@@BlueLoneWolf54hey bro i know its been a year from this video, but i if you could answer me one question I'd really appreciate it, if your the 3 guy in this video with bass facts and hop could you tell me what stock and heand guard your running on the green spr rifle you got on this video ?🙏
14:20 The .mil wanted a 20" bbl for the SPR. When they requested a 20" 5.56 match barrel, the bean counters denied the request because there was already a 20" 5.56 barrel in inventory, the one on the M16. It was fruitless to explain the differences between a match barrel and an assault rifle barrel to said bean counters so the people who knew what they were doing changed the length of the barrel that they wanted so that it would be obvious to the bean counters why the requested barrel was different from that on an M16. LTDR = the SPR is 18" because bureaucracy
@@Hoplopfheil 5th group SF wanted 20" Seals wanted 16" SOCOM split the difference and came up with 18" (This is in addition to the bean counter explanation as well)
It’s nice to see a younger generation grappling with the warrior’s dilemma. That is to say, “how can I be strong in all places in all times in every direction?” Only to come up with the same conclusion: you can’t. You can only prepare for the most likely in all those and keep your head on a swivel to anticipate when “most likely” changes. It’s certainly better than watching what the younger generation does on TikTok. And don’t worry too much about “restless rifle.” When you settle on the “perfect rifle” that’s when you’re most in danger of becoming a set in your ways, stick in the mud Fudd.
Beautifully put! A true warrior with a knife and a rope, in a survival situation, can be worth far more than an idiot with a full pack and an expensive AR. Lol. Mindset and general competency FTW. However, I am greatly looking forward to the day with old people stop complaining about the younger generations all the time. It’s essentially just as dumb as racism and sexism for the same reasons. The choice of one’s generation is non-existent and therefore one shouldn’t be judged by it. More importantly though, making blanket statements is so inaccurate and unfair. It’s like saying, “all black people do this”, or “all women do this, “all white men do this”… it’s just not true.
Well done. As someone who's fought in two wars and is now a civilian, I see the "fighting rifle" as a very different build than what the trendy guys say. I appreciate your experiments and reflections. One thing that came to mind was a close-to-max-range course I took which required SR-25s but limited optics to 1-8x. I was impressed that they were useful to about 600 yards, but those were white-painted torsos with an instructor helping us find them. Finding a target that is moving and not bright white would be a lot tougher with a 1-8x!
The Mk12 SPR only has an 18” barrel because if NSW Crane had used a 20” barrel they would have been forced to use existing M16 barrels. Going with 18” allowed them to get new heavier match grade barrels, but they wanted 20”.
Came here to say this. The bean counters can't tell the difference between match grade and rack grade. As far as they were concerned, 20" was 20" and there was no way that two barrels of the same length could have a difference in quality, and it was utterly impossible to convince them otherwise.
@@explodojones same is true for the Glock 19. Since they had already adopted a “full sized” handgun, the M9, the only way SOCOM could get glocks was to adopt them as “compact” handguns for protection details. That’s why they have 19s instead of 17s and you see them being run with magwells and comps and grip extenders.
I had a good time listening in on this one. I think one of the best takeaways from the conversation was the capability of the shooter matching the capable range of the optic. One of the reasons I run a 1-8x28 on my AR10 is because I am honestly not capable of reaching out further than what 8x provides me with. If that makes sense. Anyway, great information and concepts. I run a red dot on my 5.56's for similar reasons regarding effectiveness of the round. But that might change here soon.
I have found that the optic is the biggest deal. And they're just using it trumps having the perfect optic. That said I've never felt like I had too much field of view. And I'd halfway got talked into one to six is enough then I discovered my eyes were significantly older than they used to be and when I used a couple one to sixes they just weren't for me even fairly close. I think you can have too much initial zoom but I don't know if you can have too much max. I think 10 power in the upper end does now minimum for me. So I guess that's a little thing to think about that I don't often hear coming up in these discussions but if you buy the perfect optic for your eyes 5 years from now it might not be anymore. I noticed that the shooting competitions all the old extra fudly boomers became the earliest adopters of red dots on pistols on that made the difference from them being able to compete or not.
Light weight and a good optic are key. Something you can hike around with all day and see exactly what you are aiming at is perfect. Last thing any civilian is going to want to build is a fighting rifle. A rifle with a good 4x16 or even 6x20 optic is really going to keep you alive longer. You start engaging people at close distance during the apocalypse and your days will become numbered real fast. No resupply, no hospitals, no medevac, basically if you get shot at all you are Fucked. If I'm defending my home a nice heavy 7.62 is what's up. If I was stupid enough to leave the protection of my house for some reason I would want a light weight rifle with lots of ammo, a semi powerful scope for intelligence gathering and the ability to take game meat. F trying to walk around and get into any kind of conflict when just a scratch can get you killed without proper medical care in that setting.
Eyesight is huge, bit then add in the other factors of aging, like bad knees, a bad shoulder & the things we took for granted in our youth takes more of a toll as the years roll on. Such great points of optics & weight. My same younger friends that made fun of me for putting a 1-4 lvpo on my AR years ago are starting to put lvpo's on their rifles, & 1-4 ain't cutting it like it used to as my eyes are more easily fatigued these days, my irons are but a mere blurr anymore. So hard to find a good compromise, as if one exists.
Good, high BC, ammo will make a bigger difference at distance than increasing the barrel length. Given a 16” barrel, going from M855 to 77gr TMK will save you 10” of wind drift at 600 yards with 10mph wind. Nevermind the increased precision of match ammo over M855.
Yeah, 77gr SMK/TMK or 75gr BTHP's over Varget will have a massive difference over M855. The M855/SS109 bullet with the two piece core is really handicapped
The only thing I can add to this is at woodlands brutality this year, there were a Ton of spr'ed 556 ar's that were insanely fast and handy at close range. And we're fast at making hits out to 400y on stage 3. They are such a useful tool for so many different environments. Especially suppressed. I also completely agree with thr MVPO being used on a general purpose rifle like here. The 2-10/12 are very useful inside 50y, and you can reach out to 500y with ease on larger targets. If anything, get a 1-4/6x and a 3-15x and throw them on gq mounts and swap out as needed. That's my plan on my go to rifle. Excellent video as always hop!
2.5-15x scopes exist. Personally I don't see an issue with a 4-16. They are really one of the most common scope configurations now, they are a really good balance. I don't see how 4x would be that much of an issue at close range.
@@Patrick-857 4x ACOG at close range is useful because of its incredible field of view. 4-16x44 at 4x has a much smaller field of view, and that's going to impact the speed (or ability) to find targets at close range. Eg: my girlfriend jumped out 2 bachelor bull Elk at around 75yds in the timber this past fall. She had her rifle shoulder slung against my advice to carry at a low ready, so she didn't even bother to try to go sights-on, but if she had, I have faith she could have at least got a sight picture at 2.5x with her 2.5-10. Same with a 4x ACOG. But you'll get "lost in the scope" in a hurry with a traditional 4-16 at 4x within 100yds (close range) with any dynamic movement of your target. Sure, flat range from the bench there'll be little difference, but not in any real-world use scenario from hunting to SHTF.
Nah, barrel is still the single most important part. A cheap barrel is inaccurate, so useless. A cheap bcg still works, but not dependable. Can't hit sh it if your rounds are off. Irons sights while not ideal, will serve you up to 200-250yards.
I understand the military philosophy for a SPR, because of logistics of keeping it a 556, but in this day and age, you can shoot a 6.5 Grendel or 6mm ARC out of an AR-15 platform and really bridge the gap (and in some cases exceed) 308. The only reason why (I would think) anyone would want a SPR is one a military clone, two, to save money on ammo, or three, to be able to share ammo with others in your squad
If you're shooting the ammo you need to reach out with 5.56 you aren't saving any money. And unless you really need to save weight, there is no reason not to go with an AR-10 that weighs a pound more and double your distance with 6.5 Creedmoor. If you can't carry a 12 pound rifle 20 miles, you have a fitness problem and not a gun problem.
@@hysterslap As well as a case for "using what you have on you". Obviously there are better ways to make shots at those distances. But if what you have available is a 556 gun then that's what you run.
@@hysterslap I’m disabled, and in a wheelchair part time, so carrying even a lightweight rifle more than a half mile is impossible for me… not fitness related, was disabled in the line of duty
Cut my teeth on nutnfancy and I think we are all the same age. You are both great and this video was dope. More than happy to pay money for you all to talk; first folks I've ever paid for content ✌️
We can go on and on about which barrel length does what. But once you start hitting plates and seeing the difference in the swinging, you'll get why people choose to lug around longer barrels.
Nice one. I'll add my $0.02 on this, I guess. I understand what you guys are getting at completely, but I think some key points were made in different parts of the video that I found to be true that kind of makes the idea too niche for practical use in most cases. Me and other friends with different rifles and optics have gone side by side when pushing them and comparing optic capabilities, and we''ll start out to 200m or so and keep dropping back until we cannot get consistent hits (not being able to ring steel 3 times in a row on command, or at least hit 3 out of 5 means it's over). It seems regardless of ammo, magnification or barrel length, 500-600m with an AR-15 is really the edge for the most part of the rifles we've used. More magnification can help better to see where missed shots landed in attempt to correct, but as ya'll said, practically speaking if you miss the first (bummer) and can't immediately follow up a hit because of wind or some limitation of the cartridge at that distance, magnification is only going to just let you know how bad you fucked up. My inner clone autism paired with always being overly practical has led me to believe the "ultimate" fighting rifle that can be an "SPR" as well as a regular "fighting rifle" which can be fitted to work in most any situation day or night, suppressed or unsuppressed, beans or steamed rice, is something that basically looks like a 14.5" or 16" Block I or Block II M4 with an ACOG/RMR combo and accoutrements of your choosing for the occasion/mission. Need some weight savings? Pull off the LAM, bipod, Insight AM/FM tape deck. Need to have more of an SPR? Put bipod back on. Need to shoot with nods but will be moving around a lot? Remove bipod and put on laser. Need something absolutely lightweight for hiking? Unflip the levers on the larue mount on the ACOG and pull off everything except the rail from the front end and flip up your rear KAC/Magpul iron. Now you got a rifle that really does it all and is right down the middle, and still gets the accuracy that the SPR would get for the most part assuming your vision is up to the task of being limited to 4x at up to 500m or so.
It’s definitely a balance issue. I spent a lot of time in the mindset of trying to expand the capabilities of the SPR. What I came up with is that I should have been focusing on expanding general purpose while identifying and addressing the special purposes. The two main specials for me were defense and resource gathering (hunting is a good example) and they overlap into my general. The truth about “long range” is that there is a point at which you should simply not engage. Instead maybe switch over to observe and communicate.
Not saying someone should never engage at long range, but shooting at a target and missing is just letting them know where you are. Having a bunch of good dudes with CAS available is one thing, but if it's like a Red Dawn type of deal then observation and intelligence gathering seems more important and practical.
@@ALovelyBunchOfDragonballz, exactly! You might not be able to call the birds, but you can call a contact a mile away and let them know what’s coming. Comms are important.
If you have a greater distance capability then your target, then you are much safer than they are. What if the target is a problem you'll have to deal with eventually? Might as well do it at a safer distance. Getting rid of a problem from 600 yards away with one bullet is better than having to deal with the problem when it's 150 yards away and actively suppressing your position. And let me tell you, I live in an urban setting and I see plenty of thousand yard sightlines just driving around town. It would give you a lot of time for a hit and run approach.
For these sorts of videos to work I’m really going to need more acronyms. A little more talk regarding size and weight constraints would be nice too, plus a little firepower vs mobility. Thanks!
Surprised the Leupold Mk5 3-18 didn't come into the conversation. Greater magnification range than 4-16x, fairly compact body, great glass and still lightweight (25 oz).
I've got what I like to call my "SS-SPR" as a 20" Kel Tec RDB (that's the same OAL as as 14.5 inch AR) with a full length aluminum mlok handguard, 1-8x lpvo (yes the cheap PA one) and a swampfox green dot riding piggyback on top. It's quirky and may not be up to what some would consider "trust my life" squared away, BUT it's the most unique and I think functional bullpup in 5.56 you can get right now for under 2000$.
@@onpsxmember farthest I've shot it so far is about 175 to 200 yards (estimated) and not on paper, that being said it seems to reliably be able to hit soda can-sized targets at that distance if the shooter does their part. I'd estimate that it's 1.5-2 moa with factory 55gr ammunition. Maybe it could be a bit better but overall I'm happy with the accuracy.
I've had no reliability problems with my RDB, but the polymer they use is not ready for prime time. I think the first time you dropped it on concrete or rock it would shatter. I broke the front of the magwell off on mine when I dropped it on carpeted stairs. It was still functional though.
Hops build was really interesting to me… it’s very “common” accessories due to being very affordable… and it works. Kudos on the Larue 2 stage… killer trigger for $100.00… 👍🏻
Isn't the "middle ground between 5.56 and .308" pretty well defined with 6.5 Grendel and 6mm ARC? Still in an AR-15 platform but easily able to reach out to 1km with an 18" (ish) barrel. Grendel's been around over 20 years now, and the ARC is getting accepted on US military contract. Seems like it's nearly settled, for now, isn't it?
If cost was no object and the magazines actually worked 6.5 Grendel or 6mm ARC would be really awesome for this job. But sharing ammo and mags with your buddies is still a nice bonus.
Stumpy....I was hoping that the US .mil would move to the 6.5 Grendel as the cartridge replacement for the 5.56. Instead, per politics, they are adopting some entirely new, heavy cartridge that will take the military long rifles back to the heavyweight days of M1 Garand and M14. History repeats itself when idiots are in charge !
@@Hoplopfheil That's fair. For what it's worth, I've got three Grendel rifles, two gas guns and a bolt gun, and the E-Lander 10 and 24 round magazines have never given me any trouble, though my cheaper Grendel AR chokes on the 17 rounders. Might be worth a try, if you've got a Grendel that's languishing for lack of reliable feeding. Also got a couple 10 rounder ASC Grendel mags and those have been great for several years with no trouble. But, as you say, sharing mags with buddies gets a lot harder if you go chasing other cartridges. Thanks for the video and the reply. Happy shooting.
@@Hoplopfheil I spent a few bucks buying various Grendel mags until I found one that works 100% of the time. In so doing I discovered the Duramag 6.5 Grendel/6mm ARC, stainless steel magazines. Those 6.5G Duramags are as dependable as USGI mags are for 5.56mm. Finding good 6.5G mags that work in ARmalite platforms is not the issue. Rather, the issue are the corrupt individuals ensconced in D.C. and the military equipment manufacturers/vendors.
@@Hoplopfheil My thought with Grendel/ARC for an SPR is that it would be just an upper rather than a full rifle, since you're likely not going to be needing to lay down as much fire at long range since the whole idea is precision. So same lower, so you can share mags and ammo, but an upper with a few mags of Grendel or ARC that you can have on there when you are situations where you need to reach further, but throw on the 5.56 upper when you know you're going to be going in somewhere without long sight lines and are going to need to be working in close...
I truly vibe with "the optic is the heart of the rifle". Barrels don't change too much from rifle to rifle. Really the barrel is the anus of the rifle. It just craps out whatever you feed it with varied results. The optic is what determines the rifles purpose, it's what gives it the ability to meet its potential. Makes a lot of sense from that point of view.
The barrel may also crap out nothing if the guts of the rifle deem what you feed it to be particularly antagonistic towards its gastrointestinal function.
I've been running a 12.5" ballistic advantage barrel, with 77gr sierra bullets loaded kind of hot, with a 1-6x lpvo. No issues making hits at 600 on silhouette targets with a 5-7" group. Once I go to 700, my optic becomes kind of useless, and the velocity goes transonic. Great video guys!
I do cmp shooting with a rock river arms a2 irons and im able to hit the x mark at 600. I aslo use 77 grain. These guys said with lpvos it’s not ideal hitting targets at that range but in reality it’s the ammo / quality of the barrel that they use that matters.
I agree. The optics really determine what the rifle is capable of. I built two SPR-type rifles, one in 5.56 and one in 6 ARC and both were very effective medium-range shooters. in my opinion, limiting magnification to 10x handicaps the capability of an AR when using 75-77-grain bullets (in 5.56) and 90-110-grain bullets in 6 ARC. I would forgo some low-level magnification to get more magnification on the top end. My choice for an SPR rifle is a Leupold Mark 5, 3.6-18x44. The 6 ARC is an outstanding way to extend the range, power, and usefulness of the AR platform, without adding weight. 6 ARC is just a standard AR-15 with a 6 mm ARC barrel, 6.5 Grendel bolt, and Grendel mags. The Grendel bolt uses a standard AR-15 bolt carrier. I liked seeing your guys shoot in the desert environment. Very jealous!
You fellas brought up lots of great points and put out some extremely useful info in this video (as both of you do in your other videos as well). But mostly, this video proves to me, that 2 people can actually talk and do a video and not constantly be talking over each other, or trying to "one up" each other with bad jokes. I've been binge watching videos from both of ya for a few evenings now, and I appreciate the knowledge and insight you both put out. Thanks fellas.
I think FFP really comes into its own in regards to field of view. Shot a PRS style match today, out to 600, and entire day was spent at 15x or so. It helped a ton with finding targets and eye relief is better. Didn’t have to zoom in all the way to use the reticle. Limited experience, but it also helps to zoom out for moving targets while still being able to use horizontal holds for ambush method. Not sure at what magnification level FFP becomes a necessity though. Or maybe it’s more type of rifle.
I think you nailed it. First focal plane becomes necessary above 15x. Between 10 and 15 max magnification it's probably a toss up. Below 10 I like the big bold cross hairs down at low magnification, and I'll be at the top end if I'm past 300 yds where I need my holds.
FFP is the need when you only have a quick sec to range without having to dial up magnification. SFP is going to have to be at max magnification to be accurate for ranging unless you are going to toss in an additional calculation to get the size/distance as a function of the magnification power you ranged in with the sfp. FFP is true at all magnifications.
I recently did the same thing. I went a little outside the box with the optic. A Swarovski Z3 3-10x42. Capped turrets with a great BRH reticle. The reticle almost perfectly matches 77 gr SMKs out of a 16" barrel at 2500-2600 fps. The glass only weighs 12.7 oz. Took the setup out to the farm last weekend and was hitting very easily and very quickly out to 600 yds in Kansas wind. The scope reticle is so good. It has wind hold lines at the 100 yd drops and mil marks in between. It's a great hybrid for fast holds but also calling mil adjustments for myself and spotting for my buddy.
I was thinking the same thing but was going to go with a meopta 1.7-10×42. More like 21 oz instead of that awesome 12.7 but I like the flexibility a 42mm objective affords over lpvos which suck
You guys brought up a very valid point regarding the difference between purpose/ objective built over mission driven built. Some of the differences would definitely depend on the environment around where you live.
Have several scopes over the year I've settled on 4-14x scopes for 300 - 800 yards. I'm not shooting beyond those ranges. For 300 and in I'm still all about 3x Prisms. I've got a number of the old PA prisms, a Burris RT-3, and a couple of the newer 3x PA Micro Prisms. And with these new micro prisms being around 8oz even better.
I've got a Vortex Spitfire Gen II 3x and it's wonderful. I'd recommend putting it on a Fortis F1 mount so you can hang it farther back if you pick one up. What 4-14 are you running? I've been considering one for the 18" upper I have languishing around here.
@@poisonouslead85 I've got a couple of Primary Arms 4-14x44 scopes with different reticules. On my bolt gun it's a Christmas tree of mils as the mid-range course I went had all adjustments in Mils. The other two are DMR 5.56 reticules. They are all the cheaper SLx line that used to be available on sale for like $200. To get the GLx series I think you have to go up to 4-16x. The micro prisms really changed things as the older prisms hovered around 15oz and when you can get a LPVO these days for almost the same amount of weight...I might opt for that route if I were starting from scratch. But now with the micro prisms being around 8oz...
@@KirkFickert The Spitfire Gen II's are micro-prisms. My 3x with mount weighs 9oz. That one lives on my 13.7" rifle. My only complaint about it is that it's a T1 style mount which makes the Fortis mount the only option I have to scoot the optic rearward.
I run a 1-8 ffp on 18" fluted barrel with bipod and light. Gun is fairly heavy but I'm a big boy. I've ran this rifle through carbine classes and I can shoot it out to 800y consistently with 77gr. I like having the ability to reach out while still being able to use the same gun at closer ranges. I have an ar-10 and a 10.5 sbr but I love the 18". Good all around gun.
This. Was. Excellent. Really quality content Hop- but that’s becoming an expectation of ours at this point, I think. You have some of the best content on the tubes. This was undeservingly (us) good. Thank you and Brass facts. And you’re both very well spoken. As a 36 y/o millennial, I think this is about my speed.
Thanks Guys for filming and taking US along with you on your Mountain wilderness recce , looks like a lot of fun in open country. If I had to guess I'd say that's next to White sands NM. range . When I was your age I was riding off road dirt bikes out in the wilderness AZ like this , even road the hole Baja Ca. Mexico . I missed out on this sport .
I have a similar setup in .224 Valkyrie. Definitely a niche setup, but it does a number on yotes. I also have a 16 inch rig in the new 6mm ARC with an Arken Optics 4X16 with an ACRO sidemount. I think the 6mm ARC will be a versatile round.
Ya'll came to the same conclusions I worked out as well. If you're shooting at distance with a 'fightin rifel', a 3-15x-ish optic with piggy back red dot is ideal. Heavy but it works well for everything over 100 yards out. For the 'doo it all' build, a 16" with a 1-6x is best only out to about 300-400 yards. Either way, let mission drive your optic choice, which then drives your barrel length.
SPRs are cool. I have 2 SPR uppers. One in 223 Wylde and one in 6.5 Grendel. But practical in wrol? If you are concerned with defensive capability then no. If you are planning to counter an occupying force (however you imagine that scenario) then the long range capability is essential. But if you're going to build a rifle for long-range capability, for God's sake use good ammo. 69gr or heavier. Even if you can hit at 600 with ball ammo the effect will be marginal at best.
Best to have an established zero with ball ammo just in case you survive long enough to run out of match stuff and have to fall back to second line ammo.
Trying to shoot past 600 yards with 5.56 gets harry, there is a harsh drop in accuracy when you are out past the "transsonic zone" --- which means the projectile drops below the speed of sound; as it transitions from super sonic to sub-sonic, it can cause a random yaw or wobble, which can throw wild flyers.. The shorter you barrel is, the quicker this happens. The best way to get over this issue is to use the big 77gr projectiles. The heavier rounds have more inertia and can carry their momentum out further.. Really the most ideal long range AR would be a 20" stainless barrel in .223 wylde in 1/7 twist with heavy 77gr pills... But then you basically have a varmint rifle; I know an "SPR is typically 18" barrels though.
Love it guys! Ive been using a glx 2.5-10x44. In a adm recom qd After seeing BF videos on it. With recognition of limitations im very happy with it so far. Its on a 16 in atm. But i will be going to an 18 inch either white oak , or a BA depending on what i want with weight savings. Im also running a magpul bipod and like it. The larue mbt is great i love mine. Red dot is a hs 403r . On a arisaka offset. I had a t2 sitting on this rifle prior to optic change. That i put on my 12.5 centurion build Id say look into the str magpul stock the cheek weld on it is😍 ive been using it for years its my go to. Surefire warcomp, sa bleed off gas block and the vltor a5 system makes a super super soft shooter. Ive been repurposing this rifle for the same indented purpose and capabilities as you guys so i love seeing these videos from you guys! Only thing different i plan on is dedicated 77gr loads either hand or factory. Gives it a little more ass at range. But keep these videos coming love it 🍻
Out of curiosity, how durable is it? Have you been running and gunning with it? Would love to purchase it if it has the toughness to take a beating and stay functional
@@taylorcarrell8421 as far as i know they take more of a beating than you would expect. I havent beaten the piss out of it yet like my t2. Id like to though. Just havent had the time
my dad was kinda looking at me like why its to big when i built a 18". then we went to the range and double drilling holes over 200 yards with easy i think made his brain melt. he shoot ak lol
Pretty slick video. Really relevant to something I'm working on. I also admire that yall are somehow blunt without being negative. Maybe straightforward is the word.
To be fair, the traditional 18" 1:7 twist isn't really meant to drastically increase your overall accuracy, it's for stabilizing and increasing range of the specific ammo made for spr's, mk262 77gr. Great video, just wanted to point out the intended purpose of that barrel
Ultimately, for civilians it boils down to where you live. Also living in the Southwest, we get way more field of view and sight distance than most, and even so, where things could get dicey it is still obstructed. If you’re from NJ, that just won’t be the case given vegetation and overall congestion. That being said, I built a super light (carbon fiber / titanium everything) 16.5 308 with a NF 1-8. Given ammo weight, if I’m ever forced to into having to leave for extended time, 556 GPR and travel only at night with Nods / Thermal to actively avoid the fight and just worry about water
Great content. I love my MK12'ish. I like seeing more "musket" AR's. Seeing countless SBR/MK18 AR's with red dots is beyond boring now. Super jealous of all that open land you guys have to shoot on.
I am so tired of living in a world where everyone is shooting mk18 with nods and shot timers. This wide open stuff with scopes is way more interesting to me.
Because the gwot trap lords made people think cqb is cool and fun. Not telling you that you will inevitably die if you ever have to enter more than two rooms in a row no matter how skilled you are. Even tier 1 dudes who train years and years with the exact same people, with an unlimited budget, will take shots once every two or three doors. They die alot lol. Door kicking is stupid and you should never do it.
Smartest comment in this thread. Lmaoing at all the gun-fu tards who C-clamp their rifles harder than their own dicks fapping to BLACKED, but can't estimate range or call wind at all.
Interesting fantasy exercise on what you can do with an AR when you have the time and money to make it do what it was not designed to do. Great fun in the nerdy extremities. Makes me miss my youth. Keep it up guys.
The optic is definitely not the “heart of the rifle” yes it plays a major role in how the firearm is used however with training you can reach similar levels of utility regardless of the optic (with in reason to as fas as you can see adequately)
Anatomy of the AR: Bullet is the fist Barrel is the arm/muscle behind the fist Optics/Sights are the eyes Gas block/tube/piston rod/buffer is the circulatory system Ejection port is the respiratory system Handguard/receiver/receiver extension is the skeletal system
When comparing variable optics, 2-#x always gets compared to LVPOs with 1-#x variable magnification. But the question is how does the 2x on a variable optic that bottom lines at 2 compare with dedicated set magnifiers at 2x. same for 3 or 4x. We're willing to accept an acog or likeness in these magnifications. But when it comes to a variable optic, the consumer expects true 1x. LPVOs have a place, but why is 2 or 3x magnification at the bottom end have a stigma while we are willing to accept Primary Arms micro prism 3x. (obvious differences aside)
I think it comes from a lack of understanding about the tradeoffs of an LPVO. Newbies don't see the point of a 2-10 when a 1-10 exists, because exit pupil and parallax are not in their vocabulary.
@@Hoplopfheil Also us prism guys have trained our eyes to Bindon Aim and that's another concept that isn't in the newbie vocabulary. 2x and 3x are still perfectly fine for close engagements once you've trained your eyes to do so. I suppose that's one benefit to having the eye-tism.
Good stuff guys. You're teaching this ole' boomer a thing or 2. Man, the modern setups are cool. There was a time when the mini-14 was the shizzle lol!!
The weight on the Primary Arms SLx 4-16 FFP HUD DMR scope was not that much more than the Primary Arms SLx 1-8x24 SFP ACSS scope so that's what I went with on my 18" SPR. I'm glad I did now. I purchased the 1-8x model for my 16" M4 GPR and with the illumination it fills a lot of uses in my opinion. I'm not a fan of those little red dots so still debating about slapping on some offset iron backups. Great vid gents!
I have 3 of those Primary Arms 2.5x10 scopes I was able to pick up in their storefront here in Houston off their bargain table and I think they are great mid range scopes. The reticle is great and I was able to take it easily out on steel to 850 yards with a .308 Win rifle recently because the chevron in the reticle is extremely versatile between 50 and 1000 yards. I've had 10X scopes where it was difficult to use the reticle out to 300 yards, but I've had great luck with PA scopes with chevron & ACSS reticles out to 1200 yards.
A lot of opinions here. I carried a 129A1 for a couple of my last tours. Hop nailed it talking about weight. The accuracy was much improved, and it enabled me to make hits out to much farther distance than my colleagues using carbine length weapons. Let's not forget, my rifle was made by the lowest bidder. Anyways, solid perspective. Great video. 🤙
I run both the 2.5-10x PA and 3-18 HUD DMR PA optics and I wish the 3-18x had the Griffin MIL from the 2.5-10x but I love both optics. They're some of if not _the_ highest value optics around IMO. Run both with a 45* offset red dot and I couldn't be happier with the builds. One rifle is 18" .223 Wylde the other is a 16" 6.5 Grendel that I've used for hunting here in the PNW and it's stellar on whitetail and mule deer and I can pack it around the N.Idaho mountains all day without ever really noticing it's there. To me, with the availability of parts and ammo options these days the 6.5 Grendel and 6 ARC are impossible to beat as a round in the AR platform. The Grendel is more versatile but in a fantasy combat scenario the 6 ARC would be a near perfect combat cartridge.
Out of curiosity, how durable is the pa 2.5x10? Have you been running and gunning with it? Would love to purchase it if it has the toughness to take a beating and stay functional
Ok so oddly enough the reason the MOD 0 and MOD 1 had 18in barrels is during the original write up Crane had it as a 20in barrel but it was denied by SOCOM because there was already a 20in barreled something in inventory being the m16 which doesn't make sense to me because they're not the same thing and for different purposes but anyway they just dropped 2in off the barrel so it could be different on paper and able to be adopted
100% agree people get so wrapped around the axle about what their groups are with match ammo as if they have stockpiles of 77gr sierra match in their basement…
A Amazing “Budget” Option for an SPR is the PA GLx 2.5-10(Raptor OR Griffin Mil). The turrets are great, very accurate & repeatable, & the zero stop feature is awesome. Glass is 80% quality of the PLx for 1/2 the cost. I have one on my BCM 18” 410SS in Griffin Mil reticle & the raptor 2.5-10x k. My 14.5 Afghan set up as a mini spr
@@AmericanelST205 the SLx 3-18 will have lesser quality glass. 5$3 GLx4 4-16x hud dnr acss .308 bdc os compatible with 75-77gr 5.56. If the new 3-18 or 5-25(or whatever it is) in GLx line should be comparable quality wise and would come down to magnification needs & reticle preference
Excellent vid! Very valid points! Emphasis on knowing your AO. Its great to practice at the long ranges to test shooter and equipment, but also be realistic about where you would actually need your weapon.
I would also point out that 18" is not mandatory. The Mk 12 Mod H runs a 16" match barrel, and I've seen video of it taken to 1000 yards. The most important thing is that it's a heavier 'Match' barrel. Money is tight for me, and I ended up scraping by to splurge on PRI's Mk 12 Mod H upper. In the end, I've got a 16" 5.56 that is accurate to the maximum effective range of 5.56. And for me, that works. Just don't think you have to spend $3,000 to get an accurate 5.56 AR, with an 18" barrel to be effective ate these ranges.
I built a SPR 7 years ago and it’s my favorite rifle to take to the range. Setup below. 18” BCM SS upper V7 lower with Aero parts kit Geissele SSAE trigger ZeroFail BCG BCM charging handle Fulton Armory fixed A2 stock PA 2.5-10 ACSS Raptor scope LaRue SPR mount Magpul MBUS pro backup sights Harris bipod on MWI qd pic mount Streamlight WMLX 1000 lumen light BFG sling
If shooting in a team scenario, all members should have same reticle value; MRAD or MOA. Spotter can use his scope to call shots for shooter in the same language; “up .4 MIL, right .7” as example. MIL/MRAD probably the best answer as it’s universal with military and LE.
A handguard that extends all the way to the end of the barrel allows you to place the fulcrum point of the bipod as far forward as possible from the point of shoulder contact as possible.. some of the ELR precision rifle shooters are running extensions that allow their bipods to be mounted as much as a 10" forward of the muzzle..
Great video and you both covered a good amount of detail, I would suggest tracking graduation precision added into discussions like this. If an optic has exposed target turrets it should track well. If the tracking is all over the place it wouldn't be a good idea to crank on the turrets.
4x16 is the way to go at 600+ yards. Not just to make hits but to make positive identification of the target. Especially for older eyed like mine. But you guys are younger and may have perfect vision.
Good info on use and equipment selection. For an SPR type optic, I'm leaning heavily towards a Nightforce NX8 2.5-20x50mm F1, with either a Mil-XT or Tremor3 reticle.
Really large magnification range scopes seem to be rare and expensive. I wasn't even aware a 2.5-20 existed. My question would be what are you sacrificing? It's a Nightforce though so it's a high quality scope. I think you can't go wrong with a 4-16x50 though. Those scopes usually have comfy eyeboxes, nice FOV and enough magnification for long range without getting dark or grainy. And 4x with a bigger scope is a pretty wide FOV for close range.
It seems like LPVOs are taking over...the advantage they give you along with the cqb ability is pretty awesome...going for an eotech vudu on my new giessele super duty. most likely with an offset SRO. great video!
YOU WERE CLOSE
But BrassFacts doesn't like to be photographed from behind!
@@Hoplopfheil How do you expect to get to the Rainbow Cloud level, Hop.
@@BlueLoneWolf54hey bro i know its been a year from this video, but i if you could answer me one question I'd really appreciate it, if your the 3 guy in this video with bass facts and hop could you tell me what stock and heand guard your running on the green spr rifle you got on this video ?🙏
@@lobo-uh2tb its a doublestar skeleton stock and an alg defense handguard
It’s like a nutnfancy video with Millennials. We’ve come full circle.
Just gonna say that. Love it.
Needed a watch review snuck in to the video that takes up 15 minutes to really cop the NutNfancy style 🤣
HA!
Way better than nutnfancy
😂
Big respect for never talking over or interrupting each-other. Too many podcasts fail to deliver such a clean listening experience.
I edited all the parts out where we were mean to each other.
@@Hoplopfheil can we have the unedited footage?
14:20
The .mil wanted a 20" bbl for the SPR. When they requested a 20" 5.56 match barrel, the bean counters denied the request because there was already a 20" 5.56 barrel in inventory, the one on the M16. It was fruitless to explain the differences between a match barrel and an assault rifle barrel to said bean counters so the people who knew what they were doing changed the length of the barrel that they wanted so that it would be obvious to the bean counters why the requested barrel was different from that on an M16.
LTDR = the SPR is 18" because bureaucracy
There we go. I vaguely remembered that factoid but not the specifics.
Yep! Same reason the SEALs and MARSOC had to source G19s instead of G17s. “You already have the MK25/M9!”
@@HotelBravo556 amazing how a different barrel length suddenly makes a gun acceptable, huh?
I think that’s the reason they went from 18” to 18.1”.
@@Hoplopfheil
5th group SF wanted 20"
Seals wanted 16"
SOCOM split the difference and came up with 18"
(This is in addition to the bean counter explanation as well)
Hops one looks more like something Nunfancy would build, therefor. It's superior.
I should have busted out the duracoat for this one
Nutnfancy would duracoat his own mother in Magpul FDE if he could.
I know a guy who will sell you an old Troy Alpha Rail...
With the lights off it’s not how it looks, it’s how you use it.
Did you all do a meetup? I go shoot out there a bunch.
And a friend called bugget nuster.
Didn't know you had a podcast, will be hopping on that, great video
Hahahaha “Hop”ping on that, get it?…. I’ll see myself out
holy shit its fnaf lore guy
i love that you watch hop
Woah… kinda surprised to see you here lol, love your content dog
Damn what
It’s nice to see a younger generation grappling with the warrior’s dilemma. That is to say, “how can I be strong in all places in all times in every direction?” Only to come up with the same conclusion: you can’t. You can only prepare for the most likely in all those and keep your head on a swivel to anticipate when “most likely” changes. It’s certainly better than watching what the younger generation does on TikTok.
And don’t worry too much about “restless rifle.” When you settle on the “perfect rifle” that’s when you’re most in danger of becoming a set in your ways, stick in the mud Fudd.
Based old guy wisdom.
I already know your the real deal. It's having adaptation and resiliency that is important as anything on the battlefield. Not to mention courage.
Vietnam vet and others. You hit the nail on the head, "same conclusion YOU CAN'T.
Thanks for the great tip
Beautifully put! A true warrior with a knife and a rope, in a survival situation, can be worth far more than an idiot with a full pack and an expensive AR. Lol. Mindset and general competency FTW.
However, I am greatly looking forward to the day with old people stop complaining about the younger generations all the time. It’s essentially just as dumb as racism and sexism for the same reasons. The choice of one’s generation is non-existent and therefore one shouldn’t be judged by it. More importantly though, making blanket statements is so inaccurate and unfair. It’s like saying, “all black people do this”, or “all women do this, “all white men do this”… it’s just not true.
Well done. As someone who's fought in two wars and is now a civilian, I see the "fighting rifle" as a very different build than what the trendy guys say. I appreciate your experiments and reflections. One thing that came to mind was a close-to-max-range course I took which required SR-25s but limited optics to 1-8x. I was impressed that they were useful to about 600 yards, but those were white-painted torsos with an instructor helping us find them. Finding a target that is moving and not bright white would be a lot tougher with a 1-8x!
The Mk12 SPR only has an 18” barrel because if NSW Crane had used a 20” barrel they would have been forced to use existing M16 barrels. Going with 18” allowed them to get new heavier match grade barrels, but they wanted 20”.
Came here to say this. The bean counters can't tell the difference between match grade and rack grade. As far as they were concerned, 20" was 20" and there was no way that two barrels of the same length could have a difference in quality, and it was utterly impossible to convince them otherwise.
@@explodojones same is true for the Glock 19. Since they had already adopted a “full sized” handgun, the M9, the only way SOCOM could get glocks was to adopt them as “compact” handguns for protection details. That’s why they have 19s instead of 17s and you see them being run with magwells and comps and grip extenders.
I had a good time listening in on this one. I think one of the best takeaways from the conversation was the capability of the shooter matching the capable range of the optic. One of the reasons I run a 1-8x28 on my AR10 is because I am honestly not capable of reaching out further than what 8x provides me with. If that makes sense. Anyway, great information and concepts. I run a red dot on my 5.56's for similar reasons regarding effectiveness of the round. But that might change here soon.
I have found that the optic is the biggest deal. And they're just using it trumps having the perfect optic. That said I've never felt like I had too much field of view. And I'd halfway got talked into one to six is enough then I discovered my eyes were significantly older than they used to be and when I used a couple one to sixes they just weren't for me even fairly close. I think you can have too much initial zoom but I don't know if you can have too much max. I think 10 power in the upper end does now minimum for me.
So I guess that's a little thing to think about that I don't often hear coming up in these discussions but if you buy the perfect optic for your eyes 5 years from now it might not be anymore. I noticed that the shooting competitions all the old extra fudly boomers became the earliest adopters of red dots on pistols on that made the difference from them being able to compete or not.
Light weight and a good optic are key. Something you can hike around with all day and see exactly what you are aiming at is perfect. Last thing any civilian is going to want to build is a fighting rifle. A rifle with a good 4x16 or even 6x20 optic is really going to keep you alive longer. You start engaging people at close distance during the apocalypse and your days will become numbered real fast. No resupply, no hospitals, no medevac, basically if you get shot at all you are Fucked. If I'm defending my home a nice heavy 7.62 is what's up. If I was stupid enough to leave the protection of my house for some reason I would want a light weight rifle with lots of ammo, a semi powerful scope for intelligence gathering and the ability to take game meat. F trying to walk around and get into any kind of conflict when just a scratch can get you killed without proper medical care in that setting.
@@GunFunZS Great point of view. Been there, done that... at 57, my eyes starts to love magnification.
Eyesight is huge, bit then add in the other factors of aging, like bad knees, a bad shoulder & the things we took for granted in our youth takes more of a toll as the years roll on. Such great points of optics & weight. My same younger friends that made fun of me for putting a 1-4 lvpo on my AR years ago are starting to put lvpo's on their rifles, & 1-4 ain't cutting it like it used to as my eyes are more easily fatigued these days, my irons are but a mere blurr anymore. So hard to find a good compromise, as if one exists.
Good, high BC, ammo will make a bigger difference at distance than increasing the barrel length. Given a 16” barrel, going from M855 to 77gr TMK will save you 10” of wind drift at 600 yards with 10mph wind. Nevermind the increased precision of match ammo over M855.
Yeah, 77gr SMK/TMK or 75gr BTHP's over Varget will have a massive difference over M855. The M855/SS109 bullet with the two piece core is really handicapped
I'd like this format a lot more on this channel
We'd like to do more videos like this. They're a shitload of work but really fun.
@@Hoplopfheil Cool
The only thing I can add to this is at woodlands brutality this year, there were a Ton of spr'ed 556 ar's that were insanely fast and handy at close range. And we're fast at making hits out to 400y on stage 3. They are such a useful tool for so many different environments. Especially suppressed.
I also completely agree with thr MVPO being used on a general purpose rifle like here. The 2-10/12 are very useful inside 50y, and you can reach out to 500y with ease on larger targets.
If anything, get a 1-4/6x and a 3-15x and throw them on gq mounts and swap out as needed. That's my plan on my go to rifle.
Excellent video as always hop!
Thanks C, looking forward to hearing and seeing more stuff from Woodland Brutality. Sounds like it was awesome.
2.5-15x scopes exist. Personally I don't see an issue with a 4-16. They are really one of the most common scope configurations now, they are a really good balance. I don't see how 4x would be that much of an issue at close range.
@@Patrick-857 4x ACOG at close range is useful because of its incredible field of view. 4-16x44 at 4x has a much smaller field of view, and that's going to impact the speed (or ability) to find targets at close range. Eg: my girlfriend jumped out 2 bachelor bull Elk at around 75yds in the timber this past fall. She had her rifle shoulder slung against my advice to carry at a low ready, so she didn't even bother to try to go sights-on, but if she had, I have faith she could have at least got a sight picture at 2.5x with her 2.5-10. Same with a 4x ACOG. But you'll get "lost in the scope" in a hurry with a traditional 4-16 at 4x within 100yds (close range) with any dynamic movement of your target. Sure, flat range from the bench there'll be little difference, but not in any real-world use scenario from hunting to SHTF.
@@Flack55i think to go on 2.5-10 then 3-18
The barrel isnt the heart, the BCG is. The barrel is the soul, in the optics are the windows to the soul!
After 500 years, a gun is still just a lock, stock, and barrel.
I always say the optics are the personality but pretty dead on lol
That's honestly a really good way to put it
and the grip is the dick and the triggers the clit and the buttstock is the....butt. >.>
Nah, barrel is still the single most important part. A cheap barrel is inaccurate, so useless. A cheap bcg still works, but not dependable. Can't hit sh it if your rounds are off. Irons sights while not ideal, will serve you up to 200-250yards.
I understand the military philosophy for a SPR, because of logistics of keeping it a 556, but in this day and age, you can shoot a 6.5 Grendel or 6mm ARC out of an AR-15 platform and really bridge the gap (and in some cases exceed) 308. The only reason why (I would think) anyone would want a SPR is one a military clone, two, to save money on ammo, or three, to be able to share ammo with others in your squad
If you're shooting the ammo you need to reach out with 5.56 you aren't saving any money. And unless you really need to save weight, there is no reason not to go with an AR-10 that weighs a pound more and double your distance with 6.5 Creedmoor. If you can't carry a 12 pound rifle 20 miles, you have a fitness problem and not a gun problem.
I guess there is a case to be made for the weight of ammo though.
@@hysterslap As well as a case for "using what you have on you". Obviously there are better ways to make shots at those distances. But if what you have available is a 556 gun then that's what you run.
Don't forget 6.8 SPC. That is a badass cartridge.
@@hysterslap I’m disabled, and in a wheelchair part time, so carrying even a lightweight rifle more than a half mile is impossible for me… not fitness related, was disabled in the line of duty
Cut my teeth on nutnfancy and I think we are all the same age. You are both great and this video was dope. More than happy to pay money for you all to talk; first folks I've ever paid for content ✌️
We can go on and on about which barrel length does what. But once you start hitting plates and seeing the difference in the swinging, you'll get why people choose to lug around longer barrels.
Nice one. I'll add my $0.02 on this, I guess. I understand what you guys are getting at completely, but I think some key points were made in different parts of the video that I found to be true that kind of makes the idea too niche for practical use in most cases. Me and other friends with different rifles and optics have gone side by side when pushing them and comparing optic capabilities, and we''ll start out to 200m or so and keep dropping back until we cannot get consistent hits (not being able to ring steel 3 times in a row on command, or at least hit 3 out of 5 means it's over). It seems regardless of ammo, magnification or barrel length, 500-600m with an AR-15 is really the edge for the most part of the rifles we've used. More magnification can help better to see where missed shots landed in attempt to correct, but as ya'll said, practically speaking if you miss the first (bummer) and can't immediately follow up a hit because of wind or some limitation of the cartridge at that distance, magnification is only going to just let you know how bad you fucked up. My inner clone autism paired with always being overly practical has led me to believe the "ultimate" fighting rifle that can be an "SPR" as well as a regular "fighting rifle" which can be fitted to work in most any situation day or night, suppressed or unsuppressed, beans or steamed rice, is something that basically looks like a 14.5" or 16" Block I or Block II M4 with an ACOG/RMR combo and accoutrements of your choosing for the occasion/mission. Need some weight savings? Pull off the LAM, bipod, Insight AM/FM tape deck. Need to have more of an SPR? Put bipod back on. Need to shoot with nods but will be moving around a lot? Remove bipod and put on laser. Need something absolutely lightweight for hiking? Unflip the levers on the larue mount on the ACOG and pull off everything except the rail from the front end and flip up your rear KAC/Magpul iron. Now you got a rifle that really does it all and is right down the middle, and still gets the accuracy that the SPR would get for the most part assuming your vision is up to the task of being limited to 4x at up to 500m or so.
If you didn’t know… ¢ is hidden behind the $ key like ° is behind 0😬
@@williamflowers9435 I don't know anything about that, I have a 65% keyboard :'(
Very interesting considerations Sir!
It’s definitely a balance issue. I spent a lot of time in the mindset of trying to expand the capabilities of the SPR. What I came up with is that I should have been focusing on expanding general purpose while identifying and addressing the special purposes. The two main specials for me were defense and resource gathering (hunting is a good example) and they overlap into my general. The truth about “long range” is that there is a point at which you should simply not engage. Instead maybe switch over to observe and communicate.
Not saying someone should never engage at long range, but shooting at a target and missing is just letting them know where you are. Having a bunch of good dudes with CAS available is one thing, but if it's like a Red Dawn type of deal then observation and intelligence gathering seems more important and practical.
@@ALovelyBunchOfDragonballz, exactly! You might not be able to call the birds, but you can call a contact a mile away and let them know what’s coming. Comms are important.
I can’t honestly see myself ever shooting at someone past 4-500 yards. Hell you would have to actually see them in the first place
If you have a greater distance capability then your target, then you are much safer than they are. What if the target is a problem you'll have to deal with eventually? Might as well do it at a safer distance. Getting rid of a problem from 600 yards away with one bullet is better than having to deal with the problem when it's 150 yards away and actively suppressing your position.
And let me tell you, I live in an urban setting and I see plenty of thousand yard sightlines just driving around town. It would give you a lot of time for a hit and run approach.
Watching whilst seated on an outhouse in between load testing with my 20" AR15. Good timing.
We owe nutn an apology. This was like watching Nutn and Bugget Nuster out in the desert.
Minus a metric ton of ego and condescention.
@@GunFunZSand the on the spectrum constant facial expression
For these sorts of videos to work I’m really going to need more acronyms. A little more talk regarding size and weight constraints would be nice too, plus a little firepower vs mobility. Thanks!
SAWC on my nuts lmao!
DMR>SPR>RECCE>CARBINE>CQB
This for me is based on effective range for these semi-automatic or automatic military configurations.
You’re thinking about it too hard. It isn’t that in depth.
There's also a SASS or CSASS.
*NutnFancy has entered the chat*
Did someone say SAPPER?!
Surprised the Leupold Mk5 3-18 didn't come into the conversation. Greater magnification range than 4-16x, fairly compact body, great glass and still lightweight (25 oz).
At that price point it would more than double the cost of the rifle.
@@Hoplopfheilbuy once cry once
I've got what I like to call my "SS-SPR" as a 20" Kel Tec RDB (that's the same OAL as as 14.5 inch AR) with a full length aluminum mlok handguard, 1-8x lpvo (yes the cheap PA one) and a swampfox green dot riding piggyback on top. It's quirky and may not be up to what some would consider "trust my life" squared away, BUT it's the most unique and I think functional bullpup in 5.56 you can get right now for under 2000$.
What 10 shot groups do you get at 100, 200, 300 yards?
@Sin526 KelTec is not know for reliability, do you trust it completely?
@@makevelicustoms have you read his comment?
@@onpsxmember farthest I've shot it so far is about 175 to 200 yards (estimated) and not on paper, that being said it seems to reliably be able to hit soda can-sized targets at that distance if the shooter does their part. I'd estimate that it's 1.5-2 moa with factory 55gr ammunition. Maybe it could be a bit better but overall I'm happy with the accuracy.
I've had no reliability problems with my RDB, but the polymer they use is not ready for prime time. I think the first time you dropped it on concrete or rock it would shatter. I broke the front of the magwell off on mine when I dropped it on carpeted stairs. It was still functional though.
These new Ghost Recon: Breakpoint graphics are amazing.
I simply refuse to stop using my 3.5x M145 mg elcan to volley fire green Ivan targets at 1200. Accuracy by volume.
Accuracy by volume? What are you, an Imperial Guardsman? An Ork?!
249 go BRRRRRRR-click
Hops build was really interesting to me… it’s very “common” accessories due to being very affordable… and it works. Kudos on the Larue 2 stage… killer trigger for $100.00… 👍🏻
Got all mine on sale for $60. Such a great trigger for that price.
Isn't the "middle ground between 5.56 and .308" pretty well defined with 6.5 Grendel and 6mm ARC? Still in an AR-15 platform but easily able to reach out to 1km with an 18" (ish) barrel. Grendel's been around over 20 years now, and the ARC is getting accepted on US military contract. Seems like it's nearly settled, for now, isn't it?
If cost was no object and the magazines actually worked 6.5 Grendel or 6mm ARC would be really awesome for this job. But sharing ammo and mags with your buddies is still a nice bonus.
Stumpy....I was hoping that the US .mil would move to the 6.5 Grendel as the cartridge replacement for the 5.56. Instead, per politics, they are adopting some entirely new, heavy cartridge that will take the military long rifles back to the heavyweight days of M1 Garand and M14. History repeats itself when idiots are in charge !
@@Hoplopfheil That's fair. For what it's worth, I've got three Grendel rifles, two gas guns and a bolt gun, and the E-Lander 10 and 24 round magazines have never given me any trouble, though my cheaper Grendel AR chokes on the 17 rounders. Might be worth a try, if you've got a Grendel that's languishing for lack of reliable feeding. Also got a couple 10 rounder ASC Grendel mags and those have been great for several years with no trouble.
But, as you say, sharing mags with buddies gets a lot harder if you go chasing other cartridges.
Thanks for the video and the reply. Happy shooting.
@@Hoplopfheil I spent a few bucks buying various Grendel mags until I found one that works 100% of the time. In so doing I discovered the Duramag 6.5 Grendel/6mm ARC, stainless steel magazines. Those 6.5G Duramags are as dependable as USGI mags are for 5.56mm. Finding good 6.5G mags that work in ARmalite platforms is not the issue. Rather, the issue are the corrupt individuals ensconced in D.C. and the military equipment manufacturers/vendors.
@@Hoplopfheil My thought with Grendel/ARC for an SPR is that it would be just an upper rather than a full rifle, since you're likely not going to be needing to lay down as much fire at long range since the whole idea is precision.
So same lower, so you can share mags and ammo, but an upper with a few mags of Grendel or ARC that you can have on there when you are situations where you need to reach further, but throw on the 5.56 upper when you know you're going to be going in somewhere without long sight lines and are going to need to be working in close...
You see, the problem here was that you guys weren't holding down the sniper button.
I truly vibe with "the optic is the heart of the rifle". Barrels don't change too much from rifle to rifle. Really the barrel is the anus of the rifle. It just craps out whatever you feed it with varied results. The optic is what determines the rifles purpose, it's what gives it the ability to meet its potential. Makes a lot of sense from that point of view.
The barrel may also crap out nothing if the guts of the rifle deem what you feed it to be particularly antagonistic towards its gastrointestinal function.
Barrel/upper is the heart of the rifle; optic is the brain. Optic is how you decide when and where bullets will go.
I've been running a 12.5" ballistic advantage barrel, with 77gr sierra bullets loaded kind of hot, with a 1-6x lpvo. No issues making hits at 600 on silhouette targets with a 5-7" group. Once I go to 700, my optic becomes kind of useless, and the velocity goes transonic. Great video guys!
That’s why I feel like anything longer than 16” is pretty goofy
I do cmp shooting with a rock river arms a2 irons and im able to hit the x mark at 600. I aslo use 77 grain. These guys said with lpvos it’s not ideal hitting targets at that range but in reality it’s the ammo / quality of the barrel that they use that matters.
@@talltale9760 Depends on the intended target. Even soft body armor can defeat slow moving 5.56 at distance.
@@forkthepork you’re committing murder if they’re that far away and you don’t take your multiple chances to disengage.
@@talltale9760 lol k.
I agree. The optics really determine what the rifle is capable of. I built two SPR-type rifles, one in 5.56 and one in 6 ARC and both were very effective medium-range shooters. in my opinion, limiting magnification to 10x handicaps the capability of an AR when using 75-77-grain bullets (in 5.56) and 90-110-grain bullets in 6 ARC. I would forgo some low-level magnification to get more magnification on the top end. My choice for an SPR rifle is a Leupold Mark 5, 3.6-18x44. The 6 ARC is an outstanding way to extend the range, power, and usefulness of the AR platform, without adding weight. 6 ARC is just a standard AR-15 with a 6 mm ARC barrel, 6.5 Grendel bolt, and Grendel mags. The Grendel bolt uses a standard AR-15 bolt carrier. I liked seeing your guys shoot in the desert environment. Very jealous!
You fellas brought up lots of great points and put out some extremely useful info in this video (as both of you do in your other videos as well). But mostly, this video proves to me, that 2 people can actually talk and do a video and not constantly be talking over each other, or trying to "one up" each other with bad jokes. I've been binge watching videos from both of ya for a few evenings now, and I appreciate the knowledge and insight you both put out. Thanks fellas.
I think FFP really comes into its own in regards to field of view.
Shot a PRS style match today, out to 600, and entire day was spent at 15x or so. It helped a ton with finding targets and eye relief is better. Didn’t have to zoom in all the way to use the reticle.
Limited experience, but it also helps to zoom out for moving targets while still being able to use horizontal holds for ambush method.
Not sure at what magnification level FFP becomes a necessity though. Or maybe it’s more type of rifle.
I think you nailed it. First focal plane becomes necessary above 15x. Between 10 and 15 max magnification it's probably a toss up. Below 10 I like the big bold cross hairs down at low magnification, and I'll be at the top end if I'm past 300 yds where I need my holds.
FFP is the need when you only have a quick sec to range without having to dial up magnification. SFP is going to have to be at max magnification to be accurate for ranging unless you are going to toss in an additional calculation to get the size/distance as a function of the magnification power you ranged in with the sfp. FFP is true at all magnifications.
I recently did the same thing. I went a little outside the box with the optic. A Swarovski Z3 3-10x42. Capped turrets with a great BRH reticle. The reticle almost perfectly matches 77 gr SMKs out of a 16" barrel at 2500-2600 fps. The glass only weighs 12.7 oz. Took the setup out to the farm last weekend and was hitting very easily and very quickly out to 600 yds in Kansas wind. The scope reticle is so good. It has wind hold lines at the 100 yd drops and mil marks in between. It's a great hybrid for fast holds but also calling mil adjustments for myself and spotting for my buddy.
I was thinking the same thing but was going to go with a meopta 1.7-10×42. More like 21 oz instead of that awesome 12.7 but I like the flexibility a 42mm objective affords over lpvos which suck
@@ryaniam22 I wasn't aware of that scope. Looks like a great option.
I have that optic with a plain crosshair and the glass is phenomenal. Would love one with the BRH.
You guys brought up a very valid point regarding the difference between purpose/ objective built over mission driven built. Some of the differences would definitely depend on the environment around where you live.
THE CROSSOVER WE NEEDED, BUT NOT THE ONE WE DESERVED🤙🏼🙌🏼
If the barrel is the heart, the optic is the brain. At least that’s what I’d say.
And the ammo is the BALLS
That’s exactly what I thought haha
Have several scopes over the year I've settled on 4-14x scopes for 300 - 800 yards. I'm not shooting beyond those ranges. For 300 and in I'm still all about 3x Prisms. I've got a number of the old PA prisms, a Burris RT-3, and a couple of the newer 3x PA Micro Prisms. And with these new micro prisms being around 8oz even better.
I've got a Vortex Spitfire Gen II 3x and it's wonderful. I'd recommend putting it on a Fortis F1 mount so you can hang it farther back if you pick one up.
What 4-14 are you running? I've been considering one for the 18" upper I have languishing around here.
@@poisonouslead85 I've got a couple of Primary Arms 4-14x44 scopes with different reticules. On my bolt gun it's a Christmas tree of mils as the mid-range course I went had all adjustments in Mils. The other two are DMR 5.56 reticules. They are all the cheaper SLx line that used to be available on sale for like $200. To get the GLx series I think you have to go up to 4-16x.
The micro prisms really changed things as the older prisms hovered around 15oz and when you can get a LPVO these days for almost the same amount of weight...I might opt for that route if I were starting from scratch. But now with the micro prisms being around 8oz...
@@KirkFickert The Spitfire Gen II's are micro-prisms. My 3x with mount weighs 9oz. That one lives on my 13.7" rifle.
My only complaint about it is that it's a T1 style mount which makes the Fortis mount the only option I have to scoot the optic rearward.
The Leopold vx6hd 2-12 might be a great option for one of these builds. Especially with the custom etched bdc turret caps.
Enjoyed the banter. Good shit.
I run a 1-8 ffp on 18" fluted barrel with bipod and light. Gun is fairly heavy but I'm a big boy. I've ran this rifle through carbine classes and I can shoot it out to 800y consistently with 77gr. I like having the ability to reach out while still being able to use the same gun at closer ranges. I have an ar-10 and a 10.5 sbr but I love the 18". Good all around gun.
This. Was. Excellent. Really quality content Hop- but that’s becoming an expectation of ours at this point, I think. You have some of the best content on the tubes. This was undeservingly (us) good. Thank you and Brass facts. And you’re both very well spoken. As a 36 y/o millennial, I think this is about my speed.
Thanks Guys for filming and taking US along with you on your Mountain wilderness recce , looks like a lot of fun in open country. If I had to guess I'd say that's next to White sands NM. range . When I was your age I was riding off road dirt bikes out in the wilderness AZ like this , even road the hole Baja Ca. Mexico . I missed out on this sport .
I have a similar setup in .224 Valkyrie. Definitely a niche setup, but it does a number on yotes. I also have a 16 inch rig in the new 6mm ARC with an Arken Optics 4X16 with an ACRO sidemount. I think the 6mm ARC will be a versatile round.
Love the discussion - this is too fine of a niche for me. Totally agree that barrel length in 5.56 is first a discussion about lethality.
I really enjoyed this. Thank you. Especially the honesty on self reflection.
Ya'll came to the same conclusions I worked out as well. If you're shooting at distance with a 'fightin rifel', a 3-15x-ish optic with piggy back red dot is ideal. Heavy but it works well for everything over 100 yards out. For the 'doo it all' build, a 16" with a 1-6x is best only out to about 300-400 yards. Either way, let mission drive your optic choice, which then drives your barrel length.
SPRs are cool. I have 2 SPR uppers. One in 223 Wylde and one in 6.5 Grendel. But practical in wrol? If you are concerned with defensive capability then no. If you are planning to counter an occupying force (however you imagine that scenario) then the long range capability is essential. But if you're going to build a rifle for long-range capability, for God's sake use good ammo. 69gr or heavier. Even if you can hit at 600 with ball ammo the effect will be marginal at best.
Best to have an established zero with ball ammo just in case you survive long enough to run out of match stuff and have to fall back to second line ammo.
B zone with shitty ball at 600 yards will still pretty reliably kill someone
Nutting fancy collab WHEN
Trying to shoot past 600 yards with 5.56 gets harry, there is a harsh drop in accuracy when you are out past the "transsonic zone" --- which means the projectile drops below the speed of sound; as it transitions from super sonic to sub-sonic, it can cause a random yaw or wobble, which can throw wild flyers.. The shorter you barrel is, the quicker this happens. The best way to get over this issue is to use the big 77gr projectiles. The heavier rounds have more inertia and can carry their momentum out further.. Really the most ideal long range AR would be a 20" stainless barrel in .223 wylde in 1/7 twist with heavy 77gr pills... But then you basically have a varmint rifle; I know an "SPR is typically 18" barrels though.
What???? I come across brassfacts like a month ago and he’s collating with hop???? Dream come true
Love it guys! Ive been using a glx 2.5-10x44. In a adm recom qd After seeing BF videos on it.
With recognition of limitations im very happy with it so far.
Its on a 16 in atm. But i will be going to an 18 inch either white oak , or a BA depending on what i want with weight savings.
Im also running a magpul bipod and like it.
The larue mbt is great i love mine.
Red dot is a hs 403r . On a arisaka offset. I had a t2 sitting on this rifle prior to optic change. That i put on my 12.5 centurion build
Id say look into the str magpul stock the cheek weld on it is😍 ive been using it for years its my go to.
Surefire warcomp, sa bleed off gas block and the vltor a5 system makes a super super soft shooter.
Ive been repurposing this rifle for the same indented purpose and capabilities as you guys so i love seeing these videos from you guys!
Only thing different i plan on is dedicated 77gr loads either hand or factory. Gives it a little more ass at range.
But keep these videos coming love it 🍻
Out of curiosity, how durable is it? Have you been running and gunning with it? Would love to purchase it if it has the toughness to take a beating and stay functional
@@taylorcarrell8421 as far as i know they take more of a beating than you would expect. I havent beaten the piss out of it yet like my t2. Id like to though. Just havent had the time
my dad was kinda looking at me like why its to big when i built a 18". then we went to the range and double drilling holes over 200 yards with easy i think made his brain melt. he shoot ak lol
Pretty slick video. Really relevant to something I'm working on. I also admire that yall are somehow blunt without being negative. Maybe straightforward is the word.
Some solid info here! Thanks for the share!!
Top notch video as always.
Definitely subscribing to Brass Facts.
My question is...
Where were y'all shooting? That scenery was GORGEOUS.
Out in the desert of Utah
What is in the distance? Salt flats? Salt Lake Basin?
@@wiryone1 i know its been a bit, but they are across the lake from SLC
To be fair, the traditional 18" 1:7 twist isn't really meant to drastically increase your overall accuracy, it's for stabilizing and increasing range of the specific ammo made for spr's, mk262 77gr. Great video, just wanted to point out the intended purpose of that barrel
Ultimately, for civilians it boils down to where you live. Also living in the Southwest, we get way more field of view and sight distance than most, and even so, where things could get dicey it is still obstructed. If you’re from NJ, that just won’t be the case given vegetation and overall congestion. That being said, I built a super light (carbon fiber / titanium everything) 16.5 308 with a NF 1-8. Given ammo weight, if I’m ever forced to into having to leave for extended time, 556 GPR and travel only at night with Nods / Thermal to actively avoid the fight and just worry about water
I just enjoyed listening to the conversation. It’s hard to find places to shoot distance here for me, so everything ends up just being hypothetical.
Great content. I love my MK12'ish. I like seeing more "musket" AR's. Seeing countless SBR/MK18 AR's with red dots is beyond boring now. Super jealous of all that open land you guys have to shoot on.
I am so tired of living in a world where everyone is shooting mk18 with nods and shot timers. This wide open stuff with scopes is way more interesting to me.
Get both
Agreed. Living on the plains of the Midwest this setup makes way more sense for just about anything I’d ever encounter.
Because the gwot trap lords made people think cqb is cool and fun. Not telling you that you will inevitably die if you ever have to enter more than two rooms in a row no matter how skilled you are.
Even tier 1 dudes who train years and years with the exact same people, with an unlimited budget, will take shots once every two or three doors. They die alot lol. Door kicking is stupid and you should never do it.
Smartest comment in this thread. Lmaoing at all the gun-fu tards who C-clamp their rifles harder than their own dicks fapping to BLACKED, but can't estimate range or call wind at all.
@@mynameisjeff6988what???😂 guess I should have died along time ago…..
Interesting fantasy exercise on what you can do with an AR when you have the time and money to make it do what it was not designed to do. Great fun in the nerdy extremities. Makes me miss my youth. Keep it up guys.
Damn good video. Thank you both!
Big surprise. Hop used an ALG handguard.
The optic is definitely not the “heart of the rifle” yes it plays a major role in how the firearm is used however with training you can reach similar levels of utility regardless of the optic (with in reason to as fas as you can see adequately)
it's a meaningless term that changes depending on who you ask. I use it to define what influences the rifles employment the most.
The barrel is the heart of the rifle, BrassFacts, the thing that dictates things is the brain, and so the optic is the brain of the rifle.
Anatomy of the AR:
Bullet is the fist
Barrel is the arm/muscle behind the fist
Optics/Sights are the eyes
Gas block/tube/piston rod/buffer is the circulatory system
Ejection port is the respiratory system
Handguard/receiver/receiver extension is the skeletal system
When comparing variable optics, 2-#x always gets compared to LVPOs with 1-#x variable magnification. But the question is how does the 2x on a variable optic that bottom lines at 2 compare with dedicated set magnifiers at 2x.
same for 3 or 4x. We're willing to accept an acog or likeness in these magnifications. But when it comes to a variable optic, the consumer expects true 1x. LPVOs have a place, but why is 2 or 3x magnification at the bottom end have a stigma while we are willing to accept Primary Arms micro prism 3x. (obvious differences aside)
I think it comes from a lack of understanding about the tradeoffs of an LPVO. Newbies don't see the point of a 2-10 when a 1-10 exists, because exit pupil and parallax are not in their vocabulary.
LPVO is generally meant 1x or 1.5x to XX magnification, anything with a low end 2x and above is just a regular scope
@@Hoplopfheil Also us prism guys have trained our eyes to Bindon Aim and that's another concept that isn't in the newbie vocabulary. 2x and 3x are still perfectly fine for close engagements once you've trained your eyes to do so. I suppose that's one benefit to having the eye-tism.
That was a PA 3x micro prism I saw around 29:15 wasn't it? I love mine.
The sexiest eyebrows in the industry.
At least somebody appreciates me.
@@Hoplopfheil I've always enjoyed our chats bro, even before you were a somebody. ;) LOL
Fascinating topic, Keep up the content!
This is the exact approach I took with my rifle. It can do most things good enough. Many times good enough is the best thing.
Good stuff guys. You're teaching this ole' boomer a thing or 2. Man, the modern setups are cool. There was a time when the mini-14 was the shizzle lol!!
I’m diggin the environment of which you guys are shooting. Looks like a beautiful day in Talibanistan 😁
Really enjoyed watching you guys work through the thought experiment.
The weight on the Primary Arms SLx 4-16 FFP HUD DMR scope was not that much more than the Primary Arms SLx 1-8x24 SFP ACSS scope so that's what I went with on my 18" SPR. I'm glad I did now. I purchased the 1-8x model for my 16" M4 GPR and with the illumination it fills a lot of uses in my opinion. I'm not a fan of those little red dots so still debating about slapping on some offset iron backups. Great vid gents!
I have 3 of those Primary Arms 2.5x10 scopes I was able to pick up in their storefront here in Houston off their bargain table and I think they are great mid range scopes. The reticle is great and I was able to take it easily out on steel to 850 yards with a .308 Win rifle recently because the chevron in the reticle is extremely versatile between 50 and 1000 yards. I've had 10X scopes where it was difficult to use the reticle out to 300 yards, but I've had great luck with PA scopes with chevron & ACSS reticles out to 1200 yards.
Hello, help me! The thick chevron or donut don't cover target? Is not better pa 3-18x44?
Kicked off the Bromance strong lol. Great video guys.
A lot of opinions here. I carried a 129A1 for a couple of my last tours. Hop nailed it talking about weight. The accuracy was much improved, and it enabled me to make hits out to much farther distance than my colleagues using carbine length weapons. Let's not forget, my rifle was made by the lowest bidder. Anyways, solid perspective. Great video. 🤙
I run both the 2.5-10x PA and 3-18 HUD DMR PA optics and I wish the 3-18x had the Griffin MIL from the 2.5-10x but I love both optics. They're some of if not _the_ highest value optics around IMO. Run both with a 45* offset red dot and I couldn't be happier with the builds. One rifle is 18" .223 Wylde the other is a 16" 6.5 Grendel that I've used for hunting here in the PNW and it's stellar on whitetail and mule deer and I can pack it around the N.Idaho mountains all day without ever really noticing it's there. To me, with the availability of parts and ammo options these days the 6.5 Grendel and 6 ARC are impossible to beat as a round in the AR platform. The Grendel is more versatile but in a fantasy combat scenario the 6 ARC would be a near perfect combat cartridge.
Out of curiosity, how durable is the pa 2.5x10? Have you been running and gunning with it? Would love to purchase it if it has the toughness to take a beating and stay functional
Really enjoyed the discussion a,d the weapon run downs. Also the discussion about match ammo. Very true!
Well thought out content. Thanks!
Ok so oddly enough the reason the MOD 0 and MOD 1 had 18in barrels is during the original write up Crane had it as a 20in barrel but it was denied by SOCOM because there was already a 20in barreled something in inventory being the m16 which doesn't make sense to me because they're not the same thing and for different purposes but anyway they just dropped 2in off the barrel so it could be different on paper and able to be adopted
Omggg the view at 4:20 is just unbelievable!
100% agree people get so wrapped around the axle about what their groups are with match ammo as if they have stockpiles of 77gr sierra match in their basement…
I’ve got 500 rounds. If I make it past 500 rounds in the apocalypse, I’ll have WILDLY surpassed my expectations for myself.
I love the meta in this. Great video.
What does "meta" mean un this context? I've bever understood it in this application the few tikes U've seen it and I'm genuinely curious.
A Amazing “Budget” Option for an SPR is the PA GLx 2.5-10(Raptor OR Griffin Mil). The turrets are great, very accurate & repeatable, & the zero stop feature is awesome. Glass is 80% quality of the PLx for 1/2 the cost.
I have one on my BCM 18” 410SS in Griffin Mil reticle & the raptor 2.5-10x k. My 14.5 Afghan set up as a mini spr
How do you feel with those? I don't know if go for 2.5-10 or 3-18
@@AmericanelST205 the SLx 3-18 will have lesser quality glass. 5$3 GLx4 4-16x hud dnr acss .308 bdc os compatible with 75-77gr 5.56. If the new 3-18 or 5-25(or whatever it is) in GLx line should be comparable quality wise and would come down to magnification needs & reticle preference
@@fook-joby-den6172 yes mean new 3-18x44 34tube philippine glass athena bpr reticle
Excellent vid! Very valid points! Emphasis on knowing your AO. Its great to practice at the long ranges to test shooter and equipment, but also be realistic about where you would actually need your weapon.
I would also point out that 18" is not mandatory. The Mk 12 Mod H runs a 16" match barrel, and I've seen video of it taken to 1000 yards. The most important thing is that it's a heavier 'Match' barrel. Money is tight for me, and I ended up scraping by to splurge on PRI's Mk 12 Mod H upper. In the end, I've got a 16" 5.56 that is accurate to the maximum effective range of 5.56. And for me, that works. Just don't think you have to spend $3,000 to get an accurate 5.56 AR, with an 18" barrel to be effective ate these ranges.
I built a SPR 7 years ago and it’s my favorite rifle to take to the range. Setup below.
18” BCM SS upper
V7 lower with Aero parts kit
Geissele SSAE trigger
ZeroFail BCG
BCM charging handle
Fulton Armory fixed A2 stock
PA 2.5-10 ACSS Raptor scope
LaRue SPR mount
Magpul MBUS pro backup sights
Harris bipod on MWI qd pic mount
Streamlight WMLX 1000 lumen light
BFG sling
I have your similar setup but need to choose optic, the thick chevron and donut don't cover target? Also i have see new pa 3-18x44
freaking excellent review giving me usable material for future planning.
If shooting in a team scenario, all members should have same reticle value; MRAD or MOA.
Spotter can use his scope to call shots for shooter in the same language; “up .4 MIL, right .7” as example.
MIL/MRAD probably the best answer as it’s universal with military and LE.
A handguard that extends all the way to the end of the barrel allows you to place the fulcrum point of the bipod as far forward as possible from the point of shoulder contact as possible.. some of the ELR precision rifle shooters are running extensions that allow their bipods to be mounted as much as a 10" forward of the muzzle..
Great video and you both covered a good amount of detail, I would suggest tracking graduation precision added into discussions like this. If an optic has exposed target turrets it should track well. If the tracking is all over the place it wouldn't be a good idea to crank on the turrets.
4x16 is the way to go at 600+ yards. Not just to make hits but to make positive identification of the target. Especially for older eyed like mine. But you guys are younger and may have perfect vision.
Good info on use and equipment selection. For an SPR type optic, I'm leaning heavily towards a Nightforce NX8 2.5-20x50mm F1, with either a Mil-XT or Tremor3 reticle.
Really large magnification range scopes seem to be rare and expensive. I wasn't even aware a 2.5-20 existed. My question would be what are you sacrificing? It's a Nightforce though so it's a high quality scope. I think you can't go wrong with a 4-16x50 though. Those scopes usually have comfy eyeboxes, nice FOV and enough magnification for long range without getting dark or grainy. And 4x with a bigger scope is a pretty wide FOV for close range.
Lmao that is a horrible choice for an SPR. 2.5-10x42 NXS you mong.
It seems like LPVOs are taking over...the advantage they give you along with the cqb ability is pretty awesome...going for an eotech vudu on my new giessele super duty. most likely with an offset SRO. great video!