Joe W Gorman
Black Rain Ordnance has established themselves as a top-tier manufacturer of quality AR pattern rifles since their inception in 2009. The number of products the Missouri-based company produces has grown and they currently manufacture numerous rifle models, semi-automatic and bolt action, with a variety of standard features in a vast number of calibers.
For our test and evaluation, Black Rain Ordnance sent us an AR10 rifle, the Predator, black, in 6.5 Creedmoor with a 22” barrel. The Predator is a direct impingement gas rifle with an adjustable gas block under a 15” MLOK handguard with railing relief cut into the rail top, permitting a large bell scope to be mounted closer to the bore. It is a substantial handguard that provides plenty of clearance for the barrel and gas components to float freely.
Unpacking the Predator, I noted the quality of fit and finish, the heft of the Predator (10 pounds 9 ounces according to the website) and the solid mating of the upper and lower receivers. Black Rain Ordnance makes most of the parts on this rifle in house and the designs and functional cuts, holes and markings on the rifle contribute to the feeling of quality when it’s held. Field stripping the rifle revealed an impressive nickel boron coated bolt carrier group, the exactness of the machining of the feed ramps and the attention to detail of the barrel fluting. I also noticed several places on the rifle where a Black Rain Ordnance symbol has been creatively placed. I kept discovering them during testing. The Predator arrived with a 10-round Magpul magazine.
One of the parts on the Predator not made by Black Rain Ordnance is the Magpul Precision Rifle Stock. I have years of experience with the PRS and it is a proven performer in my estimation. The PRS adds to the solidity and practicality of this weapon. You could easily kill a man with a solid butt-stroke from the PRS, if that’s a requirement for you.
Inspecting the lower receiver, I noted the Black Rain Ordnance trigger group (manufactured in-house) and the unique trigger/hammer pivot-pin covers. The trigger broke crisply at 3.5 pounds as advertised. There are multiple quick-detach sling attachment points on the handguard, plenty for any way you’d carry this rifle.
For bench testing the Predator, I used some familiar tools to help me assess the accuracy potential of this rifle. I mounted a Harris S-BRM bipod via a Magpul MLOK mount. I also mounted a Burris XTRII 3-15X scope in a Leupold IMS. I fortunately had a variety of Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition on hand to run through the Predator. I tested 97g VMAX, 100gr VMATCH, 129gr White Tail, 140gr ELD-Match, 140gr BTHP American Gunner, 143gr ELD-X Hunter and my perennial favorite, 147gr ELD-Match ammunition (all Hornady). The accuracy results are listed below, suffice it to say I shot some very tight 3-shot and 5-shot groups with the Predator and Hornady ammunition. I was able to shoot a 3-shot group that was right at .41” (measured center to center) with the 147gr ELD-Match ammunition. Impressive indeed for a semi-automatic considering who was behind the trigger.
During testing I noted how much different a 10+ pound, AR-10-pattern rifle felt compared to the Ruger SFAR we’d tested last year. The Predator is bigger in every dimension than the Ruger SFAR and its weight reflects that. The mass of the Predator is welcome for long days at the range as its heft, adjustable gas block and the excellent muzzle brake combine to make recoil very light, and follow-up shots, quick. It was easy to maintain a stable position with the Predator and the ergonomics were fine for my paw.
Moving targets out to 200 yards, the Predator maintained tight groups and shot to MOA. All the groups opened some but the 147gr ELD-Match ammo started to really shine as the distance increased. Lest anyone think the 147gr Match-ELD ammo is just for punching paper, I killed a mature wild sow with one shot through the boiler works (I double lunged her and she ran for 10 seconds before piling up). Truth be told, I’d rather have used the 143 ELD-X round as this round is specifically designed for large game but I had a mag loaded with 147 ELD Match, so there I was. I think for use against prairie rodents, I’d zero for the 100 gr VMATCH as I got excellent accuracy at 200 yards (1.9” 3-shot group) with that ammunition and those bullets generate a significant veil of red mist upon impact out to 300-400 yards.
Disassembling the Predator for cleaning was straight-forward and the Boron Nickel BCG proved to be easy to clean. After wiping all the bolt components down and reoiling them, I cleaned the chamber and bore with Dewey coated rods, and this too will be familiar for anyone with AR experience.
The construction of the Predator bespoke precision. I experienced no failures with the Predator using a wide variety of bullet weights. I did not need to adjust the factory gas setting going from 97gr VMAX to the 147gr ELD. I think this rifle would make an awesome range rifle and would come into its own shooting small targets at long ranges. This rifle would also excel at shooting coyote-sized predators at long ranges. Basically, this rifle would be perfect for shooting anything you care enough to shoot multiple times at long ranges in a hurry.
| 6.5 Creedmoor Hornady Ammunition | Avg Vel (feet per second) | Best 100 yard 3-shot group |
| 97gr VMAX | 3221 | .76” |
| 100gr VMATCH | 3140 | .88” |
| 129gr White Tail | 2800 | 1.1” |
| 140gr ELD Match | 2685 | .65” |
| 140gr American Gunner | 2645 | .95” |
| 143 ELD-X | 2640 | .75” |
| 147gr ELD Match | 2628 | .41” |
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