Characteristics of the Nesika Tactical 300 Win Mag
Last Updated on June 21, 2020
Nesika is one of the most peculiar companies in the world of weapons. It was founded in the early 1990s by Glenn Harrison in Poulsbo, Washington. His actions quickly achieved a great reputation in precision competitions.
The Cylinder Head
We’ll start by saying that it’s a fully adjustable Bell & Carlson Medalist Tactical Style 5 butt. In terms of materials, it is a structure composed of alternating layers of fiberglass and aramid, which have been encapsulated in a carbon fiber frame.
In the interior, it has a complete “bed” worked by CNC from an aluminum block, which goes from the handle to the front foredeck of the handguard. This internal chassis provides several properties to the stock, on the one hand, it gives it an extraordinary rigidity and durability, on the other a solid seat to the action of the rifle, partly responsible for its superb precision.
It is ready to accept the use of floating cannons of up to 1,250 “contour. The front part of the handguard is oversized, in a square shape to provide a good base of support on any surface.
Moreover, we can see that this has some slope with respect to the horizontal, this is an advantage when correcting elevation with a simple pivoting movement forward or backward, without having to break the position to make an adjustment of the bipod or of the sandbag, something that would happen in a handguard without inclination.
Under this same handguard we can see a groove or aluminum rail flush with the flat surface of the same, if it excels, we will run the risk of tilting the rifle when we put it on some surface.
On the other hand, this rail allows a fine adjustment of the elements that we want to attach to it, simply by sliding forward or backward the bolt along the channel.
Ergonomically, the vertical handle is perfect for shooting from the lying position. This has a comfortable recess to seat the palm of the hand and another horizontal recess that allows you to direct the index finger to the trigger naturally.
It is also easy to find the position of our head with respect to the viewfinder, although these have to position themselves with high rings due to their objective size, as befits a rifle for long distance of these characteristics.
This is not impossible thanks to the fact that it has a cheekpiece that is attached to the stock through two solid aluminum guides, which allow an elevation of up to more than an inch. To be able to regulate it we will have to act on two Allen screws with a 5/32 “wrench.
Also indicate that this cheek has a cut in its front, which allows to lock without the back of the bolt hits it if it is in an elevated position. This feature was introduced quickly after the first evaluations of this model since the stock seemed not to have contemplated the use of long actions such as the 300 Win. Mag.
In addition, we observed a rectangular c-0ut in the bottom of the cylinder head already seen in other Bell & Carlson. As we have already mentioned on other occasions, this recess is designed to be able to grip it more comfortable with the weak hand when we are in a lying position or on a shooting table.
This will help us to have more control when it comes to shooting and absorbing recoil, something that ultimately translates positively into accuracy. Also, in the case of using a culantro sack, it will allow us to play with the second zone of lower height and to manipulate more easily the “ears” of it.
To finalize the aspects on ergonomics indicate that the corner is another of the aspects taken care of in this stock, has a thickness of ½ inch anti-recoil, and is from the house Pachmayr.
We can also adjust the depth and rotation through two Allen screws with a 3/16 key, which allows displacement of two inches and a left or right rotation of 360 °.
Logically if in the most collected position we need to reduce the distance, removing the corner we can gain an inch. Summing up the configuration limits of the same move between 12.5 “and 15.5”.
The Action
It is the only component of the weapon manufactured by Nesika, and that is its hallmark within the sector. What is customary in the world of custom rifles is that the brands buy the shares from Remington or Surgeon and then they manufacture the cannon.
In the case of the South Dakota brand, the operation is reversed, the guns are purchased from Douglas Barrels for the stock made by them.
These are famous for being very similar to those of the Remington 700, but with the difference that each component of the same is machined by wire EDM or WEDM (Wire Electrical Discharge Machining), achieving extreme tolerances, on the order of less than 0.025mm.
The result obtained after the assembly is an exact action, impossible to achieve with the means of mass production nowadays. Nesika has in catalog three models of actions: Classic Action, Round Action, and Tactical Action, the latter is the one that carries the rifle that we analyze.
The material with which they are manufactured in stainless steel hardened by precipitation 15-5PH, which is a variant of another older one, the stainless steel hardened by precipitation of chrome-nickel copper 17-4 PH.
Its characteristics are that it is resistant to deformation, easily treatable thermally, resistant to oxidation, and exceptionally strong, very suitable for the action of a rifle. One of its drawbacks, however, is that it is difficult to machine.
A peculiarity of these actions is that once machined; they undergo a heat treatment that allows them to reach a higher hardness, up to Rockwell C-42. Externally this action has coupled, by means of six screws, a standard Picatinny rail MIL 1913 or Stanag 2324 of stainless steel with 15 MOAs of elevation.
The adjustment on the action is so precise that it seems that the rail is mechanized directly. In the case of the bolt, it is made of 4340 steel, also with a heat treatment that gives it a hardness of Rockwell C-38. This has two oversized lugs with locking at 90 °, which together with the action, are reputed to be extraordinarily strong.
In an article written in the American press a few years ago, the cannon manufacturer Lilja Barrels calculated that the strength of these two bolts exceeded by five times the pressure exerted by a maximum load of 6 mm PPC. Without a doubt, a surprising margin of safety.
Regarding its construction, it presents an important feature, while the usual thing is that the handle is made separately and then welded to the body or held by another type of anchor, in the case of Nesika locks, it is machined from the body of the bolt and finished at the end by a thread, so we can attach the knob.
We want very much in the line of parameterization of the rest of the elements of the rifle. The only one that has from my point of view this handle is its fragility, because of the small section of the said thread.
During the precision tests that we did, we were surprised by the extraordinary smoothness of the execution of the bolt, an authentic delight. Extreme adjustments are felt at the time of locking, no slackness is perceived.
Two last details regarding the lock, on the one hand, the visual and tactile tongue on the back, which tells us if the rifle is armed or not to make a fire. For another to mention that the extraction of the same is done by a cam on the left side of the rifle, Mauser 98 mode.
Finally mention that corresponds to a tactical rifle of these characteristics, has a removable metal charger of five cartridges. The test did not give any problem with feeding, being very easy, and comfortable to insert and remove.
The Trigger
It is another component of the third party of proven quality; it is a Timney trigger Calvin Elite model of a single time. This renowned company has been manufacturing these elements since 1946; their triggers are machined with maximum precision, adjusted, and tested by hand.
Calvin’s name is in honor of Calvin Motley, design chief of this company, who is responsible for the award-winning Timney AR and Remington 700, the latter being the one used by the Nesika rifle.
The materials used in the trigger are carbon steel for tools type A2 with coatings and heat treatments that give it a hardness of up to 58 Rockwell.
The housing containing all the elements is CNC machined from an aluminum block 6061-T6. The coating used in the Timney Calvin Elite series is a carbon nitride coating.
This coating is substantially harder than steel and preserves long-term wear, provides exceptional corrosion resistance, exceeds military salt water corrosion standards, and increases the lubricity of the trigger.
Its application in ferrous metals is carried out through a thermochemical process, which multiplies nitrogen and carbon on its surface. The effect on the contact surfaces translates into friction without variations for a long time.
That is to say, that the properties of the trigger will remain constant because there will be no alteration due to wear. It is a totally adjustable trigger, both the sear, the traction weight, and the “overtravel” or travel after the release of the sear.
This allows us a total personalization of the same, something that is a constant in this rifle, as we have seen when we talk about the stock. It is a robust trigger, but it allows to reach a delicate adjustment, being able to regulate it up to a minimum weight of only 8 ounces (226 g), although standard comes regulated at a reasonable 1,600 g approximately, with maximum variations of 140 g, of According to several readings of our Lyman meter.
Now to be able to make these regulations we must disassemble the weapon, it does not have a basic adjustment from the outside like the X-Mark-Pro.
Something on the other hand that is not a great inconvenience either, since it is accessed from the ventral side of the rifle by disassembling the guardrail plate and accessing a small aluminum chassis that carries it.
Also, once regulated, it will be difficult for us to carry out this operation again. Another aspect in which it differs from Remington’s usual trigger is how the insurance works, although it is located in the same position, this does not act only on the guarantor but makes a complete blockade of it.
Finally as regards the sensations that he has transmitted to me regarding its operation I have to say that I liked it a lot, but that having Remington rifles with the 40X triggers and the X-Mark-Pro the differences are a matter of nuances.
Outwardly it has some significant details related to ergonomics, just as the 40X has the concave face of the striated trigger, although it is a finer striated that feels less in the fingertip, but after all something always positive if we go to operate with wet or numb hands.
In addition, its form is completely flat and its homogeneous width, somewhat greater than that used in Remington rifles, specifically reaches 10 mm compared to the usual 8 mm.
The Canon
The cannon is another of the quality components of a specialized third party, in this case, it is a Douglas AirGaged certified tactical contoured stainless steel 26 “+ muzzle brake. The stripping step is 1:10 and the finish of the barrel, like the other components of the rifle, is CERAKOTE, which is a guarantee of resistance to corrosion.
All the guns of this firm pass a quality test called calibrated by air or Air-Gaged. What is sought with this test is to identify those guns with greater uniformity inside from the beginning to the end, those whose difference is equal to or less than 0.001 “is guaranteed as Air-Gaged.
This process is not new; it was invented 60 years ago in Sheffield (UK) although nowadays there are different variants. Basically, the process consists of blowing air inside the barrel with constant pressure, where there is a probe that is moving while measuring the output pressures, generated by the air that escapes between the probe and the grooves of the canon.
The barrel has a standard thread finished with a mouth brake ACC Blackout, which has the distinction of being able to place on it a sound suppressor. Here you can see the hand of Freedom Group, already the owner of Advanced Armament Corporation (ACC) the largest manufacturer of silencers in the USA.
The Shooting Test
For the shooting test we moved to the 200m course of the Ensidesa Club Gijón, where on a cold morning, around 8 ° C, but without significant wind, we set out to test the rifle.
As usual, we follow our usual protocol of five shots in a maximum time of six minutes, with breaks between batches of approximately 15 minutes.
The shooting position was seated from a Bench Rest type table with a Caldwell shot bench model Lead Sled DFT. The viewfinder used was a Bushnell Elite Tactical 3.5-21×50 DMR with the G2 grid in the first focal plane. The ammunition used was Remington PREMIER ACCUTIP and recharged using BARNES LRX tips of 200 grains.
As on other occasions, it was a new rifle without any shooting, even so, we obtained constant results of around 0.80 MOAs in most cases. The manufacturer guarantees the rifle as SUBMOA for groups of five shots, which is more than enough.
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