AR Sponsor
Posted: 4/16/2011 12:15:01 AM EDT
|
I have owned several AR's over the past 30 years. Including several Colt's(and 2 Delta H-Bars). I was never very satisfied with the Colt accuracy. But I will also admit that I was probably not the best shooter either.
My shooting skills have improved alot. And I have bought a couple of Rock River Varminter AR's, and they are very accurate rifles. I am looking to buy a lighter rifle with the 16" barrel. I had another post and someone recommended a Spike's rifle, and it looks pretty nice to me. Then I have also seen the Colt Model 6520. For about $995(maybe a tad less). I am also considering this Colt rifle. My main conceern is with the accuracty of the Colt. Has anyone had any direct comparisons between the Colt 6520 and the Spike's rifle in a head to head comparison. I am not looking for bench rest accuracy. This is not going to be that type of rifle. I am just looking for a fairly light, fast handling sub $1,000 rifle. And Colt is now offering that rifle. I am just curious about the accuracy of the Colt?? Thanks alot, Tom. |
|
I hope this isn't a parody thread...it doesn't seem like it.
Here's the other one. We just had this discussion today in the arms room: accuracy is all about the barrel...so if it's accuracy you seek, the answer seems to be LaRue. |
|
Quoted:
I hope this isn't a parody thread...it doesn't seem like it. Here's the other one. We just had this discussion today in the arms room: accuracy is all about the barrel...so if it's accuracy you seek, the answer seems to be LaRue. Nope-no parody. However I did read that post after you posted the link(Thank You). But I really didn't read where anyone actually talked about the actual expected accuracy of ether rifle. So I guess I am still searching for an answer of what can be expected in the accuracy arena of the Colt?? One personabove saidto expect 3-4" accuracy from the Colt at 100 yards?? I sure hope they were joking!! Tom. |
|
Shooting Black Hills, Federal match or my hand loads I can get about 1-3/4 to 2" out of my A2 Colt Government carbine w/ 1-7 twist from a solid rest. This gun has a W.C. TTU single stage trigger but other than that is stock with a non free float barrel. My SP-1 carbine shoots about 2 to 2-1/2".. This is average to above average for a military grade weapon with no frills. Personally I have never seen a HBAR Delta or not shoot much better. Colt makes 2 accurized platforms. The CR6720 (20" heavy barrel) and the CR6724 (24" Heavy barrel) that are very accurate.
That being said the Larues and Noveske's tend to be more accurate than the Colt carbines are. There big benefit is consistent accuracey. Personally I find this irrelevant for 90 percent of today's shooters as they cant shoot worth a damn.  i have watched some guys over the years at rifle ranges bad mouth just about every brand imaganable only to get made to look like an ass from my son or sister. Both are excellent shots.
|
|
I don't have a 6520, but I think most barrels are more accurate than people give credit.
This is from a Colt 6920 barrel that was cut down to 12.5", free float, off sandbags, mixed brass reloads, and using a 4X optic. I have confidence that the group size could go down further with better shooter, better reloads, a rest, and higher magnification. 
|
|
Other options would be building a light rifle using one of the DPMS target barrels. You'll be adding weight there but they're known to be VERY accurate and are very reasonably priced. If price is less of a concern you can get a Krieger turned to pretty much whatever profile you want. Of course, you could do the same with the DPMS. There's also the BCM SS410 barrels. My lightweight rig uses one of the midweight, mid length versions and is about perfect for me. The new lighter ones would be even better for weight but I kind of like the consistency of the mid weight.
Larue's are fairly heavy but accurate and of course it's Larue quality. I'm also going to go along with the comment that most standard barrels are more accurate than folks usually give them credit for. Proper ammo and finding WHICH proper ammo your rifle likes plays such a huge role in accuracy. The first thing to do is stop running mil-spec and expecting better than mil-spec accuracy. In fact, with a lot of the mil-spec ammo you're actually buying ammo that did NOT pass the tests after production, so it's potentially not even that good. If you want to see what your barrel can do you have to start trying the various hunting and target shooting loads. I'd start with the Prvi Partisan 62grain basic stuff, 69 and 75 grain match, and a selection of the hornady ammos. if Hornady TAP is great in your gun they make a practice version of it that's much cheaper and performs almost exactly the same on paper. |
|
Quoted:
I don't have a 6520, but I think most barrels are more accurate than people give credit. This is from a Colt 6920 barrel that was cut down to 12.5", free float, off sandbags, mixed brass reloads, and using a 4X optic. I have confidence that the group size could go down further with better shooter, better reloads, a rest, and higher magnification. http://sqabiq.sn2.livefilestore.com/y1pbNRK2moUDsjCzV-qP15QFg_lUZVLe9fNTJAtJUKTZyX_wRt-f3aC5Yb5VHFFCKH9yv0XhNyfRNWHImLMVTmEYbss_i8dCrYP/Target2.jpg?psid=1 Short or long does not matter accuaracy wise. I have a 10" barreled Thompson contender in 223 that is extremely accurate. The free floating and bedding can make dramatic diffrences in rifle accuracy. In my experience over the last 20 years of really seeing what makes a long gun accurate it is the assembly of the action / reciever to the barrel that matters. The quality of the steel and process of applying rifling are important of course also. The most accurate rifle i have witnessed was just a few months ago when a guy at our 100 line shot a group a guy had to get his calipers for. it was something like just under 1/2" for 5 shots center to center. i am not much for group measuring but this was impressive. The barrel and upper were a 18" Stealth. Ammo was handloads with a Nosler 55gr Ballistic tip. |
|
I am not a group shooter either. I am not one of those bench rest shooters looking for that type of accuracy. I am just looking for real world accuracy under normal shooting conditions.
The reason I talk about Mil-Spec is that I was concernerd about being able to work on them, and wanting them to all be consistent. I also do alot of varmint hunting. And I realize that alot of the accuracy is in the barrel. But then we al know that. What appeals to me with this rifle is the light weight, and versatility. I am actually consifdering the purchase of 4 of them to keep in storage, and for down the road usage if ever neded. That is why I was trying to stay conistent with my parts. So is a Mil-Spec barrel that is chrome lined a better idea?? I definitely believe the rifle needs to be able to shoot surplus ammo. Or should I look at a stainless barrel with a slim profile in a tighter chamber?? Sorry for the dumb questions, but I am trying to anticipate problems that I actually know little about. Tom. |
|
Chrome lining is a more durable way of doing things. Properly done they don't give up a whole lot in accuracy. Doing them to perfection is another thing all together. Actually more room for error in the chrome barrel manufacturing process. You have to machine the barrel blank bigger to accommodate the extra thickness of the chrome and it's actually pretty hard to get it perfect through out the length of the barrel. Saying that, they have been mil spec'd for chrome lining since the late 60's and they have the process pretty well figured out. Have seen chrome barrels with the chrome flaking off over the years but only rarely and don't really know all the reasons for this (stuff was well used and abused for sure).
They last longer because of hard chroming and wear less, are easier to clean and less affected by harsh climates which caused things like rusting in non-chrome barrels. Most of these options are very desireable in a battlefield environment, especially the jungle. Not as much a necessity for the target shooter who cleans and maintains their rifles, not getting rained on regularly or crossing streams and rivers or salt water. More necessary in a full auto weapon. True mil spec barrels will all be hard chromed, it's part of the spec. In reality only the Colt's A-1,A-2, M-4's and FN A-2 to A-4 M-16's are actually totally milspec but as stated previously many can buy these same parts from same manufacturers. Many times it's just a term used as a marketing feature and the parts aren't spec at all. Don't know all the speciffics but some specs are the exterior finish, chrome lining barrel and chamber, type of metal used to manufacture the parts like springs, BCG's, FCG's and actual parts dimension. A few govt contractors have been caught and jailed over the years for cheating a little on the spec's to maximize profits. So I wouldn't read too much into the term milspec personally. Colt or FN are gonna be your best bets for true milspec parts and the barrels really aren't mil spec for the most part as the 16" minimum barrel length doesn't apply to military weapons only to civillians. Most any name brand quality gun manufacturer is going to stand behind their parts, especially for manufacturers defects. Switching parts from brand to brand is not uncommon and almost never won't actually work. Some lowers are tight on the spec and some uppers are loose on the spec but they still snap together and function. I like Bushmaster barrels and Colt BCG's. Both are excellent quality but there are plenty others with high quality also. In my time I've never seen where it really mattered. Never personally had a parts failure in over 15 rifle/carbine builds or a fail to fire and have shot over 20k rounds. One of these days something is going to break though and I will replace it. The most failures I've seen by others were due to faulty magazines, incorrectly installed parts or budget no name parts. Nothing is 100% though and all have bad parts slip through the cracks occasionally. The better names have less of these and correct immediately. Buy the Colt's if you can afford them they are definately a win! win! |
|
Op this is typical of what to expect. That being said Molon can shoot very well so your results may differ. 
As for hunting Prairie dogs accuracy is critical for consistent hits past 200 yards. |
AR Sponsor