AR Qustions

[HillBilly98]

i have shot several AR 15s over the years that were fairly accurate. I have never loaded for them and my experience with them is limited. I have even less experience with the ar 10s. A family member asked me to install a scope on ar10 chambered in 243. He also asked me to sight in. It’s an 8 twist. He had some factor loads, 95 grn hornady sst. I only shot two groups and both were around 1.5 to 2”. I didn’t shoot any more because I didn’t see the need in wasting ammo. It’s a fairly new rig with not many rounds through it, less than 50.

My questions are as follows:

Is that the normal level of accuracy one should expect? The scope is good as well as mounts. All shots broke clean so it wasn’t my shooting. I was thinking it would shoot around moa.

I don’t remember the brand. I will look later and comment but there is a little slop between upper and lower. You can rock it side to side. Could that be part of it?

Aside from that it shoots like a dream. Virtually no felt recoil. I was sure hoping it would shoot better because it would make a great hunting rig.

 

[Falfan2017]

Unless it's custom built with a match barrel that's about what an ar will do. 1.5 moa is plenty accurate for reasonable hunting distances.

 

[Sniper338]

Usually the do alittle better... but as what was stated custom builds are where they shine. Could be the ammo..

 

[Jet]

If not a reloader, try a few different brands of ammo with different bullet weights to see if it will shoot better. Consistent 1.5" for a factory AR with off the shelf ammo is pretty good.

ARs like to be held firm when shot. Light holds on the rifle will yield inconsistent results.

Rich

 

[spclark]

HB98 you don’t say what distance you shot those groups at?

1-1/2” - 2” @ 100 yards is pretty darned close to 1.5 - 2 MOA, an expectable result w/factory loads out of most ‘off the shelf’ AR10’s.

That slop between upper & lower is typical but can be fixed by bedding the two components with something like JB Weld. Not hard to do though patience is important as well as knowing where to put the stuff. The upper’s the part that gets it applied to, custom-fitting the upper to that particular lower.

Slop can affect accuracy if you’re not using a sling and if you’re testing accuracy by shooting off a benchrest config. That’s not how these contraptions were designed to be shot despite some misconceptions some folks hold on to; they’re not bolt guns after all.

 

[MikeMcCasland]

I've poured tons of money in the past ~year building up a .260 AR10 into an "accurate" rifle; they aren't as easy to make accurate as the AR15 platform, and they're significantly harder to shoot accurately.

1.5-2.0" seems like you could probably do better, but that will depend on a number of things.

In the AR world there are a ton of "fly by night" barrel companies; very few folks are running quality tubes on their rigs. You may be limited out of the gate by that; not to say it can't shoot better with handloads.

Secondly, you'll probably have a difficult time hand-loading for a 6mm based AR10 unless you're running an extended length rifle gas system (sometimes called ELGS or +2 gas). Most AR10 barrels are rifle length gas, and while that system works, it's only ideal for .308 based setups. As you constrict the bore diameter, the gas port pressure rises, and in turn reduces dewell time. That's a long way of saying a RLGS 6mm AR10 will probably end up trashing brass VERY quickly.

On a related note, it's probably a good idea to run and adjustable gas block of some kind to increase dwell time, and to tame the action cycling.

Regarding upper/lower slop, lots of folks seem to be of the opinion that it doesn't matter. It bothers me though. Like spclark posted there are a number of things you can do to cut down on it. Some of that slop is likely horozontal play you can use washers to remove via the take-down pins. Some of it will be vertical which you can fix by bedding the rear takedown area.

If I were you, I'd load up some heavier 6mm bullets behind a faster powder (such as Varget) and give those a whirl. You probably won't get your ideal velocity, but I'm guessing you'd find an accurate load.

Edit: AR10s can be stupid accurate. This past weekend my .260 AR10 literally outshot my .260 bartlein tubed bolt gun. With the right load that AR10 is a consistent .5 shooter.

 

[joshb]

Although it depends on who made it, the AR10 308s I’ve shot did 1/2” to 1” with my hand-loads at 100 yards.

 

[300_whisper]

Custom built usually are .75 MOA to .5 MOA performers. No idea with an off the shelf AR rifle considering there are now hundreds of manufacturers of them.

 

[HillBilly98]

Unless it's custom built with a match barrel that's about what an ar will do. 1.5 moa is plenty accurate for reasonable hunting distances.

Yes sir I agree

Unless it's custom built with a match barrel that's about what an ar will do. 1.5 moa is plenty accurate for reasonable hunting distances.

Yes sir you have a point there

 

[HillBilly98]

If not a reloader, try a few different brands of ammo with different bullet weights to see if it will shoot better. Consistent 1.5" for a factory AR with off the shelf ammo is pretty good.

ARs like to be held firm when shot. Light holds on the rifle will yield inconsistent results.

Rich

To be honest I didn’t realize that. That could be part of the problem. Kinda wished I would’ve said it’s not my shooting lol

Edit: it’s not mine and he will probably be ok with it so I don’t want to spend a lot of my money on it

 

[HillBilly98]

HB98 you don’t say what distance you shot those groups at?

1-1/2” - 2” @ 100 yards is pretty darned close to 1.5 - 2 MOA, an expectable result w/factory loads out of most ‘off the shelf’ AR10’s.

That slop between upper & lower is typical but can be fixed by bedding the two components with something like JB Weld. Not hard to do though patience is important as well as knowing where to put the stuff. The upper’s the part that gets it applied to, custom-fitting the upper to that particular lower.

Slop can affect accuracy if you’re not using a sling and if you’re testing accuracy by shooting off a benchrest config. That’s not how these contraptions were designed to be shot despite some misconceptions some folks hold on to; they’re not bolt guns after all.

It was at 100 yards. I was shooting it off bags about like you would see a bolt gun shot on a bench. Thanks for the reply

 

[Knotwild]

You guys mentioned slop between the upper and lower. I hate it also. I found something that makes sense and is easier than bedding. In fact, I have them in all my ARs.

http://proattach.com/nationalmatchshim.htm

 

[spclark]

You guys mentioned slop between the upper and lower. I hate it also. I found something that makes sense and is easier than bedding. In fact, I have them in all my ARs.

http://proattach.com/nationalmatchshim.htm

Clever. Might work just fine. Thanks for posting that.

 

[people]

When shooting factory ammo you never know what your rifle will like until you shoot it. Try a different load or try hand loads.

As to shooting AR-10 rifles you have to really get in there and apply the fundamentals to get them to shoot well.

 

[NDAR15MAN]

I would say try some different ammo. The big 4. Federal , Winchester , Hornady , Remington. I have owed many AR10.
One in 243 R15 brand shot true 1 inch groups with big 4 factory ammo in 100 gr ammo. 2nd 243 in DPMS it also shot 1 inch groups with same Ammo. I don’t know why but none of my AR10 rifles shot SST brand / Bullets. Only the 55 ,87 , 100 gr shot well. I might have been lucky. I sold them and used the money to buy a new 6.5 creedmoor in the NEW SHAW AR 10. It is a hell of a gun and the Best Buy right know on ANY AR10 complete rifle in a 6.5 creedmoor !
I ordered mine from factory to my FFL for $1040.00.
24 inch threaded barrel with really really nice muzzle break. Mine was s/n 068. They are $700.00 CHEAPER then any other complete rifle on the market , plus they will make you a 16 to a 26 inch barrel for only $40.00 to 60.00 more. My SHAW AR10 shoots 7/8 group with federal factory. If your 243 does not shoot after trying all factory ammo tell your Freind to Sale it for a $150.00 loss and not spend anymore time on it. I would tell the buyer gun needs work on finding the right ammo for it and you don’t have time to find out. Be up front with the buyer.
To many Ar10’s out there that will shoot 1 inch with factory ammo. If you are like me cannot spend much time and money to chase the bullet around. It is the luck of the draw but bite the bullet and sale it and move on after trying the big 4 100 gr bullets. Marty