WOA SPR 18 Accuracy AR-15

[thewolf]

WOA SPR 18 Accuracy
I have been trying to find an accurate load for my WOA SPR 18 inch barrel but am having no luck. Best loads have been around 1.5 MOA at 100 yards. I am starting to get discouraged, so I thought I would ask and see what others are thinking.

Vortex 5-15x
RRA upper (from last build, ~4000 round count). Lapped with a PTG tool
chrome BGC (from last)
WOA 18inch 1/7 rifle length gas
JP adjustable gas block
Silencerco ASR brake
Geissele Trigger

For loads I have been using 77SMK and 77 Nosler CC paired with Varget and CFE223. I have been aiming for 2650-2750 FPS. My last test of 3 5-shot 100yd groups were 1.4, .8, and 1.7 inch. 2720fps 15.6 std dev. I know I could try different powders, but I have stock piles of this to use up.

Also, when I throw on my Saker 7.62 the groups open to ~3 inch at 100 yards.

Going to try a different BGC since that’s an easy try, perhaps it just doesn't like this bolt

Any ideas or am I chasing accuracy that’s not going to happen with this barrel and bullet? Just looking for closer to 1MOA consistency, nicer 1MOA with the suppressor.

Thanks.

 

[crowe938]

I have builds with 16” and 18” WOA barrels and both shoot <0.75 MOA w/ 77gr Black Hills factory loads. Are your fundamentals where they need to be? Also, if the suppressor really opens the groups that much, something might be misaligned. Not enough to cause a baffle strike, but enough to throw off the bullet.

 

[BCP]

Honestly sounds like technique to me, or maybe play with seating depth (sometimes that gets rid of fliers) so try 2.245" with 77 Noslers

Suppressor could be that you will have to do load development with it on the barrel if it really does make your groups twice as big

 

[MtnCreek]

Used bolt with new barrel probably isn’t a good practice. If the brake is easy to remove, I’d take it off to see if anything changes.

Did the nut time in a good torque?

 

[FatBoy]

24.5gr RL15. 77smk to mag length. 205 primer. LC or WCC brass. I shot this load to 750 yesterday. Slow (2650) but sub-MOA to 500 and full sized IPSC to 750 are fairly easy in no wind.

Why fight it? Unless you need to duplicate m262, this is a 3/4 moa shooter in several of my Wylde chamber rifles, to include my 18" WOA SPR.

 

[MATADOR]

77 gr SMK
23.6 gr 8208 XBR

 

[FishDr]

^^^^ This is a known good load.
You may also try 25g of Varget with a 69 SMK. (Work up).

 

[palmettoman]

Check out Johnny's Reloading Bench channel on youtube. He did a series on 77gr bullets with various powders in an effort to clone the Black Hills 262. Great series. He's shooting a WOA barrel also.

I have been doing load development using the 69 gr SMK's and TMK's with H4895, Varget, and CFE223 loads and have some 77gr SMK's coming later this week to try out.

 

[J.Boney]

24.5gr RL15. 77smk to mag length. 205 primer. LC or WCC brass. I shot this load to 750 yesterday. Slow (2650) but sub-MOA to 500 and full sized IPSC to 750 are fairly easy in no wind.

Why fight it? Unless you need to duplicate m262, this is a 3/4 moa shooter in several of my Wylde chamber rifles, to include my 18" WOA SPR.

^^ this

I have this same upper, and RL15 is the ticket IMO... anywhere between 24-24.5 grains is a great node.. I didn’t look for speed, only accuracy... Plus, I’m not beating my brass and gun up..

 

[MontanaMan]

8208, AR-Comp & V V-135 have all been very accurate in my WOA barrels, easily less that MOA with 75 Horndys, SMK, & Berger OTM's.

And generally better than either Varget or '15 or CFE-223.

I'd like to try V V-540 also but it's hard to get but it might be better than 135.

MM

 

[thewolf]

Thanks everyone for the help and suggestions. I tried backing it down a little and seating the Noslers in a bit. Best results so far, well if I don't count flyers. . 2660fps. I agree and am not one to dismiss technique or fundamentals, always room for improvement. Either way I think I am going to stick with this for now, Its not match quality brass prep anyways. I have a lot of CFE223 and 77 Noslers to burn through.

Going to test some Black hills 77gn soon and see how it groups with the suppressor.

 

[021411]

See if you can get your hands on some Magtech 77gr OTM factory ammo. It's a MK262 Mod 1 knockoff. My 16" Rainier Ultramatch barrel is a laser with them and shoots a little under half all day long with a suppressor. At this point I'm not going to even mess with reloading for it.

 

[VegasHKShooter]

My question is this: have you tried Federal GMM 69 and/or 77 gr ? Those two loads have always been my “control “ loads. If a barrel won’t shoot one of those two well, the barrel or the shooter is the issue. You can fine tune and adjust from there.
Buddy of mine just got his Compass Lake barrel put on last week. FIRDT trip out on a BRAND NEW barrel, he shot a 5 shot .35 group with GMM 77 gr. I know you’re shooting a White Osk, but the fact remains, for MOST guns, one of those loads will shoot.
I’d eliminate that as a variable before proceeding.