New ACR L1A1s - back sight moves on recoil

[David TS]

Peter

The ACR L1A1's are rechambered in .308, and hard extract with 7.62 ammo, so we can't use that.

The NATO spec 7.62x51 ammo appears to be in the 147 to 150 grain bullet range. The PRVI is 175 grains. I plan to step back to their 145 grain load when I buy the next batch (I've still got 190 rounds of 175 to use........ ).

I take your point re the gas recoil mechanism. I said you had forgotten more than I know on these rifles

I must put mine on the scales to see what it weighs, compared to the original spec.

If you weren't quite so far away i'd let you shoot mine to see what you think.......

[David TS]

I haven't bothered doing anything with my jumping rear sight because the SLR is scoped so it didn't matter.

However, I am contemplating using it with open sights so decided a bit of amateur gunsmithing was in order (I can hear Peter L shuddering from here ).

I stripped the Hythe sight I got, put a new detent ball and spring in (yes Peter, I did take your advice and do it inside a clear plastic bag , and thank you again for the new spring and ball you sent me), and put that on. Someone on FalFiles gave me the tip of only take one windage adjuster screw out, so you don't lose your windage setting.

It was an easy job, only took a few minutes.

When I first used it with open sights, not only was the rear aperture like peering through the Dartford Tunnel, but the front sight blade is so thick that it was covering the whole of the scoring area of a 600 yard target!

I had got a spare front sight blade for this purpose, so I took it out and carefully ground it down equally either side on the bench grinder to about half of its previous thickness (it's now approximately the same thickness as my No 4 Mk II front blade).

Hopefully out with it at STANTA next Thursday, i'll whip the scope off and see what it shoots like with the new irons on

[David TS]

I was on the STANTA Great Carr MoD battle training area today, put 117 rounds through the L1A1, and the Hythe sight didn't move once. Cured. Thanks to Peter L and others for their guidance/parts kindly donated

[daryldiane]

Hi David,
Glad to see that the rear sight is sorted, taking mine, which now has the wood installed, to Bisley tomorrow to try at 300 and 500. Will have another go with the Trilux to see if i can get on with it before I fit a bullet drop compensated scope.
Have fitted a bipod stud to the forend wood which is from Ironwood in the States and is much sturdier than the original, I think the rifle will be much easier to handle from a bipod, won't have to break the rest from the left hand to reload. Trying out some Privi 145grn and some reloads with Lapua 155grn.
Will give a report next week and some pics.

[daryldiane]

Well had a great shoot at Bisley on Sunday, rain came down at lunchtime but cleard up afterwards.
At 300yrds the L1A1 performed well, I was shooting homeloads which sometimes failed to chamber, I think they need to be full length resized,I'd only neck sized them. I also shot some Privi 145grn loads, they cycled well and shot to sights.
My friend had some new Lithuanian 7.62 nato, that the range office is now selling. i thought i'd try a round expecting it to have hard extraction, but it was fine, tried another 20 and they all cycled well, so have found a source of milsurp that works in the straight pull. Result at £55/100!
As far as sights, the bipod setup seemed to to make recoil very controlable even with a wood butt, and the rear sight did not move at all.still find it difficult to focus on the front sight, and the large rear aperture is difficult to centre. still held the black at 300 and 500. The Trilux was fine at 300, but at 500 the point of impact shifted every 5 rounds or so, can only assume the mount/cam were moving, the whole setup has some movement and is not solid, maybe the springs are past there best.
Will mount a 'proper' scope when I get the DSA mount from thr States, which is taking ages.
All in all very happy with the setup, created a lot of interest with the HBSA crowd, though they weren't sure about the bipod,and have been offered a hythe sight!

[David TS]

Daryl

Glad to hear it went well.

Mine got a bit tight at one point last week (PRVI 175gn rounds), but I was snap shooting at Figure 12 targets and put 30 rounds through it in about 3 minutes, the barrel was red hot, so that's hardly surprising

The Hythe sight is worth fitting because of the smaller day rear leaf aperture. Bench grinding my front sight blade down by about half the thickness (to about an Enfield No 4 Mk II size) worked too. Get a spare blade to practice on!

I have to say, having tried both (and I didn't think i'd say this), I think it is more fun to shoot with open sights.

I've got some PRVI 145gn on order which hopefully will be kinder to the shoulder!

[dirtbag]

The rear sight of my new L1A1 jumps forward whilst firing, presumably due to the re-coil.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Peter has suggested that I need to hold it into my shoulder more firmly (!). True, I could do with a size larger Butt Plate.



Another suggestion is that the rifle might be giving a more powerful recoil now that the gas operating system etc have been removed.

Charlie

Not fired mine yet, I will be using my suit sight mainly, but will be using irons too, seeing as 3 of us ? have the same rifles be interesting to see what the resolve is.

[Nick S]

If anyone is looking for the DS Arms top cover with scope rail, Brownells will ship to the UK and normally have them in stock.

http://www.brownells.com

[daryldiane]

Attachment 26685Attachment 26686

Pics of my L1A1 with wood. butt is original extra long, forend is Ironwood repro.
Both beech, the Ironwood is much thicker than original, so I could inlet a Harris 2R bipod stud through one of the cooling holes. Works fine, recoil doesn@t spring the wood, and it can be removed without showing.

[David TS]

Attachment 26685Attachment 26686

Pics of my L1A1 with wood. butt is original extra long, forend is Ironwood repro.
Both beech, the Ironwood is much thicker than original, so I could inlet a Harris 2R bipod stud through one of the cooling holes. Works fine, recoil doesn@t spring the wood, and it can be removed without showing.

Nice wood, now get the pistol grip and carry handle fitted