Range Time
My only addition was an OSS Gen 5 Elite back pressure regulator (BPR). Mounted over the barrel, it provides excellent flash and blast suppression, adding about an inch to overall length. It’s not all that quiet using just this BPR, but is a ton easier on the ears than a bare muzzle or brake. Recoil mitigation is excellent and it keeps things light and handy in the field. You can add a suppressor to the muzzle and it is plenty quiet, as quiet as most suppressors. Most testing was completed using my Kifaru pack loaded up with water, a couple bags for support and a Feisol Tripod using a Really Right Stuff rifle clamp. Coated in tactical rattle, it is very lightweight and makes it easy to get set up where possible.
Accuracy was excellent with all the ammunition tested. Earlier testing for a different piece using match-grade target ammunition yielded consistent .50- to .60-inch groups using Federal Berger 130-grain OTM at 100 yards. This round also held out to 1,000 yards in some stiff wind and consistently produced 300 yard groups in the 1.50- to 1.75-inch range. Barnes 140-grain Match Burner grouped about the same. Hunting ammunition was equally accurate. Doubletap’s 127-grain Barnes LRX grouped at just under .70 inches at 100 yards. Making close to 2,900 f.p.s. it is an excellent hunting round. Loaded in my .260 Remington bolt rifle, it took down a 650-pound cow elk at 230 yards with one round. Penetration was through and through, taking out both shoulders, belying its “small” size. As a bonus, it did not tear up the meat on exit like many of the super magnums which are so popular today. Light recoiling, it was also the most accurate using a tree branch as a rest, more field accuracy than comparison, but accurate either way. HSM’s 140-grain Sierra Game King was about the same. Hornady’s 120-grain ELD match, although not technically a “hunting” round, has proven excellent against varmints and predators and is very accurate. Their 143-grain ELDX was also quite accurate, and is possibly the most widely used hunting round in this caliber.
All of the 140-grain loads ran like a charm out of the bag. Lighter weight loads took some tuning, making the SLR adjustable gas block useful. Once tuned they ran like a charm, but move back to the heavier bullets and you are going to need to adjust the gas. This is typical of the 6.5 Creedmoor, even the .260 Remington to a certain extent. There were no issues stabilizing bullets ranging from 120- to 143-grains.
Benches are rare in the hunting world, so is a prone position, so much of the testing occurred in the back country using a handy tree for some positional practice. Locking into various positions from standing, the Ultimate Hunter is very well balanced and easy to get solid positions working in the crook of some branches. Most were plenty steady for game at 300 yards and closer. Using the tripod as a rear support extended range pretty easily. Seated against the tree the tripod was equally steady using a bag under my bicep and my pack as a back rest. If prone was an option, the Kifaru was about perfect getting you off the ground enough to get over some of the grass and eliminating the need for a bi-pod. With my pack, tripod and a couple bags it was possible to get steady on rocks, debris, trees, all the things you normally see in the field. There is no doubt this Ultimate Hunter is well designed for precisely that purpose.
Considerations
Using the floating cross hair and a 200-yard zero, the Doubletap Barnes 127-grain LRX was doable out to 500 yards. Bullet drop at 300 yards is only 6.8 inches, keeping you in the vitals with a slightly higher hold. Holding at the bottom of the crosshairs took me to 400 yards (1.3 mils), while the top of the lower stadia line put me almost dead on at 500 yards. Given a proper zero, the IMR reticle keeps you well within lethal range for this caliber with just about any bullet weight.
Long an advocate of hunting with suppressors, this OSS provided enough sound suppression to spare my hearing along with eliminating muzzle blast at the shooter or anyone nearby. Dust signature is minimized and there is some recoil reduction. Anything will work on a bolt gun, but designs like this OSS and the NG2 minimize back pressure eliminating reliability or tuning issues.
Starting weight is under 8 pounds, but total weight including the magazine, suppressor and scope was 11 lbs. 5 oz.— not bad. It carries incredibly well in an Eberlestock, and during a previous test it was run through my obstacle course for a mile or so and it carries using the sling quite well.
Final Thoughts
Wilson Combat rifles are always accurate. In close to ten years of testing, they are all 1 MOA or less at 300 yards, and many have held that degree of precision out to 800+ yards. Each was reliable, lightweight and built with attention to detail. Priced at or less than many custom rifles, Wilson Combat ARs provide custom quality at a solid price. I would take this rifle on any hunt. Swap out for a different stock and it becomes a DMR (Designated Marksman’s Rifle) or even a police precision rifle. Available in eight different calibers including 7mm-08, .338 Federal, even .458 SOCOM, it covers most any hunting or tactical need. If you are looking for a versatile AR10 for just about any use make, sure this is on the list. Suggested retail price is $3,345. See it at your firearms retailer, or for more information Contact Wilson Combat; Tel.: (800) 955-4856; Web: www.wilsoncombat.com
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Specifications
Caliber: 6.5 Creedmoor
Barrel Length: 20 inches
OA Length: 49 inches extended
Weight: 8 Pounds (11 lbs. 5 oz. as tested)
Sights: Flat Top Rail
Stocks/Grips: Wilson Combat Hand Guard/Starburst Pistol Grip
Action: Rotating Bolt, Semi-automatic, Direct Gas Impingement
Finish: Custom Armor-Tuff Camo
Capacity: 20 rounds (accepts any SR25 pattern magazine).
Price: $3,345.00
Performance
Load Velocity (f.p.s.) Accuracy
Hornady 143-Grain ELDX 2,620 .70 Inches
HSM 140-Grain Berger VLD 2,650 .65 Inches
Federal 130-Grain Berger HB 2,680 .47 Inches
HSM 140-grain Game King 2,650 .71 Inches
Doubletap 127-Barnes LRX 2,870 .60 Inches
Barnes 140-grain Match Burner OTM 2,675 .55 Inches
