Quality varmint/heavy/match AR-15s out there?

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

Shmackey

Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2002
Messages
1,496
Location
Colorado
I've been shooting a Colt 6920 for a few months now--after all the usual research into M4s, "the chart," and all. It's been fantastic and 100% reliable.

Even though it's surprisingly accurate, it's not really cut out for shooting 1/2-MOA groups at longer ranges. So I'm looking into an AR-15 that is. However, most of the highly regarded M4-style AR makers (e.g., DD, LMT, BCM) don't produce a heavy-barreled 20" tackdriver model. Colt seems to come the closest, with their Match Target line, but strangely the long-barreled models (CR6720 and 6724) are 1-9 twist.

This has me looking at RRA, but I've been very happy with my decision to go with a Colt-level rifle in the past. Any suggestions?
 
P.S. If the best answer is to get something like a White Oak upper and mate it with a good lower, that's OK.
 
RRA for sure. you could get one of their uppers and put it on whatever lower you wanted. get a good trigger and a solid buttstock and rock on.
 
High Caliber Sales makes good uppers. WOA build would also be a good shooter. I don't know if the style suits you, but check out MK12 style rifles. I have a mod0 (WOA build) and mod1 (HCS upper) and like them both.
 
Stag makes one that's guaranteed to shoot either 1/2" or 3/4" (I forget).

I was just in a gun shop a few minutes ago (Monday afternoon). They called three wholesalers. Every one is sold out of AR's.
 
RAA is IMHO a safe choice if accuracy at a reasonable cost is paramount, especially is you get their two stage trigger. If the budget is tight, look at a "varmint" upper from Model 1 sales, they use Shaw barrels, but if you just slap it on your existing lower, you may find yourself wanting a trigger upgrade eventually.
 
I just bought a Windham Weaponry Varmint Exterminator. This is a dedicated varmint,accuracy Ar. It comes with a fluted 20'' bull barrel, competition chamber with matched bolt, polished trigger etc. I installed a Burris 4.5-14x40mm scope and a Harris bipod. I just sighted it in and my best 5 shot group at 100yds was covered by a quarter. This was done with m193 55grain ammo no less. This barrel is 1\8 so it can shoot the 62-77 grain precision ammo. Excellent varmint, accuracy package IMHO. 1100$ seems to be the market price. This is my recommendation , I'm very happy with it.
 
I compete with my RRA National Match A4 rifle for Service Rifle matches (with the superb NM 2-stage trigger) and, during the "off" season, remove the required "handle", install a scope using a qd mount and go varmint hunting with the rifle.
 
I have a White Oak upper on a PSA lower with some other goodies and really love it. I don't think you can go wrong with White Oak and if you priced all the pieces separately you couldn't build it for the price they sell uppers for. My friend just ordered their 20" upper today and was told it was a 12-16 week lead time. It is worth the wait.
 
IME RRA guns meet or beat their advertised accuracy level of 3/4 MOA.

The most accurate gun I have ever owned was my RRA 16" varmit that was about a 5/8 MOA gun, with 1/2 MOA or a little better from time to time when shooting only 5 shot groups. Probably the real limiting factor at that level was my shooting rather than the gun.
 
Shmackey said:
I've been shooting a Colt 6920 for a few months now--after all the usual research into M4s, "the chart," and all. It's been fantastic and 100% reliable.

Even though it's surprisingly accurate, it's not really cut out for shooting 1/2-MOA groups at longer ranges. So I'm looking into an AR-15 that is. However, most of the highly regarded M4-style AR makers (e.g., DD, LMT, BCM) don't produce a heavy-barreled 20" tackdriver model. Colt seems to come the closest, with their Match Target line, but strangely the long-barreled models (CR6720 and 6724) are 1-9 twist.

This has me looking at RRA, but I've been very happy with my decision to go with a Colt-level rifle in the past. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Have you put a good scope on your Colt and tried it? It will surprise you. An AR dies not need a heavy barrel to shoot well. I have a precision AR I built around a Lothar-Walther 20" HBar profile barrel and it shoot's lights out.
View attachment 646324

A heavy barrel on an AR will just make it heavy and awkward
 
Shmackey said:
Even though it's surprisingly accurate, it's not really cut out for shooting 1/2-MOA groups at longer ranges. So I'm looking into an AR-15 that is. However, most of the highly regarded M4-style AR makers (e.g., DD, LMT, BCM) don't produce a heavy-barreled 20" tackdriver model. Colt seems to come the closest, with their Match Target line, but strangely the long-barreled models (CR6720 and 6724) are 1-9 twist.
Click to expand...

I built a 20" varminter based on a White Oak Armament 20" NM barrel with a 1-7 twist. Excellent accuracy and not too heavy to lug around.

I forget their offerings, but I would suspect they would make a longer version with a fast twist.

I also have 24" heavy Shilen barrels in 17 Remington and 204 Ruger. Excellent accuracy. I forget the twist on their 223 Remington 24" barrel.

WOA sells a built varminter upper.
 
I have a stag 6 which I think is a great gun. It's picky about what kind of ammo you feed it (in terms of accuracy), but if you get it right it's 1/2 MOA. 1/8 twist 24" bbl.

I don't hand load often so it doesn't come out much, but it's a tack driver when you get the load right.

Unfortunately as was mentioned earlier, even the heavy barrel ARs are on back order from what I hear.
 
I'd suggest moving UP from Colt to RRA, either their heavy varmint or Predator Pursuit barrel. The 20" Predator Pursuit is the non-threaded version of their NM barrels. If you can find a Colt that'll outshoot one of the mentioned RRAs, I'll eat the Colt, piece-by-piece. "The Chart" is just pablum for the ignorant proletariat.
 
hentown said:
I'd suggest moving UP from Colt to RRA, either their heavy varmint or Predator Pursuit barrel. The 20" Predator Pursuit is the non-threaded version of their NM barrels. If you can find a Colt that'll outshoot one of the mentioned RRAs, I'll eat the Colt, piece-by-piece. "The Chart" is just pablum for the ignorant proletariat.
Click to expand...
I agree with this^^^^^
The chart serves as a good reference if you're outfitting a swat team but that's about it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

S
  • Locked
Any experience with Daniel Defense ARs?
Replies
5
Views
892
Z-Michigan
Z
E
  • Locked
Best Quality AR Under $2000
2 3 4
Replies
94
Views
9K
Art Eatman
A
M
  • Locked
AR Build Advice?
Replies
4
Views
576
RP88
R
303 hunter
  • Locked
AR Heavy Barrel
Replies
14
Views
3K
303 hunter
303 hunter
briang2ad
  • Locked
AR - Build or Buy? Options...
2
Replies
32
Views
1K
Skylerbone
Skylerbone
Back
Top