AR10 accuracy?

[Mongo Hunter]

Hey guys so I got a chance to go out this weekend with a buddy and do some shooting. I got to run my new Spikes Tactical Crusader and what an AMAZING rifle it is, no regrets with that gun.

Anyways my buddy brought his friends S&W AR10. now its been a while since I've shot one but he wanted to get it sighted in for his friend. So I hopped behind the rifle and got to work. we started at 50yrds just to get the scope on paper (no idea what ammo we were using). once we were good there we moved to 100yrds. The rifle then seemed to fall on its face IMO. I would get two shots almost on top of one another then one flyer, about 2 inches from the others. it did this fairly constantly although sometimes 1 shot, sometimes after 2. to the point where we just had to give up.

So my question is, is this pretty typical of AR-10's? I'm looking at a DPMS G2 Recon as soon as I finish my Crusader but if that's the accuracy to expect out of a .308 AR I just don't know if I want to spend the money. I'm not super familiar with semi auto scoped rifles. normally I have scopes on bolt guns and anything more than a 1" group I'm scratching my head.

Could have been the ammo? barrel just getting too hot? the scope was a Vortex 4-12 and seemed to be secure.

any help would be great guys.

[jay.sharkbait]

The AR10 platform is a proven performer when assembled using quality components.

[Karl Blanchard]

We're they hand loads or factory?

[hunter399]

Ammo can play a big factor,and was this barrel broke in or first time shooting gun , I have seen some ar have flyers in till the first fifty rounds have been shot.fifty rounds then clean with bore brush lots of solvent, then patch dry , and try again see if it gets better.and run that brush 5-10 times through bore lots of solvent.I've done it before rifle went from flyers to tack driver in no time.

[Mongo Hunter]

I have no info on the ammo or the break in. wasn't my gun. more or less curious if this was common place with the AR10's. some guys swear they are 1" guns but then cant keep them under 5", so I'm looking for people that may have more experience with them.

[hunter399]

Some people say no break in needed ,some say clean every 5 shot till u break in fifty rounds,im just telling you how I do it.I think of it as a cast iron skillet,needs to be well seasoned.

[jay.sharkbait]

I have no info on the ammo or the break in. wasn't my gun. more or less curious if this was common place with the AR10's. some guys swear they are 1" guns but then cant keep them under 5", so I'm looking for people that may have more experience with them.

On The ones I "tinker" with, I replace the barrel if it won't shoot 1" with 118 LR.

If you purchase quality components they are easily sub MOA rifles.

[h20hunter]

Here is an average group out of mine. If i do my job, which is tough as im no expert shot, it will but all three in a nice little 1/4 inch clover leaf. Im shooting handloads and you can find rifle info a few threads lower in the hunting ar thread.

[dontgetcrabs]

I'm on my 3rd AR-10 all of them DPMS barrels and all are under MOA.

[mountainman]

Never had one that wouldn't shoot under moa. No rework or aftermarket parts. Variety of makes. The more accurate one are typically DPMS guns..

[carpsniperg2]

Probably not liking the loads. Try some different ammo and see what it likes. If that wont fix it toss a black hole barrel or mega barrel in there and she will be good to go.

[Alchase]

Crap in = crap out!
I have seen some pretty decent rifles never come close to decent groups because of cheap ammo.
Start the site in with good ammo, it is the easiest variable to change.
I watched a guy shooting a Saint .223/.556 at 25 yards (indoor range) and could not close a group less then 4 inches. I asked what ammo he was shooting, he said Wolf.
I gave him four rounds of 75gr Hornady Custom Match and his group improved to two inches. I shot an "off hand" group of three and was at 1.2.

[pianoman9701]

my AR10 6.5 Grendel shoots clovers at 100 yds consistently. I use Hornady A-Max 123gr. When I shoot crappy Wolf ammo through it, the accuracy disappears and the groups are inconsistent.  I'm quite sure I'd do better with hand loads.

[Mongo Hunter]

Ill have to ask what the ammo was. might have been basic ball.

[Yondering]

So my question is, is this pretty typical of AR-10's?

It can be if the action is severely over-gassed, which some are. If it's tuned for reliability with mil 7.62 ball, it'll be badly overgassed with a lot of commercial 308 ammo and likely won't shoot as well as you'd like.

Look at the ejection pattern. Forward of 3:00 is too much.

[JimmyHoffa]

A lot of the mil ammo is designed not to be too accurate, for machine guns you (generally) don't want each shot going to the exact same place but instead spread a little kind of like a shotgun pattern.

[TRD1911]

I would also double check that the scope is properly attached (not on the handguard, just the upper) and properly torqued down per specs. Sounds like a couple rounds are repeatable, scope wiggles and then throws one. I assembled a Mega MATEN that's a hammer but larger caliber AR's are notoriously finicky. Good luck