who makes most accurate off the shelf AR15 .223

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Some of the Olympic Arms stuff is quite accurate... Someone was selling a K16 in the for sale section, with pics of the groups... smaller than a quarter @ 100 yards... I think he decided to keep it...

I know the K16 is under $800 delivered... There's my vote...

I do agree that most of the quality built AR's are quite handy around the the house for those stray tacks with decent ammo, and of course, a shooter that's compitent...
 
Rock River guarantees 3/4 MOA or better for some of their rifles, like the Varmint and Predator series:

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http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=228
http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=227
http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=230
http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=229
 
A buddy of mine has a Colt Accurized Rifle with the 24" barrel. Another buddy has a Rock River Predator Pursuit with a 20" barrel. It's not close. The Colt shoots rings around the Rock River.

My Rock River buddy is so upset over it that he's thinking hard about selling the Predator and buying a Colt. He spent months researching the most accurate AR and thought he had it with the RRA Predator and their 3/4MOA "guarantee". Then our other buddy pulls up at the range one day with the Colt he bought the weekend before at the gunshow and puts the Predator to shame. The pain goes on...

p.s. My Remington 700 VSSF II can out shoot both of them. Something to consider.
 
My Rock River buddy is so upset over it that he's thinking hard about selling the Predator and buying a Colt. He spent months researching the most accurate AR and thought he had it with the RRA Predator and their 3/4MOA "guarantee". Then our other buddy pulls up at the range one day with the Colt he bought the weekend before at the gunshow and puts the Predator to shame.
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Um, first of all the barrel lengths are different (who knows twist rate) so depending on the ammo being used they are definately going to be shooting different patterns if you are using the same ammo. Maybe the ammo used that day was better for a 24" barrel. Also, sometimes optics play a role in the groups as well. If the Colt had better optics it might have made the difference. Also, if you were using iron sights then the sight base is longer and therefore easier to tighten groups with. Another thing is that maybe had something to do with it is the person shooting the two weapons.
The point I am trying to make is that I doubt that the Colt shoots that much better than the rock river based on gun design only. There are so many factors that could have gone into play to make the colt the better shooter that day. I have personally seen groups go from 3" to "in the same hole" by just changing powder charges, bullet grain, case neck lengths, etc.
In my opinion, I doubt that the colt could shoot better groups with just any load of ammo. Different loads are better for different length and twist rate barrels. I also believe that in order to get dependable accuracy no matter what barrel you use, the right handload for the rifle is essential. Wolf just will not cut it if you want accuracy. Also, good optics are important if you want a "good rifle." Lastly, a rifle only shoots as well as the schmuck aiming it down range can shoot. That is why none of my rifles shoot as well as some of my buddies. :D
 
Agreed that there are a lot of variables involved, but these two guys go shooting together frequently and my RRA buddy always shoots the other guy's Colt much more accurately than he shoot his own RRA (and Colt Buddy shoots the Colt better than the RRA). Using both his factory ammo (not sure what he uses) and Colt buddy's 69gr handloads in both rifles, the Colt always outperforms the RRA. Always. Just makes him SICK! :)

I've fired both rifles and I get better results with the Colt. Not a huge difference, but enough to make RRA buddy just SICK! :) Maybe it's just luck of the draw, but the accuracy of that Colt is uncanny.
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Just my opinion, but I think often it can be rifle to rifle differences even in the same brand and setup. No matter how good the machinery, no two rifles will be precisely alike.
 
My rock river is not a predator and it is not NM but rather just a chrome lined 16" barrel midlength. I get great results with 62 grain ss109 steel tipped bullets loaded with 23 to 24 grains of ramshot TAC and cci 400 primers. Tell him to try some of those in his 20" barrel. I have also had good results with accurate 2230 powders. I have not yet found a good load for 55 grainers.
 
Sorry, I can't resist.


Everyone who said that the ejection port, charging handle, and mag springs are paramount for accuracy are wrong. You see... the real advantage lies in what kind of plastic is used to line the compartment inside the buttstock of the rifle. True story.


Beat that in insignificance, and you win a cookie.
 
No, you are wrong. The type of plastic on the stock is VERY important to accuracy, however there is something more important. I have found that when the factories stamp their receivers with their logo it can often cause the metal in the mag well to expand about .0043 of an inch for every .00678 of an inch that is indented on the receiver. Depending on the size of the logo, this may actually make the receiver unbalanced and cause severe vibrations that lead to inconsistency from shot to shot. So, the true answer to your question is that NO brand shoots accurately simply because they stamp their brand name on the receiver. I don't know where all you guys heard that other stuff from but man you sure sound like idiots when you say that cost has something to do with it.
 
I go with the Bushmaster, Stag and Rock River Arms - all with accurized (read varmint/target) barrels. They all will hold 1 MOA (.5 MOA "all day long" seems a bit of a stretch.)


BUT : from Gilroy :
Just my opinion, but I think often it can be rifle to rifle differences even in the same brand and setup. No matter how good the machinery, no two rifles will be precisely alike.
Click to expand...
And I agree.
 
I'm suprised no one has said Patriot Ordinance Factory. If you are looking for a good accurate rifle some of the Bushmasters and Rock River varmit rifles fit the bill quite nicely. If you want extreme tack driving, then you will have to experiment with bullets, chambers, coeficients and the like, .223 with a 90 grain Boat Tail and a 22 inch 1 in 6.5 barrel might get some nice groups.
 
I shoot a reasonably accurate DPMS 16" stainless bull barrelled upper. But for real accuracy, as a few have already mentioned, go with Baer, Clark Gator, or a JP CTR02.

Of the mass produced guns I've liked RRA as seeming to be very consistant in their quality. You might get a barn burner Colt, but just as likely you won't, same with most of the other mass market guns. Almost all of them these days are pretty decent, but very few of them will consistantly shoot with the top three mentioned above.
 
While it may be obvious to most people here, a good trigger is worth it's weight in gold as far as consistent accuracy or small groups are concerned. A poor trigger will hold a good barrel and good ammunition back.

I'm constantly amazed how a manufacturer can make an otherwise excellent rifle such as these 20" heavy barrel varmint or target AR-15s and then put a heavy, creepy trigger in it.

Rock River makes a pretty good out of the box two stage trigger. In my opinion, the trigger on the Colt Accurized Varmint AR is heavy and creepy.

Maybe budget in the price for an after market drop in trigger? Though, the RRA two stage trigger is pretty nice and you can get by with that until you have the money to upgrade to an aftermarket trigger.
 
In my opinion, the trigger on the Colt Accurized Varmint AR is heavy and creepy.
Click to expand...

Agreed. My Colt buddy (see posts above) replaced the trigger in his Colt with a Timney drop-in replacement trigger within a month of buying it.
 
Everyone who said that the ejection port, charging handle, and mag springs are paramount for accuracy are wrong. You see... the real advantage lies in what kind of plastic is used to line the compartment inside the buttstock of the rifle. True story.


Beat that in insignificance, and you win a cookie.
Click to expand...

Have you miked the drain hole in the buttstock screw lately?


I like chocolate chip cookies.
 
sorry Nhsport

i am using some hand loads i baked up using 55 gr. v max s and w748, magnum primers. not too scientific just feeds well with great accuracy.
 
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