I’m new to the AR platform, so my first range trip today was a great new shooting experience.
BCM 16” Stainless Steel 1/8 twist upper coupled to a stock BCM lower, Midwest Industry 2 piece non floating rail, Magpul RBUIS and a Primary Arms Gen 2 Red dot.
Ammo used.
PMC Bronze 55 grain FMJ
Federal XM193 F, 55 grain FMJ
Fiocchi 62 grain FMJ
With the Magpul, the first 10 rounds at 50 yards with the PMC ran 2.65”, this was with a 100 yard Scope Sight in target, which I really couldn’t see very well and not a good choice of target. Windage was fine, elevation 2” high, no front site tool, so I switched to the RD.
I switched the target over to an 8” black bull. The RD takes up about 80% of this at 50 yards.
PMC
5 into 1.4”
5 into 2.3”
5 into 1.15”
5 into 1.5”
5 into 1.7”
Average 1.61”
Then the Federal XM193 F.
5 into 1.6”
5 into 1.8
Average 1.7”
Fiocchi
5 into 2.0”
10 into 1.95”
3 into .3” with the 5 shot group
5 into .8” with the 10 shot group.
This was with the cheapest brass cased ammo I could find, some might not agree, but to me this proves wonderful potential!
My right eye is bad, and without magnification I can’t see squat, not to mention by this time I was freezing my butt off and getting some eye fatigue trying to hold with the red dot, while struggling with the trigger.
The 62 grain Fiocchi is definably the more accurate ammo, despite the larger overall groups which I contribute to the sight picture and trigger.
The carbine, has a little side to side play between the upper and lower, and the trigger, at the risk of being booted off the site, I have say is the worst I’ve ever experienced in over 50 years of shooting. I did compare the trigger to a newer S&W M&P and the Smith was much better. Regardless, being a stock lower, my plan is to have Bill Springfield sweeten it so I’m not overly concerned, no malfunctions of any kind, it ran perfect.
What impressed me most was the overall fun of shooting an AR, even though I’m a long time shooter of a Remington 700 in 22-250, I was really shocked by the lack of recoil, as well as the light weight and handiness of this little carbine and with the red dot it is really fast to get on target and easy to shoot. Fast moving, close range Coyotes will be much easier with this setup.
I think with a good quality, high power scope the BCM would easily run 1 MOA with the 62 grain Fiocchi, and a good trigger would improve upon that, so I’m very impressed and pretty excited about the 5 rounds into .8”, and wondering what this could do with some good hand loads and the right bullet. I do know and appreciate the difference between mechanical and practical accuracy, and I have much work to do on practical accuracy and carbine technique…I can hardly wait! I think this is going to be lot’s of fun.
I spent quite a bit of time on this site as well as all the others agonizing over which AR to get for my first one. I’ve gone from Doublestar to BMC and everything in between before finally settling on this setup, and despite my trigger comments I’m very pleased with my choice. I think I’m going to have a carbine love affair.
Thanks guys!
