XM-3 build guide

[USMCSGT0331]

Action:
- Remington 700 short action
- Serial number prefix "S"
- Clip slotted
- Iron Brigade Armory black Man-O-War finish
- Iron Brigade Armory Combat Bolt Handle, black anodized aluminum

Barrel:
- Hart 18.5"
- 1:10" right hand twist
- 6 grooves
- 416R stainless steel
- Titanium recoil lug, 1.070" barrel thread, .312" thickness
- Iron Brigade Armory black Man-O-War finish

Flash hider:
- Surefire CA762SSAL/RE

Stock:
- McMillan A1-3 (A6)
- Olive color
- Remington 700 short action inlet
- 12.25" to 13.75" length of pull
- Pachmayr Decelerator pad
- Wichita sling swivels
- Eagle Industries Shooter's Rifle Stock Pack, olive drab, P/N 350001

Bottom metal:
- Badger Ordnance M4 Remington short action, steel
- T-30 Torx trigger guard bolts
- 68 inch lbs torque
- Iron Brigade Armory black Man-O-War finish
- P/N 306-02

Bipod:
- Harris S-BRM 6"-9" (notched legs), P/N SBRM
- KMW Pod-Loc, P/N 875
- Uncle Mike's Mil-Spec swivel, P/N 14023

Embedded Front Rail (EFR):
- Colorado Micro Precision made, Iron Brigade Armory branded UNS mount
- "Heavy" size
- Black anodized 6061 aluminum
- T-15 Torx screws
- P/N BCM22H

Trigger:
- Remington 700 modified by Iron Brigade Armory
- Set to 3.75 lbs, +/- .25 lbs
- 3.25 lbs minimum pull weight, 4 lbs maximum pull weight

Scope base:
- Iron Brigade Armory titanium picatinny rail
- 20 MOA
- Lugged
- T-15 Torx screws
- Iron Brigade Armory black Man-O-War finish

Scope rings:
- NightForce X-Treme Duty Ultralite 30mm, .885" low, 4 screw, P/N A118 (issued rifles)
- NightForce X-Treme Duty steel 30mm, .885" low, 4 screw, P/N A117 (prototype rifles)
- T-15 Torx screws
- 15 inch lbs rings to rings torque
- 68 inch lbs rings to base torque

Scope:
- NightForce Milspec NXS 3.5-15x50, illuminated Mil-Dot reticle, .25 MOA CCW elevation adjustment, .25 MOA CCW windage adjustment, zero stop (issued rifles)
- NightForce Milspec NXS 3.5-15x50, illuminated Mil-Dot reticle, 1 MOA CCW elevation adjustment, .25 MOA CCW windage adjustment, zero stop (prototype rifles)
- Butler Creek Flip-Open scope caps, #18 ocular lens and #43 objective lens,

Sling:
- Turner Saddlery AWS olive drab

Suppressor:
- Surefire FA762SS

Night vision:
- FLIR AN/PVS-22 UNS

[USMCSGT0331]

XM-3 dope
M118LR, AA11
Elevation 450 feet, temperature 70F

Yards.....Mils.....MOA
100...........0..........0
200......... .6.........2.1
250........1.07.......3.7
300........1.55.......5.3
350........2.09.......7.2
400........2.67.......9.2
450........3.30.....11.4
500........3.97.....13.6
550........4.66.......16
600........5.39.....18.5
650........6.17.....21.2
700...........7.......24.1
750........7.89.....27.1
800........8.84.....30.4
850........9.82.....33.8
900...... 10.88....37.4
950..........12......41.3
1000.....13.18....45.3

[MescaBug]

Nice! I just got the barreled action back from the gunsmith for my XM3 build. Based on a E series receiver. I have too many guns in .308, I decided to go .223 with this one. I thought it would make a nice low-recoil, accurate little rifle.

Now I need to install the bolt knob, EFR and the brake. What type of finish was used on these guns? I will have it Cerakoted black I guess.

[Game Warden]

That's looking good Mescabug. I like the worn off spray paint look of your stock. I'm waiting to finish my M40 and for my XM-3 stock to be finished. Once that stuff is done, it's on. SAB9259 has one built from IBA and should be posting it some time. I have heard from a guy that built them for IBA that they used their Man-o-war finish or Melonite depending on which version you got. The NV optics rails come in two versions also.

[USMCSGT0331]

Damn, knew I forgot to add something! The barreled action, bottom metal and scope base are coated in the black Man-O-War finish. The finish is similar to Cerakote.

[USMCSGT0331]

The NV optics rails come in two versions also.

I forgot about that part too! You're correct, there is an early version and late version of the UNS mount, I'll try to get pics of both kinds.

Mesca, your build looks awesome! That's going to be one sick .223 when it's done! If I were you, I'd got the Cerakote route, probably cheaper and faster turnaround time. I also agree with GW though, the worn finish is pretty cool.

[MescaBug]

Now that I think about it, I might go with a complete 'worn' finish . I also like the 'distressed' look of the stock. It would look awkard if the barreled action was nice and clean!

I just have to get over the feeling of: Am I really painting over 200$ rings and 300$ BM and a brand new barrel? lol

My smith forgot to use the provided 0.312" recoil lug... Not a big deal, he builds all my rifle with a 2 months turn around time. Cant ask for more. But now that its reamed and threaded, I'm screwed. Its not a 100% 'clone' anyway.

[BoltTrash]

__________

[Sab9259]

Here is a shotty pic of my XM3 build by the gunsmith who built the DARPA rifles. I need to get some pics of the rifle with the NXS I put on it. I still haven't decided whether to krylon it cerakote/man-o-war

[MescaBug]

Sab: That's the picture that got me into building a XM3. When you posted it on the Hide

Most components are available to civilians, so why not.

[Sab9259]

Glad to hear I helped feed an addiction!!!

[USMCSGT0331]

Sab9259, that's a sick rifle man, I remember seeing pics of it on the Hide! I'm really glad you posted that pics, your gun has the later version of the UNS mount (slightly more rail space to mount the AN/PVS 22). Here's a few good pics and a few crappy pics of my XM-3, which is one of the 3 prototype rifles that were built for DARPA testing:

[BR7.62]

great pics! good to see the way they milled the receiver for the rail.
thanks

[Sab9259]

My rifle is lacking the correct base but it's not really a major issue in my eyes. My marking are just like yours which was one of my original concerns when I came across the rifle.

[USMCSGT0331]

My rifle is lacking the correct base but it's not really a major issue in my eyes. My marking are just like yours which was one of my original concerns when I came across the rifle.

Correct base or not, it's a damn fine looking rifle and I definitely can't tell the difference between the bases on our rifles!

[MescaBug]

Sab: what brand/type of base do you have? Since mine is a .223, I dont need a 20MOA base. But I want a base that looks similar to the IBA. TPS Tactical 20100 is similar.