would not result in an accidental discharge. The stock is of the folding type which requires 8 hands. push on a small button side ways then push the stock downwards to unlock then swin to the right till it loks in place. Reverse the procedure to extend. Its a substantial stock with a thin rubber recoil pad and looks fully capable of whatever military rifle butss do. There is a nasty gouge in the steel of the stock which looks to be have been there since manufacture so I'll be seeing if that can be replaced.
The safety on the left is so heavy (at the moment anyway) as to be virtually unusable so its just as well it isnt a match trigger. The receiver locking catch is on the left to the rear of the safety and a good push on this unlocks the receiver which hinges on a pin towards the front. The gun needs to be cocked before opening if the bolt is to be removed. The top cover stays in place for this but the Tapco scopemount/top cover needs to be unscrewed to remove at the same time as the bolt etc. I havent investigated this yet so it maybe resolvable.
Nice long barrel with a flash hider threaded on which has a serrated end ...looks suitable for punching through walls etc :eek:
Next, whats it like to shoot?
well I had a quick plink with the FAL last night after putting the scope mount cover on board and fitting a bushnell scopechief.
The initial results were more inspiring than my first few shots with the AR15/conversion in .22lr which had trouble holding all the rounds inside a 2" circle at 25yds.
I tried Winchester, RWS and Remington subs through it. the remingtons cycled maybe 2 out of 3 shots. The RWS maybe 1 cycle from every 2 rounds and the RWS was basically straight pull.
Accuracy with all was surprisingly good considering the end of the barrel looks like it hasnt been crowned :eek:
All shots grouped ok with RWS being best, popping 4-5 inside less than an inch easy. occasional fliers, as was expected with a brand new gun but all still inside the black. So far so good.
Cycling problem seems to be that although it fires, extracts and strip the next round, either the mainspring or hammer spring (or both) is/are too strong and the hammer isnt cocked. Think maybe I need to get some spare springs and experiment with weakening them slightly.
It was very quiet to shoot with the subs and I think the local bunnies should be very afraid.
oh yes and just in case it will accept the standard bayonet for use when the bunnies charge and you are out of ammo ;)
Overall :D and so far so :cool:
Updates as the rifle wears in and I get used to it