Did some shooting at 300yds the other day and I am now convinced that the new forend has made all the difference with shooting from a mounted bipod. I was averaging 2-2.5" groups from the bipod and a small bag in the back shooting from the prone position. There was no way that I was able to do this with the old forend and not having a rest almost under the pivot point.
I am really surprised that I am doing as well as I am with a non-bull 223 barrel. Although the non-bull barrel is still thicker than other brand name non-bull barrels. I am sending off the frame this summer (after I smoke some G-Hogs) and having the 6.5lb trigger taken down to three pounds and have a 7mm-08 barrel put on it.
BTW, I am shooting reloads. Winch. brass, CCI BR-4 primers, Sierra 60gr HPs, and 25.4gr of H4895. C.O.L. is at 2.250". And that is spurprising because there is quite a gap between the bullet and the lands. I was loading these bullets out to almost 2.40"!