First AR 15 grouping - 100 yards

Onagoth said:
So, I got out again tonight, shot another 10 shot group after some adjustments. I think this is pretty close to where I want it sighted in.

I had at least one definite flyer, but I think there is some slight signs of improvement. The difficult part is seeing the target beyond the front sight, as the front sight takes up nearly the entire target at 100 yards (at least width wise)

I'll keep practicing, so far, I really love shooting this gun. :)

Have you guys got any tips for shooting through iron sights? Ideally, I'd like to get down to a 1 or 2" group....if possible.

100_1708.jpg
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You find the front sight wide, well put the poa on the front , that way you can see the target clear, and have zero windage error
this will give you an idea of what i'm getting at.
http://2.bp.########.com/_M_5Pmk5eXGo/Sgn4FYrBq0I/AAAAAAAABlg/Yr5SGRsOevM/s400/fs4.jpg
 
Matt, check Wolverine, perhaps they have the 62 Gr. in bulk. Also, I believe Al Flarehty's has a bucket load of the 62Gr. Winchester at a reasonable buck, but I haven't checked in with him in a while. PM me, I may be heading down there this weekend.
 
Prestwich said:
Matt, check Wolverine, perhaps they have the 62 Gr. in bulk. Also, I believe Al Flarehty's has a bucket load of the 62Gr. Winchester at a reasonable buck, but I haven't checked in with him in a while. PM me, I may be heading down there this weekend.
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Thanks for the heads up, but I am more just thinking ahead right now, my ammo budget is taking a beating this month :)
 
Are you shooting prone? From a bench rest? Good luck shooting 10 shot groups under 2" standing at 100 yards with irons under duress!

If you are shooting prone, or from a bench, you should eventually be able to get under 2" at 100 yards with some practice, but with iron sights it'll be challenge (shouldn't take long to get your groove with optics).

IIRC - I believe the rule of thumb for milspec ARs is that the typical AR15 variant should shoot 2.5 MOA without upgrades.

55gr ammo at 100 yards shouldn't be giving you any problems with wind drift. I think paying for the more expensive 62gr or 69gr ammo at such a close range is really not necessary.

Honestly, if those rings are 1" apart, it looks like you're shooting about 4 MOA at 100 yards with irons. I'd say that's damned good for someone new to the AR15.

The only thing I could recomend for the sight picture at that range would be using the edge of the front sight blade as your aiming point, instead of the middle of it.
 
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Onagoth said:
So, I got out again tonight, shot another 10 shot group after some adjustments. I think this is pretty close to where I want it sighted in.

I had at least one definite flyer, but I think there is some slight signs of improvement. The difficult part is seeing the target beyond the front sight, as the front sight takes up nearly the entire target at 100 yards (at least width wise)

I'll keep practicing, so far, I really love shooting this gun. :)

Have you guys got any tips for shooting through iron sights? Ideally, I'd like to get down to a 1 or 2" group....if possible.

100_1708.jpg
Click to expand...

One or two clicks left & call it good , unless there was a significant wind during the time you were firing.
 
Center Of Mass

Onagoth,
Good shooting!
One thing I teach young shooters when using peep sights is train your eye to aim at "Center of Mass" on the target, don't try and find the center of target.
Hope that makes sense to you?
 
The bullets go where the front sight is pointed. You should be using and focusing on the edge of the front sight as indicated in the photo above.
Try 'lamp blackening' your front post and rear apeture, it is much 'crisper' and easier on the eyes.
Your group has nothing to do with ammo, and everything to do with principles of marksmanship.
People that tell you 55gr vs. 62gr rounds are making a difference at 100m are full of sh!t, and probably suck at shooting.
Sorry if I offended anyone, but it is what it is. White box 55gr. will print to 1.5 moa at 100m with decent regularity, and 2 moa almost always.

Get lots of ammo READ the USAMU or other's manual and practice.
 
Does your AR have a free floated barrel or not? I have found the non free floated never shoot a great group with any amount of pressure on the forend. Eg. Had a Norinco knock off that was non free floated. Also had the pricier Armalite that was free floated. Non the same rifle at all. The Armalite shot much tighter groups.
 
I have a non-free floating 16" Armalite that scored around 0.75" to 0.85" groups last Tuesday at 100 yards with 3-9X40 scope mounted using handloads. Shot bench rested on sand bags.

Recipe used:

24.7 gr of H335
55 gr FMJ Remington
Reused and full resized FC brass
Federal SR primer
OAL ~2.220"
Roll crimped
 
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Not to be a dink, Ironsight...but I think that group might be a little sloppy. I have a stock chit house Bushmaster that does 3" off the sand bags most of the time and the only reason the groups are that big is the old eyes on the ironsights and the fliers. My groups tend to hold around two inches for most of them and the fliers open that up a bit.

Try it again with the sand bags and a bit more time and that puppy will tighten up a bit I will bet.
 
beltfed said:
People that tell you 55gr vs. 62gr rounds are making a difference at 100m are full of sh!t, and probably suck at shooting.
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That is quite a statement there...............I am not an overly "Experienced Shooter" but I have shot enough to realize, that some firearms, AR's included, tend to like a particular bullet weight over another.

For example......my particular AR likes the 62 gr remington, can get 2" groups with this, the same Remington Ammo in 55 gr., opens up to 3" at 100 yards. Is this me? I tend not to think so. But hey this is the Internet, we are all just wannabe's here, right! I guess I just suck at shooting 55 gr Remington ammo!

Thing is, I think Onagoth is a pretty accomplished shooter, and maybe a change in ammo might help his groups out. I dunno, maybe it is just me, and the things I have observed over the years, but to blanket call everyone a shooter that just "sucks" for suggesting a different load for a gun, might not be the way to go. Whaddya Think?
 
I have also noticed the difference in grouping with my .223 bolt action. It likes the lighter 55 vs. heavier 62 gr. I have attributed that to its low rate of twist which is not meant to stabilize heavier bullets. Besides, I think there are more to it than just the bullet weight such as the rate of powder burn, charge weight, Bullet type and shape, rate of twist, barrel harmonics, and etc etc.
I have not had the opportunity yet to test my AR with the heavier bullets but I will post the results if I do in near future.

Happy shooting:)
 
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