im considering 2 different rifles for varmint and target shooting, one is a colt match h bar 20" free fload tube and the other is a bushmaster varminter 24" fluted free float setup too i will be using a leupold scope bipod etc etc. but im just courious as to which is more accurate in your guys experience.

Too many varibles left out of your post to say definatively which would be more accurate.

FWIW, 1/7 twist rifles can shoot the heavier rounds...., 77, 80s & 90s.

which would make significant difference IF your intending long range shooting, 500-1000 yards. (and yes the 24" bbl AR15 will shoot that far, even using 77 SMKs)

If your intended ranges are less than 500 yards or more like 200-300 yards neither will have an advantage, unless one is 1/7 twist and the other is 1/9, which as noted affects the bullet weights you can shoot.

As their both "Top Tier" brand rifles, suspect either is a good choice.

Mike

i believe they are both 1/9 and i was told to run 45-50 grain NBT most shooting would be under 500, but im sure i would get the itch to really try to reach out there 600+

Quoted: FWIW, 1/7 twist rifles can shoot the heavier rounds...., 77, 80s & 90s. which would make significant difference IF your intending long range shooting, 500-1000 yards. (and yes the 24" bbl AR15 will shoot that far, even using 77 SMKs)

It takes a 6.5 twist to spin a JLK 90, so don't even bother with a 1:7.  A 77gr SMK will probably go transsonic at around 750yds, so I wouldn't even bother trying to send them 1000yds after a LR decimal target.  From what I hear it's tough to keep even the 80gr SMK supersonic to 1000yds...

Quoted: It takes a 6.5 twist to spin a JLK 90, so don't even bother with a 1:7.  A 77gr SMK will probably go transsonic at around 750yds, so I wouldn't even bother trying to send them 1000yds after a LR decimal target.  From what I hear it's tough to keep even the 80gr SMK supersonic to 1000yds...

FWIW, my 77s go trans-sonic between 900 and 1000 yards and the 90s will shoot thru a Krieger 1/7 barrel. I send my 77 grn. SMKs  to the 1000 yard mark all the time.

Don't know where your getting your info, but it could use some work before ya start passing it around.

Mike

Quoted: Quoted: Don't know where your getting your info, but it could use some work before ya start passing it around. hr

I'm simply relying on what's been tried by others.  The minimum twist for the 90gr JLK is considered to be 1:6.5.  You can read all you want about it in the archived threads on Florida Shooting.  If your barrel can spin 'em -- cool,  but I wouldn't want to bet a paycheck that the next 1:7 you acquire keeps them stable.

As for the 77s, it does look like I'm a bit shy on that one.  The accepted .360 BC and a MV of 2650 fps ( Black Hills blue box out of a 20" service rifle barrel ) will get you between 800-900 yds before you go transonic, but since the speed of sound depends on altitude and other environmental factors I wouldn't set any number in stone as an absolute.  Obviously the 77gr SMK can be driven faster with the right powder and certainly so with a longer barrel, but why bother?  I don't even want to know what the wind is worth on a full value 10mph wind with a 77gr SMK...

Quoted: I don't even want to know what the wind is worth on a full value 10mph wind with a 77gr SMK...

Good then I won't tell ya it's about 8.5 feet, 101.5" or 10.1 - 10.2 minutes for my load outta my rifle.

Mike

so... which is better lol.. i think im going to try for the bushmaster just becuase of the extras is has, 2 stage trigger, fluted barrel, hogue grip etc.

My Bushmaster Varminter is far more accurate than I expected. I didn't like the Bushmaster 2 stage trigger, installed a Jewell and couldn't be happier. Using a Ziess 4X14 Conquest 44mm. scope with Leupold Mark 4 rings thats working out very well also. Found Sierra  Blitzking bullets
with H322 powder to be best so far.