Bushmaster A2/Target Upper=same?
- Thread starter mec
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The standard A2 be it fixed carry handle or flat top are considered as 'target' uppers.
The actual "target" upper is the National Match version at about twice the price, and then there are the "Varminteer" and "Predator" uppers using stainless steel barrels that work quite welll for 'target' use.
Confusing isn't it.
I guess it wouldn't be 'Sporting' and 'Politically Correct' to name one of the uppers the "Critter Killer".
The actual "target" upper is the National Match version at about twice the price, and then there are the "Varminteer" and "Predator" uppers using stainless steel barrels that work quite welll for 'target' use.
Confusing isn't it.
I guess it wouldn't be 'Sporting' and 'Politically Correct' to name one of the uppers the "Critter Killer".
I have a predator and ordered the A2 upper for the chrome lining and iron sights. I use it for playing/practicing with ball ammo. the Predator is very accurate with loads it likes and actually gets a bit more velocity than the A2
I shot about 200 rounds before clocking loads through the A2 as it is supposed to take about that long to polish the chromed barrel. Up jump the debill, the chromealoy predator gets 50+fps more velocity.
I shot about 200 rounds before clocking loads through the A2 as it is supposed to take about that long to polish the chromed barrel. Up jump the debill, the chromealoy predator gets 50+fps more velocity.
Bushmaster, like everybody else that offer premium grade barrels, will show very apparent positive differences in performance when you compare these barrels to any standard chrome lined Mil-Spec barrel.
I have one rifle with a 24" 1 in 9 twist stainless Bushmaster premium barrel and another rifle with a 24" Olympic 1 in 10 twist broach cut non chrome barrel that make all my chrome lined AR barrels look like they should have been rejected at the factory but that is the nature of the rifle beast.
Everything centers around the quality of the barrel.
As for 200 rounds before seeing this or that I don't follow that theory.
ALL barrels eventually gain a sweet spot area where they will shoot quite well for a number of rounds.
Whether that occurs in 200 rounds or 5000 and whether it lasts for 1000 rounds or 10,000 rounds is pretty much up to the mercy and overall quality of the barrel.
I have one rifle with a 24" 1 in 9 twist stainless Bushmaster premium barrel and another rifle with a 24" Olympic 1 in 10 twist broach cut non chrome barrel that make all my chrome lined AR barrels look like they should have been rejected at the factory but that is the nature of the rifle beast.
Everything centers around the quality of the barrel.
As for 200 rounds before seeing this or that I don't follow that theory.
ALL barrels eventually gain a sweet spot area where they will shoot quite well for a number of rounds.
Whether that occurs in 200 rounds or 5000 and whether it lasts for 1000 rounds or 10,000 rounds is pretty much up to the mercy and overall quality of the barrel.
going by bushmaster's manual. they say that the chrome lining will polish out over the first 100-200 rounds achieving more smoothness and allowing the barrel to settle in more accurate and provide higher velocity due to the slick nature of chrome. they also say chrome barrels are slightly faster than unchromed steel. I found it interesting that my particular set of barrels actually do the reverse. I have no knowlege or opinion about the polishing effect any given number of rounds will have on a chrome lined barrel. Nor can I compare accuracy since the Predator is scoped and the A2 has iron. The Predator has been piling up .71-.85" five shot groups with a number of loads/ bulletweights. I am not a great bench shot but this is as good as or slightly better than most groups I get with my ruger 220 swift with 20x scope. the predator has a 4x12 Nikon Monarch. those people who regularly shoot .5" groups with their 16 inch carbines/generic ball ammo could probably do wonders with this one.
".5" groups with their 16" carbines/generic ball ammo,,,"
It is sometimes truely amazing isn't it,,,,,,,
Remember Bushmaster is in the business to sell merchandise.
If Chrome lining was the be all end all why did the Military standardize stainless steel barrels on Match and Sniper rifles?! LOL
I love JMBs parent company using chrome lining as an attempt to save the far less than perfect wssm Winchester cartridge line, that is a chuckle causer too!
It is sometimes truely amazing isn't it,,,,,,,
Remember Bushmaster is in the business to sell merchandise.
If Chrome lining was the be all end all why did the Military standardize stainless steel barrels on Match and Sniper rifles?! LOL
I love JMBs parent company using chrome lining as an attempt to save the far less than perfect wssm Winchester cartridge line, that is a chuckle causer too!
Um, the chrome is not for improving accuracy...it's for corrosion and cleanup. And the WSSM line had to have chrome lining because with a typical barrel they would burn the throat in about +-500 rounds with the rest of the barrel following soon thereafter.
Typically, chrome lined barrels will not be as accurate as a good stainless barrel because you are adding another variable. That doesn't mean that chrome is not accurate.
Chrome is not a marketing ploy, its there for a reason...increased barrel life, easier maintainance, corrosion resistance, etc.
cracked butt
Member
Not completely unlike moly bullets- load a moly bullet with the same powder charge as a non-moly bullet and the moly bullet will be slower. However, because the moly bullet is much slippier, the pressure is greatly reduced and can take a larger powder charge than the non-moly bullets which when pressures being equal will push the slippier bullet faster. Same goes for chrome lined barrels.
Works out that way with my predator/A2 . Might be the reverse with a different set. Makes you wonder though if the people who wrote the manuals actually tested the premise or just made up something that seemed to make sense
Bushmaster Predator 20" Barrel
S&B 55 Grain Ball 3181
A2 Upper 3109
Bushmaster Predator
Federal 193 55 Grain Ball 3284
A2 Upper 3191 `
PMC 55 grain Ball 2963
A2 Upper 2915
Bushmaster Predator 20" Barrel
S&B 55 Grain Ball 3181
A2 Upper 3109
Bushmaster Predator
Federal 193 55 Grain Ball 3284
A2 Upper 3191 `
PMC 55 grain Ball 2963
A2 Upper 2915
Stinger I am aware and agree with everything you stated,,,,,
Chrome lined barrels are accurate no doubt, still, I have yet to experience a true Match Grade chrome line barrel.
I have been in this game too long and find some of the claims and advertising to go straight over the top at times,,,,,,,,
Chrome lined barrels are accurate no doubt, still, I have yet to experience a true Match Grade chrome line barrel.
I have been in this game too long and find some of the claims and advertising to go straight over the top at times,,,,,,,,
Master Blaster
Member
A match grade upper, would have a stainless steel match barrel, without chrome lining. It would also have a Free float tube, so the sling or pressure on the handguards wouldnt effect the POI. It may also have a different sight with finer click adjustments. Possibly the barrel would also be of a larger diameter under the handguards as well.
You have to verify these upgrades though because some manufacturers use the words match grade as a marketing ploy, rather than a meaningful indicator of the differeing equipment.
You have to verify these upgrades though because some manufacturers use the words match grade as a marketing ploy, rather than a meaningful indicator of the differeing equipment.
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