I find the RECCE concept to be quite interesting and I have been working on two variations of the theme.

http://home.comcast.net/~gocartmozart/recce_b3.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~gocartmozart/recce_a7.jpg

The RECCE pictured above is based on a scaled down version of my Ultimate AR. (below)

http://home.comcast.net/~gocartmozart/recce_a8.jpg
Ultimate AR  >>> www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=118&t=262801
http://home.comcast.net/~gocartmozart/recce_a6.jpg
RECCE

I wanted something a little lighter and more compact than my Ultimate AR, yet still capable of pin-point accuracy within a relatively shorter range compared to the Ultimate AR.

This RECCE is built around a Krieger 16.5" stainless steel HBAR with a 1:9" twist.  It has a KAC mid-length free float tube, KAC flip-up front sight and GG&G BUIS.  It sports the same Magpul PRS as my Ultimate AR as well as the JP Enterprises single stage trigger.  Upper and lower receivers are Colt.  The crowning jewel in this rig is the Leupold 1.5-5X20mm MR/T scope with the M2 turrets.  I am really liking this scope for this application.  This RECCE balances extremely well and weighs in at 10.25 lbs compared to the 11.5 lbs for my Ultimate AR.

http://home.comcast.net/~gocartmozart/recce_a4.jpg


http://home.comcast.net/~gocartmozart/recce_a2.jpg
view from front sight looking aft


http://home.comcast.net/~gocartmozart/recce_a3.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~gocartmozart/recce_a5.jpg
the house in the image is approximately 40 yards away, the scope is at 3.5X

I tested this rig for accuracy off a bench with front and rear rests using a Leupold VARI-X III set at 25X.  My best 5 shot groups at 100 yards were .488" and .430" using handloaded Sierra 55 grain BlitzKings.

http://home.comcast.net/~gocartmozart/recce_5_shot_groups.jpg

to be continued...

Very cool - I look forward to the next part...

Nice shooting, can't wait for more

I really like them.  I also look forward to more.

Very nice.

I can dig it!

A tale of two RECCEs:  Part 2.

http://home.comcast.net/~gocartmozart/recce_a6.jpg

While I am extremely pleased with the above RECCE, I can envision circumstances were something a little more rugged, a little more tolerant of neglect (think chrome lined barrel), and still a little lighter would be useful.  Obviously with these requirements I would have to compromise slightly on accuracy, but I was still hoping to put together something that approached minute of angle accuracy.

I have had excellent results in the past with Colt 16.1" HBAR chrome lined barrels, so I decided to build this RECCE around one such barrel.  I couldn't decide between a fixed stock or collapsible stock, so in true ar15.com fashion I used both.

http://home.comcast.net/~gocartmozart/recce_b3.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~gocartmozart/recceb4.jpg

This RECCE uses Colt upper and lower receivers, a KAC mid-length free float tube, Troy back-up sights and a JP Enterprises single stage trigger.  This RECCE weighs in at 8.75 lbs compared to 10.25 lbs for the previous RECCE.

http://home.comcast.net/~gocartmozart/recceb6.jpg


In keeping with the more rugged theme, I decided to use a Trijicon ACOG TA-11 scope.  It works very well with this set-up.


http://home.comcast.net/~gocartmozart/acog3.jpg
The house in this picture is 85 yards away and the sky was completely overcast when I took the picture.


http://home.comcast.net/~gocartmozart/acog4.jpg

The manual for the TA-11 suggests zeroing the tip of the reticle at 100 meters, but I decided to use a sighting scheme along the lines of the IBZ concept.  I zeroed the center of the donut at 50 yards and this gives me a nice flat trajectory out to 200 yards.  The highest point of the trajectory is only 1.6" above the line of sight at approximately 125 yards.

http://home.comcast.net/~gocartmozart/trajectory.jpg


Accuracy testing with this RECCE was done done at 50 yards off a bipod with a rear bag rest using the TA-11.  My best 10-shot group meaured .53".

http://home.comcast.net/~gocartmozart/recce_10_shot_group.jpg

range report added to part two

I like the idea of the 50yd. zero with the donut, something that would be handy and hadn't thought about. Just curious about the average accuracy at 50yds?

FWIW - I zero at 100, my 200 yrd POA does a dandy job of keeping them in the eye box at 50.

Quoted: I like the idea of the 50yd. zero with the donut, something that would be handy and hadn't thought about. Just curious about the average accuracy at 50yds?

The best 10-round groups that I can shoot at 50 yards with my best rifle/scope/ammo/rest combinations run "in the threes" (0.3xx inches)  Most of the 10-round groups that I shot at 50 yards with this RECCE off the bi-pod with a rear bag rest ran between 0.5xx inches and 0.7xx inches.  

The four minute of angle reticle of the TA-11 is very fast for reactive shooting using the Bindon Aiming Concept, but it doesn't compare to the fine cross-hairs of a Leupold for trying to shoot tiny groups on paper.  That's one of the reasons that I tested this rig at 50 yards instead of 100 yards.  I did use a bulls-eye that was just slightly larger than the donut reticle that helped with keeping a consistant  point of aim during testing.

Quoted: FWIW - I zero at 100, my 200 yrd POA does a dandy job of keeping them in the eye box at 50.

When zeroed at 100 yards, what part of the reticle do you use for 50 yards?

Guys, zeroing the center of the donut at 50yds is virtually the same thing as zeroing the top of the donut at 100yds. Just for reference, you can also zero using the bottom of the donut (or the 300m post of the chevron) at 25yds.

Great post, and pix, Molon!!


Awesome rigs, as well........

Excellent post........and good shooting too!

Thanks for the compliments gentlemen!

Nice I like that...

How do you like that Magpul stock? I want one for my SPRish rifle.

Quoted: Nice I like that... How do you like that Magpul stock? I want one for my SPRish rifle.

The more I use the PRS, the more I like it.  It's especially useful when switching out uppers with different scopes/sights.