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Posted: 12/19/2021 3:58:25 PM EDT
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broken picture links repaired Observations on the Accuracy of a 20” Lothar Walther AR-15 Barrel I’ve used a 20” stainless-steel Lothar Walther barrel for evaluating the accuracy (technically precision) of quite a few different 5.56mm/223 Remington factory loads. Prior to firing each of these factory loads, I’ve fired a 10-shot control group using some of my “generic” hand-loads; by generic, I mean that these hand-loads were not “tuned” for this specific barrel. The targets shown below are a collection of some of these 10-shot control groups.  I purchased this 20” Lothar Walther barrel directly from Lothar Walther. The barrel is manufactured from LW50 stainless steel. The Lothar Walther website states that LW50 was developed “in 1994-95 as a safe alternative to 416R and to solve durability problems associated with 416R.” I currently have fired 3,550 rounds through this barrel and the barrel is still shooting sub-3/4 MOA groups, as evidenced by the the 10-shot groups pictured below. Lothar Walther barrels are produced using button rifling. This barrel has traditional rifling (not polygonal rifling) and has a 1:8” twist rate. The barrel has a 223 Wylde chamber, “M4” feed-ramps and a recessed target crown.    All shooting was conducted from my bench-rest set-up at a distance of 100 yards. The 20” Lothar Walther was free-floated. The free-float handguards of the rifle rested in a Sinclair Windage Benchrest, while the stock of the rifle rested in a Protektor bunny-ear rear bag. Sighting was accomplished via a Leupold VARI-X III set at 25X magnification and adjusted to be parallax-free at 100 yards. A mirage shade was used. Wind conditions on the shooting range were continuously monitored using a Wind Probe. The lower receiver housed a Geissele High-Speed National Match trigger. The set-up was very similar to that pictured below.  The Wind Probe  Finally, the 10-shot groups . . . Sierra 52 grain MatchKings; ES = 0.59”.  Sierra 52 grain MatchKings; ES = 0.62”.  Sierra 77 grain MatchKings; ES = 0.61”.  Sierra 77 grain Tipped MatchKings: ES = 0.68”  Sierra 52 grain MatchKings; ES = 0.64”  Sierra 52 grain MatchKings; ES = 0.71”  Sierra 77 grain MatchKings; EX = 0.69”  Sierra 55 grain BlitzKings; ES = 0.635”.  Hornady 50 grain V-MAX: ES = 0.75”.  Sierra 52 grain MatchKings: ES = 0.73”  The ten, 10-shot groups pictured above have an average extreme spread of 0.67”. Lastly, for any Internet Commandos in our viewing audience toady, here’s a pic of a sub- ¼ MOA group fired from the Lothar Walther barrel at 100 yards.  ….. |
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Quoted: I have thought about building around a Lothar Walther barrel a few times, maybe this thread will give me the push for a Winter project. Just be aware that there are versions of these barrels that have polygonal rifling. I haven't tested the accuracy of any of those. .... |
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Quoted: Just be aware that there are versions of these barrels that have polygonal rifling. I haven't tested the accuracy of any of those. .... Quoted: Quoted: I have thought about building around a Lothar Walther barrel a few times, maybe this thread will give me the push for a Winter project. Just be aware that there are versions of these barrels that have polygonal rifling. I haven't tested the accuracy of any of those. .... I have one of those. A spikes Lothar Walther lw50 midlength 16" fluted version. This version is a huge compromise. It's a sub moa 5 shot group barrel with 77gr smk's but you can't fire long strings. It heats up super quick and the groups open up. |
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