M16 at 600 yards

[kmath3]

I'm trying to get a question answered for my son. He had a guest lecturer in one of his ROTC classes that stated that he had hit a human silhouette 10 out of 10 times with an M16 at 600 yards. I'm sure this is possible but how difficult would it be with factory ammo and a government issue M16?

I've qualified numerous times with the M16 at 100 yards but have no experience with distance competition. It sounds extremely difficult to me to hit a silhoutte at that distance using such a light bullet (and open sights).
Thanks in advance.

 

[DJW]

the sights aren't a problem once you learn the come ups. a barrel with a 1 in 8 or slower twist and a handloaded 80 gr. Sierra over a case full of varget make the job much easier.

 

[Warbow]

M16 rifle at 1000 yards.

USMC basic marksmanship has recruits qualify with their M16s at 500 or 600 yards (don't remember which one).

And Jeff White points out here in the above linked thread that Army Advanced Rifle Marksmanship has soldiers qualify at 600 yards.

 

[USMCRotrHed]

Did it 8 out of 10 times in boot camp with factory issue ammo at 500 meters (Edson Range, Camp Pendleton). I think the 500 meters comes out to be about 550 yardsI'm sure someone with more experience than that would have better results. It can be done.

 

[possum]

Army Advanced Rifle Marksmanship has soldiers qualify at 600 yards.

That's Right!

 

[Swampy]

kmath3,

Last year in March of '05, at the "Ice Breaker" Match at Mill Creek Range, DeSoto Kansas, during the Long Range portion of the event I spotted for Marine Captain Johnny Schwent. He was prepping an off the rack M16 for use in the Marine Divisional Matches. He was shooting GI Green Tip ammo.

Score 192 (don't remember the X count) at 500 yards.

I wuz impressed.

I'd say the event described by your son's lecterer was definitely possible. As already stated by others, with a match tuned AR-15 and handloaded ammo it would be no big deal at all.

Best,
Swampy

Garands forever

 

[Sergeant Sabre]

In the Marines we shoot at 200, 300, and 500 yards.

Every time I qualified I could hit 7-8 out of 10 at 500, even with a wind factor. The last time I qualified I hit 10 out of 10. Once you get your sights set right and the wind nailed down, the rest is just applying the fundamentals.

Our platoon's coach at Edson range was a shooter for the Marine Corps' rifle team. They take the M-16 out to 800, I think (or was it 1000??) with open sights. Their rifles, however, are purpose-built for that task.

 

[wanderinwalker]

Most certainly possible. As noted, even with green-tip you can keep your rounds on a silhouette target at 500-600 yards once you've got the elevation and wind down.

With a match-prepped AR shooting heavy handloads, it is a piece of cake. A solid-shooting Service Rifle should be able to hold MOA at 600 as long as the shooter is up to it. This is still with "issue" sights, typically tuned with different front sight posts and rear apertures to suit the user better. And normally we have 1/4-minute adjustments on our match sights, though I think 1/2-min would be adequate most days.