what makes an ar10 more accurate than another

[bbhank]

Good evening Gents,

I am currently having LA.Precision build me a bolt gun and when it done im going to build a AR-10 style rifle.

Now I understand how you make one bolt gun better than another. Buy a good barrel, have the action trued, good stock with appropiate bedding, good trigger and so on.

But with the ar10 style rifle I dont know where the .5 MOA accuracy comes from? I know you need a good barrel and a free float hand guard. But what else is there, special high tolerance BCG? Machining in the upper? Are there specific manufacturers I need to look at for parts?

If one of you pros could chime and explain I would appreciate it.

 

[BattleAxe]

Re: what makes an ar10 more accurate than another

It's the inherent accuracy of the .308 round.

 

[ZLBubba]

Re: what makes an ar10 more accurate than another

I think you're pretty much on track with your assumptions. Since accuracy is all about consistency, I'm fairly sure that any accurizing of an AR-10 has to do with ensuring a tight lock up when the BCG puts a round into the chamber. Similarly, the custom barrel and FF handguard go a long way in making an AR-10 style rifle shoot better.

Don't underestimate the importance of the shooter, though. I've seen guys who are great with bolt rifles struggle with shooting ARs consistently, often due to inconsistent sight picture or not adapting to the unique recoil impulse.

If I were accurizing an AR, the first thing I'd do is get a custom barrel and FF handguard, and have it installed by someone who knows their way around an AR. Then if it didn't shoot as well as I liked, I'd see what options I had for tuning internal parts. YMMV

 

[BattleAxe]

Re: what makes an ar10 more accurate than another

Also factor that merely having a good AR10 platform isn't enough. I likely shoot 60 rnds of .308 per week all year and ammo makes a difference. Whether I'm shooting the SASS or M1A I need match ammo to shoot sub-1/2 moa. I shoot Federal FMJ 150gr which is decent ammo side by side with Federal Match and the group size is markedly different. If I hang 6 targets at 100 yards, I'm lucky to get one at sub-moa with the 150's...most are 1.5 inch groups. Those same 6 targets with match ammo nets 5 out of 6 sub-1/2 moa groups. The manufacturer claims of sub-moa are based on match ammo.

 

[jda2631]

Re: what makes an ar10 more accurate than another

im not real sure what makes them so accurate, but i have a standard armalite ar10a4 with a std 20" barrel and handguard (non freefloat), mine is strait from the factory, no modification at all. and there is even a little play between the upper and lower (i can easily see light coming through the crack between the upper and lower) and when shooting SMK's, hornady TAP, barnes TSX, even nosler e-tips and accubonds i can get about an inch to an inch and a half at 100 yards pretty easily. mine will shoot any premium ammo very well. and thats with a standard weight armalite barrel and non free float handguard.

after saying all that, i absolutely love mine and plan to get a free float tube and good barrel in the future.

if your wanting to get a really accurate one, i would look at the GAP AR-10 and i would recommend the armalite action over the dpms. its about the price of the armalite sass but more accurate, the Magpul PRS and quad rail are not included in that price though

 

[JSTARSZ]

Re: what makes an ar10 more accurate than another

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: johnda</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> i would recommend the armalite action over the dpms. its about the price of the armalite sass but more accurate, the Magpul PRS and quad rail are not included in that price though</div></div>

I am pretty sure I don't agree with that statement so I am wondering why and for what reasons would you choose one over the other. I have to admit that I chose the DPMS lower because I had another DPMS 308 AP4 so it used the same magazines. I have a GAP SASS with a DPMS platform and it is a 1/2 to 3/4 MOA shooter.

1. Barrel
2. Free-Float
3. Trigger

Not in any order.

 

[coues7]

Re: what makes an ar10 more accurate than another

Great thread. I'm in the process of assembling one and based on what I've "READ" I'd say just as with a bolt rifle, components and the shooter make the difference. Having a high quality barrel, and good ammo will go a long way. I believe Dedicated Technologies (Dtech) assembles the entire upper in the lathe using micrometers. Hopefully Scott Milkovich will chime in....from what I've heard he builds some real shooters.

 

[1Sg (ret)]

Re: what makes an ar10 more accurate than another

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JSTARSZ</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: johnda</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> i would recommend the armalite action over the dpms. its about the price of the armalite sass but more accurate, the Magpul PRS and quad rail are not included in that price though</div></div>

I am pretty sure I don't agree with that statement so I am wondering why and for what reasons would you choose one over the other. I have to admit that I chose the DPMS lower because I had another DPMS 308 AP4 so it used the same magazines. I have a GAP SASS with a DPMS platform and it is a 1/2 to 3/4 MOA shooter.

1. Barrel
2. Free-Float
3. Trigger

Not in any order.
</div></div> +1 on this

 

[KillShot]

Re: what makes an ar10 more accurate than another

I'm rather surprised that no one has mentioned the POF rifles as an option for a semi-auto. Tony Gimmellie won the Oregon Sniper Challenge back in March and he was using a POF*USA rifle with Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor 120gr Match ammo.

Depending on the shooter and ammo used, POF rifles are capable of sub-moa.

 

[Casey Simpson]

Re: what makes an ar10 more accurate than another

Read Zediker's AR books. There is allot that goes into making a big chassis AR accurate. Someone like Scott Madesha or Fred Szablewski has to do it.

Small chassis AR's are much easier. Make it easy. Get an upper from White Oak or Robert Whitley in one of their 6mm rounds and you'll be ahead.

Can I give you my personal opinion based on my experience?

Taking clues from your question my advice is stay with the bolt gun and shoot a few years. Its an "either chocolate or vanilla" thing. You have to choose but most shooters don't do both well.