AR advice..

[J8300]

I'm going to be looking to build or buy a sniper style AR-15 in the next week or two. I want it to be very accurate out to 500 yards. I'm thinking a 20" free floated bbl to start with but other than that I have no idea.

Also why are there so many posts saying ARs arent that accurate to 500 yds? The m16a2's I used in my 4 years in the service seemed to be very accurate to 500. We used man sized targets at that range, a torso and head, but I had no problem putting one in the forehead when I tried, with iron sights. And I did a few times despite being told not to go for head shots.

What kind of accuracy can I really expect? Can I build or buy an AR "tackdriver" good to 500 yds? Should I look into something else?

Oh I think the one other requirement I would want is some kind of front and rear sigh 'just in case'. But I plan on having a scope mounted.

[J8300]

Oh and does anyone know of any dealers in the Warren county area with more than just 8 stock ARs?

[bert304]

I would go with a longer barrel around 24 inch. Hae up been to any web sites that sell AR parts you will find better deals.

[Lycanthrope]

Well, there is this:

http://www.pafoa.org/forum/rifles-42...r-project.html

For accuracy in an AR all you really need is a good barrel and free float tube. If you don't reload, stay with a 1:8 or 1:9 twist because 1:7 won't punch bug holes with a 55gr bullet like it will with a 77gr bullet.

P.S. barrel length has no effect on accuracy....just bullet speed.

Lycanhere'sastartthrope

[Cheeseybacon]

I can't comment on the accuracy of .223/5.56 at 500 yards, but I can tell you that my dad has really been drilling the targets nicely at 200 yards with a 20" River Rock Arms A4 Varmint upper that I bought him for Christmas. If I were buying a pre-assembled upper with the intention of building a target/sniper AR, that's probably what I'd go with.

It has 1:8 rifling twist so it works nicely with the heavier bullets.

[fultonCoShooter]

here are the barrel specs for the Navy MK12

An 18-inch (457 mm) threaded-muzzle match-grade free floating stainless steel heavy barrel with a 1:7 (178 mm) rifling twist ratio is standard for the SPR. The barrels are manufactured by Douglas Barrel with a special contour to maximize accuracy and to minimize weight. An OPS Inc. muzzle brake and collar (to align the OPS Inc. 12th Model Suppressor) is installed with the barrel. These barrels were designed to take advantage of the new Mk 262 cartridge, which uses a 77-grain (5 g) bullet.


barrel specs for the U.S. Marine Corps Squad Advanced Marksman Rifle

Barrel: The barrel is a 20 in (508 mm) long 1:7 in (178 mm) service rifle match stainless steel Krieger SS barrel, manufactured by Compass Lake. A standard A2 flash hider is used.


United States Army Squad Designated Marksman Rifle barrel specs

stainless steel Douglas 1:8 twist, 20-inch barrel, with 12 flutes cut into the barrel to reduce weight. The front sight block is installed with 4 set screws instead of two taper pins. The A2-style flash hider is retained.

[Lycanthrope]

Put a Krieger on anything and it will shoot. It should for the price.