Thanks to many of the guys here, i have been having a great time with my ruger 10/22 and reloading for my pistols, but the time has come to upgrade to a centerfire rifle. I will be using it for target shooting at the local range which has 50,100,200,300 yards. No hunting. I was planning on getting a Remington 700 in a .223 but lately have been thinking about an ar-15 clone like the bushmaster. I have heard good things about the bushmaster and bad things including its hard to clean, has problems with carbon build ups, rings wear out, etc. But i heard its extremely accurate up to 1000 yards even though its semi auto. So my question is what do you guys think would be best for my situation? If i go with the bushmaster, i was looking at the target .223 with the a3 upper. its got a 20 inch barrel. I was also looking at the varmint special with a 24 inch barrel but its like $300 more and i still need a scope and rings. Any advice you guys can give me so i can be happy with my purchase as i was with my 10/22?
First Center Fire Rifle
- Thread starter mike240se
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BADUNAME13
Member
500 with the .223, not 1,000
out to 300... just about any rifle. I recomend an EBR (Evil Black Rifle) as they are more fun.
Due to the price of ammo the AK74 is worth looking into.
I'd also look into the AR108B
FAL
M1A
out to 300... just about any rifle. I recomend an EBR (Evil Black Rifle) as they are more fun.
Due to the price of ammo the AK74 is worth looking into.
I'd also look into the AR108B
FAL
M1A
Unforgiven826
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- Joined
- Mar 23, 2007
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- 27
EBR= Evil Black Rifle. Just a nick name for an AR15 rifle.
thought so, i am picking it up today i think!
Bushmaster XM-15 20in Heavy Barrel A3 Rifle for $999 ($100 less than their website) i am in nj so thats why its not like $700 like some of you probably pay. I was thinking of the varminter and varmint special and the vmatch, but i could always upgrade to that later, plus a 20 in heavy barrel should be good for shooting up to 300 yards with high accuracy i assume. Is this a good choice? In an hour once i pick it up i am stuck with it of course. and yes, and ebr is so much fun, thats why i want one so bad and decided not get get the boring rem 700 (which still rocks but is a little boring).
Bushmaster XM-15 20in Heavy Barrel A3 Rifle for $999 ($100 less than their website) i am in nj so thats why its not like $700 like some of you probably pay. I was thinking of the varminter and varmint special and the vmatch, but i could always upgrade to that later, plus a 20 in heavy barrel should be good for shooting up to 300 yards with high accuracy i assume. Is this a good choice? In an hour once i pick it up i am stuck with it of course. and yes, and ebr is so much fun, thats why i want one so bad and decided not get get the boring rem 700 (which still rocks but is a little boring).
Rangr44
Member
It sounds like you want to stick with a semi-auto, but if it's accuracy you're after, IMHO, you can't go wrong (at half the $$$) with .223 CZ-527 boltgun.
If you don't care for the protruding magazine on the 527, there's an EZ fix - I had a 'smith, over on RFC, shorten my mag to a flush mag. It really streamlines the gun.
If you don't care for the protruding magazine on the 527, there's an EZ fix - I had a 'smith, over on RFC, shorten my mag to a flush mag. It really streamlines the gun.
Well i ended up spending a bit more than i wanted, i bought the Bushmaster Predator. Its got a 20 inch heavy fluted barrel, floated barrel with aluminum hand guard, competition trigger, hogue hand grip, etc. Real nice gun, i also bought a BSA sweet 223 scope 6-18x40mm. Looks like its going to be alot of fun.
Also, the guy at the store said that it was actually better that this gun does NOT have the chrome lined barrel. He said that the chrome lined barrel takes away from accuracy thats why this gun and the varmint/target gun doesnt have a chrome lined barrel either. He said chrome lined barrel is really only needed for the jungle or if your not going to take good care of the gun and clean in regularlly. I am a little unsure if i should have ordered the varmint special which is the same gun with a 24 inch barrel....
Also, the guy at the store said that it was actually better that this gun does NOT have the chrome lined barrel. He said that the chrome lined barrel takes away from accuracy thats why this gun and the varmint/target gun doesnt have a chrome lined barrel either. He said chrome lined barrel is really only needed for the jungle or if your not going to take good care of the gun and clean in regularlly. I am a little unsure if i should have ordered the varmint special which is the same gun with a 24 inch barrel....
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ARs can be accurate out to 1000 yards. Not your average plinker, but accurized match guns shooting 80 or 90 grain bullets are shot in the 1000 yard matches at Camp Perry all the time. They aren't the most common guns on the line but they are competitive.Nomad said:
ARs aren't hard to accurize. Buy a good barrel and float it. That's pretty much the process. A good trigger helps a lot. Sounds like you'll have a pretty accurate gun.
What's the twist on your barrel?
BADUNAME13
Member
Mr White: Agreed. But, if he were one of THOSE shooters... he wouldn't be asking us!
My statement was intended to reflect 'normal' shooters...
I should of been more clear.
My statement was intended to reflect 'normal' shooters...
I should of been more clear.
Or I shouldn't be so picky.
Mike, 1:8 is a good versatile twist. It'll shoot 55 grainers just fine, it'll shoot 80-90 grainers for longer range accuracy, and shoot well with anything in between.
With your gun as you describe it, it should be good out to at least 600 yards. 1:8 20" floated barrel is a standard service rifle setup for across the course matches, shot at 200, 300 and 600.
Mike, 1:8 is a good versatile twist. It'll shoot 55 grainers just fine, it'll shoot 80-90 grainers for longer range accuracy, and shoot well with anything in between.
With your gun as you describe it, it should be good out to at least 600 yards. 1:8 20" floated barrel is a standard service rifle setup for across the course matches, shot at 200, 300 and 600.
You got a good rifle. I don't really know how much accuracy improvement you will get with an un-chromed barrel as I have no experience with chrome as yet. I do find that my Preditor is very accurate and reliable with everthing but Wolff and the Serbian stuff. I have a chrome A2 upper on order just to save the Predator barrel. Probably a good, long lasting barrel but ARs turn out to be Fun To Shoot and the round count climbs pretty fast.
You will probably be happy with the 20 barrel but you have bought a Barbie
Doll and can always order a 24" upper if you want.
You will probably be happy with the 20 barrel but you have bought a Barbie
Doll and can always order a 24" upper if you want.
Bartholomew Roberts
Member
The Predator is an excellent rifle. Really, I don't think you'd gain much besides a little more velocity (and not even that much) from the 24" barrel; but if you want that, it is easy enough to swap out.
Thanks guys! Mec, great pic, i am glad you like the predator, it looks like an awesome gun! I bought a bsa sweet 223 6-18x40mm scope for it too, the scope is very cheap $150 and i was very impressed with another bsa sweet 22 i saw at the range for the money i liked it better than the 300 nikons.
Its awesome you can change so much stuff with the gun, its one of the reasons i got it instead of a remington 700. I appreciate you posting the target picture too.
Another good thing is that i am not getting a rifle sitting on the shelf for 3 months with every moron in the area playing with it, dry firing it, sweating on it, etc, etc, mine will be brand new in the box... the gun stores sell you ones that have been on display as "Brand new" to me, they are "Display Models" or "Floor Models" but of course they wont give a discount.
Anything i should buy or any must haves or tips/tricks that i should know? I was thinking of getting the "Best Gun Vise" that allows you to work on/clean ar-15's pretty nicely. I was going to get a 10 round mag since it only comes with a 5 rounder too.
Its awesome you can change so much stuff with the gun, its one of the reasons i got it instead of a remington 700. I appreciate you posting the target picture too.
Another good thing is that i am not getting a rifle sitting on the shelf for 3 months with every moron in the area playing with it, dry firing it, sweating on it, etc, etc, mine will be brand new in the box... the gun stores sell you ones that have been on display as "Brand new" to me, they are "Display Models" or "Floor Models" but of course they wont give a discount.
Anything i should buy or any must haves or tips/tricks that i should know? I was thinking of getting the "Best Gun Vise" that allows you to work on/clean ar-15's pretty nicely. I was going to get a 10 round mag since it only comes with a 5 rounder too.
I bought several 30 round mags because the liberals hate them at least three times as much as ten round mags. The five rounder that came with the rifle is real handy for shootiing from the bench and i suspect a 20 round mag would be just about as good for that.
That type of group doesn't happen for me with generic ball ammunition like S&B or fed 193 . I usually get three or four rounds under an inch at 100 and one or two slightly out. I eliminated this with my reloades by weighing and sorting the brass. Even so, the ball ammo will stay well within these half sized rabbit targets.
That type of group doesn't happen for me with generic ball ammunition like S&B or fed 193 . I usually get three or four rounds under an inch at 100 and one or two slightly out. I eliminated this with my reloades by weighing and sorting the brass. Even so, the ball ammo will stay well within these half sized rabbit targets.
MassMark
Member
Mike - Awesome choice. Mec - excellent shooting.
Bartholomew Roberts
Member
No punch set is needed for most cleaning; but one will come in handy if you want to change triggers, change a gas tube or barrel or a few other tasks. You don't need one for routine maintenance though.
I got the rifle today, awesome! I cant wait to shoot this thing. is there any trick to cleaning this thing? i need to clean the barrel before shooting according to the manual. i have a gunslick 22 caliber kit that i got with my 10/22, i assume its all the same though since its still a 22.
ugaarguy
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- Mar 19, 2006
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- 13,828
The kit you have now will work fine, but you'll also want to add an M-16 chamber brush. These have an extra wide area of bristles that clean the recess which the bolt lugs lock into. Your local gunshop should have one.
Have fun with your new AR.
Have fun with your new AR.
funny, they actually gave me one with the gun, lucky me i guess. i assume the manual describes the cleaning procedure in detail without leaving out any pertinent details? i havent had time to read it yet. i am so afraid to touch this thing, i dont normally spend this much money on something, actually i cant think of ever spending this much money on something other than a car and my lcd tv. funny considering its made for war, so its built pretty well, and i am afriad to put my greasy fingers on it
The competition trigger on the predator is truely amazing. i am extremely happy i didnt get the basic model, even though its lacking the chrome barrel that would have made me feel a little safer with it.
The competition trigger on the predator is truely amazing. i am extremely happy i didnt get the basic model, even though its lacking the chrome barrel that would have made me feel a little safer with it.
ok the manual says the proper break in procedure for the predator (non chrome lined barrel) is to clean it after every 20 shots during first 60 rounds. the following way:
clean with shooters choice
clean with shooters choice copper remover
clean with jb paste.
and to do this like i said every 20 rounds up to 60. I went to the store today to buy the stuff and the guy said not to use the jb paste, that the barrel companies are saying that the paste like jb paste and breakfree paste is really bad for the barrel and even voids some warranties. i am unsure now what i should do. i am planning on taking all the cleaning stuff to the range and doing this every 20 shots right at the range so i dont go home and clean it after 20 rounds 3 times. it also says to lube everything in "Breakfree" (i assume they mean breakfree clp)... Anyone with experience with this rifle and whats best to do?
the guy said i should get this cleaning pin thing that holds it open to clean it and a bore cleaning guide and one piece cleaning rod, any experience with this stuff? highly recommended?
clean with shooters choice
clean with shooters choice copper remover
clean with jb paste.
and to do this like i said every 20 rounds up to 60. I went to the store today to buy the stuff and the guy said not to use the jb paste, that the barrel companies are saying that the paste like jb paste and breakfree paste is really bad for the barrel and even voids some warranties. i am unsure now what i should do. i am planning on taking all the cleaning stuff to the range and doing this every 20 shots right at the range so i dont go home and clean it after 20 rounds 3 times. it also says to lube everything in "Breakfree" (i assume they mean breakfree clp)... Anyone with experience with this rifle and whats best to do?
the guy said i should get this cleaning pin thing that holds it open to clean it and a bore cleaning guide and one piece cleaning rod, any experience with this stuff? highly recommended?
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