Practical accuracy of the M4A1 w/ 55gr ball ammunition

[Podmonkey]

Exactly what I would have expected.
Despite the Army's claims of a 500 meter point target effective range for an M16A2 we all knew that 300 meters was more like the effective limit. 400 does seem doable however and remains in line with the Army's traditional 400 yard effective range standard.
I would like to see what a 16" free floated AR with a 6x scope and 77gr OTM ammunition could achieve in this same drill as that is precisely what I am working toward in my "Recce" build.

Another thing to take away from this exercise is that even after the misses rapid follow up shots were able to effectively strike and "neutralize" the target.

 

[Marine Cpl]

Marines have been qualifying at the 500 with the 55 gr for many years before the 62 gr was adopted and that was with iron sights. Granted it was an M16A2 and not an M4.

 

[Podmonkey]

Marines have been qualifying at the 500 with the 55 gr for many years before the 62 gr was adopted and that was with iron sights. Granted it was an M16A2 and not an M4.

500 meters is still pushing the capabilities of the cartridge, especially in 55gr form. The 20" barrel of an M16Ax certainly helps though.

 

[96coal449]

Pod I was building a Reece/SPR combo gun. The gov contracted 18'' barrel is also threaded for a can. I used a factory colt lower. I never completed the build.
I haven't seen any of my favorites since 2014, and need to move out of NY and be reunited.

 

[Podmonkey]

Pod I was building a Reece/SPR combo gun. The gov contracted 18'' barrel is also threaded for a can. I used a factory colt lower. I never completed the build.
I haven't seen any of my favorites since 2014, and need to move out of NY and be reunited.

I know what you mean. I lived in NYS for over 6 years after I moved back from Texas. I had sold 13k worth of guns because none of it was legal in that wretched state. Since I moved to PA I have jumped headlong back into the AR world. I enjoy the platform very much.
As for the Recce rifle, I think I have a very good base in the DD, lightweight, accurate, reliable. With a good scope and that nice Larue trigger I think it will meet my goals nicely.

 

[Marine Cpl]

I know what you mean. I lived in NYS for over 6 years after I moved back from Texas. I had sold 13k worth of guns because no of it was legal in that wretched state. Since I moved to PA I have jumped headlong back into the AR world. I enjoy the platform very much.
As for the Recce rifle, I think I have a very good base in the DD, lightweight, accurate, reliable. With a good scope and that nice Larue trigger I think it will meet my goals nicely.

NY sucks the life out of you. I sold everything too since the Unsafe Act.

 

[96coal449]

NY sucks the life out of you. I sold everything too since the Unsafe Act.

I'm sorry to like that post. It's honestly very sad ..... especially your ''unloading.''

 

[Marine Cpl]

I'm sorry to like that post. It's honestly very sad ..... especially your ''unloading.''

I went for function only afterwards. You can't really enjoy guns here unless they are of the Fudd variety and I'm not really a fan of those for enjoyment.

 

[Podmonkey]

I went for function only afterwards. You can't really enjoy guns here unless they are of the Fudd variety and I'm not really a fan of those for enjoyment.

I really don't think you should give the state the satisfaction.

 

[Marine Cpl]

I really don't think you should give the state the satisfaction.

I would of had to register or shoot them them normal to enjoy them and risk going to jail. They would probably prefer the latter.

 

[Podmonkey]

I would of had to register or shoot them or shoot them normal to enjoy them and risk going to jail. They would probably prefer the latter.

There is shooting enjoyment to be had outside non compliant "black rifles".

 

[96coal449]

There is shooting enjoyment to be had outside non compliant "black rifles".

Why the racism?
My Tommy gun's not black.

 

[Podmonkey]

Why the racism?
My Tommy gun's not black.

I myself am more drawn to military type arms so I can understand @Willjr75's aversion to "fudd guns". However I wonder if milsurps might not be a refuge from his firearms funk. M1 Garands, carbines, Lee Enfields, Mausers, K31s. All are tremendously fun to shoot. Ammo can be expensive or difficult to find for some but such is life. I still kinda want an FR-8 because I think they look cool and use an easily sourced cartridge.
Any number of rifles like the Ruger precison rifle may scratch the shooting itch without ruffling the anti-fudd feathers.
As fuddly as one may perceive the CZ 527 carbines seem like they would be a fun piece, and in 7.62x39 stupid cheap to shoot.
I'd find it difficult to belive that anyone couldn't enjoy a range session with a good lever gun.

 

[Marine Cpl]

There is shooting enjoyment to be had outside non compliant "black rifles".

Not for me.

 

[Podmonkey]

Not for me.

See the above.

 

[Marine Cpl]

See the above.

The only guns I'm drawn to are bullpups like the Tavor (which I always wanted but never had) and AR's. Anything with a wooden stock, a traditional stock, a bolt, pump, or lever, or an overall length of 40 plus inches just doesn't do it for me. I even bullpupped an SKS. Got rid of it after I was forced to go back to a fixed magazine with it.

I may sound full of myself, but I like what I like. There is nothing here for me except handguns.

 

[Podmonkey]

The only guns I'm drawn to are bullpups like the Tavor (which I always wanted but never had) and AR's. Anything with a wooden stock, a traditional stock, a bolt, pump, or lever, or an overall length of 40 plus inches just doesn't do it for me. I even bullpupped an SKS. Got rid of it after I was forced to go back to a fixed magazine with it.

I may sound full of myself, but I like what I like. There is nothing here for me except handguns.

Bullpups are ghey though.
My Garand is still the most fun rifle I own. Or it would be if I weren't such a lazy ass and actually put the firing pin back in. And honestly with an M1 in your hands you aren't horribly armed.
I myself love the look of parkerized steel and wood. In fact with the release of that silly nightstick shotgun of Mossberg's there might now be a supply of new wooden "corncob" style forends I can match to a wooden buttstock and a heat shield on my 590A1 for that thoroughly badass trench gun aesthetic.

 

[Podmonkey]

Like this:

How anyone could think that doesn't look cool is beyond me!

 

[Marine Cpl]

Like this:
View attachment 36384
How anyone could think that doesn't look cool is beyond me!

Wood sucks droopy old man balls. Look at the length of that thing. You can use it as a crutch.

 

[Marine Cpl]

And add revolvers to the list of fuddery that I don't like.

 

[Podmonkey]

May I suggest a new avatar for you?

 

[holdover]

No bolt guns? A nice jacked up remy 700 for Long range target?

 

[Marine Cpl]

No bolt guns? A nice jacked up remy 700 for Long range target?

If I ever get into hunting maybe. But even then, I would prefer an AR variant.

 

[Podmonkey]

If I ever get into hunting maybe. But even then, I would prefer an AR variant.

I really don't know why you stay in that state then. You could do what you do anywhere.
And if you stay that is your choice, your decision.
No point in moping over it.
Why don't you try to score an RDB-S?

 

[Marine Cpl]

I really don't know why you stay in that state then. You could do what you do anywhere.
And if you stay that is your choice, your decision.
No point in moping over it.
Why don't you try to score an RDB-S?

I stay because in 12 years when I'm 55, I'll retire with a 65k a year pension. More if I hit then over the head with overtime. If I leave, I'll have to work until I'm dead and would make 1/3rd of what I make now.

 

[Podmonkey]

I stay because in 12 years when I'm 55, I'll retire with a 65k a year pension. More if I hit then over the head with overtime. If I leave, I'll have to work until I'm dead and would make 1/3rd of what I make now.

There is no opportunity to transfer out of state inside your company?

 

[96coal449]

Pod, putting your thread back on the rails, you could build your gun with two uppers.
One for the 5.56 SPR and one for a 6.8 SPR Reece

 

[Marine Cpl]

There is no opportunity to transfer out of state inside your company?

No. It's local. About the only thing I can do is live in PA but then it turns into a 2 hour commute.

Pod, putting your thread back on the rails, you could build your gun with two uppers.
One for the 5.56 SPR and one for a 6.8 SPR Reece

Or you could just load 77gr for distance.

 

[Podmonkey]

Pod, putting your thread back on the rails, you could build your gun with two uppers.
One for the 5.56 SPR and one for a 6.8 SPR Reece

Eh, I got no interest in the 6.8. I've got the 308 Galil now if I need more punch than 5.56.
77gr OTM 5.56 has good range and accuracy, I have a 1,500 round stash of it now.

 

[Podmonkey]

I would really like to see how the rifle I am putting together would fair on the above drill.
I have to imagine that a good marksman would be able to achieve reliable hits on that 500 yard plate.