AR15 match rifle option

[pccraig]

I’ve been shooting HP service rifle matches for a few years now. Currently I shoot a pre-ban Colt HBAR 5.56 A2 with a 1-7” twist and a nice crisp two stage Geissele trigger. I’ve found that the larger 75gr and 77gr bullets provide me the most consistency in my loads, particularly out to 600yds. I’d like to have a match rifle option, so I’m considering purchasing a new, flat top upper for my Colt lower, and have some questions I hope you guys can share your opinions on.

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My service rifle upper has a 20” barrel, but I’m considering a 24” bull barrel upper with a crowned barrel, and free float handguard. I intend to mount my rear peep sight on the rail with a Lyman 93 globe clamped onto the barrel to increase my sight radius.

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1.***** The 1-8” twist is the fasted I’ve found in this length, does the additional 4” in barrel length compensate for that, or is that even an issue ? **

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2.***** Any reviews on the following uppers would also be a big help:

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a.***** Stag Arms Model 6H 1-8” twist, http://www.stagarms.com/right-handed-upper-halves/

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b.**** DPMS FTBL-LR-02* 1-9” twist, *http://www.dpmsinc.com/223-24-Bull-Barrel-Assembly_p_2542.html

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c.***** Rock River Arms 24” Varmint A4 1-8” twist, http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=270

 

[MrBorland]

No one's chimed in yet, so I'll add my $0.02.

I don't have any experience with the uppers you listed or with match rifles. I do, however, shoot a service rifle in HP matches, and if I were to get a match upper, I'd skip the factory offerings and get one from someone who knows HP and builds match uppers with that in mind. White Oak Precision/Armament and Keystone Accuracy come to mind. I have a Keystone service upper and can vouch for it's quality and accuracy. Yeah, they're a little more expensive than factory uppers, but I'm of the opinion that if I'm going to invest the money (of which the cost of the upper is a small part) and time to compete, I want every point I shoot.

http://www.whiteoakprecision.com/uppers-match.htm
https://www.whiteoakarmament.com/xcart/home.php?cat=259
http://www.keystoneaccuracy.com/matchvarmintrifles.html

 

[pccraig]

Thanks MrBorland.. I'll check on those

 

[rskent]

You might try Compass Lake.

http://www.compasslake.com/

 

[tuj]

If you want a winning match upper, you want to go with White Oak Precision. They have built the winning rifles for David Tubbs.

The barrel is the most important, and they use some of the best blanks and cut them to a superior degree of accuracy. They also offer some modifications to your rear sight that are useful for competition.

As for the trigger, check out the Geissele hi-speed national match. It has a fantastic pull and a lock time rivaling a bolt gun.

 

[MrBorland]

If you want a winning match upper, you want to go with White Oak Precision.

WOP unquestionably has a great reputation, but his wait time was (is?) very long. When I looked into my SR upper last year, I was looking at 6-12months. I understand WOA uppers aren't personally hand-built by John Hollinger, so they're a little less expensive than WOP but good uppers nonetheless, and may not take as long to get.

John Scandale at Keystone has a great reputation in the HP community, but hasn't yet built up the clientele WOP has, so I got my upper (with a Krieger match barrel) in a little under 8 weeks. At my second match, I shot a HM score with it, so I'm very satisfied.

They also offer some modifications to your rear sight that are useful for competition.

Pinning? Keystone does that, too.

Jus to be clear, I'm not trying to dissuade anyone from WOP/WOA, but it's just that my experience with Keystone has been very positive as well.

And, yeah, I forgot Compass Lake (thanks rskent). I'd be happy with an upper from any one of these 3.

 

[pccraig]

Appreciate the input everyone

 

[Laphroaig]

My match rifle is a RRA Varmiter with some modifications to tweak it a little bit. Rear sight is a Zelenak, front globe on a 6" bloop tube. I had a buddy machine a hand stop slot in the fore-end, and put on an adjustable butt plate. I replaced the original Wilson barrel with a 1:7.7 Kreiger a few years ago.

Both barrels shoot 80 SMK's about 1 MOA, with sling and iron sights. I never tried anything heavier. Lighter bullets, down to 55's also give excellent accuracy. Maybe there are better match rifle options but modifying one of the models mentioned in the OP isn't a bad way to get into the match rifle game fairly economically.

Laphroaig

 

[Welding Rod]

I have used a couple of stock 20" RRAs. They had stainless 1:8 barrels and were 3/4 MOA guns. Even my chrome lined 20" was a 1 MOA shooter.

The last time I had an upper back to RRA for a handguard modification they did me up a specially drilled rear sight aperture size between their .040" NM and standard A2 size. I think it was .050". I really like it.

All my HP match shooting has been at only 200 yards. There may be better, but I never found any shortcomings in mine for 200 yard use.

 

[atblis]

1 in 8 is the right twist rate for 77s.