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The Gunwerks Nexus is an revolutionary and bold rifle. Gunwerks, primarily based out of Cody, Wyoming, has constructed its status on correct, long-range rifles which can be marketed with a touch of bravado. “One thousand yards out of the field” is their slogan. That actually establishes an expectation for the hunter or shooter who ponies up for one among these expensive gems.
The Nexus is Gunwerks’ latest providing and, in my eyes, probably the most fascinating rifle of their lineup. It defies simple categorization. The rifle incorporates components straight out of the competitors realm—just like the full-length ARCA rail underneath the fore-end, a switch-barrel motion, and a virtually vertical grip with pronounced thumb rests—with touches just like the leather-based insets on the grip and comb, extra typical of a bespoke rifle that’s to be babied slightly than subjected to laborious use.
Such disparate aesthetics could possibly be visually jarring, however the Nexus manages to drag it off. The rifle is dressed up for an evening in town however will roll up its sleeves when it’s time to brawl. Additionally it is some of the well configured rifles I’ve utilized in current reminiscence—each element was thought via by individuals who know their craft.
Gunwerks was in a position to obtain this as a result of they designed the rifle fully in home. The motion, barrel system, and inventory are all new. It’s totally authentic, a rarity in a world awash with 700 clones and timid line extensions.
- Motion: Six-lug bolt (two rows of three) with 65-degree throw
- Chambering: 6.5 PRC (examined); 7 PRC and 300 PRC additionally out there
- Inventory: Carbon fiber, with leather-based inserts and full-length ARCA rail alongside fore-end
- Barrel: 20 inches, carbon-fiber wrapped, with a 1:8 twist, and threaded 5/8-24 on the muzzle
- Size: 40.5 inches
- Capability: 3+1
- Weight: 6 kilos, 14 ounces (measured)
- Set off: TriggerTech Main
- Set off Pull: 2 kilos, 1 ounce (measured)
- Worth: $5,975 (Additional barrels run $1,495)
Configuration For Analysis
- Scope: Leupold Mark 5HD 3.6-18×44
- Rings: Seekins 35mm Scope Rings
- Suppressor: Gunwerks 6ix+ Titanium
Understanding the Gunwerks Nexus
Categorizing the Nexus may be difficult, however one approach to perceive the rifle is by asking who would discover it interesting. One reply is an individual who’s equally severe about searching and taking pictures and who needs a rifle that doesn’t compromise in both space.
Given the Nexus’ showy appears, it is usually honest to say the rifle will attraction to those that like their gun to make a press release. It’s no humble wallflower with its distinct strains, daring selection of supplies, and colour choice.
Gunwerks Nexus: Constructed for the Hunter
Dividing the rifle’s qualities between searching and taking pictures is a bit synthetic as there are options that apply to each. Nevertheless it does assist unpack the distinct hybrid nature of the Nexus.
From the attitude of the hunter, right here then are a few of the most interesting components of the Nexus.
Goldilocks Dimensions
First, there’s the general weight, size, and stability of the rifle. Empty, my rifle in 6.5 PRC weighs just below 7 kilos. That’s a snug center floor for a giant sport rifle, making it not too heavy to hold however blessed with sufficient heft to make recoil tolerable.
The 20-inch barrel is a brilliant selection for a searching rig. With a thread protector on the muzzle the rifle is simply over 40 inches lengthy. That’s good and compact, making the rifle simple to maneuver via brush and in tight areas.
Even with a suppressor screwed to the muzzle, which is threaded 5/8-24, the Nexus nonetheless doesn’t really feel unwieldy. I did nearly all of my taking pictures with the Gunwerks 6ix+ Titanium suppressor hooked up. That may, which weighs simply 9.2 ounces, balances nicely with the rifle.
Talking of stability, the Nexus’ middle of mass is simply in entrance of the journal nicely when the barrel is bare or sporting the two-port self-timing muzzle brake that it comes with. That, too, is about ideally suited for brisk dealing with. With a suppressor, the rifle turns into a bit muzzle-heavy, however not distractingly so.
Clean Motion
The six-lug motion (two rows of three) has a compact 65-degree bolt throw. Three-lug actions usually have a heavy bolt elevate, however the Nexus’ designers overcame that subject. The quantity of pressure required to open the bolt is average and it runs easily within the motion’s raceway. The truth is, it is without doubt one of the slickest actions I’ve ever dealt with.
The complete-diameter bolt physique, which is machined with flats to cut back weight and friction (and is sort of good-looking, I would add), helps the bolt slide freely when the rifle is tipped up at solely a slight incline.
In consequence, the Nexus has a formidable skill to remain on course whereas biking the bolt after a shot and ship fast follow-ups, each very useful when searching.
Accessible Ejection Port
The ejection port on the Nexus is giant and simple to entry even when a scope is mounted. This allows you to get one other spherical within the rifle rapidly do you have to run it dry. It additionally makes clearing jams or particles an easier proposition. The generously sized loading port additionally removes weight from the rifle.
Aluminum Alloy Receiver
One other supply of weight financial savings is the Nexus’s aluminum alloy receiver. Gunwerks was ready to make use of an aluminum alloy—7075 aluminum particularly—as a result of the barrels incorporate a barrel extension, which is the place the bolt lugs lock up. The pressures generated by firing a spherical are subsequently contained inside the extension and never instantly transmitted to the receiver itself.
This alloy is thought for its power and sturdiness. It’s completed with a Kind III hardcoat anodizing, a course of that permits the steel to withstand corrosion and abrasion. It’s the kind of anodizing discovered on high quality cookware, delicate electronics, and navy tools.
Carbon-Fiber Barrel
The barrel on the Nexus is wrapped in carbon fiber and is one other means the rifle trims weight. Carbon-fiber, whether or not within the inventory or barrel, has develop into more and more widespread on high-end rifles, and Gunwerks is making theirs in home with a single-point chopping method.
The accuracy of those barrels is great. I’ll go into extra element beneath, however my rifle averaged .75-MOA with five-shot teams throughout three completely different 6.5 PRC masses, which is fabulous.
Three-Place Security
The Nexus has a sublime three-position security on the bolt shroud. Within the secure place, the firing pin is bodily disconnected from the set off and the bolt is locked in place. Within the center place the gun continues to be on secure however the bolt may be opened to entry the chamber. This has been a most well-liked system for hunters for many years, and it’s nice to see Gunwerks incorporate this function into their new NTX motion.
One cool element is that when the security is moved to the ahead “fireplace” place a crimson dot rotates into view at the back of the bolt shroud, giving the operator a visible indication of the rifle’s standing.
Whereas the security flicks off simply because the rifle is delivered to the shoulder, it requires extreme effort to maneuver the tab from “fireplace” to the center “secure” place. Whereas not insignificant, that is finally a small subject, and for my part isn’t a deal breaker. That is the one and solely hiccup I skilled with the rifle.
Gunwerks has a repair for this within the works, and their new rifles are transport with an improved system that’s smoother. Present Nexus homeowners can get their safeties swapped if they need. As soon as I get an upgraded system, I’ll replace this overview with my impressions.
Flush Journal
Gunwerks went to nice lengths to furnish the Nexus with a flush journal. Designing magazines is surprisingly difficult, and the corporate’s preliminary efforts didn’t pan out. The primary iterations didn’t feed easily when loaded to capability and have been troublesome to seat in place.
However they went again to the drafting board and managed to provide the journal sufficient respiration room to unravel the problem, and the journal works nicely now.
As a result of it matches flush with the underside of the rifle (really the full-length ARCA rail), the journal enhances the rifle’s carrying and dealing with qualities, whereas nonetheless managing to carry 3+1 rounds of the chunky 6.5 PRCs.
Seating the journal requires a slight rocking movement—it doesn’t push straight in. You press the rear of the journal up first after which click on it into place. It’s a simple movement to grasp.
The journal launch is recessed on the entrance of the magazine nicely. It’s easy to actuate however gained’t snag on something the rifle brushes towards, so that you don’t want to fret concerning the journal popping free if you don’t need it to.
The journal is a double-stack system that’s simple to load and unload. Mine has fed flawlessly with zero points.
Eye Sweet Aesthetics
For long-range shooters, rifles usually appear to be, and are handled as, instruments. Normally, hunters care extra a few rifle’s look. In spite of everything, they may spend extra time gazing at their rifle within the discipline than they may taking pictures it.
Whereas magnificence is within the eye of the beholder, I feel the Nexus has a really cool aesthetic. It has a futuristic look that’s properly complimented by the leather-based inserts on the grip and comb.
The anodized bronze end on the steel ties all of it collectively, bridging the hole between the carbon-fiber and saddle leather-based.
On high of that, the sculpting within the steel and inventory are useful and enticing. Whereas the rifle gained’t attraction to each shooter—neither is it meant to—I give Gunwerks full marks for making one thing this distinct.
Gunwerks Nexus: Constructed for the Shooter
Switching gears, the Nexus has quite a few options in keeping with high-end precision rifles. These improve the rifle’s uncooked accuracy, versatility, ease of use and upkeep, and sensible discipline marksmanship.
Software-less Takedown
The bolt on the Nexus is faraway from the motion by miserable the unobtrusive tab on the rear of the right-hand facet of the receiver. The truth that it’s small, elegant, and simple to make use of is one other instance of the thoughtfulness that went into the rifle’s design.
Taking the bolt aside is easy. After rotating the bolt shroud a half flip the firing pin meeting pops free. If the rifle’s security is within the center place earlier than you take away the bolt, the trouble wanted to show the shroud is minimal. That’s because of how the security holds the firing pin again and out of contact with the bolt physique. However even with the security on “fireplace,” the process is a snap—the shroud requires only a bit extra pressure to show.
The bolt breaks down into the next items: bolt deal with, bolt shroud, firing pin, and bolt head.
The bolt deal with slides out of a dovetail minimize within the bolt physique as quickly as you rotate the bolt shroud. Presumably Gunwerks will supply completely different fashion bolt handles sooner or later.
The bolt shroud and firing pin come aside by transferring the security to “fireplace,” which you are able to do earlier than eradicating the bolt from the receiver or after the bolt is out.
To take away the bolt head (which lets you run cartridges with completely different bolt face diameters) you drift out the retaining pin simply behind the bolt head and pull the bolt head free.
This offers you entry to each nook and cranny within the bolt to provide it an intensive cleansing and lubing.
Uniform T-25 Torx Fasteners
Gunwerks made the remainder of the Nexus simple to service through the use of Torx T-25 fasteners at each vital juncture. With only one driver and a torque wrench you possibly can take the motion out of the inventory and take away the barrel from the motion, which is as a lot as you’ll have to do to take care of the rifle.
Gunwerks Nexus Fast-change Barrel
The barrel is held in place by three bolts that compress a sleeve on the receiver that the barrel extension slides into. The barrel extension has an indexing notch that makes it inconceivable to misalign the barrel and receiver.
This Gunwerks video particulars the barrel change course of, however the primary factor to pay attention to is that if you set up a brand new barrel—or reinstall the one you took off—you might want to put the bolt again within the receiver and shut the motion earlier than tightening the screws. This ensures right headspace.
Set your torque wrench to 60 inch-pounds and tighten the bolts from again to entrance, repeating the sequence thrice to make sure every little thing is appropriately torqued.
A Observe on the Motion Screws and Wedge Block
The motion and inventory are held along with three fasteners. The rear two are the motion screws and the one farthest ahead tightens a wedge block. When eradicating the inventory from the motion, begin by loosening the wedge block screw. Once you put the inventory again collectively, begin with the rear motion screw and go ahead, tightening the wedge block screw final.
Set your torque wrench to 40 inch-pounds and repeat the tightening sequence twice.
As I’m positive you recognize, the motion screws are what maintain the motion and inventory collectively. The rationale for the wedge block is to supply extra assist. The block stakes the motion in place, in a fashion of talking. That assist retains the motion and inventory from shifting and, in accordance with Gunwerks, improves the rifle’s accuracy, particularly with cold-bore first pictures.
The Significance of Anti-Seize Lubricant
For those who spend money on a Nexus, you’ll want to buy some copper or nickel anti-seize lubricant. The motion, product of aluminum alloy, and motion screws, product of titanium, are comparatively tender, and subsequently liable to galling, particularly when tightened to one another.
When utilizing anti-seize lubricant you wish to not solely add a dab to the threads, but additionally to the underside of the pinnacle of the fastener, which is one other space that’s liable to binding.
ARCA rail with Picatinny Part
This machined aluminum piece runs from the tip of the fore-end (the place the four-slot Picatinny part is situated) to behind the set off guard, forming the rifle’s backside steel. The center seven inches of the rail is an ARCA dovetail, which is the rifle’s most overt nod to the precision rifle world.
The Picatinny rail is right for mounting a bipod and the ARCA rail permits you to clip right into a tripod to get steady.
Integral 20-MOA Rail
The highest of the aluminum alloy receiver incorporates integrally machined sections of Picatinny rails, with three slots minimize within the ahead part and two slots throughout the rear. Gunwerks gave the rails a 20 MOA declination to leverage the rifle’s accuracy for longer pictures.
The rails supply loads of actual property to mount any scope you would possibly care to make use of and get correct eye aid.
Gunwerks Nexus Inventory Geometry
The glossy strains and contours within the inventory increase the rifle’s head-turning appears, however initially they’re useful components that improve efficiency.
The flat-bottomed fore-end can clip instantly into an ARCA appropriate accent, whether or not a tripod, bipod, or taking pictures bag with a plate—or it will possibly lie flat on a taking pictures bag.
The extensive grip fills the shooter’s set off hand properly, and positions it almost vertically, giving glorious contact with, and management over, the TriggerTech set off, which broke at simply over 2 kilos.
The inventory has deep scallops behind and on both facet of the grip and thumb cabinets. The scallops create substantial contact between the meat of the thumb and the grip, permitting the shooter to drive the rifle extra successfully. These contours are symmetrical, making the inventory ambidextrous. I discovered the Nexus fairly simple to run from my left shoulder in addition to my proper.
The underside of the buttstock (the toe) has a flat angled floor that may experience a rear assist bag very nicely too.
The upshot of those options is that the inventory is straightforward to run offhand, from conventional taking pictures positions, or supported by rests, bipods, and different equipment.
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Adjustable Size of Pull
The Nexus comes with recoil pad that establishes the size of pull at 13.5 inches. You possibly can add as much as two ¼-inch spacers between the pad and inventory to set the size of pull to 13.75 or 14 inches if desired.
QD Cups
Conventional swivel studs are one among my pet peeves. The earlier they vanish from our rifles, the higher. I’ll spare you the total rant, however QD cups—that are almost common on precision rifles—are superior in each means.
The Nexus incorporates three QD mounting factors, one on the fore-end rail situated between the Picatinny and ARCA rail sections, and one on both facet of the butt.
Gunwerkrs Nexus Cartridge Choice
Guess what the Nexus isn’t chambered in? The .30/06, .270 Winchester or every other fusty basic. As a substitute, the corporate is leaning into the benefits of rounds constructed alongside the ideas of Fashionable Cartridge Design, and is initially chambering the Nexus in 6.5 PRC, 7 PRC, and 300 PRC.
How the Gunwerks Nexus Performs
It might be a disappointing conclusion to this overview if these options I enumerated have been wasted on a rifle that didn’t shoot nicely. Thankfully, that’s not the case.
Flawless Biking and Reliability
The rifle masses simply, cycles rounds readily, and extracts and ejects them with authority. To work along side the double-stack journal, which feeds rounds from one facet after which the opposite, the barrel extension is machined with twin feed ramps to information cartridges easily into the chamber.
The rifle has no subject stripping rounds from the journal as one of many lugs is pointed straight down whereas the bolt strikes ahead creating ample engagement between the pinnacle of the case and the bolt head.
The extractor is a small spring-loaded claw that doesn’t appear to be a lot however had no points pulling brass from the chamber.
The Nexus has twin plunger ejectors, one at 6 o’clock and the opposite at 11 o’clock, that kicked empties freed from the ejection port after each shot.
Strong Recoil Administration
Along with the almost vertical grip, which helps the shooter handle recoil, the inventory has a destructive comb in order that when the rifle recoils backwards it doesn’t slap the shooter’s face and pivot up. As a substitute, it tracks straight again.
This can be a rifle that likes to be pushed laborious. The extra strain I added with my grip and my face to the inventory the higher the Nexus behaved. I discovered this to be the case each whereas taking pictures from the bench and through positional taking pictures. When working it with a agency hand, its accuracy improved and I recovered my sight image extra quickly.
Gunwerks Nexus Accuracy and Pace
I shot three completely different masses via the Nexus to entry its accuracy. That included Hornady’s 143-grain ELD-X searching load, and their 147-grain ELD-M match load. I additionally shot manufacturing unit Berger 156-grain EOL ammo via it.
The general common group dimension of the ten greatest five-shot teams was .749 inches. One factor I actually like concerning the rifle is that it didn’t present a marked desire for one load over the opposite. Its three smallest teams included one with every kind of ammo.
The Berger 156s averaged 2708 fps from the rifle (measured with the brand new Garmin Xero C1 Professional chronograph) with an general common group dimension of .708 inches. The Hornady 147s shot at 2773 fps with an general common group dimension of .751 inches. And the Hornady 143-grainers averaged 2847 fps whereas producing five-shot teams that averaged .929 inches.
Gunwerks Nexus Professionals and Cons
Professionals
- Sensible design
- Nice mix of options for hunters and shooters
- Correct
- Visually arresting
- Ahead considering
Cons
- Security stiff when transferring from “fireplace” again to “secure”
- Costly
Last Ideas on the Gunwerks Nexus
For a gun nerd who likes to shoot and hunt and who appreciates high quality tools, the Gunwerks Nexus is a house run. Its glorious ergonomics, considerate design, effective accuracy, and portability make it a rifle I stay up for utilizing and carrying afield.
Producing any new product—even a seemingly easy merchandise—is surprisingly troublesome. You’d be amazed on the gremlins that may crop up when bringing a brand new journal or holster to market. One thing as complicated as an entire rifle is a veritable minefield of potential snafus.
The truth that Gunwerks constructed the Nexus from the bottom up—it really is a brand new design—whereas taking dangers with its look and configuration, is one thing I recognize and applaud.
Gunwerks deserves a whole lot of credit score for the Nexus. Although it gained’t resonate with everybody—and as I stated earlier it isn’t speculated to—it’s a marvelous expression of what a contemporary searching rifle may be.
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