OP, to answer your question. Not hard at all. You don't have to be special
or a high master to shoot an AR with irons out to 500 yards accurately.
Marines do this everyday. Some are administrative desk clerks.
Last time I took my SDMR out with M193, I shot a 7-1/2 inch group, 5 rounds
with iron sights at 500 yds. I'm not special either.
Most people don't know they can achieve this feat with good basic marksmanship
instruction because either they've never been in the service and/or they don't
have a 500 yard range to prove it to themselves.
Start with an AR rifle preferably that can outshoot you. If your AR rifle best is 4 MOA groups
with military ball (e.g. M855) with a trained shooter, no matter how good the
shooter- they cannot overcome the inherent limitations of the rifle. You wont
make that 4 MOA rifle shoot 2 MOA groups. If you are not getting good results,
let someone else shoot it. If they don't get good results get the rifle checked.
Yes despite the opinions of some on the thread, it's not always the shooter. I've had
AR's with loose barrel nut cause accuracy problems. I've also
had AK's that would shoot 4 MOA groups, and others with same ammo
same shooter same day could not do better than 8 MOA. Headspace, throat or barrel
wear, etc.. etc affect accuracy and can be different even on same type of guns.
If you don't build AK's or AR's you may have no clue all the things that can
mechanically and adversely affect accuracy, independent of the shooter.
So get a good rifle, good training, and establish what you rifle is capable of
under ideal conditions with a competent shooter (e.g., say 2.5 MOA with M193). After
practice with it. If you shoot 3 or 4 MOA groups with it, then don't blame anyone but yourself.
Your target also will tell you what you are doing right or wrong. Let it teach you.
OP to sum up I think using a rack grade M16/AR15 10" groups at 300 with irons
using M193 or M855 no wind and irons is very doable, provided shooters eyes are good, they
have good technique, and nothing wrong with rifle (e.g., barrel shot out, etc..)
