I took some time off from work this afternoon so I could return to the range. Along with the Arsenal M-5S, I brought along a VEPR K .223 for a side-by-side comparison as it has the same type of sights and sight radius.
All shooting was done at 50 yards because I can see the target clearer then at 100 yards, and it is the minimum distance allowed at this facility. Only open standard AK iron sights were used. Two targets were placed next to each other on an extra wide single stand. The VEPR would fire first at the left target, followed by the Arsenal on the right, using the same ammunition type. I fired 5 rounds of each type of ammo in each rifle, sharing a single Bulgarian waffle 30 round magazine. Only 5 rounds were loaded at a time. No changes were made to the sights during the testing.
I am still new to this type of sight and much prefer the peep sight on the AR-15. Because of this, it is difficult to tell if my resulting groups are larger because of the sights, the rifle, or the ammunition. The cause of flyers is a problem that is difficult to trace. Is it the rifle, ammunition, or me?
Federal XM193 Lot 032
VEPR – 1" group.
Arsenal – 1" inch group if one flyer is disregarded, 3 1/3" if flyer included. Group centered 4 ¾" left of bulls eye.
WinchesterQ3131A, Lot T632
VEPR – 1 ½" group if flyer disregarded, 2 ¾ if included.
Arsenal – 2 ½" group if flyer disregarded, 2 ¾ if included. Group centered 5" left of bull's eye.
Federal American Eagle 55gr FMJ Boat Tail. Box says 1996.
VEPR – 1" group if two flyers disregarded. 1 ¾ group if one flyer included, 3" if both included.
Arsenal – ¾" group if two flyers (?) disregarded. 1 ¾" group if one flyer included, 3 1/2" if both included. Group centered 4 ¼" left of bull's eye.
The VEPR's fourth shot went click on an empty chamber. The unfired cartridge was found 10 feet right and 3 feet forward of my position. Somehow firing the third shot tossed the fourth cartridge out too, so the bolt closed on an empty chamber! The fifth round remained in the magazine. I was only loading five rounds at a time, so it occurred with the second to the last round in the magazine.
Hornady 75gr BTHP Lot 030092
VEPR – 1 ½" group if flyer disregarded, 2 ¼" group if one flyer included.
Arsenal – 1 ¾" group if flyer disregarded, 2" group if one flyer included. Group centered 2" left of bull's eye.
The VEPR's fourth shot went click on an empty chamber with exactly the same circumstances as before. I fired another five rounds, target not recorded, of Federal XM193 in the VEPR without duplicating the malfunction.
I fired two more targets with the Arsenal using Federal XM193 Lot 032. A 2 ½" group and a 3 ¾" group resulted, with no identifiable flyers. Both groups centered 5" left. This is what I was expecting would be normal. Either the previous flyers were not flyers at all and this is normal accuracy, or I am causing the flyers and large groups myself.
Today there was no reoccurrence of the trigger problem in the M-5 where it did not return forward after cycling.
I still need to adjust the front sight. If I understand it correctly, moving it 1mm to the left (when viewing the rifle from the firing position) will move it close to the correct distance for 100 yards.
When I get a decent scope setup I will redo this test at 50 yards and again at 100 yards. Since 50 yards may not be a real test for rifle accuracy, I am not sure if this test has any significance for 200 and 300 yard shooting. That too will have to wait for the scope. Only then can I be sure if it is a regular 3" or 8" shooter at 100 yards.
I still don't know if the barrel really has the 1/7 inch twist (we expected) or the 1/9.5 inch (the manual says). Does anybody know for sure?
Robert
Edited for typos.