Xact Versus Midas?

[CharlieNC]

I worked in large scale manufacturing with strenous quality requirements for 50+ years. Over 30 years ago the notion of grading for quality at the end of the line was replaced with learning how to make a quality product from the begining; which costs less and yields superior quality. Otherwise don't expect that the quality within a lot is consistent, and that grading is therefore ineffective. Maybe a rant not worth discussing!

 

[davidjoe]

The ammo produced could have become sufficiently better over the years, that performance distinctions are not as self-evident in factory testing. The grade names have remained, but the distinctions have narrowed, a production plateau if you will.

We customers know that a box of XAct costs us the same as both a box of Midas and of CenterX. That is a huge distinction to us the end users, that possibly is nowhere near as clear cut at the sorting table.

If testers aren’t right 100% of the time, imagine that, or aren’t by nature as incredibly knit-picky as XAct buyers assuredly are, then they may not be looking at it this way, but a customer here and there could very easily end up believing they have paid four times what they should have. It could be their budget for two years of shooting in play.

I know Lapua reads and listens. XAct probably did dominate but if the distinctions since the 90’s have diminished, consider whether XAct should cost as much as both Midas and CenterX combined, not in terms of the very best XAct box that ever shipped, but the average to the worst.

And then think of it this way, are guys sorting production so detail oriented they are earning $100 an hour, because we are individually spending about $100 an hour shooting the good stuff.

 

[TRSR8]

I follow, my concern about XAct is that guys seemingly don’t pick that grade for the win, and don’t say they are getting beaten by it. Maybe at the biggest matches, it does win. If it was merely that on threads, there wasn’t much or any positive mention, I wouldn’t read much into it, but I’ve seen quite a few guys over the months and years go out of their way to say it actually shot less well than its inferiors, by the assortment process. If you buy it, you probably do have a very competent gun, (and only it is available to buy now) so that does get one’s attention. I do love Lapua though, I put their name on my license plate.

Well to finish, remember Midas is stocked by a pretty wide margin by vendors and, still, it’s all about lots, even the test centers availability of Midas is the sweet spot.

 

[HalfCZ]

This is x-actly why I Midas well stay centered. haha

 

[davidjoe]

My 12 boxes arrived. I’m headed the range. Maybe lunch first. Let’s suppose for a minute that Lapua has done a knock out job sorting their production.

If so, their unsealed, untaped small boxes with trays and ammo that are indistinguishable are nevertheless a real weak spot in end user confidence. One is Midas and the other is XAct. Presumably.

The brick and small boxes can be opened and closed. The obvious havoc that can be wreaked in grade snatching and lot number manipulation really needs a fix. This is a separate issue altogether from how different they are from each other.

Distributors, online guys, gun show guys, even Lapua itself can conceivably rearrange the contents as they see fit. I could reuse the old box again. Not good in my opinion. Eley gets that part right by a mile.

 

[Williwaw]

Makes me wonder what might be under my bed. This end user shares none of your suspicions and I don't like Eleys packaging. To each his own. Have a good one on the range.

 

[davidjoe]

This set up is a 60 pound clamped front rest.

The idea won’t be to see how good my gear is. It’s good enough to compare the bullets.

I’ll look for similar conditions when I pull the trigger but always hold center. I don’t want this to be about holds.

 

[davidjoe]

So far this is as expected. I started with a Eley target. Then match. It’s been breezy so far.

After Midas, it’s the flattest overall looking at all the shots. I forewent the group because I had enough for a card in a match left.

 

[davidjoe]

I’m calling it a win for XAct. I had a headwind with slight angle changes.

Where XAct hit lower, the headwind had let up. The bullet didn’t get the lofting rise. We see that when headwinds let up. If not for that, it was eerily flat.

Vertical is what I was looking for, not making active wind calls.

Bloody expensive, but I would pick over any. This is 90 pounds of test gear and I trust it. I still hate the box.

 

[MUP]

I have hope now for the 1 brick of X-Act I just purchased. I have 4 rifles to test in, fingers crossed.

 

[davidjoe]

I have hope now for the 1 brick of X-Act I just purchased. I have 4 rifles to test in, fingers crossed.

Before, I didn’t consider it an option, but I am now. For any distant match that is worth the expense of traveling to, I’ll use it.

 

[MUP]

Before, I didn’t consider it an option, but I am now. For any distant match that is worth the expense of traveling to, I’ll use it.

I only shoot in local matches, but I still like to perform as best I can.

 

[davidjoe]

I only shoot in local matches, but I still like to perform as best I can.

Absolutely. The thing about local matches is that everyone knows each other. That’s a big motivator to do well. It’s friendly but there’s no anonymity. Everyone has a good idea about what to expect from each other and the goal is to set out to exceed that.

 

[MUP]

Absolutely. The thing about local matches is that everyone knows each other. That’s a big motivator to do well. It’s friendly but there’s no anonymity. Everyone has a good idea about what to expect from each other and the goal is to set out to exceed that.

You're exactly right. The guys at our matches are super competitive, but would help you with anything, or any problem you might have even during the match. That said, everyone is still trying to gain an edge!

 

[davidjoe]

I’ve had a great .22 ABRA season, pulling out XAct when the pressure is really on.

But until tonight, I have never cleaned one of these targets. We had a unique evening that promised to become calm.

I started out card one with the same match ammo that my main competitor uses. That’s our norm. In Texas points we are first and second coming into the home stretch.

I got smoked, he shot his personal best card. Time to go to the car and root around for the magic beans, - two boxes of the same lot located.

Card two was the netherworld of XAct working the barrel to a Lapua equilibrium. If you compete a lot, you know it’s best to use one brand or the other the entire match. The coatings are each superb but different.

Anyhow, the XAct squeaked by with a single point lead but an X deficit as the barrel shot better and better toward the end. XAct struck lower by the way.

By card three the stars aligned. XAct, through an original 40-X rifle, trigger too, pushing 50 years old, delivered my first clean target ever.

I could see plenty well what was developing as I went. Yes, I was getting a bit excited with each horizontal row staying clean.

I didn’t go back to sighters between rows and that’s a risky strategy. One really has to trust the gear when elevation changes. I shot 20 consecutive record shots. I counted the rounds before starting and had none from the box left over. XAct has a subtle way teaching us to not waste ammo, thanks for that big blue .

The ammo on card 3 was otherworldly. It never gave me a flyer to chase with a bad follow up shot. What extra you pay for it, gets returned in a final level of performance your rifle may have. On a windy day, no improvement might be seen, or, shooting by yourself save some money, but it has a definite role, otherwise.

I had already decided to spend the money on it, that’s been happening for a few months. What I didn’t know, was just how good a decision that was. I’m happier about the price again and again as more is used. I feel better about my rifles, as if its price is added directly to their perceived value, softening the brick’s sticker.

A clean card gets sent in, something I had no reason to know yet, and will be returned, very neat.

This is the first year I’ve looked at, and then chased the seasonal points. It’s been a tremendously fun ride and opportunity to meet some great folks who are very detail oriented in this, despite the fact that we can’t load our own ammo. This raises some interesting, personal side thoughts, but that’s a different story.

Thank heaven there is no military need for .22 match ammo, - Lapua, keep it up!

 

[HalfCZ]

If you have $5-10k into your gun does .80/ round sound like too much? If your goal is to win
get an appt with Capstone and write the check when you get the chance.