Accecptable groups for 16" AR? Pics included

[InDaRed2]

I finally got to shoot my AR past 100 yards this weekend. I'm just wondering if these are decent groups for my first time at longer distance. Upper is a BCM 16" 1/7 twist chrome lined barrel. Ammo was 55gr Hornady and 53gr superformance Hornady. I'm guessing since this was lighter weight bullets they were getting blown around a bit, wind was blowing right to left, varying in speed, don't know exact.

Here's the pics, they are labeled 300 and 400 yards. Also, these were shot from a lead sled from the back of a truck so it wasn't the solidest thing so there was room for a little error from me. Optic is a Nikon M-223 3-12 BDC. Other thing, groups with this ammo at 100 are nice and tight.

[D_JEEPER]

put the target on your torso....judge for yourself.

if good...then you can stop shooting.... if bad, practice more.

[crtbc]

[Norm]

You could try a few different bullet weights and loads and you might find better accuracy . The 1/7 twist might like a heavier bullet better (62-68 grains). For a 16" carbine with off the shelf ammo it's not that bad IMO.

[Muztang11]

With the 1/7 barrel try some 75ish gr match ammo, that should help a bit.As mentioned earlier at anything over 200 yds the only thing you are really practicing for is shooting people.Put the target up to your chest and decide if your hitting acceptably.

[glamisrnr]

What are your groups at 100 like?

[Zuki Tyler]

Originally Posted by Muztang11

As mentioned earlier at anything over 200 yds the only thing you are really practicing for is shooting people.

Not that guns aren't for shooting people...

...but how do you figure that? Isn't it standard practice for varmint or predator hunting to take shots past 200 yards? Aren't 300 and 400 yard shots common?

Or is it a New York thing? :blackflipoff2:

[HighHooder]

Originally Posted by Zuki Tyler

Or is it a New York thing? :blackflipoff2:

he probably shoots his "Glock" gangsta

[InDaRed2]

Originally Posted by glamisrnr

What are your groups at 100 like?

Ive had three shot groups under an inch.

Originally Posted by Zuki Tyler

...but how do you figure that? Isn't it standard practice for varmint or predator hunting to take shots past 200 yards? Aren't 300 and 400 yard shots common?

Or is it a New York thing? :blackflipoff2:

Exactly. I ain't shooting people with this gun. Coyotes/bobcats and punching holes in paper only.

[-Jake-]

how big is the target?

[InDaRed2]

Originally Posted by -jake-

how big is the target?

12"

[Zuki Tyler]

Originally Posted by InDaRed2

12"

Looks like ~2MOA on the large side.

With my super tactical 308 FN bolt action, I can only hold 2MOA at any range. I wobble like crazy though.

Is your scope sighted in (say at like 100 yards or whatever)... or were you shooting for groups?

[atblis]

2 MOA is reasonable.

[InDaRed2]

Originally Posted by Zuki Tyler

Is your scope sighted in (say at like 100 yards or whatever)... or were you shooting for groups?

Sighted in at 100 and was using the bullet drop compensators on the M223. Thing was with the ammo I was using, the bullets were faster than what the scope is calibrated for so the 400 dot was actually like 430. So I had to go in between the dot and the diamond on the BDC.

Ill practice more and with heavier bullets and see if I can do better.

[Zuki Tyler]

2MOA is reasonable.

But if you're going to be hunting, you might want to spend some time hitting that target as best as you can. While the grouping is still good enough, you missed your target.

Were those your only shots at those distances (the pictures)? How was the wind?

A grazing gut shot on a Aztlan revolutionary or a Chinese soldier with an additional follow up shot from up on my roof might be fine (for that scenario)- but you don't want to go around injuring game/predators/non-game species.

EDIT:

I looked at your targets again... you generally missed low. Should be easy enough to correct.

[glamisrnr]

factory ammo or reloads? Bi-pod? Bag?

[87manche]

Originally Posted by glamisrnr

factory ammo or reloads? Bi-pod? Bag?

Originally Posted by InDaRed2

I finally got to shoot my AR past 100 yards this weekend. I'm just wondering if these are decent groups for my first time at longer distance. Upper is a BCM 16" 1/7 twist chrome lined barrel. Ammo was 55gr Hornady and 53gr superformance Hornady. I'm guessing since this was lighter weight bullets they were getting blown around a bit, wind was blowing right to left, varying in speed, don't know exact.

Here's the pics, they are labeled 300 and 400 yards. Also, these were shot from a lead sled from the back of a truck so it wasn't the solidest thing so there was room for a little error from me. Optic is a Nikon M-223 3-12 BDC. Other thing, groups with this ammo at 100 are nice and tight.

read much?

[glamisrnr]

Originally Posted by 87manche

read much?

Holy SHIT! I need to get my eyes/brain checked!

[Muztang11]

Originally Posted by Zuki Tyler

Not that guns aren't for shooting people...

...but how do you figure that? Isn't it standard practice for varmint or predator hunting to take shots past 200 yards? Aren't 300 and 400 yard shots common?

Or is it a New York thing? :blackflipoff2:

Not with a 16" barrel, The 55 gr is only gonna have around the same power as a 22lr at 400+.A 24" barrel adds a few fps but at 500yds your gonna want a heavy bullet to have enough power to kill anything consistently.And no I don't shoot my Glock like .

[aloharover]

Originally Posted by InDaRed2

I finally got to shoot my AR past 100 yards this weekend. I'm just wondering if these are decent groups for my first time at longer distance. Upper is a BCM 16" 1/7 twist chrome lined barrel. Ammo was 55gr Hornady and 53gr superformance Hornady. I'm guessing since this was lighter weight bullets they were getting blown around a bit, wind was blowing right to left, varying in speed, don't know exact.

Here's the pics, they are labeled 300 and 400 yards. Also, these were shot from a lead sled from the back of a truck so it wasn't the solidest thing so there was room for a little error from me. Optic is a Nikon M-223 3-12 BDC. Other thing, groups with this ammo at 100 are nice and tight.

All depends on the targets, are those 1" rings or 1' rings?

lay a ruler down

[InDaRed2]

Originally Posted by aloharover

All depends on the targets, are those 1" rings or 1' rings?

lay a ruler down

Just measured the spread. 6.5" spread at 300 yards and 6.75" spread at 400 yards...

Im good with these groups for my first time EVER shooting that far. More practice (and no wind) and I should be even better.

[InDaRed2]

For those that were wondering here are a few pics of groups at 100 yards with this rifle. 10 shot group (I shot 5 my dad shot 5).

[InDaRed2]

And here's another 5 shot group my dads buddy shot.

[Zuki Tyler]

Originally Posted by Muztang11

Not with a 16" barrel, The 55 gr is only gonna have around the same power as a 22lr at 400+.A 24" barrel adds a few fps but at 500yds your gonna want a heavy bullet to have enough power to kill anything consistently.And no I don't shoot my Glock like .

Hornady specifies ~400ft-lbs at 400 yards for 223.

Federal specifies ~100ft-lbs at the muzzle for 22lr.

For reference, Federal Hydrashock 45acp is specified at ~400ft-lbs at the muzzle.

Should be plenty for varmints or predators.

None of those energies reflect any specific barrel length though. Even if you peel off 4" of barrel for the 223, you're still making quite a bit of energy. Certainly double what a 22 is making at the muzzle.