Les Baer Custom Ultimate As any shooter or varmint hunter will Super Varmint tell you, an accurate rifle must be greater than the sum of its parts. For exactly this reason, Baer Custom Ultimate AR rifles are hand-built so that all parts fit precisely right out of the box. hen Les Baer recent- ly set his sights on W developing a high- quality AR-15-type line of match rifles bearing his name, the quality/performance bar had already been moved to very high levels. An AR with the Baer name must exceed, not just meet, this constantly improving standard. start and not add it on later. Baer ed to manufacture the gas block, In similar manner to pistol began with forged aluminum carrier, bolt and extractor as out- manufacture, Baer found it nec- alloy upper and lower receivers side suppliers could not meet design. Another critical item essary to control the various CNC-machined in-house to the quality standards sought. Baer had to make in-house was rifle manufacturing processes match-grade tolerances so that The gas block is of his own an adjustable, free-floating from the beginning so as to build they fit together precisely and design, and the bolt carrier is handguard and locking ring. To the quality into the rifle from the tightly. In addition, Baer decid- another patented, fluted Baer assure accuracy, Baer added one SHOOTING RESULTS .223 Rem. Vel. @ 15' Energy Recoil Smallest Largest Average Cartridge (f.p.s.) (ft.-lbs.) (ft.-lbs.) (inches) (inches) (inches) Norma No. 223BD 2986 Avg. 1,089 1.8 0.46 0.69 0.61 55-gr. HP 13 Sd PMC No. 223SMA 2895 Avg. 968 1.7 0.46 0.81 0.80 52-gr. HP 27 Sd Federal No. P223K 3066 Avg. 1,086 1.8 0.44 0.73 0.58 52-gr. HP 31 Sd Average Extreme Spread: 0.66 Measured average velocity for 10 rounds from a 20" barrel. Range temperature: 59° F. Humidity: 34%. Accuracy for five consecutive, five-shot groups at 100 yds. from a sandbag. Abbreviations: Sd (standard deviation), HP (hollow point). The American Rifleman has used the phrase “Dope Bag” at least since WARNING: Technical data and information contained herein are intended to provide information 1921, when Col. Townsend Whelen first titled his column with it. Even based on the limited experience of individuals under specific conditions and circumstances.They do then, it had been in use for years, referring to a sack used by target shoot- not detail the comprehensive training procedures, techniques and safety precautions absolutely nec- ers to hold ammunition and accessories on the firing line. “Sight dope” essary to properly carry on similar activity. Read the notice and disclaimer on the contents page. also was a traditional marksman’s term for sight adjustment information, Always consult comprehensive reference manuals and bulletins for details of proper training require- while judging wind speed and direction was called “doping the wind.” ments, procedures, techniques and safety precautions before attempting any similar activity. 68 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN • June 2001 SUPER VARMINT MANUFACTURER: Les Baer Custom, Inc. two-stage trigger, a QMI Gold negligible, which (Dept. AR), 29601 34th Ave., Hillsdale, IL 61257; titanium firing pin and a Versa- made follow-up shots (309) 658-2716; Pod detachable bipod. Baer easy. Indeed, the www.lesbaer.com includes an excellent soft case as Baer rifle was a CALIBER: .223 Rem. part of the package with all his delight to fire. By ACTION TYPE: gas- rifles. All Baer rifles are equipped spacing our shots at operated, semi-automatic, with a Picatinny rail top on the a measured pace, the center-fire rifle RECEIVER: match-type, upper receiver. A scope and rings rifle could be fired forged aluminum alloy are an extra-cost option. for sustained peri- match-grade upper As any competition shooter ods approaching one and lower or varmint hunter knows, the hour before cooling FINISH: Baer Teflon-S performance of a high-quality became necessary. 5 OVERALL LENGTH: 38 ⁄8" rifle must be greater than the We found accura- BARREL: Baer 0.900"- diameter stainless, cryo- mere sum of its parts. Recog- cy excellent with treated, 18", 20" (tested), nizing this, Baer painstakingly match ammunition in 22" and 24" custom builds each rifle so all the lighter bullet RIFLING: conventional, parts fit precisely. This allows weights as summa- eight-groove 1:12" Baer to guarantee that all Cus- rized in the accompa- RH twist tom Ultimate AR .223 rifles will nying table. Note that MAGAZINE: 10-round, detachable, double- shoot five-shot groups of 1/2 our rifle was equip- column AR-15-type m.o.a. or less using company- ped with a standard Les Baer ARs come with integral Picatinny WEIGHT: 10 lbs. specified ammunition. 1:12" rifling twist rails on the tops of their upper receivers SIGHTS: none, Picatinny From an out-of-the-box, rate,making it unsuit- (top) in the “flat-top” style. Baer’s quality rail top, scope and rings first-impression perspective, the ed for bullets much control was obvious as, out-of-the-box, all optional, high standard of fit and finish of over 60 grs. However, the controls including the charging handle TRIGGER: Jewell, two- stage, 2-lbs. pull. the Baer Super Varmint AR .223 faster rifling twist were smooth and operated perfectly. STOCK: black synthetic butt rifle seems obvious and reassur- rates suitable for use and pistol grip: length of ing. There is no need to break-in with heavier bullets are available ship, fit, finish and performance 5 pull 13 ⁄8"; drop at heel, this rifle as it is already broken- from Baer. does not come cheap. A Baer cus- 2"; drop at comb, 2" in. Out of the box, functioning We particularly liked the tomer should expect to pay a pre- ACCESSORIES: one mag- was flawless with all bullet detachable Versa-Pod bipod. mium of 50 to 80 percent for a azine, soft carry case, weights tried except for one It attaches to a handstop at the Custom Ultimate rifle. However, Versa-Pod SUGGESTED RETAIL brand of 40-gr. loads that failed front of the fore-end. The unit is when weighed against the extra PRICE: $1,989 to feed due to low port pressure. solid and easy to fold or cost of accessorizing, fine tuning Whereas some other brands attach/remove. We also liked the and breaking-in a competitive offer initially stiff controls,a reg- Picatinny rail on the top of the rifle, the premium diminishes of his benchrest-quality, 416 imented break-in procedure and upper receiver. That enables the substantially or disappears alto- series stainless steel barrels, endless fine tuning, the Baer shooter to move the scope back gether. Seen in this light, Baer which are hand-lapped to a 3 to offers immediate gratification and forth in order to obtain the Custom Ultimate rifles are well 5 micron finish and cryo-treat- with no fuss. The trigger had zero best eye relief and a comfortable worth the cost. ed. Baer also found it expedient take-up with gradual loading and viewing position. to redesign the pistol grip while a crisp, very predictable let-off. Baer offers two adding extra material under the Bolt and magazine release levers versions of the Super trigger guard corner. All metal worked smoothly, and bolt glide Varmint rifle that dif- parts except the barrel received was notably smooth. fer in the configura- a Teflon-S Bear Coat finish. With an all-up weight of tion of the front hand- Three things were purchased more than 12 lbs. with scope guard—one version from outside suppliers: a Jewell and rings, perceived recoil was has a four-way Pica- tinny rail system and the other a knurled tubular unit, the gen- eral shape of which will be familiar to most competition shooters. We found the latter more useful for varmint hunting as varmint hunters do not need the Pic- atinny rail feature, and it costs approxi- mately $90 extra. In addition to the Super Varmint reviewed Baer upper and lower (top) receivers here, Baer makes mate tighter than those of any similar civilian and mili- rifle we have tested. This is one possible Baer Custom Ultimate rifles are equipped with a precision- tary/law enforce- explanation for the gun’s excellent accu- machined, free-floating handguard and a match-grade stainless ment M4 versions, racy. One of the features we liked was the steel barrel both made in-house by Baer (above l.). Although the and purpose-built Versa-Pod. It attaches to a modified Baer Custom Ultimate rifle is basically an AR-15, Baer manufac- competition rifles. handstop at the front of the rifle’s fore- tures the upper and lower receiver, bolt, carrier (above), extractor, Of course a high end. A lever on the Versa-Pod (above) gas block and barrel in-house to match tolerances. order of workman- allows instant removal of the bipod. AMERICAN RIFLEMAN • June 2001 69 Winchester Super X2 3" Field ny survey of currently a unique satisfaction. For one Haven at USRAC’s cataloged semi-auto- thing, there is the nostalgia fac- U.S. plant, while the A matic shotguns that tor. Hunting recalls an earlier rest of the gun is carry the label “field” model will and simpler, if not always easi- made at Fabrique produce a collection dominated er, way of life. For some, plas- Nationale in Bel- by guns whose space-age finish- tic guns can cloud their window gium, and, as with 1 es and synthetic stocks are as to the past.