AR accuracy vs varmint savage bolt action?

jjohnwm said:
What percentage of the AR's you see at the range are printing MOA groups? I would bet that it's well under 5 percent of them.
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One needs to understand what makes an AR tick and what makes them accurate in the first place. Pretty much it is the barrel. Comparatively speaking there are very few barrels being produced for ARs that are that accurate, with the majority being of regular quality. All of the Savage barrels being attached to their bolt guns intended on accuracy are fine barrels in their own right, and go through a good QC program that rivals some other quality barrel manufacturers'.

jjohnwm said:
All their owners tell you that AR's are that good, and some of them even tell you that their individual AR is that good...but very few of them ever turn around, sit down at the bench, and produce a MOA group.
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Getting an AR to group is easy (with a machine rest holding onto the upper), the lowest common denominator is the shooter. It takes more shooter skills to shoot an AR really well and consistently than a bolt gun by far.

jjohnwm said:
Don't even get started on what it costs to get a MOA Savage varminter vs. what it costs to get a MOA AR
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Quite cheap actually. There is no bedding, trueing or stock issues to worry about with an AR. Float a good barrel is pretty much it, and you can do that with a $100 float tube.
 
beltfed said:
One needs to understand what makes an AR tick and what makes them accurate in the first place. Pretty much it is the barrel. Comparatively speaking there are very few barrels being produced for ARs that are that accurate, with the majority being of regular quality. All of the Savage barrels being attached to their bolt guns intended on accuracy are fine barrels in their own right, and go through a good QC program that rivals some other quality barrel manufacturers'.

Getting an AR to group is easy (with a machine rest holding onto the upper), the lowest common denominator is the shooter. It takes more shooter skills to shoot an AR really well and consistently than a bolt gun by far.

Quite cheap actually. There is no bedding, trueing or stock issues to worry about with an AR. Float a good barrel is pretty much it, and you can do that with a $100 float tube.
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So you are saying that few AR's have the kind of quality barrel needed for accuracy, whereas HB Savage (and other brand) bolt guns do. Additionally, you seem to state that the AR is tougher to shoot well...no argument there.

"Quite cheap actually"? A Savage varminter with heavy barrel, accutrigger and cheap synthetic stock will run about $700-$800. A target model with the superb target trigger (crisp 6 ounces) and quality HS stock is under $1200. What kind of AR, with what accuracy-enhancing features, will that buy?

Please understand, I am not trying to be argumentative. However, I just don't think that you are making your case here. Look at the question in the original post.
 
jjohnwm said:
"Quite cheap actually"? A Savage varminter with heavy barrel, accutrigger and cheap synthetic stock will run about $700-$800. A target model with the superb target trigger (crisp 6 ounces) and quality HS stock is under $1200. What kind of AR, with what accuracy-enhancing features, will that buy?
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For a match quality AR you'll be looking at more than $1200
You're probably looking at closer to $1600 - $1800 for something custom.
An RRA varmint rifle is just under $1400 from Questar.
 
My AR is an utter mongrel with an old SP1 lower and an NEA upper with a heavy unknown but possibly armalite krieger stainless 1 in 8 twist barrel and a RRA match trigger. It shoots 1 moa for 10 shot groups. No two pieces from the same manufacturor. My conclusion is that its the barrel and ammo that make it so. Maybe a better shooter could get more out of it than that. I'd spend my money on a barrel to make it shoot well, and a trigger to make it easy to shoot well. The rest of it is more about personal choice.
 
jjohnwm said:
"Quite cheap actually"? A Savage varminter with heavy barrel, accutrigger and cheap synthetic stock will run about $700-$800. A target model with the superb target trigger (crisp 6 ounces) and quality HS stock is under $1200. What kind of AR, with what accuracy-enhancing features, will that buy?

Please understand, I am not trying to be argumentative. However, I just don't think that you are making your case here. Look at the question in the original post.
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I suppose it is subjectively or comparatively 'cheap'.
Eg. A regular 'rack grade' AR barrel will run around the $300 mark where as a quality barrel from a known aftermarket barrel maker might run $400-500.
(even cheaper in the states).
I had a savage laminated stainless Varminter that cost me in the $1100 new. I think I could go a long way in bolting an AR for close to similar performance for that kind of money
I one knows what they are doing, you don't need to spend big money on a custom gun. I can bolt an AR together with no problems but would not feel comfortable wrenching on most bolt guns.
Once you start pushing back further, that synthetic stock may or may not perform adequately with the Savage - there is no such concerns with an AR that is floated to begin with.
 
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NEA-15 DMR at 100m
 
I agree. A 600 dollar AR will shoot without any extra money dumped into it.

While a savage model 12 is not a cheap rifle by any means, I don't know of too many AR's that can shoot as accurately at say, 300 meters, for the same money.

That said, I am sure some people could put together a custom AR that might shoot as well or better.

beltfed said:
Different for sure, but the notion you need to spend a lot on an AR to get it to shoot is a fallacy.
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foxbat said:
'Rack grade' AR's will shoot anywhere from 1.5- 4 MOA...
Some of the premium AR's (Les Baer, etc.,) are supposed to be good for sub MOA.
The Savage bolt gun should shoot 0.5 MOA without breaking a sweat....as long as one is capable of hand loading.....
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With reloads, most AR's will shoot under MOA at 100 yards. All mine do.

That being said, the savage LRPV is one sweet rifle that will likely outshoot most AR's.
 
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