Ar15 accuracy?

You don't see any ARs winning any bench rest matches, but I have seen some three-quarter inch ones.

You can swap barrels, but it's not really a "switchbarrel" rifle. You can, however, swap out upper assemblies in about 2 minutes. That's if you're slow. I've got a couple of ARs, one has a 20" heavy stainless barrel (RRA Predator Pursuit Upper) and the other one is a fairly generic 16" carbine length upper. The heavy barrel is definitely easier to shoot accurately but I haven't spent a lot of time with the shorter one as it's only got iron sights. My eyes are getting a little too old for that.

With a good barrel, trigger, and optics an AR can definitely give bolt actions a run for their money. I'm still working up loads for mine, but I've found two that are sub-1" @ 100 yards with 5-shot groups and I know several people with the same upper and barrel that can get 1/2" groups on a regular basis. For most hunting I'm going to do, that's good enough for me.

Here's the caveat though: I don't know if I'd use the same trigger for an HD gun as I have in a hunting AR. I have an RRA Varmint trigger that is right about 3.5 lbs which is lighter than I would really like for HD/SD. Adrenaline can make that feel like a couple of ounces, at least from what I've heard from people who've been in real-life situations.

It's hard to own just one. I've got 4 lowers and 3 uppers that will be getting built into something over the next couple of months. I'm a blued-steel-and-walnut (or baltic birch) kind of guy and I'm sold on ARs.

Matt

I previously owned a Rock River Arms Varmint rifle (18" barrel) that would shoot 1/4" groups at 100 yards if I did my job. That was with Hornady 5.56 NATO 75gr Match ammo.

Can an AR style rifle be as accurate as a bolt gun? Absolutely. They will be priced about the same as a bolt gun for that level of accuracy as well. The M&P 15 is not out of the box going to be a 1/2 MOA gun most likely (I've never seen one that was), but if you okay with 1-2 MOA then you will probably be pleasantly surprised. As mentioned swapping our the upper is really the route to go (though LWRC makes a gun you can swap barrels on easily), and you can have an upper to fit whatever needs you have at a given time pretty easy.

If you are looking for bench rest accuracy, you can probably find someone to build one if you're willing to put up enough cash. If on the other hand you want to hit an 8" gong at 800 yds, there are quite a few off the rack options that will do that. Also there are plenty of AR's being produced in calibers other then 5.56/.223 so if a 7.62/.308 or a 6mm offering would give you the ballistics you desire it's certainly an option.

-Jenrick

Glad to see this thread; i have had the same questions. I have lots of bolt guns and still trying to get the right combo of gun, scope, trigger, ammo load, bullet size, etc. and don't have energy to tackle AR style rifles....some day maybe. Recently, I've been on a .22LR binge and bought a new/old pump .22 to be followed by a lever gun.....I'm going nuts!!

My AR's shoot well with hand loads. It takes time to find the best bullet and powder to wring out the best accuracy.

As long as you are talking about the the non-sport M&P 15 for about the same price or a little more you could get a Rock River. Many of their models are guaranteed sub moa, some 3/4 moa and have triggers much better than the stand AR trigger. They are the best choice in the $800-$1200 price range and my LGS can't even keep them in stock they sell so fast.

Woodchucks? A 24" White Oak Armament upper shooting a hot load will take woodchucks, prairie dogs, and coyotes as far away as you can call the wind. Several of my buddies have taken prairie dogs at 600 yds. 200-300 yds is basically point and click unless your in the middle of a tornado.

-Jenrick

The uppers I have from Hardened Arms and Radical Firearms will all do at least MOA or better--223/556, 300 Blackout, 6.5 Grendel.

Longhorn 76 said:

You don't see any ARs winning any bench rest matches, but I have seen some three-quarter inch ones.

Click to expand...

And I see a LOT of AR15s winning the Service Rifle Matches.

Go to White Oak Armament and look at their complete uppers. The prices are pretty fair.

I have a dpms Gll that shoots 1/4 " at 100 . the best I can do in the wind is 3/4 minute at 500

This is from my my Windham Bushmaster Varminter