Making of a AR Precision Rifle

[rawimpact]

Hey guys, i was wondering if you guys could give me suggestions as i am going to be initiating my first AR build. This AR is going to be a designated bench rest rifle, so weight really is not an issue.

Barrel: WOA 26'' 1:8 twist chambered in 223
Any idea's on what a barrel like this is capable to shoot out to? I can not find any information on 26'' barrels, but WOA is know to make quality products. Any other suggestions are appreciated.
-The barrel is 290 including the gas block and tube

As a side note, i am in California.

 

[J.Boyette]

Re: Making of a AR Precision Rifle

http://www.compasslake.com/

Look at the space rifles.

John

 

[rrflyer]

Re: Making of a AR Precision Rifle

TRIGGER TRIGGER TRIGGER!

The biggest drawback I've found with my new and first precision AR setup is the trigger.

You have a few choices. JP Rifles, Timney, Gisselle. Those are probably the top three I've read about.

I have a WOA 18" 1/7 on mine.


I built mine up to do everything, 3 gun competitions, carbine training, hunting, and long range fun.

This was three rounds at 250 yards with 65gn Sierra GameKings

 

[BOLTRIPPER]

Re: Making of a AR Precision Rifle

its all about triggers, barrels, and bullets.....sniff around and sit on your hands for a bit and read the volumes of opinions here ...if you get bored have at ar15dot com ...that's were the brain trust is

 

[ORD]

Re: Making of a AR Precision Rifle

A 26" barrel will give you a slight edge in terms of velocity, but I don't know that a 26" barrel is really necessary unless you are planning to shoot reeeaaallly long ranges with your .223.

From what I have personally observed, your biggest limitation on range of any .223 will be the 1:8 twist. To get the most accuracy and range, you should look into a 1:7 twist barrel that will better stabilize heavier, match bullets like the 75gr, 77gr, and 80gr varieties. Many folks who are benchresting with the .223 are going with throated barrels that allow the use of really heavy loads like the 90gr VLD and SMK offerings, but they are moving to 1:6.5 twist barrels as well.

If this is your first AR build, you owe it to yourself to go over and check out AR15.COM and the forums there. While there are some real @$$holes floating around that site, there is a huge wealth of knowledge on the AR platform, including but not limited to information on benchrest and long-range AR builds.

 

[jarheadkp]

Re: Making of a AR Precision Rifle

First thing, anything you get from WOP you'll be very happy with. John is a top notch guy. If you are thinking of using this AR for the new BR classification, I would talk to John @ WOP and follow his suggestion. I believe the new class is for only 100 & 200 yds. A 26in barrel is made to increase velocities and/or giving a longer sight radius when using iron sights. A shorter stiffer barrel is more desirable when shooting BR, so the harmonics on the barrel are less of an influence.

 

[rawimpact]

Re: Making of a AR Precision Rifle

Sounds good, i don't have the cash to purchase everything at once. But i do plan on purchasing the receiver first since i am iffy on the barrel. I want to complete my upper asap, so i will most likely purchase the 2-stage trigger after the scope.

Thanks folks

 

[Conqueror]

Re: Making of a AR Precision Rifle

I had the 26" in 1:7 back when WOA offered that twist rate. I don't know why he switched to 1:8, considering the main draw of a 26" pipe is to launch the really heavy bullets at high velocity. In any case, you're probably OK to shoot 75gr or 77gr projos which are pretty good. It'll shoot to 1k on a day without a lot of wind. Realistically 600yds is about as far as I'd take a .223.

 

[Sig685]

Re: Making of a AR Precision Rifle

My .223 F-T/R rifle is an AR-15 with a 26 inch Krieger barrel with a 1:7.75 twist. I shoot it to 1000 yards with no problems using the 80gr JLK. It is comfortably supersonic at that distance. I would eschew the 1:7 twist as it is too fast for the 80gr bullets with attendent increase pressure, and it's not fast enough for the 90gr bullets.

I've done quite well with that rifle, but unlike many others here I will not claim to shoot sub-MOA at all distances every day of the week. (Come to think of it, I have never seen that done beyond a few hundred yards without a benchrest rifle.)

If you do not need to go beyond say, 600 yards, a 20 or 24 inch heavy barrel may be better suited.

But for the long haul, this is the one:

 

[jpmuscle]

Re: Making of a AR Precision Rifle

Triggers, bullets and barrels is where you need to spend the cash.. well optics too

 

[garandman]

Re: Making of a AR Precision Rifle

MIne, in 223 and 308, to get your juices flowing for ideas for your build...

 

[3positionshooter]

Re: Making of a AR Precision Rifle

there are a few vid's on you tube of a guy using a dpms superbull 24? ( i think) that is nailing an armor plate silloute ( 8x10 inches) at 800 yards 16 out of 20 times and his groups were outstanding. he was using a factory bbl and factory ammo.

 

[Mike_in_FL]

Re: Making of a AR Precision Rifle

If you can afford to cry once, buy once do as someone suggested and look at what CLE has to offer. You don't have to go with a space gun upper necessarily, you could just get a varmint upper. They do Kriegers and all you really need is a float tube of some type unless you have to have a railed forend. I can't recommend Geissele triggers enough. Then you're looking at optics. CLE also offers a 1000 yard base for AR's if your heart is set on trying to go that far with it.

 

[sobrbiker883]

Re: Making of a AR Precision Rifle

Everyone does 1:7 because that's what works for tracers.
1:8 (or 7.75) is the way to go for "practical precision" and XTC stuff.

See Sig685's post for someone that knows of what he speaks.

I doubt if I'd choose <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="text-decoration: underline">ANY</span></span> AR platform for a "designated bench rest rifle", but that's just me.......

 

[Victor Co Heather]

Re: Making of a AR Precision Rifle

Here's my specs:

Timney Match AR Trigger 3.0lbs
Vltor Billet upper
Larue 13.2 hanguaurd
18" SS Broughton 8 Twist Barrel w/ matching headspaced bolt (work done by frank white, compass lake engineering)
Magpul Stock
Surefire brake
Laure SPR mount
NF NXS 5.5-22x 50 mil/mil (yeah way too much scope but it's all I had)

 

[Scoop]

Re: Making of a AR Precision Rifle

Take a look at the <span style="font-weight: bold">LILJA</span> barrels. Just built one up using the AR24 barrel and it is bar none the most accurate (better than .5 moa with my 77 SMK load) AR barrel I have ever had (and I have had most all of them).