Accu-Wedge????

[Grump]

Anyone have personal experiences to report? Last time I looked, some ex-spurt (drip under pressure) was saying it didn't help but couldn't hurt.

I'm skeptical, but since Kokalis or whoever at Soldier of Forune said (from personal observations, I presume) that collapsible/folding stocks generally cost rifles 1 MOA of accuracy, I kinda wonder whether the Accu-Wedge might be good for a 1/2-MOA improvement in those rifles it helps.

I'm also sure that many ARs fit together just fine and won't see any change...

 

[ocabj]

The Accuwedge does nothing for accuracy. It's only purpose is to eliminate upper to lower receiver rattle.

 

[swingset]

The Accuwedge does nothing for accuracy. It's only purpose is to eliminate upper to lower receiver rattle.

Correct. How could it possibly affect accuracy either way?

 

[Onmilo]

Accu-Wedges are similar to Shok-Buffers.
You either like them or hate them,(I like them.)
A properly installed Accu-Wedge can indeed increase the accuracy potential of a rifle by eliminating upper/lower receiver play, though it really doesn't become apparent until you start shooting past three hundred meters.

What it does for guys who shoot at less than three hundred maters is make the rifle feel more solid in the hands.

 

[1911 guy]

Auto part stores and O-rings.

Go to the parts store and buy a few O-rings, I think it's #10. Put one on the front receiver lug and enjoy your poor man's wedge.

 

[praharin]

1911 guy, or anyone else, could you explain how to do that a little better please, im kinda slow. thanks

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

I'm skeptical, but since Kokalis or whoever at Soldier of Forune said (from personal observations, I presume) that collapsible/folding stocks generally cost rifles 1 MOA of accuracy

Speaking of skeptical... did Kokalis explain that line of thinking a little more? I would have to say that doesn't square with my experiences with the AR15 anyway.

Some of the loose stocks I've seen on AR180s, I can see where he might reach that conclusion.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Speaking of skeptical... did Kokalis explain that line of thinking a little more? I would have to say that doesn't square with my experiences with the AR15 anyway.

Same here, I don't have that experience either. And when again did we decide to start paying attention to gun writers again?

 

[355sigfan]

Accu-Wedges are similar to Shok-Buffers.
You either like them or hate them,(I like them.)
A properly installed Accu-Wedge can indeed increase the accuracy potential of a rifle by eliminating upper/lower receiver play, though it really doesn't become apparent until you start shooting past three hundred meters.

What it does for guys who shoot at less than three hundred maters is make the rifle feel more solid in the hands.

I disagree. Since the barrel and optics are only tied to the upper reciver for repeatability. Upper to lower reciver fit is a none issue.
Pat

 

[hksw]

I think that the idea of the AW improving accuracy is the elimination of any movement between the upper and lower between the process of aiming and the bullet leaving the barrel. If, for instance, you aim at the target and depress the trigger there might be some very slight movement between the upper and lower before the bullet leaves the barrel that could affect accuracy and precision. That is, it eliminates a potentially uncontrollable or unpredictable factor that could affect groups sizes and placement in the process of shooting for accuracy. The results may be neglegable for most but could be significant for the serious.

For me, I'll probably never be able to tell the difference but I do hate the looseness from an asthetics and feel standpoint between upper and lower AR parts.

 

[bogie]

You know, making the choice between some _______'s _opinion_ (please check with my primary drill instructor for translation) in Solider of Fortune magazine, and a world-class shooter in a publication like Precision Shooting... Hmmm... Who am I gonna agree with?

 

[FNFiveSeven]

I'm skeptical, but since Kokalis or whoever at Soldier of Forune said (from personal observations, I presume) that collapsible/folding stocks generally cost rifles 1 MOA of accuracy

huh. Since my AR w/ a collapsible stock shoots 1 MOA right now with 55grain ballistic tips, I guess it would shoot 0 MOA with a fixed stock. @#$%^$ Soldier of Fortune

 

[SomeKid]

Are loose upper/lower fits common? Mine feels stable and secure. When I try to dissasemble, it is hard to push the pins. Did I just get the ultra-tight fitting one?

 

[Navy joe]

Yes, all the sights are on the upper, but you index your face onto the stock, attached to the lower. Concievably upper/lower movement could alter the eye-rear sight relationship. I'd expect to see that only with irons and at extended ranges.

 

[Onmilo]

Clint McKee and Walter Kuleck also disagree with my view in "The AR-15 Complete Assembly Guide."
Still in all they go on to explain why glass bedding the upper and lower receivers is a good thing for accuracy.
Me, I don't care to risk breaking bedding while trying to clean an AR-15/M16 and the proof of my opinion is in the shooting that I have done and you can do.
I like the Accu-Wedge and anything that eliminates slop is a good thing.
Cheap enough you can afford to buy one and give it a try.
If it does nothing for you, you don't have to buy another.

 

[Raygun]

Are loose upper/lower fits common? Mine feels stable and secure. When I try to dissasemble, it is hard to push the pins. Did I just get the ultra-tight fitting one?

From what I understand it's fairly common to get receivers that aren't matched for a particularly good fit, especially when building rifles yourself. I suppose it would be less common to find a sloppy fit on an AR15 bought as a complete rifle, but I've personally never bought an AR15 that way so I couldn't tell you.

One thing I've noticed with the Rock River lowers (and this may be the same with all CMT-made lowers, not sure) is that there's only a few tenths of an inch of space between bottom of the rear receiver pin hole and the receiver itself, leaving about a tenth between the upper receiver lug and the lower. I've never used an Accuwedge, but looking at the pictures of them, I think you'd have to cut the bottom of it to fit in a Rock River/CMT lower.

On a couple of builds with RRA receivers I've dealt with that had sloppy fits, I just bought some 1/2" diameter adhesive-backed pads at Wal Mart (the kind you'd use to keep cupboard doors from slamming against the cabinet face, like the green felt ones, only they're clear rubber), cut them to fit inside the receiver, then stick the adhesive side down against the lower, right under the rear receiver pin hole. They're only about .120" thick IIRC, but they put enough pressure against the upper lug to take out all the slop without making it too difficult to push the rear pin out by hand. And a pack of 20 of them costs about half of one Accuwedge.

 

[Derby FALs]

Buy Rock River and you won't need it.

 

[1911 guy]

O-rings and parts stores redoux.

Get an O-ring that fits snugly around the front lug of your upper reciever. Assemble with the lower as normal. This puts upward pressure on the front, eliminating play. Put it on the front instead of rear like the accuwedge because it assembles easier and accomplishes the same thing. Not an original idea with me, forget where I picked it up. Works, though.

 

[Raygun]

Buy Rock River and you won't need it.

Maybe not with a factory fitted rifle, but in my case, I did use Rock River lowers with various uppers (Bushy, CMT) and they did need something there. Wasn't a huge amount of play by any means, but enough to be annoying. My personal rifle is a Rock River lower with CMT upper and the fit is perfect.

Thanks 1911 guy. I'll try the o-ring trick next time I run into the problem.

 

[Derby FALs]

Maybe not with a factory fitted rifle, but in my case, I did use Rock River lowers with various uppers (Bushy, CMT) and they did need something there. Wasn't a huge amount of play by any means, but enough to be annoying. My personal rifle is a Rock River lower with CMT upper and the fit is perfect.

Thanks 1911 guy. I'll try the o-ring trick next time I run into the problem.

Try a RR upper and RR lower you buy from two sources over a period of a year and see how tight they are.