Wolf .223 vs Surplus 7.62x54R?

[Shrinkmd]

For aperture iron sight practice at 100 yds, given a Mosin in good condition and shooting decent surplus, which rifle should group better? The inherent accuracy of the AR with so-so Wolf in it, vs the theoretically higher accuracy of a bolt (although perhaps not with most Mosins) with surplus? Using the Ironsightaction 8MOA/4MOA targets, should even lousy wolf nicely fill the 4MOA ring or better? Supposedly a good Mosin with surplus it likes can do the same.

I know quality ammo or handloads would do vastly better, but for day to day plinking and practice, I'm wondering which might group better.

Also, how about a 22lr at 100yds on the same targets with iron sights. Does anyone use their AR 22lr upper for that type of practice?

I know which one is cheaper! (not that Wolf .223 is that expensive, but it is still almost double the cost of 54R surplus)

 

[iamkris]

There is absolutely no way to answer that.

In general, ARs will be more accurate than your run of the mill MN. That said, there are plenty of sub-MOA MNs out there and plenty of inaccurate ARs out there.

Throw in the complexity of the fact that no two rifles will shoot the same given any specific ammo and you've created an unanswerable question.

I always find it funny when gun magazines publish accuracy stats of a gun. It means absolutely nothing...you will only achieve that accuracy IF you use that specific gun and that specific ammo in those specific conditions.

 

[trueblue1776]

In my opinion wolf is about the same quality of average soviet surplus 7.62x54r, given the sturdier action of the Mos-Nag I would say Mos-Nag is a much more accurate gun. The Bulgarian surplus Heavy ball gives me a <2" group, I am hard pressed to do that in mr AR-15 with anything less than Black Hills.

 

[DMK]

I agree with Iamkris. There's a lot of variables there. However, owning a bunch on MNs and lots of surplus 7.62x54R, I'd put my money on the AR. Unless you are buying a Finn M39, getting a real good shooter isn't much more than a crap shoot.

Unless your AR is a complete piece of crap, it will generally have a better trigger, better barrel quality, and better sights (Mojos on an MN aren't the same as real aperture sights with the rear sight close to the eye). The AR15 A2 sight will also allow for range/elevation adjustments to shoot IronSightAction's simulated long range ghost targets. Another factor is the AR's lighter recoil making flinch less likely. Plus you can shoot some match ammo in the AR once in a while to see what you can really do.

Interesting question though. I'll have to buy some Wolf 223 and test it against my Mosins.

Also, how about a 22lr at 100yds on the same targets with iron sights. Does anyone use their AR 22lr upper for that type of practice?

If you're just looking for cheap practice of sight picture, trigger control and shooting positions, that would be the way to go. I have my 22LR AR sighted to 50 yards because I mostly use it on my backyard 25 yard range and the 50 yard targets at the real range. However, it would be a simple matter to dial in about 6" more elevation and shoot it at 100 yards. I have a Romanian 1968 bolt action that's sighted at 100. 22LR shoots paper just fine at that range. Buy a brick of a few different types and see what works best out there. Even if you don't have an AR, Tech-sights makes nice aperture sights to fit a Ruger 10/22. Law27 said he's also working on a set for the Marlin 60.

Ultimately though you want to practice with the weapon you plan to deploy. I keep an AR for home defense. For me, it would be much more beneficial to practice with the AR platform. Sometimes that's with 22LR, sometimes that's with cheap Guatemalan surplus (which probably doesn't group much better than Wolf). If I could do 8MOA consistently with cheap ammo and then once in a while shoot 4 MOA with better ammo, that's good practice. IMO, getting a ton of practice my shooting 2MOA with a bolt action doesn't do you much good when you fumble with the rear sight adjustments and other controls on your AR come time to need it.

 

[Caseless]

For aperture iron sight practice

I am not aware of any M/N model with a factory installed aperture sight, unless you are thinking about the aftermarket Mojo sight.

I don't have an AR since I am in CA. I use a Kel-Tec Su-16CA instead. Comparing the Su-16 to a Finn M-39 at one hundred yards, Wolf .223 vs. Hungarian surplus lightball, the M-39 groups better when standing. Benched, both can do 4MOA all day long. Wolf has more flyers though. Just my observation.