Mk12 Mod 1 build - ARMS #22

A few more parts showed up the other day, and though I was going to wait until all the parts arrived to start assembly, I couldn't wait.  

The ARMS #22 high rings in 30mm.  For the price, I think I would have preferred a unitized mount, but the parts list calls for these.  They seem well constructed, and pretty solid.  I've had the ARMS M14 mount as well as a few Surefire mounts in the past, so I'm familiar with their quality.  

A collection of all the parts I have so far.  Still missing the KAC RAS handguard, the lower and lower parts kit (actually, I have an LPK, just forgot to throw it in for the picture), and the KAC front sight.  I wonder if I'll end up getting the clone-correct barrel and scope one day....

The ARMS #22 tactical ring cap.  The place I sourced it from was actually out of rails, so I may just rig any spare rail I have in my parts bin to fit.

The KAC 600m rear back up sight.  I've had this for ages and never even opened the package until now.

The Allen Engineering brake and collar.

My buddy Hermes gave me this A2 fixed buttstock from his spare parts bin.  It's missing some hardware like the screws and sling loop, so I had to order those in.  Also forgot to take a picture of the rifle length buffer and receiver extension.

I've still got the A2 birdcage on the barrel, but it's only there as a thread protector.  I probably won't mount the Allen Engineering brake and collar until the KAC hand guard shows up.

The lower from my Mk18 clone that I'm using for test fit.  The KAC SR-15 stripped lowers still haven't been shipped yet, so the lower build will have to wait.  As a note, the Aero Precision upper is a seamless fit to the Colt LE6920 lower.  There is absolutely no wobble whatsoever, as if the upper and lower were machined together.  I hope that the upper fits the same on the KAC lower when it comes in.

The 600m KAC back up iron sight which may never see any use (along with the uber expensive front sight).  Just very pretty and very expensive decorations on a range toy.  Don't mind me, just grumbling about the price because I'm cheap.  I've actually had to resort to back up iron signs at a 3 gun match last year, so it was definitely better to have them.

The Badger Ordinance tac latch isn't clone correct, but it was the only charging handle I had in the spare parts bin, so when I get around to it, I'll order a PRI one.

The ARMS #22 rings mount firmly to the rails,  The torque does not appear to be adjustable as with some other manufactures like American Defence Manufacturing, but they don't really need any adjustment and fit perfectly.

Using the bubble level set I got from my buddy Collin, I tried my best to match the scope to the rifle.  I basically had the barrel (no hand guard yet) sitting on a large beanbag and carefully tightened the screws while watching the bubbles.

The torque specs for the ARMS #22 ring screws called for 12-14 inch pounds, which seem awfully low compared to other manufactures, but hey, if that's what is called for, then so be it.  Besides, there's not that much recoil anyway, and once torqued to spec, the scope body doesn't seem like it's going to move.

That's it for now, hopefully some more parts show up soon :)

Leupold VX-R Patrol 3-9x40mm

What I really wanted was the Leupold Mark 4 MR/T 2.5-8x36mm for my Mk12 Mod 1 clone build however when these are actually available, they start at $1,800 and I've seen them go for as much as $2,200.  I thought that was a bit insane for that particular scope considering there are FAR better options for that kind of coin.  

I really had to balance sanity with my current obsession with building a Mk12 Mod 1 clone, and ultimately decided to go with something that deviated quite a bit from what was considered acceptable with most clone builders.  I was actually shopping around for a Leupold Mark 4, even had a Mark 4 (though it was the 8.5-25x50mm) a while ago, but sold it in favour of something in first focal plane.  Anyways, I was holding out for a used Mk4, preferably beat up and cosmetically horrendous, but still functional.  

My patience ran out after waiting about 10 minutes then I decided screw it, just going to get something that sort of fits a similar profile and the closest thing I could find that didn't cost the typical arm + leg Leupold pricing was the VX-R Patrol in 3-9x40mm.  

I read some reviews and watched a few videos and near as I can tell, there aren't any other reticle options for this mag range.  I've used the TMR reticle before and though it's simpler than what I've gotten used to (reticles like the Horus H59, the TReMoR 2, and Bushnell's G2DMR), it's better than the mildot in my opinion.  The first thing I noticed with the Patrol's TMR reticle however, was how much thicker the lines appeared compared to the one in my old Mark 4.  I'll have to see if this will drive me up the wall at further distances, but I don't see myself shooting this rifle beyond 300m.  Since this lovely build will fall into the Restricted category, I'll only be able to shoot this at a shooting range, and the furthest distance the closest range goes up to is 300, (or could yards, will have to check).

The scope came with the rubber bikini lens caps, an allen key, a battery, a Leupold sticker and instructions.  It was simple, but adequate packaging, and sort of reflects the price you pay, which really isn't much if you can find these on sale.  

Not pictured here are the "made in" markings.  While this scope is definitely not made in China, the Philippines, Korea, or Viet Nam, it's not likely it's 100% made in the USA either.  I've read that some parts are sourced from overseas, hence the marking indicates it was assembled, not made, in the USA.  This could explain the lower price compared to it's more expensive Mark 4 brothers.

The Firedot is actually quite simple to use.  I borrowed a buddy's Mark AR 1.5-4x20mm a while ago, but didn't spend a lot of time playing with it and never quite figured out the push-button switch to turn the dot on and off.  It actually is quite simple though, in that you push it once to turn it on, push it again as many times as you need to in order to adjust the brightness, and push and hold to turn it off.

I would have preferred to have more subdued markings on this scope, but again, this will be a range toy for me and I probably won't be taking it out on night patrols.

The dials are not crisp like some of my other scopes.  In fact, you could say that they are bordering on mushy, but manageable.  I do however like the fact that they are in mils and not MOA like the Mark 4 which I wanted for the clone build.  This may actually be a good scope for my non-restricted ACR, when plinking at 250m+ is called for and I actually want to dial instead of holding over.  It still doesn't make a lot of sense to me that some rifle scopes come with mil-based reticles, but MOA adjustments.  I've also found that when shooting with others, it helps if everyone is on the same page.  If you splash 3 mils right, and you have to make your adjustments in MOA, it can be a bit of a pain doing the conversion in your head.  

Overall, I'm pretty happy with the Patrol as it sits on my desk.  The finish is nice, as one would typically expect from Leupold, and the quality of the glass is bright and clear from edge to edge.  The eye relief is quite significant and very forgiving, and when you're looking through it, the scope body is barely visible, as if  the sight picture is just floating in the air like a heads up display.  This should come in handy for faster target acquisition.  The reticle is in mils and the adjustments are too, which is a HUGE plus for me.  Lastly, the price wasn't horrendous.  Though the Patrol does not have the field-tested reputation of the Mark 4 line, it should be more than adequate for one-way range use and maybe even competitions.  

That being said, I won't truly really know if I like it until I take it out to try out.  It will probably have more time with my ACR than my Mk12 Clone, but at least with the ACR, it will see targets beyond 300m.   Looking forward to taking this scope for a test drive.

Specs from Leupold:

Linear FOV (ft/100 yd) - Low33.60

Linear FOV (m/100 m) - Low10.20

Linear FOV (ft/100 yd) - High13.60

Linear FOV (m/100 m) - High4.10

Weight (oz)15.30Weight (g)433.70

Exit Pupil (mm) - Low9.80

Exit Pupil (mm) - High4.20

Eye Relief (mm) - Low106.00

Eye Relief (in) - Low4.20

Eye Relief (mm) - High95.00

Eye Relief (in) - High3.70

Elevation Adjustment Range (MOA)60.00

Windage Adjustment Range (MOA)60.00

Tube Diameter: 30mm

Adjustment Click Value: 1/10 Mil

Adjustment Type: Click

Exposed Turrets: Yes

Finger Adjustable Turrets: Yes

Turrets Resettable to Zero: Yes

Zero Stop: No

Turret Height: Medium

Fast Focus Eyepiece: Yes

Lens Coating: Fully multi-coated

Warranty: Lifetime factory warranty

Rings Included: No

Sunshade Included: No

Sunshade Length: N/A

Lens Covers Included: No

Power Variability: Variable

Min power: 3x

Max power: 9x

Reticle Construction: Glass-etched

Reticle: FireDot TMR

Illuminated Reticle: Yes

Battery Type: CR2032

Holdover reticle: Yes

Reticle Focal Plane Location: 2nd

Parallax Adjustment: None 

Finish: Matte

Water/Fogproof: Yes

Shockproof: Yes

Airgun Rated: No

Objective Bell Diameter: 46mm

Ocular Bell Diameter: 39.5mm

Eye Relief: 4.2-3.7"

Max Internal Adjustment: 

Elevation: 60 MOA

Windage: 60 MOA

Savage 110 FCP HS 338 LM with Fat Bastard

My buddy Alex ordered the wrong threading on the brake for his .338, so he asked me if I wanted it.  I've been running this brake that I got off Amazon and though it has performed flawlessly on my .308 and my .338, it is a massive brake and looks disproportional to the rifle, and more so the barrel.  

So I'm going to give this brake a test drive, the APA Fat Bastard, and see how it goes.  The brake was far simpler to install compared to the Titanic that I had on there before.  It came with a shaped jam nut instead of crush washers and the profile of this brake against the profile of the barrel on the Savage 110 match better than the Titanic (just a nickname, I think it the name of this brake is the GRG Competition Muzzle Brake).