AR15 accurate or not?

[thirdgrader]

So I have a friend that just bought an AR15 and swears it is a very accurate gun to have. Whats your opinion on this........... oh yeah he bought this gun specifically for the accuracy! Any guns more accurate and why SHOULD he or SHOULDN'T he have bought this gun for its accuracy?

 

[WHELENATOR]

Thirdgrader, interesting name you have there..
First let me tell you this, anyone who says AR's are not accurate needs to shoot one first, then start talking. I have a Bushmaster carbine version, 16 inch barrel, sort of heavy, not a bull barrel. I use a lot of Hornady V-MAX 60 grain bullets in it because they shoot the best and are very violent expanding/explosive bullets. So far, my best group with this combo is .196 inches. Yes, that is under 1/4 inch for three rounds at 100 yards. I fired this group over sandbags at our local range. I couldn't believe this rifle was going to be that accurate. I feel your friend can get a lot of enjoyment out of an AR-15, and can hold his own with rifles that cost WAY more, and also have some fun too. Not to mention going broke buying accessories for it.

 

[dick wiggles]

I did not buy this gun for accuracy. I do think that it is an accurate gun, but not as much as one meant to be a "sniper" gun. Thirdgrader has never shot an AR. I got my AR just to have and build up and have fun with.

 

[DWARREN123]

AR-15's can be accurate just like any other type weapon or not, depends on ammo used, barrel twist, and of course the shooter.

 

[Savage99]

Here in the Northeast USA the ARHB's have become very popular as target rifles. A league at our club added a timed fire leg, which eliminated my Free Rifle, due to the popularity of the guns.

Any rifle can be accurate as stated above.

There is less and less hunting in the NE so now many buy guns to just shoot. This is what the AR's seem good for.

 

[cold_hunter]

when Les Baer first built an AR in 204 Ruger one of the gunwriters tok one out and shot a 2.25 inch group with it. Is that good enough for a gun that was brand new out of the box. Maybe considering it was done at 600 yards. My own DPMS LoPro gives me .5 inch groups with FMJ ammo at 100 so is that good enough to be considered accurate. If not let me know and ill put a better scope on it and try some hand loads to see if i can satisfy your needs ok youngster

 

[jtoews80]

In Canada, we are not allowed to use AR's anywhere except an official range, yet they are still quite popular.
The M14's(we can hunt with these) and the Chinese knockoff's of them are fairly common up here too. The knock off's are/were around $399 Cad with 2 mags. Not the quality of a domestically built item, but still shooting Sub MOA to further than alot of guys can shoot sub MOA.

My application is almost thro for my RPAL(handgun/AR permit), I don't think I'll be getting an AR soon. Too much money to tie up at the moment. I think a mini 14 is more useful to me as i can still use it away from a offical range without getting into trouble. We can use the AR180B which isn't classed a restricted for varmint hunting etc, but they pull a premuim dollar as a result. May be a better idea to get a R15 and just buy a 22-250 bolt gun to control the rodent population.

JT.

 

[FOTIS]

My Olympic Arms K8 runs in the .4" with 60 gr bt's.

 

[Larry in SD]

I foolishly sold a DPMS Panther Bull 20 Fluted a couple years ago. The first two loads I tried in that rifle both 1/2" or slightly less for 5 shots at 100 yards from the bench. This was some ammo I threw together to break in the barre with. The DPMS was way to heavy for what I wanted it for so I ended up selling it and replacing it with a 16" Bushmaster M4 Optics Ready Carbine.

The same ammo in this Bushmaster (16" lighter weight barrel) will consistantly print 3/4" or less 5 shot groups at 100 yards from the bench. This Bushmaster has become my all time favorite Coyote Rifle, and has accounted for an even dozen Coyotes so far, and more skunks and racoons than I can count.

So I would have to say from my experience AR's are indeed accurate, at least accurate enough for my needs.

Larry

 

[Guy Miner]

They can be quite accurate. Standard qualification when I was in the Marines was from 200 - 500 yards with the factory built Colt M-16's and iron sights. The little black rifles did well.

Now the AR-15 absolutely rules NRA Highpower Service Rifle competition out to 600 yards...

Many varminters use the AR-15 with terrific results. My son has a Bushmaster Varminter with a 24" heavy barrel and a 6.5-20x Leupold. It's a dandy varmint rifle! Very accurate.

More accurate than a good bolt gun? Maybe not - but surprisingly accurate.

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

There is nothing more fun then shooting prarrie dogs with an AR. My 16" Bushmaster will shoot 3/4" groups. My buddies heavy barrel DPMS shoots 3/8-1/2" groups.

 

[nomosendero]

I have a RRA 24" Varmiter. It will shoot 5 shot groups of less than 1/2" with the 60V-Max, 69MK, 75 OTM & better than that with the 77MK.

 

[Powerstroke]

A Sniper.....
Your buddy didn't happen to purchase that DPMS from Gander second hand did he?

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

Nope, tanner gunshow.

 

[1Shot]

Accurate AR's? Over in the big sand box there was an investigation made to find out if insurgents were being executed because of all the head shots that were happening. They found it was many of the troops had scopes on their M-16's and when the rag head would just stick any part of his head up to look around they were able to pop him in the head from a good ways away.
I ground hog hunt with my Bushmaster AR and with Sierra 69gr MK's and my hand loads so far if I can see half of his head out to around 300 yards he is dead.

 

[Guy Miner]

Bushmaster .223 AR-15 varmint rifle. Belongs to my oldest son. It's a shooter:

 

[john480]

they are shotting out to 900-1000 yards with ar15 spr.i have a les baer that will shot 5 shot same hole at 100yards.

 

[HeathSexton]

Mine is a Bushmaster Varminter, it is very very accurate with everything I have ran throught it, factory or handloads.