AR Sponsor
Posted: 11/21/2002 4:46:05 PM EDT
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I am fairly new to the world of rifle shooting but I decided to start with a 20" heavy barrel Government model AR with a 1:9 twist. The rifle is a Bushmaster lower and I think Olympic arms upper. I have a 4.5 - 14 Simmons scope. I have been bench resting with a bag and Harris bipod but my groups seem to be about the same. I have been shooting mostly 55gr ammo (Fed Am Eagle, Lake city, South African etc) but I have not been able to get a consistant group under 3 inches at 100yards. Alot of the groups seem to be in the 3-4 inch range. Most days have been calm and early morning. Several folks have suggested I try a 62gr bullet so I have picked up some of the Federal American Eagle 62 gr to try this weekend. I am very frustrated at this point I would be happy with 1-2" MOA but I am nowhere near close. I have the same setup with a 16" barrel and a red dot scope I shoot at 50 yards or less and it groups 2-3 inchs with the South African ammo. I would greatly appreciate some guidance. I have spent alot of time reading everything on this sight and I have not found anything close to what I am experiencing. |
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Sandan, I have two suggestions. First try some commercial varmint ammo. I would suggest Remington, Winchester, Hornady or one of the other big name brands in a 55gr varmint bullet such as ballistic tip. See what type of group you get with this ammo. The mil-spec ammo is just not capable of sub minute-of-angle groups (normally). You will be surprised at the difference between your groups with Hornady Varnint Max and PMC Ball ammo. Second. If you have the factory trigger it has to go. A very experienced bench rest shooter would have trouble getting small groups with a factory AR trigger. I like the JP single stage trigger for precision shooting. It is easy to install and can be adjusted down to a light pull. When installed properly it breaks cleanly. |
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Forgive me for asking but are you using a scope? If so, are you sure of its quality & secure mounting? If you're using iron sights it'd be damn hard to get better than 2-3" groups, IMO. As headless said, try better ammo too. I may also suggest having a buddy try the gun & check his groups. |
| First of all I'd stop using the SA ammo for accuracy. I've got two AR's and an AK in 5.56 that can't hold the black at 100 yards with SA, but hold the 10 ring with anything else. I know two other popole with three other rifles that have similar accuracy problems with SA. PMC, XM193, Hirt, Santa Barbara (Spain), or any other mil-surp should give you better groups. Is the barrel clean? Is the scope tight? Are you getting the same cheak weld for each shot? The trigger shouldn't be a problem. I use a stock Oly trigger in the service rifle I compete with. Let someone else try the rifle, it may be something you can't see yourself doing that's throwing the shots off. Are your groups just too big, or are they stringing verticaly or horizontaly? |
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Here's what I'd suggest to get the most out of an AR: [list] [*]A Quality Optic with Excellent Mounting.[/*] [*]Free Float Handguards like a PRI Tube or KAC FF RAS. [b]Nothing[/b] touches the barrel![/*] [*]As Good a Two Stage Trigger as you can afford like RRA, Jewell or KAC.[/*] [*]A Match Quality Barrel. Douglas, Oly or Krieger do the trick well.[/*] [*]Match Ammo.[/*] [/list] You put that combo on an AR and you will get absolutely stunning accuracy! |
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Sandan, You might want to master the iron sights before you start shooting with optics. I have been in the Marines for a while and I still shoot with the iron sights. I don't know if you had any formal training(Marines, Army, Guard) but you need to master proper aiming, breathing, and trigger control techniques. Aiming: Stock Weild, Eye Relief and the relationship of the sights. Obtain a natural point of aim. Trigger Control: Grip try a high pistol grip and do not use the tip of your fingers. Instead use the 2nd bend of your finger to pull. It will be more consistent everytime you pull the trigger. Using your finger tip will cause you to pull the rifle slightly to the left or right. Breathing: Take a deep breath, exhale and stop breathing at your respitory pause and then squeeze the trigger. These 3 thing will make you a better shooter. No matter what you do to your rifle, you will only shoot as good as your own ability allows. [marines] Max |
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