Best .223 Match Rifle (Service Rifle Class)

tools · July 18, 2007, 10:55 PM

What is the best Service Rifle class .223 out there today, for strictly shooting hi-power matches?

boltgun71 · July 19, 2007, 06:25 AM

If your talking about Service Rifle Class for NRA High Power matches, the only .223 Rem that qualifies is the AR-15/M-16. Service rifle has to be a rifle that has been issued to the military. The common ones are AR-15/M-16, M1A/M14, M1 Garand, 1903/A3 Springfield, and the occassional M1 Carbine and 1917 Enfield. Everyone except the AR-15 is a .30 caliber of some sort.

For a factory gun the very best for the money is the Rock River Arms NM A2 or A4 model. If you go the custom route or factory tuned route, White Oak Precision seems to be the best their is. I just recently bought a Rock River Arms NM A2 and love it. Hope this helps.

cdrt · July 19, 2007, 07:36 AM

This is the link for the Section on equipment in the latest version of the NRA rule book for Highpower.
http://www.nrahq.org/compete/RuleBooks/HPR/hpr-w03.pdf

If I interpreted it correctly, only the M16/AR15, M1A/M14 and M1 Garand are considered service rifles for both the NRA and CMP. There are separate matches for the M1 Carbine, foreign service rifles, etc. since they are not considered service rifles for NRA Highpower or CMP EIC (Leg) matches.

There is a reference to the CMP in the above rule regarding their rules for Service Rifles. Their rule book can be found at www.odcmp.com. Pages 17-22 cover service rifle rules and rules for "as-issued" U.S. Military rifles for specific competitions.

tools · July 19, 2007, 09:42 AM

Thanks. I will go with the AR15, and thanks for the pointers to the best manufacturers.

30Cal · July 19, 2007, 11:52 AM

I highly recommend you go with the A2 upper instead of the A4. The A4 detachable carry handle can make things excessively complicated (not enough elevation travel for 600yds, more difficult to reach through to trip the bolt, possibility of the whole handle and rear sight coming loose). You want something with a 1:7" twist, maybe 1:8" to spin 80gr bullets for 600yds.

Ty

cdrt · July 19, 2007, 02:05 PM

Dittos on the A2 rather than A4. Most guys here are shooting 1:7" twist.

bobn · July 20, 2007, 08:42 AM

tools. you were asking for manufactors! i shoot a bushmaster cmp gun. others have reported rock river arms and white/compass are the best.
....dpms has not impressed me at all. bobn

BobCat45 · July 20, 2007, 04:33 PM

I shoot a Bushmaster CMP (1:8" twist) and, although it is one of the lower-cost alternatives, it still prints better than I hold.

Many of the top shooters at our club speak well of White Oak - John Holliger - and shoot his rifles. White Oak Precision is his "top line" and White Oak Armaments is more "generic" but both get good reviews from the people I aspire to shoot as well as.

30Cal · July 20, 2007, 05:29 PM

Most anyone's match AR will do the job just fine. It's not like an M14 were you need both an armorer and a witch doctor to get it to shoot nice.

Ty

July 18, 2007, 10:55 PM	#1
tools Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2006 Posts: 124	Best .223 Match Rifle (Service Rifle Class) What is the best Service Rifle class .223 out there today, for strictly shooting hi-power matches?

July 19, 2007, 07:36 AM	#3
cdrt Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 2007 Location: The Lone Star State Posts: 255	This is the link for the Section on equipment in the latest version of the NRA rule book for Highpower. http://www.nrahq.org/compete/RuleBooks/HPR/hpr-w03.pdf If I interpreted it correctly, only the M16/AR15, M1A/M14 and M1 Garand are considered service rifles for both the NRA and CMP. There are separate matches for the M1 Carbine, foreign service rifles, etc. since they are not considered service rifles for NRA Highpower or CMP EIC (Leg) matches. There is a reference to the CMP in the above rule regarding their rules for Service Rifles. Their rule book can be found at www.odcmp.com. Pages 17-22 cover service rifle rules and rules for "as-issued" U.S. Military rifles for specific competitions. __________________ Navy Vet, SWIFT Boat OIC, Distinguished Pistol Shot #1399 USS JOHN S. MCCAIN (DDG-36)

July 19, 2007, 02:05 PM	#6
cdrt Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 2007 Location: The Lone Star State Posts: 255	Dittos on the A2 rather than A4. Most guys here are shooting 1:7" twist. __________________ Navy Vet, SWIFT Boat OIC, Distinguished Pistol Shot #1399 USS JOHN S. MCCAIN (DDG-36)

July 19, 2007, 06:25 AM	#2
boltgun71 Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 547	If your talking about Service Rifle Class for NRA High Power matches, the only .223 Rem that qualifies is the AR-15/M-16. Service rifle has to be a rifle that has been issued to the military. The common ones are AR-15/M-16, M1A/M14, M1 Garand, 1903/A3 Springfield, and the occassional M1 Carbine and 1917 Enfield. Everyone except the AR-15 is a .30 caliber of some sort. For a factory gun the very best for the money is the Rock River Arms NM A2 or A4 model. If you go the custom route or factory tuned route, White Oak Precision seems to be the best their is. I just recently bought a Rock River Arms NM A2 and love it. Hope this helps.

July 19, 2007, 09:42 AM	#4
tools Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2006 Posts: 124	Thanks. I will go with the AR15, and thanks for the pointers to the best manufacturers.

July 19, 2007, 11:52 AM	#5
30Cal Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 2002 Posts: 1,264	I highly recommend you go with the A2 upper instead of the A4. The A4 detachable carry handle can make things excessively complicated (not enough elevation travel for 600yds, more difficult to reach through to trip the bolt, possibility of the whole handle and rear sight coming loose). You want something with a 1:7" twist, maybe 1:8" to spin 80gr bullets for 600yds. Ty

July 20, 2007, 08:42 AM	#7
bobn Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2006 Location: midwest Posts: 1,105	tools. you were asking for manufactors! i shoot a bushmaster cmp gun. others have reported rock river arms and white/compass are the best. ....dpms has not impressed me at all. bobn

July 20, 2007, 04:33 PM	#8
BobCat45 Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2004 Location: East Bernard, TX Posts: 523	I shoot a Bushmaster CMP (1:8" twist) and, although it is one of the lower-cost alternatives, it still prints better than I hold. Many of the top shooters at our club speak well of White Oak - John Holliger - and shoot his rifles. White Oak Precision is his "top line" and White Oak Armaments is more "generic" but both get good reviews from the people I aspire to shoot as well as.

July 20, 2007, 05:29 PM	#9
30Cal Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 2002 Posts: 1,264	Most anyone's match AR will do the job just fine. It's not like an M14 were you need both an armorer and a witch doctor to get it to shoot nice. Ty