accuracy ar-15

salvadore · March 24, 2012, 09:17 PM

I know they are accurate, however last time I purchased a free floating heavy barreled model and put on an after market trigger and a 12X scope and it shot worst than my first, an SP-1. That didn't sound right. My first AR would shoot into 2" at 100yds with iron sights, from a prone position. Here's the deal, I'm in the market for an accurate AR and am curious if anyone has had experience with more than one of the current configurations at the range and etc. Any info would be much appreciated.

zoomie · March 24, 2012, 09:23 PM

Lots of variables here and something's wrong if it's not shooting less than 2".

Was the scope mount solid? Was the scope holding zero? What ammo? What quality barrel? Was the upper assembled correctly?

Do you want a complete upper? What length and contour barrel? White Oak, Krieger, Shilen, etc all offer quality barrels if you just want to rebarrel. White Oak also offers complete competition-quality uppers.

salvadore · March 24, 2012, 10:02 PM

Actually I just wanted some input on the current crop. For instance, is the R-15 an accurate rifle, will it handle 5.56X45, Does the ruger piston affect accuracy, who may have a super deal for an accurate platform, does anyone put a decent trigger on their rifle...that kind of thing.

Art Eatman · March 24, 2012, 10:11 PM

My present rig is a Colt lower with a CMMG upper. 20" lightweight, slow twist for 50- and 55-grain bullets. Weaver K4 on top for now. I get one MOA at my benchrest with little difficulty. Cataract surgery sure helped.

I have to work to get one MOA with irons and the Colt upper on the rifle.

About a dozen years back I had a Bushmaster Match Target. The silly thing, even with a horrible trigger, was a "half-MOA, all-day" shooter. But 9.5 pounds sorta turned me off and I sold it. That rifle, for tight groups, was #2 out of maybe twenty or thirty different rifles that I've messed with. One of those old guns with maybe a new barrel, oughta really be a good one.

TMD · March 24, 2012, 10:30 PM

Quote:

I know they are accurate, however last time I purchased a free floating heavy barreled model and put on an after market trigger and a 12X scope and it shot worst than my first, an SP-1. That didn't sound right. My first AR would shoot into 2" at 100yds with iron sights, from a prone position. Here's the deal, I'm in the market for an accurate AR and am curious if anyone has had experience with more than one of the current configurations at the range and etc. Any info would be much appreciated.

What twist rate does the barrel have and what weight bullets are you using?

salvadore · March 24, 2012, 10:35 PM

Thanks for the heads up ART, I want a faster twist even tho I will probably be shooting mostly 55grs. I have a CZ with a 1 in 12" for the lighter bullets. I looked at the Colts and was hoping to get in a little cheaper. I'm kinda set on a free floater with a gas (impingement?) system..The original system. Anyway I will keep looking. I called Mossberg to see when their Hunter series would be generally available and got gobbledeegook for my troubles. Still looking tho.

salvadore · March 24, 2012, 10:37 PM

I'm not being clear...sorry folks. Like I said it didn't shoot so I got rid of it years ago.

salvadore · March 24, 2012, 10:41 PM

That's another thing, when I loaded for my various ARs my go to load was 55 gr speer spitzers and whatever the max 335 load was or sometimes SX's in 55 or 50 grains. I don't remember crimping but now I hear I should crimp...I think the last one had 1 in 9" and I shot my standard and some 69gr sierra match kings, don' remember the load.

Sport45 · March 24, 2012, 11:32 PM

For an accurate AR you could look at a White Oak varmint upper in 20" or 24" and pair it with a Rock River lower with their 2-stage match trigger. You'd be good to go with bullets from 55gr (24" 1-8 barrel) or 62gr (20" 1-7 barrel) up to maximum magazine length bullets.

wnycollector · March 25, 2012, 09:52 AM

RRA makes some very accurate AR rifles. Their Predator Pursuit uppers may fit the bill for you since they are 1:8 twist and have wylde chambers making them accurate and versatile. Here is a link to their uppers http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.c...ategory_id=271

semi_problomatic · March 25, 2012, 10:47 AM

RRA has a MOA guarontee on some of their rifles. A lot of high end barrel makers say their uppers will do MOA or better or they wont let them out the door. Superior barrels, krieger, and noveske off the top of my head. But RRA guarontees it, if you look on the fine print of superior barrels they state there is no guarontee on accuracy.

All I've used are colts and military ammo and they've always been plenty accurate for what I needed them for.

kraigwy · March 25, 2012, 10:51 AM

Accurate AR = White Oak.

Got to any major HP match and see what a majority of those on the winner board shoot.

salvadore · March 25, 2012, 09:11 PM

Thanks SPORT, WNY, SEMI, KRAIGY and the rest, maybe I should just look into putting one together. I wonder if it is possible to complete one with the stuff you guys recommended for under $1000. Thank again Gents.

RC20 · March 25, 2012, 11:17 PM

If you want an accurate AR, you are going to have to pay for it.

A lot of people advocate building their own, but if you can do less than a full up factory gun, you have to cut corners someplace.

As others have stated, RRA makes a very good gun at a decent price. No it will not go for $800, but it also has stellar accuracy.

If you want a good shooter then one of the hunter series. Predator pursuit, Coyote or the ATH (this last one is a split between a varminter and a tactical gun which is what I went with).

You get a stainless steel barrel and usually can option the chromed BCG and chromed two state match trigger (BCG at no extra cost). I had mine bead blasted on the barrel as I did not want a bight shine.

note: RRA does not guarantee the gun unless you buy it whole.

Also, its a very very tight fitting upper and lower. contrary to rumor, my gas key was staked (and yes a DGI will give you better accuracy than a piston and more so over more than 3 shot groups.

The Hunter series comes with a 1-8 barrel which covers the 50 to 78 grain range (biased a bit up past 55). Wylde chamber for 5.56 or 223 and better accuracy

Beentown71 · March 25, 2012, 11:31 PM

I just ordered a RRA ATH for $1039 delivered.

ms6852 · March 26, 2012, 05:13 AM

I have the RRA predator pursuit, loves to shoot 55gr hornady superformance match. Five shot groups at 100 for four groups averaged .683. This rifle guaranteed to shoot 3/4 moa with a 2 stage trigger which is really nice for under $1200. Comes with A2 stock but I changed mine to magpul prs stock.

madcratebuilder · March 26, 2012, 08:43 AM

Most all the manufacturers offer a precision rifle that well shoot sub moa. It's not rocket surgery to build a sub moa rifle either. Barrel quality is the most important part. Custom triggers, floating hand guards are just the frosting on the cake.

I think Noveske makes one of the best AR's on the market, but there are dozens of others that can shoot as well. White Oak makes great service rifles.
PacNor makes great barrels, as does Krieger.

I have a 18", 1-8 mini SASS barrel from DPMS that shoots sub moa. You really don't need tons of money unless you want to be well under sub moa.

SFW · March 26, 2012, 06:17 PM

My RRA Elite Operator will shoot .5 inch groups all day long. It actually tightens up once the gun gets hot.

March 24, 2012, 09:17 PM	#1
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	accuracy ar-15 I know they are accurate, however last time I purchased a free floating heavy barreled model and put on an after market trigger and a 12X scope and it shot worst than my first, an SP-1. That didn't sound right. My first AR would shoot into 2" at 100yds with iron sights, from a prone position. Here's the deal, I'm in the market for an accurate AR and am curious if anyone has had experience with more than one of the current configurations at the range and etc. Any info would be much appreciated.

March 24, 2012, 11:32 PM	#9
Sport45 Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 1999 Location: Too close to Houston Posts: 4,196	For an accurate AR you could look at a White Oak varmint upper in 20" or 24" and pair it with a Rock River lower with their 2-stage match trigger. You'd be good to go with bullets from 55gr (24" 1-8 barrel) or 62gr (20" 1-7 barrel) up to maximum magazine length bullets. __________________ Proud member of the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association. Registered and active voter.

March 25, 2012, 11:31 PM	#15
Beentown71 Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2009 Location: Midwest Posts: 1,560	I just ordered a RRA ATH for $1039 delivered. __________________ Μολὼν λάβε Time for the Mall Ninja list: Beretta 92fs, Springer XD9, High Standard Model HB, RRA bull bbl...aw heck with it time to go plink

March 24, 2012, 09:23 PM	#2
zoomie Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2006 Location: GA Posts: 1,870	Lots of variables here and something's wrong if it's not shooting less than 2". Was the scope mount solid? Was the scope holding zero? What ammo? What quality barrel? Was the upper assembled correctly? Do you want a complete upper? What length and contour barrel? White Oak, Krieger, Shilen, etc all offer quality barrels if you just want to rebarrel. White Oak also offers complete competition-quality uppers.

March 24, 2012, 10:02 PM	#3
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	Actually I just wanted some input on the current crop. For instance, is the R-15 an accurate rifle, will it handle 5.56X45, Does the ruger piston affect accuracy, who may have a super deal for an accurate platform, does anyone put a decent trigger on their rifle...that kind of thing.

March 24, 2012, 10:11 PM	#4
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	My present rig is a Colt lower with a CMMG upper. 20" lightweight, slow twist for 50- and 55-grain bullets. Weaver K4 on top for now. I get one MOA at my benchrest with little difficulty. Cataract surgery sure helped. I have to work to get one MOA with irons and the Colt upper on the rifle. About a dozen years back I had a Bushmaster Match Target. The silly thing, even with a horrible trigger, was a "half-MOA, all-day" shooter. But 9.5 pounds sorta turned me off and I sold it. That rifle, for tight groups, was #2 out of maybe twenty or thirty different rifles that I've messed with. One of those old guns with maybe a new barrel, oughta really be a good one.

March 24, 2012, 10:35 PM	#6
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	Thanks for the heads up ART, I want a faster twist even tho I will probably be shooting mostly 55grs. I have a CZ with a 1 in 12" for the lighter bullets. I looked at the Colts and was hoping to get in a little cheaper. I'm kinda set on a free floater with a gas (impingement?) system..The original system. Anyway I will keep looking. I called Mossberg to see when their Hunter series would be generally available and got gobbledeegook for my troubles. Still looking tho.

March 24, 2012, 10:37 PM	#7
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	I'm not being clear...sorry folks. Like I said it didn't shoot so I got rid of it years ago.

March 24, 2012, 10:41 PM	#8
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	That's another thing, when I loaded for my various ARs my go to load was 55 gr speer spitzers and whatever the max 335 load was or sometimes SX's in 55 or 50 grains. I don't remember crimping but now I hear I should crimp...I think the last one had 1 in 9" and I shot my standard and some 69gr sierra match kings, don' remember the load.

March 25, 2012, 09:52 AM	#10
wnycollector Senior Member Join Date: April 22, 2007 Posts: 1,996	RRA makes some very accurate AR rifles. Their Predator Pursuit uppers may fit the bill for you since they are 1:8 twist and have wylde chambers making them accurate and versatile. Here is a link to their uppers http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.c...ategory_id=271

March 25, 2012, 10:47 AM	#11
semi_problomatic Senior Member Join Date: July 27, 2009 Location: Ft. Polk Posts: 883	RRA has a MOA guarontee on some of their rifles. A lot of high end barrel makers say their uppers will do MOA or better or they wont let them out the door. Superior barrels, krieger, and noveske off the top of my head. But RRA guarontees it, if you look on the fine print of superior barrels they state there is no guarontee on accuracy. All I've used are colts and military ammo and they've always been plenty accurate for what I needed them for.

March 25, 2012, 10:51 AM	#12
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,060	Accurate AR = White Oak. Got to any major HP match and see what a majority of those on the winner board shoot.

March 25, 2012, 09:11 PM	#13
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	Thanks SPORT, WNY, SEMI, KRAIGY and the rest, maybe I should just look into putting one together. I wonder if it is possible to complete one with the stuff you guys recommended for under $1000. Thank again Gents.

March 25, 2012, 11:17 PM	#14
RC20 Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 7,330	If you want an accurate AR, you are going to have to pay for it. A lot of people advocate building their own, but if you can do less than a full up factory gun, you have to cut corners someplace. As others have stated, RRA makes a very good gun at a decent price. No it will not go for $800, but it also has stellar accuracy. If you want a good shooter then one of the hunter series. Predator pursuit, Coyote or the ATH (this last one is a split between a varminter and a tactical gun which is what I went with). You get a stainless steel barrel and usually can option the chromed BCG and chromed two state match trigger (BCG at no extra cost). I had mine bead blasted on the barrel as I did not want a bight shine. note: RRA does not guarantee the gun unless you buy it whole. Also, its a very very tight fitting upper and lower. contrary to rumor, my gas key was staked (and yes a DGI will give you better accuracy than a piston and more so over more than 3 shot groups. The Hunter series comes with a 1-8 barrel which covers the 50 to 78 grain range (biased a bit up past 55). Wylde chamber for 5.56 or 223 and better accuracy

March 26, 2012, 05:13 AM	#16
ms6852 Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,394	I have the RRA predator pursuit, loves to shoot 55gr hornady superformance match. Five shot groups at 100 for four groups averaged .683. This rifle guaranteed to shoot 3/4 moa with a 2 stage trigger which is really nice for under $1200. Comes with A2 stock but I changed mine to magpul prs stock.

March 26, 2012, 08:43 AM	#17
madcratebuilder Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2007 Location: Northern Orygun Posts: 4,923	Most all the manufacturers offer a precision rifle that well shoot sub moa. It's not rocket surgery to build a sub moa rifle either. Barrel quality is the most important part. Custom triggers, floating hand guards are just the frosting on the cake. I think Noveske makes one of the best AR's on the market, but there are dozens of others that can shoot as well. White Oak makes great service rifles. PacNor makes great barrels, as does Krieger. I have a 18", 1-8 mini SASS barrel from DPMS that shoots sub moa. You really don't need tons of money unless you want to be well under sub moa.

March 26, 2012, 06:17 PM	#18
SFW Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2010 Location: The Republic of Texas Posts: 124	My RRA Elite Operator will shoot .5 inch groups all day long. It actually tightens up once the gun gets hot.