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Posted: 2/6/2024 8:57:51 PM EDT
[Last Edit: 1168RGR][Edited]
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Wolfpack Armory sent me this rifle and a thousand rounds. I’ve fired approximately 3,000 rounds so far through it. I’ve given them my feedback, and now I’ll let y’all know what I think of this project. Keep in mind that this rifle is pre-production, and will likely undergo some changes before release. This rifle is the “maritime” version of their duty rifle. What is meant by that is corrosion resistance. Initial impressions: Right out of the box, my FFL dudes had already played with it a bit (they had a heads up to do that), and we all agreed that it seemed like a nice rifle that balances well. However, we also noticed the bare stainless on some pins and fasteners. It comes with a Q/Plan B compatible A1-style birdcage, attached to a chrome-lined Criterion barrel. The profile might be Hybrid, or similar. It has a 7-sided MLOK rail with pic on top, about 1.5” wide. The OD green is a nice touch. Sling swivel cup placement/compatibility is something they’re looking in to improving. The upper receiver is forged aluminum with a forward assist and brass deflector, and polymer port cover. The lower drops mags well. It has a plated two-stage trigger that I’d be happy with out of the box. No, it’s not a SSA-E, but its pretty good; if you want/need better, you already have a specific model in mind. Those hex-head pins are not there for anti-whatever, its because stainless pins are available like that. The pins themselves are still retained by the traditional method, and it’s a traditional non-cassette trigger. Speaking of pins, the takedown pins are also stainless. It has a 50~ish degree ambi safety selector. Its got a nice grip, and that’s been a consistent comment from my friends. Most of us didn’t realize that Magpul made a rubber coated grip. It has a Magpul buttstock, also. And a PMag. Essentially, it’s pretty well specc’d out from the factory. I slapped an Aimpoint, sling, light on it and started basic reliability testing.   
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[quote]Originally Posted By nvcdl:
The PSA rails are ok but nothing special - I've used cheap wish.com rails like this that seem just as good[/quote]
The PSA rails are ok but nothing special - I've used cheap wish.com rails like this that seem just as good[/quote]
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I found that it was reliable with any brass-cased ammo, oiled, dry, dirty, rained-on, etc. This included XM855, M855A1, Fusion MSR, Norma 69gr, PMC XTAC 55gr, Federal XM193, M855, 62gr handloads, and a few mags worth of random assorted factory loads. However, there’s a caveat. It does not like steel cased ammo. It’s not ported for that, and that’s a good thing. At that point, I removed the Q-pattern mount and replaced it with a Griffin Ti 3-prong, and began shooting it with a semi-custom 4.1” Rex can, a Turbo K, a MG7k (.458, and 6.5), and Velos. The gun has good manners and shot nicely with any of them with an H2 buffer, but I went with a PWS H4 buffer from here on out. Less gassy/filthy. Obviously, the Velos is pretty much agnostic to buffer weight, but the H4 will run even unsuppressed (as is normal for any fighting rifle). Its still very reliable suppressed (even Tula). I might consider choking the gas down more if it were a dedicated host. I’ve only cleaned it twice.   
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[quote]Originally Posted By nvcdl:
The PSA rails are ok but nothing special - I've used cheap wish.com rails like this that seem just as good[/quote]
The PSA rails are ok but nothing special - I've used cheap wish.com rails like this that seem just as good[/quote]
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So then I attached the Hubble Freakin Space Telescope atop the rifle and put it on a bipod to hold up the Velos. Representative group at 100m: that’s under an inch at 100m for 5 shots with factory Norma ammo. The cheapest BTHP that was on sale at the time, by the case. I shot a few groups prone/bipod, I shot a few off a picnic bench with a bipod. They were all about that size. I’m certain Molon could do better, but I’m happy with the precision.   I then zeroed with my MG7k, hastily collected DOPE, and shot 3rd place overall at a two-stage club precision rifle match with targets out to 500yds, which is my usual place in that match. Oddly, I beat the two dudes I’m usually trying to beat, but two newcomers got me. Hahaha. The only negative thing I can say about shooting it so far is that the handguard gets pretty hot, even with good covers, like the Magpul Type 2s, if you start doing anything fast-paced. But that is typical of all but the thiccest MLok rails. Even URX4. Gloves mostly solve this problem, of course. I’ve shot it with Aimpoints, +/-magnifier, LPVO, giant Razor scope, and it shoots well in any role, at least as well as I can. |
[quote]Originally Posted By nvcdl:
The PSA rails are ok but nothing special - I've used cheap wish.com rails like this that seem just as good[/quote]
The PSA rails are ok but nothing special - I've used cheap wish.com rails like this that seem just as good[/quote]
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Corrosion and durability: I shoot rain, or shine, mostly at a ranch. I’ve also carried a gun my entire adult life, so I know how to treat a gun like it doesn’t belong to me. For vibration resistance, it rode in the (lined) bed of my truck, to and from the ranch, uncased, like 45min, each way. It got dropped a few times, nothing stupid, and casually bumped into things such as would happen inside a structure. Nothing broke, fell off, or became loose. General bumps and bruises, there’s one spot the finish wore a little early: the forward assist. But, its holding up really well. It got rained on a lot, and shot in the rain, and got drowned in a puddle overnight. Most of the gun is, in fact, corrosion resistant. Even the phosphate exterior of the barrel. I oiled it, because I’m not a maniac, but that smoked off a while back. But, no rust there. The place its deficient is the bolt carrier and action spring. We’ve already identified known options to overcome that for the production model. Otherwise, it’s done pretty well, and this is outright abusive treatment. I haven’t noticed any undue wear on the inside of the rifle. It still shoots well and will probably last a long time. I’ll update this thread if anything breaks or wears out, but ammo is kinda scarce right now. Overall, I think this is a high-quality general-purpose rifle. It does a lot of things well, without being a chubby bastard. 
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[quote]Originally Posted By nvcdl:
The PSA rails are ok but nothing special - I've used cheap wish.com rails like this that seem just as good[/quote]
The PSA rails are ok but nothing special - I've used cheap wish.com rails like this that seem just as good[/quote]
Look in the mirror to see your worst enemy..
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| Awesome overview. One of the negatives for me would be the problems with steel cased ammo. For me, a rifle or pistol must be able to shoot any factory ammo whether it be brass steel, or aluminum and cycle it reliably. Not that I am a great fan of anything but brass, I just have to be confident that my firearms can not only run what I brung, but run what I find if need be. |
Beware of an old man in a profession where men usually die young
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Originally Posted By tspike: Awesome overview. One of the negatives for me would be the problems with steel cased ammo. For me, a rifle or pistol must be able to shoot any factory ammo whether it be brass steel, or aluminum and cycle it reliably. Not that I am a great fan of anything but brass, I just have to be confident that my firearms can not only run what I brung, but run what I find if need be. Thanks. The problem with porting a gun to run on steel cased ammo, is that you’re deliberately tuning it for out-of-spec ammo, to the detriment of in-spec ammo. This one will run on steel-cased ammo with a silencer, or when well broken-in, clean, and lubed with a H0 buffer and light stainless spring. Its focused on professional use, not random pickup ammo. |
[quote]Originally Posted By nvcdl:
The PSA rails are ok but nothing special - I've used cheap wish.com rails like this that seem just as good[/quote]
The PSA rails are ok but nothing special - I've used cheap wish.com rails like this that seem just as good[/quote]
