Home› Main Category› General Firearms
Jeeper44mag
Posts: 126 Member
AR Barrel upgrade & range report
Jeeper44mag
Posts: 126 Member
Started as just a PSA bargain complete lower (~$125+tax/registration)... sat on that for a couple years, then added a 18" PSA complete upper in stainless .223/5.56 Wylde (1/8 twist) w/15" keymod handguard ~$300?. Added a set of offset sights, upgraded the trigger to a Geissele SSA-E (~$170 at the time), swapped the BCG for a ti-nitride model ($75) and mounted a Leupold 1.5-4x illuminated scope on Nikon P-series rings ($325ish? Don't remember).
So far, so good, I thought. BUT.... at the range, I never could get better than ~1.5" (5 shot) groups at 100 yds even with match grade ammo, and 1.75"-2.50" was a lot more common. This frustrated me to no end (I'm generally just not happy with a rifle that isn't capable of ~MOA), so I finally took it to a local gunsmith and asked him to install a Ballistic Advantage 16" barrel (wylde chamber, 416R ss, 1/8 twist, rifle length gas system) with a Miculek brake on it ($400). Total investment ~$1500.
I had this done just over 3 months ago, and due to an unfortunate accident right after that, had to forego a test until now, so today was my first range day! It was rather windy outside, so I visited one of the local 100 yd indoor ranges to test the new barrel out with various ammo.
Here's my rifle above. After a careful cleaning of the new barrel, I ran 10 rounds of cheap ammo (ZQI 62gr. SS109, Independence 55 grain fmj) through it just to dirty the barrel, then (with the barrel still warm) ran 1 group of 5 with each of the following ammo brands/types with ~3 minute downtime between groups:
So far, so good, I thought. BUT.... at the range, I never could get better than ~1.5" (5 shot) groups at 100 yds even with match grade ammo, and 1.75"-2.50" was a lot more common. This frustrated me to no end (I'm generally just not happy with a rifle that isn't capable of ~MOA), so I finally took it to a local gunsmith and asked him to install a Ballistic Advantage 16" barrel (wylde chamber, 416R ss, 1/8 twist, rifle length gas system) with a Miculek brake on it ($400). Total investment ~$1500.
I had this done just over 3 months ago, and due to an unfortunate accident right after that, had to forego a test until now, so today was my first range day! It was rather windy outside, so I visited one of the local 100 yd indoor ranges to test the new barrel out with various ammo.
Here's my rifle above. After a careful cleaning of the new barrel, I ran 10 rounds of cheap ammo (ZQI 62gr. SS109, Independence 55 grain fmj) through it just to dirty the barrel, then (with the barrel still warm) ran 1 group of 5 with each of the following ammo brands/types with ~3 minute downtime between groups:
1) Winchester 69 grain Match (3/4")
2) Speer 75gr. Gold Dot (1.25") (tbh, the bottom right might have been user error due to having to time the shots - more on that later)
3) AAC 77gr. Match (15/16")
4) Speer Gold Dot 55gr. 1 & 9/16" (felt like a good round, no called flyers)
5) Hornady Superformance 75 gr. Match (1 & 3/8", with a called flyer. Would have been 11/16" w/o the flyer).
Just after I fired the first 10 rounds of cheap ammo, when retrieving the target, the chain that operates the target to/from the 100 yd line fell off the track, and was swinging back and forth from the right side of the target to just left of dead center! Since no other lanes were available, I had to time my shots to coincide with the chain's swing to the right so that i wouldn't hit it. >.<
I skipped uploading the (target #4) 55 grain target (phone is very slow to load). I realize that each type of ammo has it's own poa/poi, but I tinkered with the elevation/windage a bit between groups anyway, and seem to be pretty much on target by the time I got around to the Hornady (the last group).
I skipped uploading the (target #4) 55 grain target (phone is very slow to load). I realize that each type of ammo has it's own poa/poi, but I tinkered with the elevation/windage a bit between groups anyway, and seem to be pretty much on target by the time I got around to the Hornady (the last group).
So... a really solid analysis will need to wait until I can go back with a higher power scope and just the 3 top match ammo types to see what it likes best, and just how tight a group I can wring out of it, but my immediate impression is that the Ballistic Advantage barrel is SUBSTANTIALLY better than the cheap stock barrel was, and will likely yield at least an occasional 1/2" group, with most groups going in the 1/2" - 3/4" size. Maybe not benchrest quality, but PLENTY for a 3 gun match, and hunting down some hogs. No FTF/FTE, although twice the bolt failed to lock back after the 5th shot was fired.
Luis
ps. The JM muzzle brake is LOUD but sure does minimize movement. Minimal effort needed to reacquire the target after each shot. I'd bet with a little practice I could bang out 2" 5 shot groups in 2-3 seconds off a rest.
Replies
hornady also makes a 68gr round that should do well, but I am not fan of the BTHP.
I think this combo will do nickel sized groups (the Geissele SSA-E trigger is outstanding) with a higher power scope, and the right ammo. In any case, this is as far down the rabbit hole as I'm going with this rifle $$ wise. It will definitely do what I want now (hogs and/or home defense)
Still have two more lowers with the same (SSA-E) trigger. I'm definitely going .300 Blackout with one, haven't decided about the other one yet. Maybe a 6.5 Grendel, or a heavy hitter like a .450 Bushmaster, .458 Socom or .500 Beowulf?
It’s a °IIIII° thing 😎
Mine begs to differ, Sub 1/2 MOA for 5 at 100 (0.46MOA), and 5 more @ 300 (0.421 MOA) In the spirit of full disclosure, they were Nosler Custom Competitions 77gr instead of SMKs though
It’s a °IIIII° thing 😎
funny story about that… we were supposed to use the van to do a Vehicle drop off (VDO) and hit a building.