Bushmaster ACR ratchet barrel question

[stubbicatt]

Whenever I buy an AR15, first thing I do is have the barrel retorqued. From long ago I remember guys tales of woe and inaccuracy being traced to this issue, so I just have it done.

Been a long time since I had an AR.

Like many, I've decided to play the waiting game on the Bushmaster ACR. I want one of these so badly I can practically taste it. Would like to hold one in my hands before buying one, so my wait may be longer than others'.

Just this morning I got to thinking about that ratcheting quick barrel removal "feature" that comes on the ACR. If one can trace accuracy woes to the AR15 barrel nut, doesn't this "feature" on the ACR suggest future problems at that spot?

 

[Zak Smith]

Considering how few people have shot an ACR at this point, anything posted here will be speculation.

 

[NickEllis]

The ratcheting feature is one of the big question marks for many of us looking forward to the ACR release. Like Zak said, very few people have shot it (and the majority of that was a prototype), and far fewer of those (i.e., none) were able to test POA/POI shifts when changing barrels. They have marketed it on places like AR15com as less than MOA shifts with the barrel change, but I don't' know anyone who has verified that.

However, you can bet that will be excessively tested first thing once the ACR is on the market. I suppose until then... gonna have to keep wondering like the rest of us.

 

[Coronach]

Pure speculation is all that is possible at this point.

I'm salivating as heavily as anyone else for the ACR, but this is absolutely a point of concern. If it doesn't work well, it will be a serious flaw. OTOH, if the ratchet system is robust and designed in a way that reliably places the barrel at the same tension each time, it could be a complete non-issue.

The ACR design is great, on paper. I'm waiting to see what it's like in reality.

Mike

 

[NickEllis]

I've always just wondered whether it was POSSIBLE to develop a ratchet system that could return a barrel to POI lower than MOA. I'm sure some brilliant mechanic can make it possible. Hopefully, Magpul/ACR gets it right.

Nick

 

[PercyShelley]

To any AUG owners out there, how consistent is the barrel replacement on that?

 

[ny32182]

Quick change barrels are not a new concept, right? They have been in use on machine guns virtually forever, no?

Have they ever proved to be a problem on any widely adopted platform?

 

[Coronach]

Machineguns are not exactly known for pinpoint accuracy. An acceptable level of accuracy for a machine gun might be dismal for an ACR.

Mike

 

[GunTech]

Accuracy is not even desireable for an MG in most cases. You want shot dispersion.

As far as retaining nut torque on the AR, it's not critical for accuracy as long as it's tight. I've run into a few ARs that were under-torqued to the point the barrel was loose in the interface.

I have my doubts about how repeatable accuracy will be with the ACR when changing barrels. I'm betting you'll have to sight in again any time you remove and reinstall a barrel. The upper is aluminum just like the AR, and uses AR barrels. There's going to be some play in the interface just so you don't have to hammer the barrel in place. I doubt the placement of the barrel will be 100% repeatable.

Another personal who really want to shoot the Bushmaster ACR a lot and see what happens.