Wasn’t sure which section to put this in, so I chose “AR General Discussion” since my AR is the one that I wasn’t so accurate with.
The other day I took my old Remington 1903-A3 to the range and shot it for the first time in over 25 years. (Used 60 year old military ball ammo) I haven’t shot it in so long cause I remember recoil being punishing, and I have neck problems that heavy recoil will hurt sometimes. Hence, I rarely shoot a shotgun, and no more than 5 shells when I do. I was pleased that the recoil of the 30-06 wasn’t nearly as bad as I remember. Why did I wait so long to shoot it. I had the target at 50 yards. Iron sights. I took the first shot standing up, and the next 5 shots off the bench. You can see the grouping near the bottom of the target. I think it may be sighted in at 200 yards, but I’ve never had a group like that with iron sights before. Ever. I’m very pleased with it.
Then, for the heck of it, I got my Colt 6920 out and put 5 rounds on the same target from the bench. They are the other 5 smaller holes in the target scattered all over the place. The 6920 is completely stock, iron sights, and I have about 1400 rounds thru it. I’ve never had good groupings with it, tho I can easily set off a small jar of Tannerite at 50 yards, but never on the first shot. I was careful to not jerk the trigger. Why would I get such a good group out of a gun I have not shot for so long due to recoil, and suck so bad from a gun I shoot a fair amount, of course, not as much as I did before all this panic buying.
Nice grouping with the 03. As far as the Colt, what ammo are you using in it and was it sighted in with the same ammo you shot the group with. Answering those questions could lead to the issue. Also check your rear sight and make sure it hasn’t come loose over time.
Other than that I’m not sure, you have proved you can shoot better than what was produced with the colt. Maybe try a different ammo and see what happens.
Because the 6920 has like a 10" sight radius, and an 03 has about three feet. Plus you’re using an O3A3 with a nice, tiny aperture sight, and I bet you were using the large aperture on your CAR’s irons.
I was using PMC 55 grain FMJ. I don’t remember what I used to sight the Colt in with. I’ve never had a group with the Colt like I did with the 30-06. I just looked, and I can pivot the rear sight on the Colt in one direction, but it takes some force to move it. I could probably do a quick video to show it if it would paint a better picture of what I’m trying to describe about pivoting the sight.
True, the sight radius on the 03 is much longer and the very thin front post on the 03 is really a lot nicer than on the Colt. Yes, I am using the larger aperture on the rear sight of the Colt. I’ve always read that the smaller aperture is for long distance, tho I’ve always wondered why one couldn’t use it at any distance. Seems like it would be more accurate.
The ammo used to zero would not make a difference for grouping as long as you hold the same point of aim for the group. I would change ammo and sight then see how you do.
I was taught in basic that the large aperture is only to ever be used (and we actually did use it) while wearing a pro mask (gas mask).
Switch to the smaller aperture IMO.
As to how true the larger aperture only being for use while wearing a pro mask is, I have no clue, as I was not dumb enough do anything other than to yell “YES DRILL SERGEANT!”
1- The 1903-A3 is zeroed for “nothing”, judging by the drop at 50 yards. Highly recommend zeroing it at appropriate distance.
2- Hard to say why your colt is shooting so poorly (looks like about a 6 to 8 inch extreme spread at 50 yards, 12-16 MOA). I have had ammo that was terrible out of my 6920, but it was most likely a bad lot. I am inclined to attribute the performance to shooter flinch, but criticizing someone’s marksmanship over the internet without offering helpful corrective action kinda sucks.
Might want to scrub out your barrel, get some precision oriented ammunition, and go at it again.
Oh, and use the small aperture. The large is harder to find the exact center for consistent POA, not that it is impossible to use effectively, but it takes a lot of getting used to.
I bet if he switches to the small aperture it will tighten right up. I’m pretty sure I couldn’t shoot a group with M4 irons/large aperture like I could with my 03A3, as long as we’re talking slow fire, take all the time you need.
Inconsistent pressure on the non-free float forearm. My guess is you’re a r/h shooter. Putting pressure on the rifle while resting the forearm on a sandbag will push the barrel up and right, causing the group to string down & left
It’s also possible the sights and/or the barrel nut is loose
The larger diameter sight, as far as I was told, was for night shooting with irons. And I’d bet dollars to donuts it’s a combo of sight, shooter error. Also what’s the dimensions on the target?
Switch to the small aperture. If that doesn’t work then I would check the barrel. The obvious question is have you ever been able to get it to shoot a decent group?
My guess would be a combination of using the large aperture, inconsistent fundementals (not as likely as your grouping with the 03 shows different) and a hardware issue. None of it can be confirmed without observing in person.
Agreed, tow strap tight(and jacket) on a 20 g profile barrel will deflect 3-5"(low left) at 100, one would need much more on the 6920 to do this at 50.
This was the first time shooting the Colt after a field strip and good cleaning. Nothing appears to be loose on the gun, and no, I have never been able to consistently get good groups at 50 yards with it.
Yes, right hand shooter, left hand not on gun at all.
The red center of the target is 2-inches. The outer circle is 6-inches.
After reading most of the replies yesterday, I grabbed everything and headed for the range. I set up exactly as I did before. This time I used M193. I took 5 shots thru the large aperture. I wouldn’t call them a group, but the spread was smaller than the target I posted at the beginning of this thread. I then put up a fresh target, switched to the small aperture and took 5 more shots. Nothing on the paper at all. So I took 5 more shots. Nothing on the paper at all. I have no idea where those bullets went. I then switched back to the large aperture and took 5 more shots and got the group and one flyer in the photo below, which for me, I consider pretty good with iron sights at 50 yards.
I always figured it was me, and not the gun, but now I’m beginning to wonder.
