As I shoot this rifle more, I come to appreciate it more. It is an elegant design, but what design, regardless of its aesthetics, is worth a hoot if it doesn't perform as it should?

Was shooting at 300 yards yesterday at a bleach bottle on a hillside, and bouncing it all over the place using Czech Silvertip. Fantastic rifle, truly. It loads readily with stripper clips (once you learn the technique), and hammers away in a predictable and unhurried fashion. Since I installed the stainless steel gas system parts, it runs on setting 1.3, but it doesn't quite have enough gas on 1.2 to reliably extract 148 grain light ball.

The rifle is lightweight, easy to shoulder, easy sights to use, mild recoil... about like an SKS, and just plain does what it is supposed to do.

If there is a drawback to the design it has to be the adjustable gas system. It is great in that one can adjust the gas for the temperatures and the ammunition one is using, but there are itty bitty pieces/parts that should be removed and cleaned after firing, especially with corrosive ammunition. It is that wee tiny regulator, which, if lost, will take the rifle "hors de combat."

The brake is a marvel to me, mostly that it works at all. Today, if one buys muzzle brakes, they consist of two or three chambers to divert gasses to the side, but this is a single chamber brake with "fish gills" along it, and in comparison to a Mosin Nagant infantry rifle weighing about a pound and a half more, this rifle has perceptively less recoil... too if standing behind someone shooting the rifle, you can visibly see the side blast, which extends out maybe 3 feet or so to each side when the rifle is fired. How this brake works at all is of interest.

There are limitations to the design as compared to modern firearms, to be sure. 10 round magazines, which, if you can find replacements, are gawdawful expensive. The use of wood on the upper handguard, which, as one fires the rifle and it heats up and cools down, sort of dries out the handguard leading to a potential for cracks. The iron sights are as good as any and better than most. --Some folks don't care for the "notch and post" preferring a rear aperture sight, but in low light conditions it seems easier to use the notch sight.

Anyways, I am pleased with the rifle, and enjoy shooting it so much, and since x54r is about the only ammo I can get anymore, I shoot it most often, even to the point of neglecting the Mosin Nagant, which is also a lot of fun.

If you fellas can find one in your neighborhood for sale, I think you will enjoy it.