Kevp
Ultimate Member
- Apr 17, 2008
- 1,874
I figured it was time for me to write something up as I’ve been lazy as of late. I got to the range late yesterday having missed the monthly plate match and ran into a few MDS members. Alucard asked me what was my “go to carbine.” I’ve done a lot of experimenting with different set-ups over the past two years, much of it with optics combinations, and this is where I am currently. This is a LWRCI M6A3 mid-length gas piston carbine that has approximately 2,000 rds through it and roughly 500 of that suppressed. Ammunition has been exclusively Federal XM193 55grn. The only maintenance this gun has seen: ran a bore snake through it twice; removed the top hand guard once to wiped down the gas block and barrel with SLIP EWL; wiped down the bolt twice. I have had zero malfunctions with this carbine. It went back to the factory once to have the barrel re-indexed as the front sight was canted.
As I mentioned previously, I have experimented with lots of optic combinations. These include the Trijicon ACOG ECOS 4x32, Schmidt and Bender 1.1-4 Short Dot, Aimpoint Micro T-1 by itself, and the T-1/3x Magnifier Combo. I first tried the latter in a Aimpoint Twist Mount and then in the Larue mount. I have settled on the T-1/3x Magnifier Combo. Both the T-1 and 3x are in Larue mounts and they are, IMO, the standard.
Other specs for this carbine are as follows: Vltor Modstock; Troy BUIS; Vltor/BCM Gunfighter CH MOD 3; Magpul MIAD grip; KNS anti-rotational pins; stippled rail covers by me; Surefire Scout light in Larue mount; Magpul AFG; Knight’s Armament hand stop; BFG Vicker’s VCAS Sling; Gemtech Quikmount flash hider for G5 suppressor. The BCM Gunfighter charging handle is another piece of must have kit on an AR IMO. I like the large latch MOD as it is easy to manipulate with the support hand while maintaining the rifle on target.
I just recently added the KAC hand stop at the 9 o’clock. I was previously wrapping my thumb over the top rail to aid in driving the gun and controlling recoil/muzzle climb. I am much more comfortable with this combination, but I have small hands and those with longer digits might not agree. I also run the AFG as far out as possible. This allows me to grip the gun even further forward out under the gas block further aiding in aggressively driving the gun from target to target.
I had a chance to work this carbine out at my friend Eric Lawrence’s Blackheart facility in Phillipe, WV a few months back. We engaged steel silhouettes out to 500yds. I ran the M6A3 as well as the SCAR L with ACOG ECOS. This was the hardest I’ve run this gun- approximately 500rds over 4 hrs with 200 of that suppressed getting it so hot that it was uncomfortable to handle even with gloves. I was able to make regular hits at 400yds from the prone with the M6A3/T-1 combo with no magnification. For those familiar with the T-1, much of your target is obscured by the dot at that distance. I use a 50/200 zero, so I was holding about 2 ft over the target (drop for XM193/50yd zero/400yds is 21.6in). I was able to make easy hits from the standing unsupported on ½ size silhouettes positioned in the driver side windows of vehicles at 200 and 230yds. The SCAR/ECOS combo made prone magazine monopod 400 & 500yd hits easy. I don't have any action pics of the LWRCI, but I included one of the the SCAR as well as the vehicle targets from the ridge line firing point.
I’m now running a T-1 on the SCAR as well and it makes for a very lightweight and pleasant to shoot package. In closing, I like either one of these carbines as a go to piece. Both have proven to be reliable, hard use carbines.
As I mentioned previously, I have experimented with lots of optic combinations. These include the Trijicon ACOG ECOS 4x32, Schmidt and Bender 1.1-4 Short Dot, Aimpoint Micro T-1 by itself, and the T-1/3x Magnifier Combo. I first tried the latter in a Aimpoint Twist Mount and then in the Larue mount. I have settled on the T-1/3x Magnifier Combo. Both the T-1 and 3x are in Larue mounts and they are, IMO, the standard.
Other specs for this carbine are as follows: Vltor Modstock; Troy BUIS; Vltor/BCM Gunfighter CH MOD 3; Magpul MIAD grip; KNS anti-rotational pins; stippled rail covers by me; Surefire Scout light in Larue mount; Magpul AFG; Knight’s Armament hand stop; BFG Vicker’s VCAS Sling; Gemtech Quikmount flash hider for G5 suppressor. The BCM Gunfighter charging handle is another piece of must have kit on an AR IMO. I like the large latch MOD as it is easy to manipulate with the support hand while maintaining the rifle on target.
I just recently added the KAC hand stop at the 9 o’clock. I was previously wrapping my thumb over the top rail to aid in driving the gun and controlling recoil/muzzle climb. I am much more comfortable with this combination, but I have small hands and those with longer digits might not agree. I also run the AFG as far out as possible. This allows me to grip the gun even further forward out under the gas block further aiding in aggressively driving the gun from target to target.
I had a chance to work this carbine out at my friend Eric Lawrence’s Blackheart facility in Phillipe, WV a few months back. We engaged steel silhouettes out to 500yds. I ran the M6A3 as well as the SCAR L with ACOG ECOS. This was the hardest I’ve run this gun- approximately 500rds over 4 hrs with 200 of that suppressed getting it so hot that it was uncomfortable to handle even with gloves. I was able to make regular hits at 400yds from the prone with the M6A3/T-1 combo with no magnification. For those familiar with the T-1, much of your target is obscured by the dot at that distance. I use a 50/200 zero, so I was holding about 2 ft over the target (drop for XM193/50yd zero/400yds is 21.6in). I was able to make easy hits from the standing unsupported on ½ size silhouettes positioned in the driver side windows of vehicles at 200 and 230yds. The SCAR/ECOS combo made prone magazine monopod 400 & 500yd hits easy. I don't have any action pics of the LWRCI, but I included one of the the SCAR as well as the vehicle targets from the ridge line firing point.
I’m now running a T-1 on the SCAR as well and it makes for a very lightweight and pleasant to shoot package. In closing, I like either one of these carbines as a go to piece. Both have proven to be reliable, hard use carbines.
