Brownell's BRN 601 Shooting Impressions

Published on April 27, 2020
Duration: 13:59

This video provides a comprehensive shooting impression and technical review of the Brownells BRN 601, a reproduction of the first military-issue AR platform. The review covers its retro design, including the waffle-pattern 20-round magazine, and conducts a multi-magazine compatibility test. It also details ammunition performance with various loads, focusing on accuracy with iron sights at 100 yards, and discusses the rifle's handling characteristics and historical significance. The presenters, former Army NCOs, offer insights into classic shooting stances and the rifle's soft-shooting nature.

Quick Summary

The Brownells BRN 601 is a reproduction of the first military AR, the Colt 601, featuring a retro design and a 1:12 twist rate barrel. It performs best with lighter ammunition, with 35-55 grain loads showing good accuracy at 100 yards using iron sights. The rifle is a soft shooter due to its long gas system and is lightweight and quick-handling.

Chapters

  1. 00:01Introduction to the BRN 601
  2. 00:08Retro Design and 20-Round Magazine
  3. 00:20First Shots with Milsurp Ammo
  4. 00:33Classic Shooting Stance Explained
  5. 01:13Firing Impressions and Reliability
  6. 01:25Magazine Drop Free Test
  7. 01:34Multi-Magazine Compatibility Test
  8. 01:54Daniel Defense Magazine Test
  9. 02:28Master Molder Magazine Test
  10. 02:45C Products Aluminum Magazine Test
  11. 03:02Amend 2 Polymer Magazine Test
  12. 03:18C Products Steel Magazine Test
  13. 03:32Third Gen Witness Window Magazine Test
  14. 03:51Troy Magazine Test
  15. 04:09CAA Countdown Magazine Test
  16. 04:26Lancer Magazine Test
  17. 04:45Dinner Time: Target Setup
  18. 04:53Iron Sights at 100 Yards
  19. 05:19Rifle Twist Rate and Ammo Selection
  20. 05:25Ammunition Loads Overview
  21. 06:05Zeroing and Keyholing Observations
  22. 06:24Testing Ammunition Loads
  23. 08:36Ammunition Performance Results
  24. 08:52Nosler 35 Grain Results
  25. 09:04Fiocchi 55 Grain Results
  26. 09:14Milspec 62 Grain Results
  27. 09:33Hornady Black 62 Grain Results
  28. 09:39Hornady 73 Grain Failure
  29. 09:53Twist Rate Impact on Accuracy
  30. 10:22Accuracy Assessment with Iron Sights
  31. 10:50Cycling Reliability Across Loads
  32. 11:03BRN 601 as a Historical Reproduction
  33. 11:10Cost of Original Colt 601
  34. 11:25Military Shooting Flashbacks
  35. 11:31Handguard Pull-Down Feature
  36. 11:41Handguard Heat
  37. 11:46Evolution of M16 Variants
  38. 12:11Nose on Charging Handle Drill
  39. 12:25Soft Shooting Characteristics
  40. 12:31Gas System and Buffer Impact
  41. 12:43Lightweight and Handling
  42. 13:02Impressive Simplicity
  43. 13:14Back to the Rifle
  44. 13:22Comparison to AR-10s
  45. 13:36Pleasant Shooting Experience
  46. 13:44Reproduction of History

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Brownells BRN 601?

The Brownells BRN 601 is a reproduction of the first military-issue AR platform rifle, the Colt 601. It features a retro design, including a waffle-pattern 20-round magazine and a 1:12 twist rate barrel, offering a historical shooting experience.

How does the BRN 601 handle different magazines?

The BRN 601 underwent a multi-magazine test. While most tested magazines like Daniel Defense, Amend 2, and Lancer locked open and dropped free, the Master Molder did not drop free. Fitment varied, with some being snug and others having noticeable play.

What ammunition performs best in the BRN 601?

The BRN 601's 1:12 twist rate favors lighter ammunition. Loads like 35-grain Nosler Varmint, 55-grain Fiocchi, and 62-grain Hornady Black showed decent accuracy with iron sights at 100 yards. Heavier bullets, such as 73-grain, were too heavy and did not stabilize.

Is the BRN 601 comfortable to shoot?

Yes, the BRN 601 is described as a very soft shooter. Its long rifle-length gas system and buffer system effectively absorb recoil, making it pleasant to handle. The rifle is also noted for being lightweight and quick-handling.

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