AR9 Accuracy

[kev74]

I just put together an AR9 with a 16 inch PSA upper.

At about 50 yards with a red dot sight, I was getting about a 4 inch group. My eyes and the red dot weren't playing nice with each other, but I thought I should be shooting better.

Any thoughts as to what kind of accuracy I should be getting with this thing?

 

[Edwardteach72]

What kind of ammo are you using

 

[kev74]

What kind of ammo are you using

Reloads. 124gr Hi-Tek coated lead bullets over 3.5 gr Bullseye.

 

[Tisto]

I think it should do better. I have one with a 10" barrel that shoots sub 2" at 50 yards with nothing more than a Holosun red dot. The one thing I did have problems with was using anything other than conical bullets. There is no feed ramp on my gun. It relies on the magazine placing the round in such a position as to allow the bolt to drive it into the chamber. Every round that gets chambered shows a flat spot where the bullet got driven into the side of the chamber before being seated completely. This is more pronounced on plated bullets than jacketed. The use of anything other than conical nosed bullets lends itself to jamming.

I would try your accuracy with some FMJ ammunition and see if your problem isn't that your bullets are being deformed before firing, causing the poor accuracy. As a side, I found that loading ammo to +P standards seemed to help as well. I'm loading 124gr Berry's RNHBTP bullets over 7.7gr of Accurate no.7 and that gives me a SCREAMING 1380 fps average muzzle velocity as measured by a Labradar chronograph. Of course, it barks a lot louder, and theres more recoil.

 

[fresch]

What other powder do you have?

 

[fresch]

4grn of bull looks like the go to load, with a quick google.

 

[meketrefe]

With coated reloads is going to be harder.
It also depends how consisten everything os from load to load.
If you get 2 to 5 moa that is average at s distance.
At close distance it doesn't matter as much.

 

[kev74]

I'll check for bullet deformation tonight.

I was hoping to get away with the same recipe I use for the pistols. It looks like that's not going to happen

 

[meketrefe]

I'll check for bullet deformation tonight.

I was hoping to get away with the same recipe I use for the pistols. It looks like that's not going to happen

Kev,
One thing to consider is that when buying bulk I have found fmj and tmjs cheaper than cast and copper plated bullets
Hornady has ( or at lrast used to have ) the 2.5k and 3k boxes with hap and fmj for 8-9 cents a piece. Same price range as bulk 62gr 22cal.
Again the key is to find bulk deals and discounts

 

[kev74]

I'm getting a tiny bit of deformation at the tip of the bullets (Just the tip! JUST THE TIP!!!!). I don't think it's significant though.



I made a few rounds with 4 grains of Bullseye and will try them tomorrow.

If that doesn't work, I'll start trying some slower powders.

 

[Xae289]

I'm getting a tiny bit of deformation at the tip of the bullets (Just the tip! JUST THE TIP!!!!). I don't think it's significant though.

View attachment 161681

I made a few rounds with 4 grains of Bullseye and will try them tomorrow.

If that doesn't work, I'll start trying some slower powders.

Slower powders, maybe a good bullet like the Hornady XTP, and work up a load like how you would with a rifle, shooting a group of 5 or so at every charge weight at intervals from starting to max.

 

[Tisto]

Accurate no 7 is a fantastic choice. You don't have to crank them up, but I do. The powder burns exceptionally clean and meters beautifully. I tried Accurate no 5 because I had some. It shot well, but didn't produce the velocities that 7 did. Ramshot Zip was ok too, but I like 7 the best.

 

[kev74]

Slower powders, maybe a good bullet like the Hornady XTP, and work up a load like how you would with a rifle, shooting a group of 5 or so at every charge weight at intervals from starting to max.

For shooting steel plates, I'm not getting into XTPs.

For now, I'll play around with what I have.

 

[Tisto]

XTP's wouldn't function in my gun because of the issue stated above, so if you want to load them, only buy one box to start, otherwise you might have a bunch of useless components on your hands.

 

[Xae289]

For shooting steel plates, I'm not getting into XTPs.

For now, I'll play around with what I have.

No, definitely not for plates. That was all just a suggestion for if you wanted to try to see how accurate you could get the rifle.

 

[gun_slinger_boy]

How does the crown of your barrel look? 4 inches seems bad if you weren't shooting off hand.

 

[kev74]

How does the crown of your barrel look? 4 inches seems bad if you weren't shooting off hand.

Barrel crown is perfect.

 

[Edwardteach72]

Barrel crown is perfect.

Awe it probably thinks you are pretty swell as well

 

[kev74]

I cleaned up the trigger a bit and bumped the load up to 4gr of Bullseye. I think I'm good now.

Thanks for the help, fellas!

I'll still try and tune it in, but at least I know the rifle isn't crap.




50 yards. I think the flyers are my eyes, not the gun.