Rifle Shooter – July 2019

spacers are a possibility without
breaking a bonded construction. I’d
want to add about 10-15mm more for
myself; the standard layout gives
345mm (13.5") which is on the short
side for me. It surprises me why
manufacturers make a rifle like this
without fabricating simple spacers;
easily available, whether included or as
extras, it would save a load of hassle
for buyers wanting a simple addition to
ergonomic comfort.
All set up, cleaned and loaded, the
gun showed simple scope mounting (if
a little high) on the rail with solid return
to zero enabled if changing from day to
night vision optics. The bolt and trigger
are first points of contact with plentiful
leverage from the former’s 43.5mm
handle capped with a 23mm spherical
polymer ball, injection-moulded with
grooves for better grip (if you feel that
is needed on a handle that doesn’t
actually require rotational grip).
As mentioned, the stroke is notably
slick, and cartridges can be single-
loaded when dropped into the spacious
ejection port. Reach to the trigger
blade was perfect for me, but the flip
side is perfect position makes it easier
to feel the creep within its operation.
It’s a single-stage unit, breaking at
1,275g with just 20gr variation through
10 test actuations, yet feels a little
vague due to the creep. Disassembly
of the rifle shows the trigger is
adjustable, but it’s heavily

threadlocked grub screw with blobs of

blue compound discourages amateur

tinkering. Personally, I’d have that

chipped off straight away and removed

because a better trigger lurks within

that adjustment capability, especially

on an accurate varminter that will

appreciate its 10mm wide blade being

gently squeezed for longer range

accuracy. New shooters might not have

easy access to tools, knowledge or a

skilled gunsmith who can tune up

these items which are clearly set up to

be watertight for litigious markets.

On a Harris bipod, the rifle was

appealing to shoot in the much-loved

.223. I zeroed with 55gr Hornady

Factory ammunition at 100m and

found no problem with sub-MOA

grouping straight from the barrel, which

after 40 rounds got a good clean and

improved further, not quite half-inch

http://www.rifleshootermagazine.co.uk 27

»

ON TEST

Heavily

threadlocked

trigger

adjustment

screws

Magazine limits

OAL for long/

heavy bullet

handloads

Keep an oily

rag handy for

the bolt-shaft

Stainless look,

Cerakote finish

1 in 9" twist

rate makes the

most of .223

Stiff stock with

ideal varminting

balance

Picatinny rail

scope mounting

PROS

CONS

Three-position safety

catch locks the bolt

in its centre position

\ THE STOCK IS A SUPERB

VARMINT LAYOUT FOR PRONE

AND SUPPORTED SHOOTING //

A Picatinny rail

allows for easy scope

and night vision

mounting – use low

mounts as the rail

itself is quite thick