Well, I went and did it.

I bought one.

The Fix by Q.

The Fix

In 6.5 Creedmoor, no less.

Never owned a 6.5 Creedmoor before.

I feel like the Last of the Mohicans.

It does seem ballistically efficient, however, so I suppose it's about time.

And The Fix may be the coolest and most innovative bolt action rifle ever (or at least recently) made.

I really do dig it the most.

What's next for this old-timer?

A 1:3 twist 8.6 Blackout?

Live Q or Die.

I'm not over-fond of that style of rifle, Michael, but yours does have a very-interesting bolt shroud.

I do not like the scope mounts at all, though. Such things are bad enough when mounting space on the rifle demands them but that piccatinny rail gives plenty of room for proper mounts.

What's my problem? it's the increased chance that a bump might knock the scope out of alignment with such a short distance between the front and rear fixings.

Not following you, sambarman.

The scope mount shown (and mine, in fact) is a rock-solid Reptilia AUS one piece 7075-T6 aluminum mount screwed onto a M1913 Picatinny rail.

The rifle would break before that mount.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
Well, I went and did it.

I bought one.

The Fix by Q.

The Fix

In 6.5 Creedmoor, no less.

Never owned a 6.5 Creedmoor before.

I feel like the Last of the Mohicans.

It does seem ballistically efficient, however, so I suppose it's about time.

And The Fix may be the coolest and most innovative bolt action rifle ever (or at least recently) made.

I really do dig it the most.

What's next for this old-timer?

A 1:3 twist 8.6 Blackout?

Live Q or Die.

Will you post pics of the "tacticool" wardrobe you purchased that goes with it ?

I’m thinking I’ll go with the Unpossible tie-dye crew.

Unpossible Tie-Dye Crew

Live Q or Die, dude.

Kevin is an interesting dude...

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
I’m thinking I’ll go with the Unpossible tie-dye crew.

Unpossible Tie-Dye Crew

Live Q or Die, dude.

WOW ! Go easy on that Live Q Koolaid brother ! You're starting to make me feel uneasy

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
Not following you, sambarman.

The scope mount shown (and mine, in fact) is a rock-solid Reptilia AUS one piece 7075-T6 aluminum mount screwed onto a M1913 Picatinny rail.

The rifle would break before that mount.

The mount does look quite substantial, Michael, but being made of aluminum doesn't make it stronger. My point is that despite the good distance between the rings, the two screws holding it onto the piccatinny are quite close together.

For what useful reason? Given a big bump or wrenching, such an arrangement is more likely to move than one where the base attachments are four inches apart.

quote:

Originally posted by BaxterB:
Kevin is an interesting dude...

He is not everyone's cup of tea, but I like him.

The Fix is his concept and is ingenious.

Of course, The Fix is not for everyone either.

I can understand where Sambarman is coming from re the clamps for the Reptilia mount being seemingly unnecessarily close together, perhaps the mount has also been designed to cater for mounting of a red dot type sight, the ones using a short scope type tube that mount up in normal rings, or an EER scope.
The Reptilia mount when moved as far forward as possible on the Piccatinny rail would place a red dot sight or EER scope in the scout position?

Am I understanding 1:3 twist correctly? Is this to be shot subsonic?

quote:

Originally posted by ChiefR53:
Am I understanding 1:3 twist correctly? Is this to be shot subsonic?

Not mine.

Mine is a 6.5 CM with a 22 inch Proof Research 1:8 twist barrel.

But The Fix does come in 8.6 BLK. The 8.6 specs call for a 1:3 twist barrel for use with both subsonic and supersonic ammo.

The 8.6 BLK embodies an innovative and by all accounts highly lethal combination of design parameters.

Look it up.

I was only half joking above when I asked: What’s next?

I am probably going to obtain a 12 or 16 inch 8.6 BLK chambered barrel for my Fix.

Simple barrel swapping is a great design feature of The Fix.

I have seen and read quite a lot about these, without ever seeing the actual weapon.
I think it could be good fun in 8.6 but I don't necessarily buy into the hype about the performance gain the 1:3 twist is supposed to provide.

As for being so innovative, nah, sorry. Have you seen a Mauser 66? All this really is is a marriage of that with a straight-pull HK416 or similar. I do like the fact that he has roller bearings on just about every moving surface in the bolt, but that also makes it fiendishly complicated. I really dislike that bolt handle. Seen many people fumble it repeatedly.
As for folding stocks, I spent ten years using an R4, which has basically the same folding mechanism. It's one of the better ones, and the lockup itself is very durable, but unless you work out of aircraft or vehicles a lot, I don't see the point, and if you are working out of aircraft or vehicles I guess a semi-auto would be a much better option. Unless you are up to really sneaky stuff, in which case the 8.6 again comes into it's own. In the other calibers, I just don't see why one would need that specific set of features.

Still, no doubt, it'll be fun and one just shouldn't need more reason than that.

quote:

I just don't see why one would need that specific set of features.

Because it's cool man.

quote:

Originally posted by Peter Connan:
I have seen and read quite a lot about these, without ever seeing the actual weapon.
I think it could be good fun in 8.6 but I don't necessarily buy into the hype about the performance gain the 1:3 twist is supposed to provide.

As for being so innovative, nah, sorry. Have you seen a Mauser 66? All this really is is a marriage of that with a straight-pull HK416 or similar. I do like the fact that he has roller bearings on just about every moving surface in the bolt, but that also makes it fiendishly complicated. I really dislike that bolt handle. Seen many people fumble it repeatedly.
As for folding stocks, I spent ten years using an R4, which has basically the same folding mechanism. It's one of the better ones, and the lockup itself is very durable, but unless you work out of aircraft or vehicles a lot, I don't see the point, and if you are working out of aircraft or vehicles I guess a semi-auto would be a much better option. Unless you are up to really sneaky stuff, in which case the 8.6 again comes into it's own. In the other calibers, I just don't see why one would need that specific set of features.

Still, no doubt, it'll be fun and one just shouldn't need more reason than that.

The much faster twist rate of the 8.6 BLK imparts much higher rotational kinetic energy and faster expansion to the bullet and produces well-documented increases in the volume and violence of temporary wound cavities. This has come to be known as the "blender effect." All else being equal, the faster twist rate results in swifter incapacitation and lethality.

With respect to the gun itself, I'm not sure we're talking about the same rifle!

The Fix is not a straight-pull bolt action. Its bolt does have a reduced, 45 degree throw, however, and is therefore very quick to operate. This is because of the clever engineering of the four forward locking lugs.

Nor does the bolt or action employ roller bearings. Perhaps you are thinking of the dual, internal cocking cams, or maybe the dual rails on which the bolt travels, much like the slide on the frame of a Browning-type semi-automatic pistol.

It is an ingenious design, as even the sear is inside the bolt, which can nonetheless be easily and quickly disassembled and reassembled.

As far as the bolt handle is concerned, I happen to like its trim proportions and the incredibly short throw. But the bolt handle is easily interchangeable, and Q does make a larger one for those who might prefer one.

The folding stock must be experienced to be appreciated.

First, the stock is of skeleton construction and so is very light weight.

Second, it includes an easily adjustable butt plate for both vertical placement on the shoulder and length of pull, as well as an adjustable cheek riser for proper, repeatable placement of the eye behind the scope.

It can be precisely fit to the shooter much like a try stock.

Third, when the stock is folded on its self-tightening hinge, the rifle can be slung snugly across the back or chest (or even put in a backpack) and becomes quite a small package. It is very easy to carry.

Fourth, the folded stock permits the rifle to be packed into a small, handy takedown-style case for packing and traveling.

There are many other innovative and useful features of the system, including the fast-change barrels, the one-piece rigid aluminum action, and the ability to use 5-10-20 round SR-25/AR-10 style detachable magazines.

The most important feature of the system, of course, is that all of these elements are made into a hunting rifle that manages to end up being very light in weight.

That is a wonderful attribute for any hunting rifle. The rifle also manages to come from the factory with a MOA guarantee using factory Hornady ammunition.

And like most brilliantly engineered tools, it is indeed very cool.

Interesting. I looked at the link and only saw 16" barrels and thought that they needed more options. I see that you have a 22 inch one so that sounds pretty cool.

I don't see a left handed option.

I'm not convinced with the statement about rotational kinetic energy providing increased expansion since spin is so easily stopped. We used to stop 50,000 rpm drill bits with our bare hands.

I was impressed by this video comparison, which I think illustrates the twist rate point very well.

Wound Cavity - 1:9 vs. 1:3

Apart from the temporary cavity (which I don't really believe in), I don't see a whole lot of difference. On the converse I am sure the very fast twist rate must both raise pressures and reduce barrel life for the same velocity and bullet.

Have you seen the Mauser 66? It's not straight-pull but a rotating bolt but it has a similar system of rails aligning the bolt body.

Every picture I have seen of the Fix's bolt shows at least three rollers. One keeping the shroud from rotating and two on the cocking cam.

Adjustable cheek pieces and butt pads on skeletonized Aluminium stocks are similarly nothing new (every rifle at a PRS match will have most or all those features), although they are not often seen on folding stocks, but certainly neither concept is new. The stock hinge is just a very minor development of the one found on the Galil and copied on the South african R4/5/6 series assault rifles. I am intimately familiar and as said, it's an excellent system.

I guess there are many different forms of hunting. Where I hunt, none of those features will make me any more successful or comfortable. We basically take a fairly leisurely stroll in relatively flat but fairly dense savanna, and the only time you sling the rifle is while walking back to camp. As for weight, light rifles are sure nice to carry. But much less so to shoot...

But again, if you like it, that's all that matters.

I was frankly amazed at this kind of performance. Not something I would necessarily be eager to try but it did work quite well.

Subsonic 8.6 BLK vs. Cape Buffalo in South Africa

Man, did he work that bolt fast!

quote:

I was frankly amazed at this kind of performance. Not something I would necessarily be eager to try but it did work quite well.

How do we know.

They didn't show how long they waited for the follow up.

They didn't show any wounds or bullets.

They show the shots then the dead buff.

Lots of information is missing.

No load information.

It is a .338 bullet at a certain certain weight and velocity.

It well preform as well or as bad and any other at those weight, velocities and sectional densities.

But it is a good way to write off a buff hunt on your taxes.

I'm going to find out for myself.






8.6 BLK, 416R stainless steel, sixteen inches long with a 1:3 twist. Tapered muzzle is threaded for a suppressor.

When I look down the barrel, the rifling twist is so tight, it almost looks like the barrel is inside-threaded!

Also found a G-Sling on sale.






I will start with recommended Gorilla subsonic loads using 300 gr. HPBT Sierra MatchKings and supersonic loads using 210 gr. Barnes TSXs.

Sweet!

Interesting discussion between Ron Spomer and Q engineer Nick Shafer regarding fast twist rate rifle performance:

Fast Twist Discussion

Tighter than bark on a log!