Groups with 14.5 inch Barrel

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cyclic

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Hey Guys,

Was out for the first time with a new AR. It's a Colt HBar Match Target with a 14.5 inch barrel and collapsible stock. It is in nice shape with Fatty Handguards. The barrel as put on by previous owner (originally a 20 inch barrel) The 14.5 inch barrel has no markings on it so I do not know what brand it is or what twist.

I was shooting Sunday and at 50m my first two rounds were dead centre. I then started shooting out to 100m and noticed they were all over. I came back to 50 m and noticed the groups were not good, 6 inch groups? At 100 M I am getting 8 inch groups.

Was shooting 55 grain Winchester and 62 grain American Eagle, just curious what others are getting and if there is something I need to look at. I have been shooting for 20 years so I don't feel it is me. Have never shot a shorter barrel length though than 20 inch so curious if this is normal.

Thanks for your feedback.
 
Last edited:
cyclic said:
Hey Guys,

Was out for the first time with a new AR. It's a Colt HBar Match Target with a 14.5 inch barrel and collapsible stock. It is in nice shape with Fatty Handguards. The barrel as put on by previous owner (originally a 20 inch barrel) The 14.5 inch barrel has no markings on it so I do not know what brand it is or what twist.

I was shooting Sunday and at 50m my first two rounds were dead centre. I then started shooting out to 100m and noticed they were all over. I came back to 50 m and noticed the groups were not good, 6 inch groups? At 100 M I am getting 8 inch groups.

Was shooting 55 grain Winchester and 62 grain American Eagle, just curious what others are getting and if there is something I need to look at. I have been shooting for 20 years so I don't feel it is me. Have never shot a shorter barrel length though than 20 inch so curious if this is normal.

Thanks for your feedback.
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What rounds grouped better the 62gr or the 55gr? Definately not normal at 50m your rounds should be touching in one cluster and 100m they should group no more than 4 inches max spread.
 
The 62 grain seemed to be better, I am thinking the barrel on this thing is not right. I will see if i can determine twist. Wierd how the first two rds were spot on then went squirly, after i let it cool right down my firend shot 2 right next to each other at Point of aim then it went haywire again. Anything to check on the barrel maybe?
 
Since someone butchered an original colt rifle and put on the 14.5" Barrel - million things could go wrong.

First of all - is the barrel a cut job?? No marking.......how is the barrel crown looking?

Next, what is the headspace? Is the barrel nut tightened up to the proper torque?
 
greentips said:
Since someone butchered an original colt rifle and put on the 14.5" Barrel - million things could go wrong.

First of all - is the barrel a cut job?? No marking.......how is the barrel crown looking?

Next, what is the headspace? Is the barrel nut tightened up to the proper torque?
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No it's a normal M4 looking Barrel with the cut out for the 203. Barrel Crown I will check and headspace i don't know how to check properly.
 
Aside from the other recommendations, I'd suggest giving it a really good scrub down with JB bore paste.
I have a 6920 that would print 5" at 50m before the cleaning. Now it shoots just fine.
 
beltfed said:
Aside from the other recommendations, I'd suggest giving it a really good scrub down with JB bore paste.
I have a 6920 that would print 5" at 50m before the cleaning. Now it shoots just fine.
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Good point i will do that , I only ran one patch through which was fairly clean before I went out with it.
 
cyclic said:
No it's a normal M4 looking Barrel with the cut out for the 203. Barrel Crown I will check and headspace i don't know how to check properly.
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Headspace doesn't sound like an issue here, but your barrel nut may be loose. It should be torqued to a minimum of 25-35 ft/lbs (depending on what manual ) and no more than 80. If the barrel nut is loose as the barrel heats up it will shift,and move the POI.
 
Can't find the post but IIRC Plink had this happen to him. Had it on too tight and was shooting all over the place.

I might be wrong but the flash hider isn't supposed to be "torqued" onto the barrel, there's supposed to be a crush washer.
 
Well for starters when I got it the bore looked in great shape as did the rest of the gun. I assumed that the bore was maintained as the rest of the gun appeared to be. I just finished giving it a good cleaning and 45 minutes later it is clean, i can see the rifling now. It was gummed up pretty good.

So that may be it, I'll know next weekend.

Here is the only Marking on the barrel if anyone recognizes it.

AR03.jpg

AR02.jpg
 
alexD92 said:
Can't find the post but IIRC Plink had this happen to him. Had it on too tight and was shooting all over the place.
Click to expand...

No, Plinks bullet/powder choice/load was off. When he straightened that out he won a match. Had nothing to do with the flash hider. The torque of his flash hider was a speculation posted by someone else, after he said he was getting erratic groups.
 
Don't know if whomever cut that barrel indexed the flash hider to the barrel, but you really should have a crush washer up there.

For the erratic results you describe, I'm with the 'check the barrel torque' camp. Assuming everything else is tight, and the ammo known to be good.
 
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