Author Topic: AR15 range day, 6/26/20  (Read 1471 times)

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Offline M1A4ME

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AR15 range day, 6/26/20
« on: June 26, 2020, 04:49:47 PM »
Me, my wife and four AR15's.

#1 - my last AR15 build.  Got the Ol' Blackface getting stepped on lower from PSA, a 16" chrome lined (sort of) medium weight parkerized barrel with a mid-length gas system (forget where I bought the barrel now but I looked awhile to find a chrome lined 16" ML gas barrel)remembered - DTI -Delton, Inc in NC.  YHM gas block with the flip up front sight, A1 buttstock, a Matech BUIS, a magpul long carbine forend (to cover that YHM gas block/flip up front sight) and PA red dot with the promised 50,000 hr. battery life.

Sighted in the red dot.  Close from first shot.  Best groups (at 25 yds.) of all the rifles shot this morning.  Some of the 3 round groups looked like a .30 caliber bullet hole.  I like it.  Could not sight in the BUIS.  Nothing I tried would get the windage to adjust on the Matech.  It was sighted in when there was a .300 BO barrel in that upper, but not with the .223 barrel in it.  Gotta clean it, get that back sight moving left/right and take it back for another session.  100% function.

#2 - a previous "last AR15 build."  It was short stroking the last time I had it to the range (which was also the first time I took it to the range.)  Remembered I'd butted the gas block up against the step on the barrel rather than leaving that small gap (0.060"??) and adjusted for that between trips by loosening, moving it forward and tightening the set screws up again.  It has one of those great feeling triangular like free float tubes from Luth-AR on it.  Magpul BUS and a Cabela's 1X4 scope on it.  Not happy with the scope set up.  It needs to be further forward for me to get my nose on that charging hangle and I'm out of room to move it any more in that direction.  Needs a differnt mount or different scope. 

I shot it to confirm the scope was sighted in (from the last trip) and then removed the scope to sight in the Magpul back up sights.  Pretty close from the get go, didn't take long/very many rounds.  Put the scope back on it in the same spot on the rails and still good to go.

#3 - 10.5" AR15 pistol in .223.  Took the Lucid red dot off it and installed a new PA (50,000 hr. battery life model).  Got tired of the Lucid sight eating the battery with the red dot turned off and the gun sitting in the case.

Sighted in the new red dot pretty quick.  Darn trigger is butt ugly.  Till it goes BANG you keep thinking you forgot and left the safety in the SAFE position.  After a few rounds the trigger finger actually starts to feel kind of tender/sore.  Gotta replace that.  Still, 25 yd. groups weren't bad.  Let if pop me in the nose on the first shot, not bad, but enough to make me wonder what happened till it sunk in.  i was shooting it from a bench, like I did the rifles/carbines and had my left hand trying to stabilize my right hand on the grip to keep the dot steady on the paper.  Changed after that first shot to use my left hand to hold the magazine up against the back of the bench.  No more nose kisses.  Just that darn sorry trigger.  I'm surprised the groups weren't more negativelly affected by that trigger pull.

#4 - the AR15 I built back in the spring with the 20" stainless barrel shortened/recrowned to 17" was last.  It has another Luth-AR trianguler free float tube, Magpul back up sights, M16A1 stock (I like those things but they are getting harder to find in good condition), and a Vortex 1X4 illuminated scope.  Previously sighted in, but short stroking.  Same issue (on the surface as the other rifle.  The gas block was not spaced out from the shoulder on the barrel.  I "fixed" it, too.

This rifle impressed me on it's first range trip due to several .30 caliber sized 3 shot groups at 25 yds.  It did better this time and only short stroked once.  So, maybe not completely gas port vs. gas block alignment.  I've had issues with two other rifles with shortened barrels.  Both required a slight enlargement to the gas port (the closer to the muzzle the gas port is the quicker the gas pressure drops off after the bullet leaves the barrel - I know the bullet is moving fast but it can still be an issue if things are border line to start with.)  I will remove the gas block and check the gas port as closely as I can with drill bits to see about where it's at for gas port diameter.  And probably drill it out one step larger.  That fixed the FAL (16" barrel counting the compensator welded to the barrel) and the 18" barreled upper with the rifle length gas system from PSA.

Not a bad visit.  Maybe now I can get back to the pistols and see if I can get the M&P .40 FS working with that Storm Lake barrel, the FNS .40 shooting better with the 180 grain hollow points (still have some of the Blue Dot loads and Unique loads to shoot up), and get to work on some 124 grain hollow points for the M&P 5" FDE 9MM (that hopefully shoot well in the CZ's, too???).

Now, dogs to walk, pet, comb, treat and four AR15's to clean up/lube.

Edited to add DTI as the maker of the chrome lined barrel for rifle #1

and, all sighting in/test firing was at 25 yds.  All ammo was Hornady 55 grain FMJ sitting on top of BLC2 powder with CCI small rifle primers.
« Last Edit: June 27, 2020, 06:49:52 AM by M1A4ME »
I just keep wasting time and money on other brands trying to find/make one shoot like my P07 and P09.  What is wrong with me?

skin

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Re: AR15 range day, 6/26/20
« Reply #1 on: June 26, 2020, 06:53:54 PM »
Sounds like a great day!

Offline Joe L

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Re: AR15 range day, 6/26/20
« Reply #2 on: July 11, 2020, 10:45:36 AM »
M1A4ME--neat write-up.  I only have one AR-15 but it is a good one.  And now that I know I really need to clean it after shooting it, I finally got a vise block and a good long cleaning rod for it, plus one of those little polymer pieces that ties the upper in the open position using the rear pin or whatever it is called. 

When I shoot the Savage .22, it feels like a toy.  When I shoot the .308 under a shed, it feels and sounds like a canon.  The AR-15 is just right. 

Joe
CZ-75B 9mm and Kadet, 97B"E", two P-09's, P-07, P-10C, P-10F, P-10S, MTR

Offline M1A4ME

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Re: AR15 range day, 6/26/20
« Reply #3 on: July 13, 2020, 08:17:54 AM »
Joe, after being issued and using both the M16A1 and the M14 while in the US Army I swore off on M16's/5.56X45 for decades - except when hunting varmints with a .223 Remington M700 VS.

Then I bought an Olympic Arms XM177 clone and the darn thing shot better than the 20" barreled M16A1's I shot in the Army.  Then I built one for varmint hunting (never killed anything with it but paper), then I built three 20" barreled HBAR clones for me and my sons.  And I've built several more since then.  Hoping I finally got it out of my system.

For the most part they are darned accurate.  Cheaper to shoot than my M1A/M1 Garands.  Harder to clean than the .30 caliber rifles (true of the old M700, too, just takes longer to get the barrel clean, for some reason.)

I should be going back to the range this week to give that short stroker another "shot" at perfect functioning.  And we'll be function testing/sighting in with iron sights my nephew's son's AR15 I built for him back in the winter.  I kept waiting on his dad to take him shooting and try it out but that hasn't happened.  This week I hope to see a shine in that kid's eyes as when he gets to shoot that carbine after yet another safety talk as well as a quick field strip to go over parts/funtion, etc. 

As long as you don't need the .308 penetration/power the .223 is a nice alternative.
I just keep wasting time and money on other brands trying to find/make one shoot like my P07 and P09.  What is wrong with me?

Offline Joe L

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Re: AR15 range day, 6/26/20
« Reply #4 on: July 13, 2020, 10:22:28 AM »
Well, I bet that boy enjoys the new rifle!  Take some photos!

I'm headed to the mountains on Tuesday for some long range (to me) pistol and .308 rifle shooting.  The .308 at 547 yards, and the P-10F/C/S at 200 and 100 yards, I hope.  Last trip to the mountains with the .308 I had my ammo all mixed up.  That stuff is gone and all I have left is some solid gold Federal GMM 175 SMK.  Every shot will be serious.   I'm hoping to hit the index cards with all 4 shots in a group.  We'll see.  Might be windy.  I am planning for 3 range trips with the rifle, and 3 with the pistols.  No more than 60 rounds total with the .308, and 120 with the 9mm pistols.  Rain, wind, and chores may limit me to 1/2 the scheduled range visits.

I'm going to shoot the striker guns at long distance but maybe not just from a rest.  I may not try single hand standing at 200 yards, but, if I'm having a good day I might at least try it.  If I am not successful, no one will ever know! 

Joe

CZ-75B 9mm and Kadet, 97B"E", two P-09's, P-07, P-10C, P-10F, P-10S, MTR

Offline M1A4ME

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Re: AR15 range day, 6/26/20
« Reply #5 on: July 13, 2020, 02:11:39 PM »
I take stuff home to shoot every time I go home.  I get the time/weather to shoot about 1 of every 3 or 4 trips.

It's still worth it.  Lots of good memories up in that old holler.  Walking up past the gardens to the 25 yd. range brings back a lot of them.

Good luck in the mountains.  Enjoy it.
I just keep wasting time and money on other brands trying to find/make one shoot like my P07 and P09.  What is wrong with me?

Offline armoredman

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Re: AR15 range day, 6/26/20
« Reply #6 on: July 16, 2020, 02:51:18 AM »
It is such a good thing to get the family our shooting.

Offline M1A4ME

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Re: AR15 range day, 6/26/20
« Reply #7 on: July 16, 2020, 07:33:25 AM »
Took my nephews 10 year old out yesterday to buy a range bag, ear plugs, safety glasses and stapler.

Got sidetracked with all the questions about other stuff (I think 10 year olds ask about 10 questions a minute) and we got the bag and not the safety stuff.  Back this morning (walmart) to get the ear plugs, safety glasses and stapler on our way to the range to sight in his rifle.

Range report, with pictures, after we get back.
I just keep wasting time and money on other brands trying to find/make one shoot like my P07 and P09.  What is wrong with me?

Offline armoredman

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Re: AR15 range day, 6/26/20
« Reply #8 on: July 17, 2020, 03:02:29 AM »
Awesome. 8)