My first AR

[Spooky]

Just assembled my first AR.

Upper:
Black Hole Weaponry 18" 6.5 Grendel barrel and bolt
X-Products X-15 side charging upper
Diamondhead VRS-T 10.25" Rail
Diamondhead low profile gas block
Melonited mid length gas tube
WMD nickle boron coated AR15 bolt carrier
DPMS firing pin

Lower:
Spikes Crusader forged lower
Magpul MOE rifle stock
DPMS buffer tube
CTS engineering AKTIVE anti tilt rifle recoil buffer
Anderson rifle spring
Houge beavertail grip
Red Barn Armory lower parts kit
Magpul battery assist device
Hiperfire Hipertouch EDT triger

Sights/Optics/extras:
Burris Eliminator 3.5x10
Magpul mbus pro offset sights
3bucc brass catcher
Harris bipod






I originaly tried to get it to run with a Syrac piston conversion but I think I have a faulty gas block. I re-positioned it 8 times to try to get alignment correct but it consistently short stroked and would not lock back on the last round. I tried enlarging the gas port to .0938 and still no joy so now I'm a bit over gassed. The CTS buffer is a bit heavy 6.4 ozs so its not too bad throwing brass @ 3 oclock.

I'm shooting just around 2 MOA @100 yrds with it so I'm not super impressed so far. I know a lot of that is me. I have not shot a rifle in years so I'm badly out of practice. Last time I shot an AR was 1992.

1st string 8 shots 120grn PPU: 3 moa all over the place
2405
2408
2429
2439
2419
2429
2440
2453

2nd string 5 shots hornady 123grn SST: 2.5 moa 2 moa without flier
2484
2490
2480
2497
2510

3rd string 110grn PPU: 3 moa 1 moa without flier
2566
2539
2545
2534
2544


I'm planning to reload but still need to buy a press and shoot some more factory ammo for brass.

[VASCAR2]

Seems like I'm usually the weakest link to my rifles shooting good groups. The PPU 110 FMJ velocity is higher than I expected, first chronograph results I remember seeing on those. Thanks for posting, looks good.

[devildogandboy]

Spooky, really nice looking rig! how do you like that Burris Eliminator, i keep looking at them but not sure if i want to get it.

Bruce

[Spooky]

Thanks yall

I like having the rangefinder mounted on the rifle. It ranges within a yard or 2 of my bushnell yardage pro 1000 and is pretty much spot on with it on reflective surfaces. I have not had a chance yet to try the BDC feature yet. The glass is decent quality but not up to the quality of most dedicated scopes in its price range ($700). I wish I would have bought one of the eliminator 3's my eyes could really use the extra magnification but I could not justify the extra cost to myself. I bought it sight unseen but I don't regret buying it. Check it out in person if you can.

[Spooky]

Added an Accushot, L2 rail, and extended buttpad to the MOE stock and changed to a cheapy bipod with tilt and pan capabilities.I also adjusterd the scope for better eye relief while prone. I got to shoot it a bit more today and I'm doing better. I think it will be a solid sub MOA gun if I'm able to do my part. I wont be buying anymore of the Wolf or PPU 120 grain its pretty consistently 2 MOA+. The PPU 100, 123 SST,and 123 AMAX all shoot well though.





1st string 4 shoots Wolf 120 no data
2nd string 5 shots Hornady 123 AMAX last 3 FPS I think this would have been the best group if I could have kept from shifting left to right.
2501
2472
2470
3rd string 5 shots Hornady 123 SST
2484
2490
2484
2482
2483
4th string 5 shots PPU 110
2527
2512
2545
2553
2531
5th string 5 shots Wolf 120
2414
2452
2474
2466
2450

I'm pretty happy with it now I just need to shoot a lot more. I've got everything I need ordered to reload 6.5 Grendel so I hope to see a little improvement with handloads. Think I'll break out my 556R for some cheaper practice.

[Drillboss]

Does anyone have any thoughts about that Amax group? I shot several groups of 123 gr SST reloads the other day, along with a factory control group. All the groups were 0.7" to 1.7" with most of them having somewhat circular dispersion. However, one group with H4895 had a 1.3" group with all of the rounds lined up side by side. Does that mean anything?

Nice work Spooky.

[Spooky]

I shot that one with the monopod suporting the rifle and some what loose against my sholder. I had very little up and down movement but some side to side when squeezeing the trigger. If I had done a better job I think they would have been stacked up on each other. I think it will be the best factory load for my rifle.

I've got 15 more rounds of amax and 30 more of the sst left to shoot to get a better idea. I've got a box of 100 123 amax ordered to start reloading with. The 110 ppu shoots pretty decent in my rifle. I may order some more if the ppu brass holds up to enough reloadings.

[LRRPF52]

Use a rear bag, not the Accushot.

Did you follow the accuracy build list when assembling the upper?

What are you doing to regulate your gas now that the port is too large? Secondary recoil effects from a hard gassed AR will make holding a steady shooting position very difficult.

[Spooky]

I'm not sure. What all is on the accuracy build list? I did not lap the upper. Barrel fit up was not super tight. I beded it with blue locktight. Tourqed the barrel nut to 65 ftlbs backed off 3 times to stretch the threads coated with anti sieze.

The rifle buffer is a little heavy 6.4 oz. Thats it. I was thinking about an adjutable gas key or a heavier spring but the recoil does not seem that bad to me. Brass has been between 2 and 3 oclock when I forgot the brass catcher. Wish I had another ar to compare it to.

The only thing I've shot regularly in the past few years is pistols. I'm out of practice and never really considered myself more than a fair marksman with a rifle. The only rifle I've got that I've shot consistently sub moa is a 700vs in 308 with a 4x14 and that was in my 20's. I'm 41 fat and blind now.

[LRRPF52]

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2013/07/building-an-accurate-ar-robert-whitley-explains-what-works/