AR15 Accuracy question

[dmftoy1]

Ok, so I just finished my first shooting of the second AR15 that I built. My build consisted of assembling a lower with a RRA NM trigger, ambi safety and hogue grip and slapping on a RRA NM upper (free float tube, wilson heavy barrel, wylde chamber, etc.).

Anyway, this gun shot unbelievably well. It made me look like an almost decent rifle shot when shooting off the rest. So my question is:

What makes the biggest difference in accuracy, the free floated upper, or the NM trigger? I feel like I have so much more control with when the 2-stage trigger releases than I dow ith my standard AR's, but I'm wondering if the biggest difference is the good quality barrel and free floated handguards?

Any and all input is greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Dave

 

[Monkeyleg]

Dave, I'm sure your post is opening up the proverbial can of worms.

I went through several Colt AR uppers until I found one that shot well.

Once I swapped out the factory trigger for a Millazo/Krieger trigger, I had a sub-MOA shooter. Usually it shoots roughly 1/2 MOA.

After that, I just made sure that I kept the same amount of downward and backward pull on the stock for each shot. All I'm doing is trying to keep the barrel "free floating," and keeping everything else consistent.

To my way of thinking, putting a quality trigger on any gun--handgun, rifle, or shotgun--is maybe 75% or more of the journey. After that, just like on cars or motorcycles, you can spend $$$$$ to get another 1% or 2% here or there.

My mea culpa: I'm not a rifleman. I shoot rifles off of sandbags, and do a pretty good job, but that's the extent of my expertise.

 

[dakotasin]

the trigger makes the shooter more accurate.

a ff tube and good barrel make the gun more accurate.

i would say you are seeing so much accuracy because of (in order): 1-barrel, 2-trigger, 3-ff tube.

 

[Sunray]

"...the biggest difference in accuracy..." The ammunition you use. You can have a multi-thousand dollar match grade rifle, but if the ammo is surplus ball, you will never shoot as well as you will with ammo that is matched to that rifle. Reloading is the only way you can have ammo, using match quality bullets, that is specific to your rifle. Match quality ammo is not cheap. And you can't buy ammo that shoots as well as in your rifle as you can reload it for your rifle.

 

[wanderinwalker]

The RRA NM uppers have a reputation for outstanding accuracy, as you seem to have found out by now! Your two biggest contributors to rifle accuracy on that platform are the FF tube and the good barrel. (The Wilson SS match barrel is no Kreiger, but I've seen a couple of Palma shooters curse at their Kreiger barrels enough to decide not to spend the $$ for one when I skin the Wilson on my AR.) The 2-stage trigger and finer adjustable sights are all purely for user interface; they have nothing to do with the inherent mechanical accuracy of the system.

Now, to really find out how well that rifle shoots and how easy it is to shoot, go to a Highpower practice sometime and get coached into position. From 300 yards it isn't uncommon for AR-15 shooters to clean the prone rapid fire target. My best was a 100-6x in practice, about the size of a 3x5" index card. (If only I could do that in a match! ) 10 rounds, standing to prone, with a magazine change, 70 seconds. The AR makes it just a magazine-fed slow-fire event, rather than having to hurry up and go with a bolt-action.

Oh yeah, and use good ammo. Try out some Federal 69gr Gold Medal. Take up handloading. Try Varget, RL15 or H4895 powders and 77gr Nosler or Sierra bullets. Push the limits. Load 80gr Sierra or Noslers so long they don't fit the magazine. (It's more complicated than that, but that is how it happens.) Go to 600 yards and really be amazed. Have fun!

 

[dmftoy1]

I'm hoping to reload for it eventually. Right now I'm in the brass accumulation phase. I'm going to eventually buy the trimming and primer pocket swaging tools and then start doing that.

I have never been much of a rifle shot. On paper I can't seem to keep my groups together. (hunting seems to be a different matter). We went out and sighted this rifle in with maybe 5 shots (a new record for me ) and then proceeded to shoot groups that were cutting a single jagged hole. My buddy (who's a much better shot) was doing even better. I'm so tickled that I don't want to clean the rifle or ever shoot it again for fear of destroying the accuracy.

This is all with XM193 from natchezz. I've got a box of Federal Gold match that I want to try, but it was shooting so well with the XM193 that Im' not sure if it's worth wasting it!!

Have a good one,
Dave