How much precision can be achieved with an AR-15?

Power Pill

Power Pill

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Im referring to "standard" AR-15 and not one custom built to be a sniper/precision style rifle.

For example:If i took mine with a 16.5" barrel, 1:9 twist and put a decent scope on it.. How much precision could one expect to achieve with a decent shooter placed behind it?
 
The problem is that the forend is attached to the barrel. It would be like shooting a rifle with barrel resting on something.

A floated barrel can be accurate.

The best groups I ever got were by accident, testing a AR-15 with some speacil ammo made for a contract. used a 9" ordinary AR to test for muzzle flash. using 45 gr Hornet bullets i got under 1 minute at 200 yards.

That was a 24X scope, off sandbags.
 
define standard!
Do you mean an A2 set up with carry handle and irons?
If you mean anything the factory produces I had a Rock River Varmint model that shot fantastic when you fed it Federal Match 77's and shot just over 1/2 " - 3/4" at 100 easily all the time. Bulls eye after bullseye at 300 no prob.

M.
 
i have a 4.5-14 burris scope on my norinco m4 14inch barrel. had it out last weekend to sight it in and was getting 2" at 100yd all day with it. useing american egale ammo.

300yd gong hits were easy as well

iv herd you can get better with the green pmc stuff.
 
2 to 3 moa with a STANDARD 556 Chamber.

If you have a true 223 Rem chamber or a 223 Wylde chamber, you should be in the 1 to 2 moa range.

Free float the barrel AND have a 223 style chamber AND work up proper handloads, MOA or even better at 100yds is definitely possible.

Look at the AR's used in match shooting in the US - Camp Perry stuff. These rifles are shooting sub MOA WITH open sights. Both excellent rifles AND shooters.

For what an AR can do with scope, look at the 3 gun matches where they plink out to 600yds, sometimes further. VERY impressive gear but these aren't your garden variety off the rack grade rigs.

A high mag scope cannot resolve the internal issues of the chamber, barrel and ammo. However, given all the right stuff, a scope will let you aim more precisely which allows the shooter to realise the potential of their rifle.

Jerry
 
No one here can tell you what sort of precision you can obtain when you shoot your rifle.
Put a decent optic on it, get some quality ammunition, fire it carefully, and let us know.
The potential accuracy of good ARs is well described above.
I have seen ones that will consistantly shoot moa.
Others are honest 3 minute rifles.
 
mysticplayer said:
2 to 3 moa with a STANDARD 556 Chamber.

If you have a true 223 Rem chamber or a 223 Wylde chamber, you should be in the 1 to 2 moa range.

Free float the barrel AND have a 223 style chamber AND work up proper handloads, MOA or even better at 100yds is definitely possible.


Jerry
Click to expand...

To suggest a rifles accuracy is derived primarily from the chamber is nonsense.
The limiting factor with the majority of ARs is not their chamber, barrel profile, twist rate, whether they are floated or not etc...

It is the ammunition they are fed.
 
beltfed said:
To suggest a rifles accuracy is derived primarily from the chamber is nonsense.
The limiting factor with the majority of ARs is not their chamber, barrel profile, twist rate, whether they are floated or not etc...

It is the ammunition they are fed.
Click to expand...

:rolleyes:
 
hane6661 said:
i have a 4.5-14 burris scope on my norinco m4 14inch barrel. had it out last weekend to sight it in and was getting 2" at 100yd all day with it. useing american egale ammo.

300yd gong hits were easy as well

iv herd you can get better with the green pmc stuff.
Click to expand...

I have the same Norc, with factory I can get 2 inch groups at 100 yards any day

With tuned hand loads I can usually get 1.5 inches.

You have to hold it properly and do not put any pressure on the bbl, all the support is at the magwell.
 
tiriaq said:
No one here can tell you what sort of precision you can obtain when you shoot your rifle.
Put a decent optic on it, get some quality ammunition, fire it carefully, and let us know.
The potential accuracy of good ARs is well described above.
I have seen ones that will consistantly shoot moa.
Others are honest 3 minute rifles.
Click to expand...

yup

its not just chamber
not just ammo
not just barrel
not just sights

its not just one thing its a combination of things

I have seen match grade guns and match grade ammo do some really impressive things
 
beltfed said:
To suggest a rifles accuracy is derived primarily from the chamber is nonsense.
The limiting factor with the majority of ARs is not their chamber, barrel profile, twist rate, whether they are floated or not etc...

It is the ammunition they are fed.
Click to expand...

I agree that feeding a match rifle the most poorly made ammo/crappy bullet is not going to gain any accuracy results, but you better believe that your chamber - especially your throat dimensions - are absolutely critical to the accuracy potential of a rifle.

you can take any top grade barrel and cut a wonky chamber with an overly long throat and I can assure you, it will not shoot.

And when I mean shoot, I mean getting groups at 500m that many AR shooters would like to get at 100yds.

Many of the other factors will play a role in the overal performance too.

You certainly don't have to take my info. Just ask that question on any accuracy or competition forum and see what type of response you get.

Jerry
 
I have one AR upper 15.5" that shoots .38moa as its best (3 shot 109 yard group) with Federal Gold Metal Match 69gr and aprox 2.5 moa with Ranger 64gr stuff. Ammo will play a big part. If you want better results make sure your AR has a free floating rail and good ammo. The rest is up to you the shooter to define what the "best" is out of your system. The new target uppers will get you sub-moa without lots of $$$ on custom work. ATRS can build a target upper for you too;) Check his prices against buying an factory upper.
 
I have a bone stock Colt AR-15 Sporter. A2 style, carry handle, medium weight barrel, non-floated handguard, 1-7" twist, factory chamber, etc.

It is an honest 2.75 MOA rifle.

(This is ten shots into 2.7-3.0" at 100m, time after time; with very good ammo, handloads with Sierra 77 Matchking, Hornady 68 BTHP, Nosler 55 BT; fired off of a benchrest with a rear sandbag, and with a 20X Leupold target scope).
 
icedragonmx said:
I have one AR upper 15.5" that shoots .38moa as its best (3 shot 109 yard group) with Federal Gold Metal Match 69gr and aprox 2.5 moa with Ranger 64gr stuff. Ammo will play a big part. If you want better results make sure your AR has a free floating rail and good ammo. The rest is up to you the shooter to define what the "best" is out of your system. The new target uppers will get you sub-moa without lots of $$$ on custom work. ATRS can build a target upper for you too;) Check his prices against buying an factory upper.
Click to expand...

Not to be a PITA but what is the AVERAGE group size of this rifle.

Say 5 - 3rds groups or 5 - 5rds groups or whatever.

What are the largest groups that you have shot with the same ammo?

What does the rifle do over a larger sample size? That is the true accuracy of a rifle and ammo combo.

Many many rifles will do a few amazing groups now and then, but repeatability and consistency is what precision rifles are all about.

A true 1/4min rifle takes a far amount of work AND a whole lot of good gear.

There will never be a dispute that ammo is very important in accuracy. Otherwise, competitive shooters would just use FMJ's, surplus powder and save themselves a small fortune in costs.

BUT the mechanics of the rifle have to allow for the potential to shoot well.

What makes a match upper anyways?

Jerry
 
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