1K Semi Auto

[BigDMT]

I was talking with my wife's cousin (ex-Marine sniper) a while back and he was talking about the long range accuracy of some of the semi-auto sniper rifles they used. Can't remember exactly which rifle he was telling me about, but I remember that it held 10 rounds of 7.62 NATO. May have been made by Barrett, but not sure.

Anyhow, I was wondering if anyone out there knows of any semi-automatic rifle that would be capable of Benchrest accuracy at 1000 yards?

I know there are many very accurate custom AR platforms and 50 cal rifles out there, but I'm talking more of a hunting/sniper style rifle in a moderate power cartridge

 

[jonbearman]

That would be the ar-10,I dont know the military gesignation but they are damned accurate and I seriously doubt they had stock barrels but I have watched several shows showing just how accurate they really can be.

 

[navyrad8r]

the m110 (service rifle with quad rails) and other variants but also scoped/ bedded m14s could also be the system. just a thought
cheers,
doc

 

[Drop Port]

That would be the SR16 M110 by Knights Armament. They are high dollar and shoot great. Not quite a bolt gun but very effective.

Another production gun would be the LMT 308 (Lewis Machine and Tool) high quality and the stainless barrel version is a Rock Creek. I just shot one in (chrome lined) that was sub MOA at 600 with box ammo FGMM. $3,200 cheep compared to the Knights. :-[

 

[nra-for-life]

Anyhow, I was wondering if anyone out there knows of any semi-automatic rifle that would be capable of Benchrest accuracy at 1000 yards?

Doesn't exist. There are accurate rifles that are semi auto but when you say "bench rest accuracy" you are talking about a rifle that is built for one purpose and that is to be accurate. Benchrest rifles are the rifles that set the world records for accuracy. Real world factors that would be important to military personnel or snipers are ignored. Things like wieght, feed style, clipsize, reload speed, ability to perform in snow, mud, sand, etc etc. Bench rifles are treated like little babies. They are not semi auto because semi auto reduces accuracy.

 

[slm9s]

My DPMS LR260 is way more accurate than it should be, but like the above posters say - you can't get benchrest accuracy from a gas gun. I've shot mine to 1200 yards or so and it does well.

I think the GAP10 from GA precision would be worth a look, in the cartridge of your choice, if you want the best bet for accuracy.

 

[Eddie Harren]

IIRC about 20% of the snipers, that travelled with the USMC unit I was attached to, used accurized M14 rifles. This was in the late '60's.

 

[jamesh]

I have a DPMS 6.5 Creedmoor that consistently shoots 1/2 minute 5 shot groups to 1000 yards. I have not shot any groups past 1000. It is very impressive for an over the counter AR rifle or any over the counter rifle for that matter.

James

 

[Milo 2.0]

Some will argue, that a GAP 10, and Knight's guns are the ticket, but this one right here sets the industry standard;

http://www.jprifles.com/1.2.5_LRP07.php

 

[NateHaler]

I was talking with my wife's cousin (ex-Marine sniper) a while back and he was talking about the long range accuracy of some of the semi-auto sniper rifles they used.

There's field accuracy, and there's benchrest accuracy. The former is acceptable and probably preferable in field conditions, because reliability of the system is paramount. It has to go bang every time, and rapid follow-up shots from improvised positions is likely to be extremely important.

I've never seen a semi-auto at a 600y or 1,000y BR match in this area. As to the 1/2 MOA DPMS in 6.5 Creedmoor, you need to bring that to a match and show up the turn-bolt rifles. 5" groups at 1,000y (especially "consistently") could win the day for you. 8)

 

[Hoier]

There was a ar10 at the 600yd IBS nationals this year. But I have no idea how well he did.

 

[Mr. Ten-X]

In 2008 the US military adopted the M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System which has corresponding maximum allowed extreme spread of 1.8 MOA (0.5 mrad) for a 5-shot group on 300 feet, using M118LR ammunition or equivalent.

Not thinking that even Superman could win a benchrest match using one of those.

 

[BigDMT]

If I wanted a serious AR, I would probably go with the Les Baer custom AR-10. Guaranteed 1/2 MOA 5 shot groups with match factory ammo. So handloading would probably make for a really accurate gun. But I have plenty of AR's and no desire to own any more.

However, I was wondering more along the lines of if anyone had ever really tried to wring the accuracy out of something like a Browning BAR, or a Sauer 303, perhaps even a Remington 742 or 750?

Guys have pulled off phenomenal accuracy with the Ruger 10/22 semi-auto over the years using different types of upgrades. So just wondering why you never hear of anyone trying it with more powerful center-fire hunting rifles?

Perhaps the AR platform rifles fill that niche enough that nobody cares to try it with a hunting semi-auto

 

[akajun]

Dan Peters with the AMU set a 1000yd National Service rifle record this year with a GAP /m110. 200 with a bunch of x's. Maybe not benchrest accuracy, but capable of sub moa at 1000yds.

 

[stool]

benchrest rules do not allow semi auto...so no its not likely you will see semi auto in a match....
having said that there was a guy on benchrest central that posted picutres of ar's converted to be legal in br .
no gas system, flat forearms...ohhh and small groups in and under .2's

the real problem is that since the rules do not allow semi auto, no one will ever know.

(benchrest guys are scared of the low cost of an ar and it's real potential. when they wrote rules a couple yrs ago for an ar class
the specifically put in requirements that BOLT GUNS did not have to meet...designed to fail...guess what no shooters in the class)

 

[jamesh]

I was talking with my wife's cousin (ex-Marine sniper) a while back and he was talking about the long range accuracy of some of the semi-auto sniper rifles they used.

There's field accuracy, and there's benchrest accuracy. The former is acceptable and probably preferable in field conditions, because reliability of the system is paramount. It has to go bang every time, and rapid follow-up shots from improvised positions is likely to be extremely important.

I've never seen a semi-auto at a 600y or 1,000y BR match in this area. As to the 1/2 MOA DPMS in 6.5 Creedmoor, you need to bring that to a match and show up the turn-bolt rifles. 5" groups at 1,000y (especially "consistently") could win the day for you. 8)

I shoot1000 yard Benchrest so I do now what it takes to shoot 1/2 moa that is why the gun really impresses me.

I did shoot two targets with it at the Colorado 1000 yard Benchrest State Championship a couple years ago. Still won.

 

[Mr. Ten-X]

However, I was wondering more along the lines of if anyone had ever really tried to wring the accuracy out of something like a Browning BAR

Have shot 2 BAR's with the BOSS system in 7Rem Mag and 300WM using factory ammo that could print under MOA pretty much at will once they were tuned (100-300yds). If a person played with one of those a bit in 308 w/handloads, 1/2-MOA "might" be capable at 100-300yds. One would think that it could do MOA at long-range, but I have never heard of anyone attempting it. Folks just do not equate semi-auto hunting rifles with long distance shooting.

 

[NateHaler]

I was talking with my wife's cousin (ex-Marine sniper) a while back and he was talking about the long range accuracy of some of the semi-auto sniper rifles they used.

There's field accuracy, and there's benchrest accuracy. The former is acceptable and probably preferable in field conditions, because reliability of the system is paramount. It has to go bang every time, and rapid follow-up shots from improvised positions is likely to be extremely important.

I've never seen a semi-auto at a 600y or 1,000y BR match in this area. As to the 1/2 MOA DPMS in 6.5 Creedmoor, you need to bring that to a match and show up the turn-bolt rifles. 5" groups at 1,000y (especially "consistently") could win the day for you. 8)

I shoot1000 yard Benchrest so I do now what it takes to shoot 1/2 moa that is why the gun really impresses me.

I did shoot two targets with it at the Colorado 1000 yard Benchrest State Championship a couple years ago. Still won.

That is awesome! I remember when a writer for PS magazine ("eek a mouse", i.e. AR15 enthusiast, John something?) wrote about his exploits with .223 at a BR match. Do you shoot at Byers? A friend, about 11 years ago I think, drove all the way out there from northern CA and won with a (bolt-action) 6.5-284 that another friend built for him. It was a trued Rem 700, using Greg Tannel's techniques. Another Colorado connection. Congrats on showing that a gas gun can be competitive. I assume the driver has something to do with it too, even though a (badly misinformed) local cop whom I spoke to out here at a gas station, shortly after another cop was shot by a punk with an AK-47 type rifle, told me "these rifles are so accurate that you don't really even have to aim them".

 

[Hoier]

Yes James shoots in Byers and we have another guy who brings a ar sometimes in a 6mmar and it shoots good also.

James I think I have the schedule figured out and I'll be sending out the email shortly.

 

[Stubb]

Benchrest accuracy? Not quite but I shoot long range matches and I have good hits out to 1100 yards with two rifles. The first is the JP LRP-07 in 260 Remington and the second is a Gap-10 in 6mm Creedmoor. They are both way above average semi-auto accuracy and probably equal to any tactical type bolt gun. I shot benchrest for six years and I know the accuracy and precision attainable with a quality benchrest gun and the semi's are just not there.
David