Help with Colt MT6601

[Lee F]

I bought a Colt MT6601 with hopes of shooting a few HP matches this year. After four range trips with half a dozen handloads, all shooting Sierra Matchkings in 52 and 69 grains, I haven't found a load yet that will shoot better than 3.5" to 4" at 100 yards. These groups are with a 3x9 scope off sandbags on a shooting bench.

As a sanity check I fired several three shot groups measuring .75" or better with a Remington 700 in .223 with aperature sights.

Where do I go from here? Maybe try some blackhills match loads? Could the rifle possibly be shooting the best it can? I hate to shoot a match with a rifle that can't keep'em in the black from a benchrest. Thanks.

 

[Steve Smith]

Well, it vertainly is possible that you have a bum barrel, but try a few things first.

Check the crown closely for a ding. If this is damaged your accuracy will be poor. Try another brand of bullet and primer. Maybe Hornady HPBT and try a Rem 7 1/2 primer. Also, for sure, try shooting some Fed Match King ammo (factory loaded) or some Black Hills to see what it will do. Lastly, have someone else shoot it.

 

[ACP230]

I have seen my M1A shoot better groups from prone with a sling than off of bags. ARs might not show this tendency, but you might try a few groups slung up in prone just in case.

 

[BigG]

You really should not apply sling pressure to a standard AR15 as you will get bbl flex and groups will open up. If you shoot off the rest, you should rest it as close in front of mag well as possible, again to avoid putting strain on the bbl causing groups to open up.

 

[Lee F]

Thanks for the tips. There's a local gun show this weekend and I'll try to buy some Hornady, federal, and blackhills match ammo. My brother will be more than happy to shoot up my ammo for a second opinion. I'll also put a piece of tape on both the rifle's handguard and the benchrest to ensure the same position everytime.

There are three ranges that hold HP matches within 50 miles of here and I'm ready to shoot a match even if I score a 200. From everything I've heard correcting the rifle's accuracy problem will be the easiest challenge ahead of me.

 

[BigG]

You will not have to correct anything, in all likelihood. The one thing that most do is put a free float tube under the handguards so the sling can be used. Glen Zedicker recommends the std Colt like you have.