Christensen Arms MCR Review by a Precision Noob!

I’ve shot 2-Gun competitions in addition to USPSA and IDPA for years. When my editor informed me July could be devoted to long-distance articles, I made a decision it was time to get out of my consolation zone and take a look at long-range competitors. I simply hoped Sean Utley didn’t present up on the similar competitors and make me look unhealthy.

Precision Noob Adventures with the Christensen Arms MCR

First, I wanted a very correct rifle. I reached out to Christensen Arms and requested if I might borrow their new Fashionable Carbon Rifle (MCR) in 6.5 Creedmoor. I had the prospect to shoot these weapons at a media occasion earlier this 12 months and I used to be past impressed. A number of of us have been working them out to 1,000 yards and hitting the middle of three’x3’ metal 20 minutes after sighting them in prefer it was our day job.

Christensen Arms was based by an engineer who labored within the aerospace business. He didn’t begin out as a genius at designing weapons, however he was a genius at utilizing different individuals’s designs and mixing them with house age alloys and revolutionary expertise to make unbelievable rifles. The MCR has the tried-and-true Remington 700-style stainless-steel motion, however it’s mated to a hand-lapped, free-floated, carbon-fiber wrapped barrel. Sidenote: Christensen Arms was the very first firm to carbon-fiber wrap barrels, even when a whole lot of different corporations have gotten extra well-known doing it. The barrel and motion are fitted right into a Flash Cast Expertise (FFT) carbon-fiber inventory. FFT is a sophisticated kind of carbon-fiber that’s lighter than conventional carbon-fiber, however 100% reliable for stiffness and holding zero. It additionally has a push-button cheek riser.

Inventory Report

As I grow old, shares on precision rifles with out an adjustable cheek riser have change into a deal breaker to me. I’m uninterested in attempting to connect adhesive pads or leather-based spacers on my inventory to get my cheek weld proper. Individuals have completely different peak cheekbones and each gun that can have a variable energy scope ought to have some kind of built-in, variable cheek riser, or I’m a “exhausting cross” on that gun. Lastly, they put in a top-of-the-line TriggerTech set off, which is adjustable from 2.5 to five kilos.

Leupold Mark 4HD Glass

Subsequent, I wanted a superb scope. This 12 months, Leupold took its unbelievable Mark 5HD scopes, streamlined every little thing it might to make them extra reasonably priced, and launched the Mark 4HD sequence. They each have Leupold’s professional-grade optical system for the very best gentle transmission. I’ve spent a good period of time behind each scopes. Leupold may not like me saying this, however for 90% of shooters, I might suggest the Mark 4HD. Until you’re actually pushing the outer limits of what a scope can do by way of lengthy distance and decrease gentle taking pictures, I don’t suppose you’ll get that rather more by shopping for the Mark 5HD.

Once I requested to borrow one of many new Mark 4HDs I requested one in MOA as a substitute of Mil Dot on account of familiarity. Nearly all of the opponents use Mil Dot. My scope has the PR2 reticle and is first focal aircraft, which I want. The PR2-MOA reticle has the Christmas tree-style reticle, which is useful when you could make sooner changes for holdover and windage. Through the match, I took the time to dial for every distance, but when I used to be extra snug with the setup, I might have used the holdover. The windage hash marks are a no brainer. I all the time use them versus attempting to dial my windage on the facet turret.

Feed the Beast

Lastly, I reached out to Federal ammunition to get a few of their Federal Premium Gold Medal Centerstrike Open Tip Match 140-grain in 6.5 Creedmoor. It’s model new, however I used to be launched to it on the aforementioned author’s occasion. It’s laser correct. We had a desk coated in containers of this ammo and we went via it like gangbusters. I see the benefit to hand-loading and dealing up an ideal load to your particular rifle. Nevertheless, for many of us, money and time is an enormous issue. It’s a lot cheaper and simpler to discover a premium spherical, get it dialed in, and keep on with it. For competitors, this spherical was good.

I had time for one vary session to sight in and get my ballistic knowledge utilizing my trusty LabRadar earlier than my first competitors. The MCR had a 20-MOA rail, so the scope was taking pictures excessive at 100 yards even after the turret bottomed out. I loosened the 2 Allen screws on the turret, turned it previous, and was capable of dial it in completely at 100 yards. My final three photographs after my last sight adjustment have been one single cloverleaf, and that was an enormous confidence booster. This rifle shot method beneath MOA.

Knowledge Dump

Again house, I plugged the speed and all the knowledge right into a free, on-line ballistic calculator, after which printed up a web page with my bullet drop and MOA changes wanted out to 1,200 yards by 25-yard increments. I didn’t have time to test my dope and the following time I shot the gun was on the clock in competitors. Positively a gutsy transfer to compete solely having fired 9 rounds via the gun, however I received fortunate and even at 600 yards, my dope was inside an inch or two.

I confirmed up at an AZ Precision Rifle Summer time Membership Match in mid-July at Cowtown Vary north of Phoenix. It wasn’t exhausting to get a spot; did I point out mid-July and Phoenix? They comply with PRS guidelines. I defined this was my first match and I used to be fortunate sufficient to have a fellow beginner in our squad. Everybody there was extraordinarily useful, explaining the programs, providing recommendation, and even providing completely different items of substances for us to check out within the levels. I’ve performed loads of USPSA, IDPA, and 3-Gun matches via the years, however there have been a couple of variations I want I had recognized earlier than I began.

First, neglect the mechanical security in your gun. Not like 3-Gun the place not utilizing them can rapidly get you disqualified, they don’t use them. In truth, some opponents had eliminated their safeties utterly. As an alternative, the bolt is saved open till you see your goal via the scope, you then shut it, press the set off, and open it again up. That’s the solely time your bolt is allowed to be closed.

Match Trivia

One other distinction, if a USPSA competitors says you want 100 rounds, you are taking at the very least 200. You may make up for misses and it by no means hurts to provide a goal a bit of additional love if you happen to aren’t positive if you happen to hit the A Zone. In PRS, if it says you want 60 rounds, the max you have to is 60 rounds. Most programs solely allowed eight or 10 rounds. As soon as these are fired, you’re performed. I ran out of time on each course, so I by no means even wanted that many. Self-induced strain will get you attempting to hurry and taking photographs when the gun isn’t utterly strong. That’s a mistake. Higher to take the total 90 seconds and get one good shot off, than to have 10 misses.

So how did I do? I solely made 10 hits out of a attainable 46. In equity, I fired lower than half of the allotted rounds. I nearly didn’t shoot in any respect on my first stage as a result of I saved closing the bolt and interesting the protection which was an enormous “no-no.” Once I did get right into a strong place and will find the goal, the gun, the scope and the ammunition have been cash. I might like to run the course a second time to see how a lot larger I might rating. After that, I might like to take the MCR and Mark 4HD scope on an antelope hunt in Wyoming the place a 500+ yard shot is regular or a Montana elk hunt the place you’re climbing up steep mountains for days on finish earlier than getting one shot in less-than-ideal circumstances. That’s what the Christensen Arms MCR was made for.

For extra data on the Christensen Arms MCR, go to christensenarms.com.