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Posted: 10/19/2005 2:44:02 PM EDT
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I was observing a friend firing / zeroing his M4 build for the first time. Barrel was Bushmaster 14.5" M4 1/9 Chrome-lined; ammo used were surplus milspec 55gr M193. Grouping was aided with a Leupold set at 9x magnification. What I noticed was that the group at 50 yards was about between 1.5 to 1.75inches -- i.e. 3-3.5 MOA. Question : 1. Is this accuracy (3-3.5 MOA) typical for a new BM M4-type chrome-lined barrel? 2. Will group tightens over time? I have read somewhere that initial accuracy of a barrel during breakin period settles down over time. How many rounds are expected before final accuracy is achieved? I was planning to get a similar set-up, but I'm really used to my 16" Olympic Arms chrome-moly 1/9 match barrel that has been tested to produce 1 MOA with surplus M193s, even during the initial break-in period. |
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The most important thing you can do to shrink you groups is use higher quality ammo. Military (5.56) ammo is required to shoot into only 4MOA @ 100yds. I have never seen any mil ammo shoot any better than this. Try some Black Hills or Hornady, the results are amazing, even in a gun that is not meant for precision fire. Ammo is everything. |
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From Bushmater's website: www.bushmaster.com/faqnew/content_by_cat.asp?contentid=137&catid=100 How Accurate is a Bushmaster? (published: 7/25/2003 11:38:08 AM) Article # 137 Title How Accurate is a Bushmaster? Abstract We are often asked this question at Trade Shows and on our Sales Department phone lines. And though we run the risk of being called a bunch of "smart-a__es", we usually counter by asking "How well can you shoot?, because as most shooters agree, the gun is only a tool and the skill / experience of the operator is a crucial factor in the quest for accuracy. We think we make a great "tool" The quality materials, quality control and craftsmanship we build into every Bushmaster rifle gives it the potential for exceptional accuracy. To back up that belief, we thought we'd show you some targets that were sent in recently by a gun writer friend of ours - Steve Malloy. Steve writes for SWAT Magazine among others, and he had asked to test a Bushmaster in "V Match DCM" configuration. By way of description, this would be a rifle with a flat-top upper receiver, our tubular aluminum free-floating handguard and our extra heavy DCM Competition barrel (20", 1 in 8" twist). This rifle also featured our 2 stage competition trigger, and for accessories, Steve requested a Harris Bi-Pod setup and our Bushmaster Modular Accessories System Mini Risers to get his scope comfortably up off the flat-top upper. This combination - in Steve's capable hands - yielded some impressive results. See for yourself, and remember that these were shot at 300 yards...(the scale of the scans varies as you'll see by the differing bullet hole sizes.) This 300 yard, 5 shot group measures 2.422" and was shot with PMC 52 grain Hollow Point.  This next group (5 shots) measures 2.240" - again, PMC 52 grain Hollow Point.  This final picture shows a 9 shot group measuring 2.295". He said to discount his "sighter" which punched the target at the lower left. (PMC 52 grain Hollow Point / 300 yds.)  Another gun-writer - Jeff Quinn - runs a nice website called GunBlast.com He borrowed one of our new Bushmaster Varminters and had nothing but praise for it. You can read his entire article by clicking on the link above. But before you do, check out the next photo he took of a 1/4" group he printed with the Varminter at 100 yards. His unaltered photo caption is below - Thanks, Jeff.  Steve then moved into the 100 yard range, and shot this group with PMC 50 grain Blitz ammo; prone position, using a rest. The 10 shot group measured .627 inches.  A second 10 shot group - 100 yards - .720 inches - prone from rest - shot with Black Hills 50 grain V-Max.  Bushmaster sent one of our Custom Tactical/DCM rifles to the firm of H.G. Limited for some independent accuracy testing. H.G. Limited, owned and operated by Steve Malloy, specializes in Testing and Research & Development Projects concerning firearms and ammunition. In addition, Steve's work can be regularly seen in the pages of S.W.A.T. Magazine where he has been a member of the contributing staff for several years. S.W.A.T. Magazine is well known for telling it like it is, good or bad! "The Bushmaster Varminter was able to group three shots into 1/4" at 100 yards with regularity using the super-accurate Barnes VLC bullets. The worst groups shot from the bench rest were 3/4" at 100 yards! The representative 1/4" group shown above (that's a DIME shown for comparison!) show the Varminter to be one seriously accurate rifle!" This target was sent in by Bob Judson - and was witnessed and signed by his Bushmaster Dealer - Bill Bash - of Royal Ridge Shooters Supply in Brunswick Hills, Ohio. Bob writes (in the sticky note on the target) that he used his Bushmaster DCM with a .22 LR Conversion Kit at 50 ft. He didn't say how many shots were in this group but other targets he sent (just as good!) were 5 shot groupings.  SO, How accurate is a Bushmaster? That's up to you and your ammunition choice. Take one out and see what you can do with it! If you're proud of the results, send us your targets with all pertinent details (ammo, range, sights, conditions) - and we'll add them to this web page. Bushmaster Firearms, Inc. (c/o "See what I did to this target" Dept.) 999 Roosevelt Trail Windham, ME 04062 |
Well, I don't know your friend but my first guess would be the problem isn't the barrel. I've never seen a Bushmaster barrel that wouldn't do under 2 MOA with decent ammo and a good shooter behind it. Mine always liked the lighter 52gr JHPs better than the heavier match ammo. It was also fond of the Santa Barbara SS109 and would do impressive groups with that. |
My BM M4A3 with a 14.5" barrel, groups c. 1.5-2 MOA at 100 metres, the weapon is 6 years old and has over 8000 round through it. |
| I just purchased a used Bushy M4 upper from a friend last week, and it did 2moa at 25 yards (longest indoor range) with WWB 55g ammo. This was shooting supported, but not on a real benchrest. I'm sure the gun can do better, it was after all my first time shooting it. |
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