FN SPR A3G doesn't shoot 1/2 MOA as promised. It shoots way better! :)

[Michael Eichele]

I just aquired a brand new FN SPR A3G and I won't complicate things. Many of you know I am a sucker for heavy 308's. This rifle illustrates why. After having my previous 308 converted to a 6.5x284 I have been having major separation anxiety. The price tag was as heft as the rifle but well worth it. $2990 with a box of Federal Gold Medal Match ammo. My only regret is not buying one sooner. The quality and workmanship is superb and I didn't have to wait 8 month to have it built. I was skeptical of paying that much for a 'factory' rifle but I am thouroghly impressed. The thing that sold me on this was they guarantee these to hold 1/2MOA for 10,000 rounds with its chrome lined barrel. It does in fact foul very little and cleans easier than ANY barrel I have ever owned. Or at least as easy as a Rock Creek 300 RUM barrel I had a while back. It cleans stupid easy. With #8 rail mounting screws, titanium rail, and bedding by GA Precision, it is one solid rifle. You could destroy a tank with her without ever firing a shot. The feeding, extraction and function is flawless. I realize that while she is more than capable of doing very well at the 1000 yard mark that this is not a 1000 yard hunting rifle. That being the case, she will handle anything I am every going to hunt to 600+ yards with ease should I need a backup rifle for a hunt. This is my match/practice/fun/ring steel gun. And oh what fun she is to shoot!

Here she is between my 6.5x284 and my 338 Edge:

 

[dtrvler]

Hey Michael. I just bought on of these rifles also. I was wondering what scope and rings you used to get those groups and also what scope and rings you would use if you wanted to make any changes the the gear you already have.
Thanks in advance for any help on this matter.
I am setting this gun up for use at Frontsight Firearms Training's Precision rifle 1 course. i think we shoot out to 600 meters mostly but a few shots at up to 1000 which i know is pushing the limits of .308.

Thanks

Dave

 

[Michael Eichele]

She never ceases to amaze me still. Super tight groups. 168, 178, 190, 208. Doesn't matter. They are all stellar.

I use 2 scopes. both use NF UL rings. One is an NXS 5.5-22x50 and the other is a Mark4 M1 16x. Both are awesome. I have no desire to change. I enjoy the Mark4 better.

The base on my rifle needs to be bedded. Like most actions that sport a lower rear section than the front, are never perfect. The bases when torqued get bowed slightly and when you torque a straight 30 mm scope tube to them causes stress on the scope and action causing bad groups. I have not got around to bedding mine yet but it is bowed. I just have not torqued the front ring down very tight so as to keep it stress free.

Let us know how she shoots!

M

 

[joe0121]

How are you liking the CF barrel?

Also where did you get the rifle and if you dont mind what did you pay. I want one.

 

[Michael Eichele]

By CF I assume you mean the chrome lining? I love the chrome lining. It fouls little and cleans easy. It's suppose to increase the life dramatically due to its resistance to heat. I wish I could have all my barrels chrome lined.

I paid just under 3k and bought it from a local dealer. It is a steep price but it is also a very high quality piece of shooting equipment on par with any custom I have had or have. You could pay more than 3k for a solid custom 308 and have to wait 8 months to a year to get. The only difference is you don't get to pick and choose certain features. That said, with the features you get and this level of accuracy what more could a shooter want?


M

 

[etisll40]

Michael, the Lapua Palma case, is it better to use in a 308 than the regular Lapua 308 case?

 

[varmintH8R]

I don't understand why you posted group #2, anyone can shoot a good 1 shot group . . .

Awesome set-up! Thanks for posting your experience.

 

[Michael Eichele]

Michael, the Lapua Palma case, is it better to use in a 308 than the regular Lapua 308 case?

I wouldn't say better but my extreme spreads did go down a noticeable amount. Kevin Thomas does not recommend the 205 primer in this size of case in colder temps. Other than that I like them.

 

[jcoop]

By CF I assume you mean the chrome lining? I love the chrome lining. It fouls little and cleans easy. It's suppose to increase the life dramatically due to its resistance to heat. I wish I could have all my barrels


M

I think he meant carbon fiber. On your 300 rum?

 

[joe0121]

By CF I assume you mean the chrome lining? I love the chrome lining. It fouls little and cleans easy. It's suppose to increase the life dramatically due to its resistance to heat. I wish I could have all my barrels chrome lined.

I paid just under 3k and bought it from a local dealer. It is a steep price but it is also a very high quality piece of shooting equipment on par with any custom I have had or have. You could pay more than 3k for a solid custom 308 and have to wait 8 months to a year to get. The only difference is you don't get to pick and choose certain features. That said, with the features you get and this level of accuracy what more could a shooter want?


M

It looked like the bottom rifle in your picture had a carbon fiber barrel.

 

[Michael Eichele]

It looked like the bottom rifle in your picture had a carbon fiber barrel.

Sorry I missed that. Yes it does. I forgot the was a pic of all of them.

I think their ok but not enough so to merit the price. I think it's a great idea but the industry has a ways to go.

This one is getting ready for a rebarrel. It will be a Sendero contour fluted.

 

[Engrmikl]

I know what you mean by accurate directly out of the box. I have two FNs and swear by them. One PBR XP that nails it out to 500yrds no problem and an SPR in 300wsm. Ok i cheated a bit on this one I put a Brux MTU #10 barrel on it.

 

[varmint79]

Just came upon this older thread and wanted to chime in. I've had an A3G for quite a while now and have over 7000 rounds down the tube, it's still capable of great groups if I do my part. Best 5 shot groups have been in the .3's. I believe I am the limiting factor not the rifle. When I got it the trigger was heavier than I wanted (about 4.5lbs). I had a good smith do a trigger job on it. It also didn't feed all that well and I had that worked on by the same smith. I'm actually kind of hoping to wear out the barrel at some point as I'd like to use the action and stock to put together a 6.5 Creedmoor but I'm not sure that is going to happen anytime soon! Nice problem to have I suppose.

Has anyone here actually managed to wear out one of their chrome lined barrels?

 

[tim_w]

Looks to be a great shooter. Congrats!!

IMO the ARs gave chromelining a bad name. I am sorry but when I see them hand striaghten AR barrels at with a pry tech at the colt and FH factory during assembly it does not inspire confidence in the qualty of the barrels and then have cl that is wrapped over the crown and in the shapr angles of the chamber its no wonder people think CL means crappy accuracy.

A number of the most accurate high end factory rifles have come with CL barrels. You have the FN SPR as well as the Sake TRG line. I have owned a couple TRG-21 and a 22 both shot as good and better than I was able to do with my current one shoots .25 moa if I do my part. Everyone I have known that has reported back on a Sako from that line has had sub 1/2 and 1/4 moa accuracy all with CM CL barrels.