AR Sponsor
Posted: 5/28/2010 7:28:26 PM EDT
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Hi,
First, I'm new at this and am currently working on my first build (almost done). I am already thinking about making another one for long range shooting for fun/for the hell of it/for the rare deer hunting trip. My questions are: 1) Is it important to get the lower and the upper from the same manufacturer to insure best fit? 2) I was thinking about getting a 20" barrel. What are the benefits of lengths and bull barrel vs regular? 3) Is it really worth it to get an expensive lower receiver or will an $80 cosmetic blem work just as well? 4) Is there anything else really important to know about making a AR15 that will shoot a long way with accuracy and precision? Thanks. |
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Quoted:
Hi, First, I'm new at this and am currently working on my first build (almost done). I am already thinking about making another one for long range shooting for fun/for the hell of it/for the rare deer hunting trip. My questions are: 1) Is it important to get the lower and the upper from the same manufacturer to insure best fit? No. A little movement between upper and lower have nothing to do with the ability of the upper to shoot groups. If there is movement and you think it is affecting your ability to shoot well, put in a Accu-Wedge or JP tensioner and all movement will be gone. If you pay extra for a tight fitting upper and lower it is wasted money IMO because after a few thousand rounds and lots of take downs for cleaning, there will be slop no matter what. 2) I was thinking about getting a 20" barrel. What are the benefits of lengths and bull barrel vs regular? Longer barrel higher velocity, which yields less drop and less wind drift. Heavier barrel has less barrel harmonics (whip) and adds weight which will dampen shooter movements and recoil. To really decrease barrel vibration and whip use a bull barrel of 16 inches but you will give up a couple hundred fps but a short barrel has less barrel whip than a longer barrel of the same diameter. So that is a trade off. Most want the velocity for long range use. 3) Is it really worth it to get an expensive lower receiver or will an $80 cosmetic blem work just as well? IMO, no, it is not. And don't forget to square the face of the threads on the upper so the barrel extension is perfectly perpendicular to the bore. 4) Is there anything else really important to know about making a AR15 that will shoot a long way with accuracy and precision? Thanks. Good careful load development and lots of practice. You cannot buy skill and nothing but practice will help you dope the wind. Wind cannot be calculated when over 600 yards it is blowing in three different directions at three different speeds. Only lots of shooting and learning to dope the wind will get your bullets on target. Hail Mary's suck. If you are wanting to shoot long range you will likely be shooting heavy VLD bullets so make sure you get the proper twist to stabilize the heavier bullets, such as a 1:7 for 75 gr. to 80 gr. bullets. Don't be shooting 50 gr. bullets at 500 yards and expect much to be achieved. They start fast but lose velocity very quickly and while the heavier bullets start slower, they maintain their velocity better past 400-500 yards. And if you are scoping it, get quality. Leupold Mark 4 or Nightforce IMO. Don't be throwing on a $125 Bushnell Banner scope on a $2000 build and expect it to shoot tiny groups at long range. Get a good barrel. Pac-Nor is one of my favorites and I have several. Lilja, Krieger, McMillan... are all excellent but you will pay dearly. If they are worth it or not depends on your skill, and if you don't have the skill yet are you willing to develop it? If not, as I said, you cannot buy it. Good trigger. There are many these days so do some searches on AR triggers for guidance. I like RR NM Two-Stage triggers tuned by White Oak Armament and set to 3.5 pounds. That's just what I like though but there are many out there. |
| Spend the money you save not buying a $80 lower and get a good stout billet upper, something solid and meaty that the barrel can attatch to. Obviously on an AR you can't bed the barrel for accuracy, but you can free float it which has also proven to be very accurate in other types of precision rifles. I have a Mega slick side billet upper and man I gotta tell you it is one sweet piece. Very thick and meaty, but not too heavy. I have mine mated to a WOA 18" 1-7 twist and I love it. I will say however that i haven't ventured out past 100 yards, but when I can save up enough for an optic that will support it, I would like to venture out further. Check out Mega's website and good luck with your build. Oh yeah, I also have their tactical trigger..AWESOME |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Hi, First, I'm new at this and am currently working on my first build (almost done). I am already thinking about making another one for long range shooting for fun/for the hell of it/for the rare deer hunting trip. My questions are: 1) Is it important to get the lower and the upper from the same manufacturer to insure best fit? No. A little movement between upper and lower have nothing to do with the ability of the upper to shoot groups. If there is movement and you think it is affecting your ability to shoot well, put in a Accu-Wedge or JP tensioner and all movement will be gone. If you pay extra for a tight fitting upper and lower it is wasted money IMO because after a few thousand rounds and lots of take downs for cleaning, there will be slop no matter what. 2) I was thinking about getting a 20" barrel. What are the benefits of lengths and bull barrel vs regular? Longer barrel higher velocity, which yields less drop and less wind drift. Heavier barrel has less barrel harmonics (whip) and adds weight which will dampen shooter movements and recoil. To really decrease barrel vibration and whip use a bull barrel of 16 inches but you will give up a couple hundred fps but a short barrel has less barrel whip than a longer barrel of the same diameter. So that is a trade off. Most want the velocity for long range use. 3) Is it really worth it to get an expensive lower receiver or will an $80 cosmetic blem work just as well? IMO, no, it is not. And don't forget to square the face of the threads on the upper so the barrel extension is perfectly perpendicular to the bore. 4) Is there anything else really important to know about making a AR15 that will shoot a long way with accuracy and precision? Thanks. Good careful load development and lots of practice. You cannot buy skill and nothing but practice will help you dope the wind. Wind cannot be calculated when over 600 yards it is blowing in three different directions at three different speeds. Only lots of shooting and learning to dope the wind will get your bullets on target. Hail Mary's suck. If you are wanting to shoot long range you will likely be shooting heavy VLD bullets so make sure you get the proper twist to stabilize the heavier bullets, such as a 1:7 for 75 gr. to 80 gr. bullets. Don't be shooting 50 gr. bullets at 500 yards and expect much to be achieved. They start fast but lose velocity very quickly and while the heavier bullets start slower, they maintain their velocity better past 400-500 yards. And if you are scoping it, get quality. Leupold Mark 4 or Nightforce IMO. Don't be throwing on a $125 Bushnell Banner scope on a $2000 build and expect it to shoot tiny groups at long range. Get a good barrel. Pac-Nor is one of my favorites and I have several. Lilja, Krieger, McMillan... are all excellent but you will pay dearly. If they are worth it or not depends on your skill, and if you don't have the skill yet are you willing to develop it? If not, as I said, you cannot buy it. Good trigger. There are many these days so do some searches on AR triggers for guidance. I like RR NM Two-Stage triggers tuned by White Oak Armament and set to 3.5 pounds. That's just what I like though but there are many out there. Big-Bore is on the money. Barrel and trigger are where it's at. Best of luck! |
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