AR accuracy

[J_McLeod]

I bought a box of Federal 69gr Match grade ammo last week to try to set a reference for my handloads with my 1:8 16" Black Hole Weaponry AR. At 25m, my blasting ammo load was more accurate than the match ammo. I might have been me, So I thought about shooting another group, but that stuff is $1 per round. I shot a group of 62gr SS109 miltary ammo, and also got a larger group than with the handloads. I'm really surprised to get better results from handloads with the cheapest components I could get than with good factory ammo. I'm also surprised my 1:8 barrel seems to like 55gr better than 62 or 69gr.

My load was
26.5 CFE 223
2.210 OAL
55gr FMJ RMR pulls
Mix cases
Wolf primers
Prone with a bipod and dirty rifle. About 70 degrees, no wind, iron sights.

 

[rcmodel]

I'm also surprised my 1:8 barrel seems to like 55gr better than 62 or 69gr.

Not at all unusual.

A 1/7 barrel often likes 50, 55, or 60 grain Varmint bullets better then heavy match bullets too.

rc

 

[CMV]

At 25M you really can't tell anything. I've never NOT taken an issue M16 or M4 with M193 or M855 and not put 3 rounds touching or nearly touching on a 25M zero target from prone supported position. At least 9 different rifles issued - including the absolute beaters in a few schools - and they all printed tight little groups on the 25M zero targets.

A lot of those groups look like 100M ball ammo groups from a bench. You're really going to need to get out to 75-100 yds before you can make any distinction between different loads.

I don't have a good rest, but just off sandbags from a bench & a 3x9 scope, I get 1.5"-2" groups from my homebuilt Frankenrifle ARs with Hornady 55gr FMJ & a little under an inch with 55gr Vmax. Both are 1:9, one is 16" one is 20".

When I started my first workup I was limited to 50 yds the first time out. The data was useless as everything printed a tight little group that close in & that was with a 4x scope. Any variation was more than likely me rather than the load that close in.

 

[redclay]

I am with CMV, set up at a 100, the truth starts to show there. from an AR I am happy with 1 - 1 1/2 inch groups at a hundred yards

 

[blarby]

Honestly, at that range, and with that small a deviation, I'd be hard pressed to say anything about the factory load, or your handloads.

Good shooting either way.... but what you've shown doesn't ( to me ) indicate a change of accuracy breathing or mild adjustment could not have accounted for.

Now, the fact that your handloads beat factory match DOES NOT surprise me...psychology may be playing the devils friend in this endeavor.

I'd do a blind test...... have someone else load your mags.

Then load mixed mags, and look for deviation.

THEN compare results.

 

[steve4102]

I agree, take it deeper, it will tell you a lot more.

 

[gshipps]

When you switch powders it CAN take 5 to 10 rounds to foul the barrel with the different powder. So you might check that when switching back and forth. Just my experience, maybe not a fact.

 

[Clark]

11 years ago I got one AR down to 1.1" 5 shots at 100m and another AR down do 1.05" 5 shots at 100m.

I think I could do much better if I had a SAAMI chamber and loaded single shot.

 

[wingman]

Using the CFE223 and a Sierra 52gr match bullet I can average less then 1.0 moa @100 yards with my Stag model 3, it's a 1/9 twist, all the 223's I've owned were 1/9 and they all preferred the 52gr bullet.

My groups with commercial ammo is normally 1.5-2.0

The CFE223 is an excellent powder.

 

[Stack]

I started using Accurate 2200 in my .223 since I load for 6.8 SPC a lot and I was looking for a single good powder for both. the 2200 is the "stuff" for 6.8
Anyway, at 195 yards, I shot 5 shot groups from a bipod that ran from just under an inch to about 1.25" pretty consistently. Loaded on a Hornady AP
The load was LC brass, 55g Z-max bullets, 24 gr AA-2200, CCI 41 primer, COL 2.255
No chrono yet but probably kinda slowish.
This from a LaRue, 20", 1 in 8 twist.