So question, on AR-15s, how much impact does the bolt have on accuracy? My 20” HBAR has been shooting 75gr PPU just fine, about 1MOA 5 shot groups. Sometimes a little more or a little less. I took it to the range to sight in my ML again. At least that went well.
Anyway, the one box I brought with me (brand new batch from anything I’ve shot before. I’ve got about 10-12 boxes from at least 3-4 batches) the best 5 shot group I managed was 1.5MOA. I was mostly shooting during calm winds, though it was gusting a lot. I am willing to blame a little drift on that, but not 1.5-2MOA groups.
The barrel was pretty heated up by then, but heat hasn’t seemed to seriously impact my group sizes before.
A few months back I got a Brownell’s nitrided BCG for a song on sale. It head spaces, but I have no way to check exact head space other than “it passes”. I swapped the new BCG in for the PSA parkarized BCG which I dropped in my 16” upper, which was without a BCG. I haven’t really shot my 20” much since swapping BCGs.
Is this more likely just a bad box/batch of ammo (the M193 and freedom reloads I was shooting were turning in typical results of 2MOA for the M193 and closer to 3MOA for the freedom reloads)? Or could the BCG be the perpetrator?
I ordered a few boxes of Hornady to test some of that out as I’ve never run .223/5.56 Hornady ammo. Ordered a box of 75gr steel case match, 73gr ELD custom, 68gr BTHP frontier and 75gr BTHP Black. I have 69 and 75gr PPU on hand as well as 69gr and 77gr IMI. At least the testing I’ve doje before my 1:8 twist barrel seems to oiirnthe mid weight rounds the best, with 62-69gr usually shooting about .1-.2” smaller groups.
I was thinking of trying some accuracy tests of both ammo and BCGs side by side.
Thoughts?
PS barrel has maybe 1000 rounds down the tube, so I doubt it has suddenly started to show the signs of excessive wear.
PPS I checked scope base and ring screws to ensure they aren’t loose.
Anyway, the one box I brought with me (brand new batch from anything I’ve shot before. I’ve got about 10-12 boxes from at least 3-4 batches) the best 5 shot group I managed was 1.5MOA. I was mostly shooting during calm winds, though it was gusting a lot. I am willing to blame a little drift on that, but not 1.5-2MOA groups.
The barrel was pretty heated up by then, but heat hasn’t seemed to seriously impact my group sizes before.
A few months back I got a Brownell’s nitrided BCG for a song on sale. It head spaces, but I have no way to check exact head space other than “it passes”. I swapped the new BCG in for the PSA parkarized BCG which I dropped in my 16” upper, which was without a BCG. I haven’t really shot my 20” much since swapping BCGs.
Is this more likely just a bad box/batch of ammo (the M193 and freedom reloads I was shooting were turning in typical results of 2MOA for the M193 and closer to 3MOA for the freedom reloads)? Or could the BCG be the perpetrator?
I ordered a few boxes of Hornady to test some of that out as I’ve never run .223/5.56 Hornady ammo. Ordered a box of 75gr steel case match, 73gr ELD custom, 68gr BTHP frontier and 75gr BTHP Black. I have 69 and 75gr PPU on hand as well as 69gr and 77gr IMI. At least the testing I’ve doje before my 1:8 twist barrel seems to oiirnthe mid weight rounds the best, with 62-69gr usually shooting about .1-.2” smaller groups.
I was thinking of trying some accuracy tests of both ammo and BCGs side by side.
Thoughts?
PS barrel has maybe 1000 rounds down the tube, so I doubt it has suddenly started to show the signs of excessive wear.
PPS I checked scope base and ring screws to ensure they aren’t loose.