Would you be satisfied?

[sawgunner2001]

Gents,

I've got a chrome lined 20" 1-7tw AR made by Yankee Hill Machine topped with a Leupold Mk AR 3-9x40 held on by a Burris PEPR mount. Barrel is free floated, but the lower has a stock GI trigger (which will be changed when I get a positive cash flow...time unknown).

I've done load development with LC brass, Win SR primers, Varget, and Nosler 77gr BTHP bullets.

I've attained 2770fps with 1.25 MOA accuracy at 200yds with 25.5gr Varget seated to mag length without any serious pressure signs.

The bullets are going straight through the target (not keyholing), so I assume they're stabilizing in my barrel.

Would you be satisfied with that level of velocity and accuracy? Just wondering if I should change anything or stick with what I've got? I may try Hornady's 75gr BTHP since the BC is (reportedly) quite a bit better than both the SMK and Nosler bullets in that weight category, but it'll be a while before I run out of Nosler's. Should I try a different powder? I've got most IMR and Hodgdon powders locally at Bass Pro Shops (at $28/lb, not too bad to just try one pound at a time), but Ramshot, VV, and Win powders would need to be ordered.

I guess the question I'm asking is, what should I expect this rifle to be able to do? I'd like to take full advantage of it, but don't want to spend a ton of $$$ to find out 1.25 MOA is all she's gonna yield me. I do understand that it is pure speculation until everything has been tried, but I'd like y'all to speculate for me if ya would

Thanks

 

[HomeSlice]

Re: Would you be satisfied?

Maybe buy a couple of boxes of Fed and/or BH match ammo and see how they do? I try to get my match loads under MOA (1.25 aint bad for me anyway), but I've got a lot of $ in the rifle, and a lot of time shooting it. Who knows if its the ammo, you, the rifle, optic mount, ....

My $.02
-Slice

 

[TOP PREDATOR]

Re: Would you be satisfied?

1.25 moa at 200 is pretty damn good, and as i am an anal kind of person, i would tinker to see if even that can be improved upon....the trigger replacement being the first place i'd start.

...however if it's going to take more $ than what your budget would allow, i would have to take into consideration what your going to do with the rifle.

if you are thinking about going compitition, i would think you should try to gain as much improvement as has been PROVEN to improve accuraccy to gain any edge on the other competitors. but this also would involve comitment on your part to attend the comps on a regular basis, and IMHO would have to be a compitition that offers a purse to shoot for to help defray the costs of improvements made.

if you are just a weekend shooter, i'd replace the trigger, and then leave it be, as it seems you are producing good results where you already are. it's the last 1/8" that costs the most.
i would tinker with another load (starting with the bullet), just to see, but it seems you've got a winner with the one you got, and the platform you are using it through. at that point, anything spent on the rifle, past the trigger, is going to cost more than say $350-$400 may be better suited towards improving another rifle you have that needs attention.

so my 2cents are: if you are going comp, try to get the most you can, if just recreational shooting, get a trigger and be satisfied

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: Would you be satisfied?

The AR I had, shot a 30 round 1 1/4" group at 100 yards. I take that back. It was a 27 round group. The first 3 rounds were outside the main group. Yes I save the target.

That was with Lake City brass, standard Winchester small rifle primers, 21.7 grains of IMR 4198, 55 grain FMJ Hornady at 3060 fps.

I was happy with that. If I need to shoot house flies at distance I'll choose another rifle to start with. While ARs are a decent semi automatic rifle. I don't think MOST are meant to shoot much better.

 

[sawgunner2001]

Re: Would you be satisfied?

Thanks for the input, gentlemen. This rifle will be used primarily as a paper puncher with the potential to see a few comps, but only if an AR/semi-auto platform is required by comp rules. Otherwise the bolt gun gets used for comps.

Once gainfully employed again, I shall get me a new trigger and some Hornady boolits and try them with Varget. I do believe that will conclude my testing with this rifle. I don't think this rifle is worth trying 5-6 different powders to try and get another potential 50fps or a little better accuracy. Bullets are cheap (relatively), I'll test one more of those. Thanks for the opinions so far.

 

[sobrbiker883]

Re: Would you be satisfied?

That's very good for a CL 1:7 with a 3-9X optic and a stock AR trigger.

 

[TOP PREDATOR]

Re: Would you be satisfied?

yeah for a recreational shooter, that's a fine setup. even for a compitition rifle, not shabby.

perhaps take it (after the trigger) to the comps and see how you stake against the other competitors. maybe what you have is all you'll need.

 

[sawgunner2001]

Re: Would you be satisfied?

I read about a guy named Bill Springfield on another forum who does trigger jobs on GI triggers. 30 minutes of googleing turn out nothing but good reviews. For $35, I'll give that a shot. For anyone interested, http://www.triggerwork.net/ar15s.html

Thanks again

 

[308sako]

Re: Would you be satisfied?

Deleted in protest!

 

[sawgunner2001]

Re: Would you be satisfied?

Thanks for the note on Mr. Springfield's work. That is the first negative review I've seen, although it was a relatively quick search. I was a bit skeptical myself.