Suprising accuracy from my frankenbuild AR

[jbauch357]

Another thread got me to thinking about this, so I figured I'd share...

I decided that I absolutely had to have an AR, about the same time everybody else in the US did - so that meant piecing the thing together from whatever parts I could find...

The build is:
- Bushmaster chrome-lined 16" 1:8 twist M4 profile barrel and standard two-piece hand guards
- AFM upper receiver, bolt/carrier
- Stag lower receiver
- RRA lower parts kit with two-stage trigger
- Magpul CTR stock
- Streamlight TLR-1 attached via lower picatinny rail.
- LaRue tactical SPR mount
- Leupold VX-I 3x9x40 scope

Everybody kept telling me that I should be happy with 2-3" groups from this kind of build, and that I'd need a different barrel, free-float hand guards, etc to get down into the 1" range. Well, found that feeding it the right kind of ammo (cheap BVAC 52gr soft point) leads to dime sized groups - who says frankenbuild rifles don't shoot well

 

[Hondo 60]

Very nice!
I'm going to the range tomorrow with my Century Arms C15A1.
To those who shudder with horror at CA

 

[dougw47]

AR build

It doesn't surprise me. Congratulations!

 

[Quentin]

Yeah some people are wary of going the FrankenAR route but if you select good components you almost always can build a better rifle than factory rifles of the same price.

Nice job on yours!

 

[45B@cav]

Very nice I've always built my own and they have all shot 1.25" or better. They all shoot better than I can thats for sure. I have one I built for long range target shooting that I cut the threads off and cut a recessed crown on (it was my first time cutting a crown) and the first three shots left one ragged hole (after zeroing of course) had to be less than a half inch. It was in a gun vise so I can't take credit for the markmenship but I can take credit for the craftsmanship.

 

[FlyinBryan]

Everybody kept telling me that I should be happy with 2-3" groups from this kind of build, and that I'd need a different barrel, free-float hand guards, etc to get down into the 1" range.

yep, doesnt surprise me.

i would have predicted around m.o.a.

congrats!

 

[matrem]

I'd bet that the 2 or 3 MOA ideas came from typical FMJ experience. Even "cheap" soft points are usually much better. (you now obviously know that)
I wasn't even aware that Bushmaster made an "M4" bbl in 1 /8".

Congratulations & enjoy!

 

[jbauch357]

Good to see that there are other practical folks out there that expect good accuracy out of their frankebuilds.

If nothing else, hopefully this helps encourage people to build their own and getting good accuracy rather than just buying an out of the box AR and accepting 2-3 MOA.

 

[RainDodger]

Yep, I'm not surprised either. I never wanted an AR and for some reason I ended up with one. I have no optics on mine and I figured with my 50+ year old eyes and standard A2 sights, I wouldn't even be near any paper at 50, much less 100 yards. Boy, was I wrong. Center mass at 100 yards with a decent baseball-sized group. I'm not surprised you're seeing those groups with a nice scope. Good shooting!

 

[Rokman]

Very good that your build worked out for you. I have two frankenbuilds that shoot great and have impressed me.

 

[againstthagrane]

I'd be interested in some ten shot groups. Not that I'm doubting your skills or the rifle. I just don't find three shot groups to be telling of a rifle's actual consistency.

 

[FTSESQ]

Holy Cows! Good shooting Tex.

 

[killchain]

What was the distance to the target?

 

[jbauch357]

Distance to target was 100yds from bench rest with sand bags.

Next time I'm getting ready for coyote hunting I'll be back at the range making sure all is still in check - I'll try some 10rd groups and see what happens. Really I'm a crappy shot though, and never expected groups like that even if the rifle were capable - we'll see if I can repro what's above but in higher quantites