The 18-inch barrel is 416 stainless alloy, button rifled with a 1:8-inch twist rate. This allows me to use any bullet from 40 to 77 grains The chamber is the .223 Wylde and can handle any .223 Rem. or 5.56x45 mm NATO ammunition, while still producing outstanding accuracy.

One important addition to the barrel is the JP Heat Sink. It attaches between the gas block and receiver and adds 700-percent more surface area under the handguard. This bleeds heat buildup in front of the chamber. It also helps keep the handguard from getting too hot during a long shooting string. JP says it also helps keep the barrel temperature more uniform during sustained fire for better accuracy. The barrel is fitted with a JP adjustable, low-profile gas block and a rifle-length gas tube. It has a full-length Viking Tactics handguard. The long handguard is important, as your support hand should be as far out on the rifle as possible when shooting to aid in controlling the gun during rapid transitions.

I fitted the rifle with the new Swarovski Z6i BTR 1-6X 24 mm Tactical Scope with the Ballistic Tactical Reticle. This scope has an illuminated dot in the center with two adjustable settings, one for low light and the other for full day light. There are a total of seven fixed aiming points for elevation, including the thick portion of the crosshair. When at 6X, these lines and dots are spaced in one milliradian (mil) increments. The horizontal lines are also used for windage allowance, so they get wider as range increases. The top is one mil each side of the center line, the center line is two mils and the lower line is three mils. These lines also have hash marks on the center for a reference. This scope’s reticle is on the second focal plane. The illuminated orange dot subtends 1.22 inches at 6X and 7.29 inches at 1X at 100 yards.
With the scope on 1X and the dot lit up, this scope functions well for “in your face targets.” I have also used it on targets as far away as 600 yards and never felt the 6X magnification was a compromise. Right now I feel comfortable in saying it is the most versatile optic available for 3-gun shooting.

I mounted the scope in a LaRue Tactical SPR-E Mount, which places the scope well forward of the receiver and correctly positions it for the necessary eye relief. I added an MGM Switchview Lever to the scope. This clamps onto the power adjustment ring for rapid magnification changes.

I used this rifle for a full season of competition, which involved a handful of national 3-gun matches and several local and regional matches. I would not change a thing. It runs flawlessly and handles just right. I usually have a lot of reasons for not winning the Tactical Optics division in the big national matches, but I can assure you this rifle is not one of them.