My set up:
Bushmaster XM15-E2S 16" Chrome-lined barrel with M203 cut-outs
Nikon Monarch 4-16X42
Shooting hand loads and Hornady 40gr V-max factory loads.
I used to shoot a .243 bolt gun and got very satisfactory results at the range. I know I should not expect that same level of accuracy from a semi-auto, let alone, a service rifle but my groups at 200 yards bother me.
With hand loads charged to the max, I get about 2.25 - 2.75" groups at 200 yards. With Hornady factory loads I get about the same, maybe a little tighter. I know I may be able to tighten things up as I experiment with different powder and bullets but should I be expecting to be able to achieve bolt-action accuracy with this rifle?
I plan on a getting a Giselle trigger in the future and perhaps this will help, but I feel pretty confident in my trigger pull with the awful stock trigger.
I’ve been shooting off a makeshift rest but it keeps things pretty steady and I keep the front pressure point right in front of the magazine well to minimize pressure on the barrel.
You should not expect to get sub-MOA accuracy out of a rack-grade, chrome-lined, non-freefloat Bushmaster barrel. In fact, your reported 200 yard groups are exceptional for the type of rifle you’re shooting.
would an upper geared more toward hunting or percision shooting benefit me at all or would I need to upgrade the lower and or bolt carrier as well?
I mainly use the rifle to compete againgst myself at the range and in the winter, for coyote hunting. I like being able to get that follow up shot or two off quickly with the semi-auto action.
Quality components can only take you so far. Your shooting abilities will have more of an effect than the latest and greatest parts.
Thant being said a quality barrel, optic, trigger and ammo will give you the best results.
For barrels I would look at Noveske, BCM, WOA and Kreiger. It depends on what you want to spend and in the end maybe only a exceptional shot will notice the difference between a rack grade and a top shelf grade barrel.
For quick follow up shots I would look at a comp of some kind. MSTN, FSC556/DNTC/TTO maybe the new Battle Comp.
A compensator that replaces the flash hider (on end of barrel). It helps keep muzzle rise down and reduce recoil but they can cause the gun to be louder. A brake does the same thing basically.
If you are shooting under 3" groups at 200 yards you are doing pretty good. With a match barrel, and the right loads you could maybe halve that but there really arent many guns out there shooting sub MOA consistently. And how many rounds are you shooting per group? I can shoot 30 5 shot groups, and get a few that would make the gun look like it was shooting quarter MOA but do 3-5 10 shot groups, and you’ll get a more accurate idea of what the gun is shooting. Ive seen people at the range shoot a 3 shot group all very close together, and then proclaim their gun is a solid under MOA shooter. Reality is usually the only people shooting really tight groups consistently are the bench rest guys with 15lb guns shooting specialized rounds for BR, wind flags, huge scopes, etc. You can setup an AR to be very accurate but you’d be throwing a lot of money down to maybe shoot twice as tight of groups, the gun would be heavy for field use, etc.
I feel better knowing that the groups I am getting are good for my set-up. I don’t consider myself an expert marksman by any means, but I know I can shoot a service rifle well and want to get the best I can from this rifle.
The twist is 1 in 9 and I’m shooting 40gr V-max bullets. I’ve tried heavier factory rounds with poor results. I may try heavier bullets in my hand loads. What weight should I be able to stabilize well with that twist?
1-9 should be able to stabilize up into the high 60’s. A few can do in the low 70’s. Id try a 68 or 69 grain BTHP round like Black Hills, Federal Gold Medal, ect. Try a couple rounds loaded with Sierra Match Kings (SMK) as they tend to shoot well for most people.
I shoot 5 shot groups. The cooler I load the rounds, the looser the group gets. The hotter rounds group tighter but, damn, that barrel heats up quick!
I’m usually quite a bit happier with the first 3 shots than I am with the all 5. It’s either me or the rifle, but for some reason, there are always two that choose their own path, haha.
I get one hole groups using 60 grn Hornady V-max from Black Hills in my 223 bolt gun with a 1-9, so I know it will stabalize with that twist rate. I am sure you could go up to around 70 with certain bullets.
Shooting groups smaller than 3" at 200 yards from an AR carbine and you’re complaining?? You realize that’s less than 1.5 MOA. Not bad for an off the shelf Bushy. It’s a good start and with some experimentation it’s likely you could reduce that if you want.
Your barrel may not actually be 1/9(it might be slower and only marked as such.) The chambers in a lot of those guns are suspect, I imagine the twist rate is as well. I recall a quote from one of the SME’s or moderators here that was along the lines of “You can stabilize a bullet in a sewer pipe if you drive it fast enough.”
With that said…3" at 200 is pretty damned good. What are you trying to shoot? Golfballs at 500?
What do you mean it may not actually be 1 in 9? Any info on this I can read online? I looked a bit and did not see anything.
For all practical reasons, I just need to hit a coyote at up to 250 yards, most shots under 100 yards however. I just like smaller groups in general. I’d love to be able to hit golf balls at 500yards but I like to keep my wallet fat a little more.
I mean it may be slower than 1/9…like 1/10 or 1/11 or somewhere in between. Hence the reason you’re seeing the groups get tighter as you drive the bullet faster.
I tried some heavier bullets. 52gr Hornady Match BTHP. Seemed to like the cooler charge over hotter. Several 5 round groups were under 3". One of my groups had the first shot on a cold clean barrel way off mark but the next four were under .5" at 200yards. No way… Had to try to duplicate that. No dice.
Today my groups were considerably worse. I may try an even heavier bullet.
Is there any reason why the heavier bullet goups better with less powder and that 40gr grouped better with a hotter charge out of the same 1/9 barrel?
You are doing quite well for the barrel you currently have. You also need to remember that this is the internet, and half the people talking about their .5 MOA groups live in their mothers basement on their Xbox, and have never touched a real weapon.
You have a carbine with a chrome-lined military style barrel from an average-at-best manufacturer. Nothing about your rifle is specialized for target shooting, especially the barrel, which is set up for long life and M203 compatability. Given that, your groups are pretty good.