Quoted:
Well, two different shooters and about the same result so I'm going to have to question the scope which was on loan for 2+ years. It WAS sub-moa on the borrowers DPMS .308 w/ my home rolled 168 FGMM copy.
RRA lower w/ stock trigger, which sucks. But with gas guns I always try and make a conscious effort to follow through identically. After each shot, I heard the "click" that they taught us in BT on a function check. I used to shoot irons pretty evenly with a scope but didn't try any. If I go again, I'll bring my backups.
Also wondering about your cleaning regimen. Not the corrosive issue. The owner ran a tea kettle full of boiling water through the barrel and gas block w/ everything else sitting in the bottom of the kitchen sink. I was told that was followed with Shooter's Choice, either Sweets or Barnes copper remover and finally CLP. Since the ammo is considered "copper washed" I'm wondering if that's not too wise to strip it all out. I'm thinking the water to get rid of the salt, then either Hoppes 9 or CLP.
I know how much of an improvement a Geissele would be, glad to hear they work with these primers. I know I had no problems back when w/ a DPMS .22LR upper.
I just use m pro 7 cleaner.... the whole hot/boiling water thing is really unnecessary. the parts are all either melonited or ion bonded so even if you didn't do anything they wouldn't have significant rust (if any) on them. Huldra arms (a relabeled adams arms 5.45) did a test on their 5.45 through like 4400 rounds over weeks with no cleaning at all, infact they ran it dry. They didn't have any rust or corrosion.
If you're using water then I would definitely follow up with something that will get into all the crevices. It honestly sounds like your friend is going crazy with cleaning. If you spend more than 2-3 minutes (literally) cleaning it then you're doing it all wrong.
I would say that if you put a different muzzle device on it that isn't melonited then you want to make sure you clean it extra well as the corrosive salts will make it rust in short order.
if it shoots that bad with everything checked out in a position that is stable with a shooter who can shoot 1moa or better on with a similar trigger pull, you may want to contact adams because it should be more accurate.