avboiler11
Master
A couple months ago asked questions on various web forums about a RECCE-concept, general purpose scoped AR to be used as a range toy for paper and steel targets out to a maximum of 650yd, with typical shots inside of 300yd.
I took the feedback I received, did a lot of research, and finally decided to go ahead with the project (principally to get my stuff before the 'great panic buy of 2012'). I elected to go with an SPR-style build, and since I've built a few Savages myself I decided I would take the opportunity to do my very first AR build.
Here is the parts list I decided on:
Surplus Ammo & Arms stripped upper (free with BHW barrel purchase)
Surplus Ammo & Arms upper parts kit (FA/DC/CH)
Black Hole Weaponry SS416 1:8 18" 5.56 rifle length gas barrel
Midwest Industries SS-15 Gen 2 handguard
Surplus Ammo & Arms low-pro gas block/gas tube/pin, flash hider & crush washer
Palmetto State M16 MPI BCG
Palmetto State MOE lower build kit
Surplus Ammo & Arms stripped lower
JP Enterprises yellow trigger spring kit.
Total investment: $833.38
My accuracy expectation is 1.25 MOA or better with factory 75/77gr ammo (FGMM, Black Hills, Hornady Match/Steel Match, etc.) from a rest, and hopefully MOA or better using tuned reloads.
-----
Monday afternoon, the last of my upper components arrived via Brown Santa, so I set out to get everything assembled. Using MidwayUSA's "how to build an AR" tutorial, I got everything put together in about 2 hours. Not too bad for my first upper build, though I had a hell of a time getting the FA pin installed and the BHW barrel was a very snug fit into the SAA upper. After installing the barrel nut I checked headspace with GO/NO-GO gauges and BCG from my other AR, and that checked good. The dust cover was VERY stiff to the point I thought it was stuck and that I had somehow buggered up the upper...but a good yank on the charging handle to pop it loose the first time and it seemed to work normally.
Wanting to test the upper for function, I decided to rob the BCG and lower from my other AR and head up to the forestry in Henryville. I picked up a Rock River 1" cantilever mount ($60) from Orion Arms and mounted an old Swift 4-12x40AO scope for the purpose of initial testing.
I had 50 rounds total:
20 rounds of Remington/UMC 55gr Metal Case
20 rounds of 68gr HPBT/25.0gr Varget/Rem 6 1/2
10 rounds of 75gr HPBT/24.5gr Varget/CCI-450
I used the 55gr UMC to check function, get the scope on paper at 25yd, verify zero at 100yd, then fired two 4-shot groups. Groups were shot from a bench using a Caldwell Rock Jr rest and sand sock.
4-shot groups with the 55gr UMC were...unimpressive, though not entirely unexpected, at 3".
Next I fired three groups with the 68gr HPBT (2640fps); two 5-shot and one 10-shot. The first group was pretty good, measuring at 1.25" with four shots going into 0.8". Second group was worse at 1.5", and the 10-shot group had 6 shots into 0.9", 7 shots into 1.25", and three bad fliers that were pretty much me.
Finally I fired two 5-shot groups with the 75gr HPBT (2590fps). These were what I was hoping to achieve from this rifle, with the first group coming in right at 1" and the second about 0.85".
A few thoughts:
1. The old Swift scope is destined for the trashcan. I had major focus & parallax issues and even with the AO couldn't get a consistent sight picture. I'm certain a better scope, even one with less magnification, would have resulted in noticeably better accuracy results. I'm thinking this rifle will end up wearing a Weaver 3-10x40 mil/mil optic in the very near future.
2. Using the lower from my other AR for the initial test, I quickly learned the importance of a good trigger in a precision AR. When I assemble my SAA lower I'll use the JP springs straight away, but start saving pennies for a Gieselle SSA-E.
3. The rifle went BANG when it was supposed to and functioned as designed. I did have a couple attempted double-feeds but I was using a brand-new 20rd P-Mag and really didn't have much lube in the upper. I'll lube everything up and see if the problems continue.
All in all, it was very gratifying to put it together myself and have a generic 75gr HPBT hand load shoot two 5-shot groups of MOA or better...especially with the scope & trigger I was using. I look forward to breaking it in more and testing different types of factory ammo (Hornady Steel Match 52/55/75gr, FGMM 77gr, Black Hills, etc) for accuracy.
I took the feedback I received, did a lot of research, and finally decided to go ahead with the project (principally to get my stuff before the 'great panic buy of 2012'). I elected to go with an SPR-style build, and since I've built a few Savages myself I decided I would take the opportunity to do my very first AR build.
Here is the parts list I decided on:
Surplus Ammo & Arms stripped upper (free with BHW barrel purchase)
Surplus Ammo & Arms upper parts kit (FA/DC/CH)
Black Hole Weaponry SS416 1:8 18" 5.56 rifle length gas barrel
Midwest Industries SS-15 Gen 2 handguard
Surplus Ammo & Arms low-pro gas block/gas tube/pin, flash hider & crush washer
Palmetto State M16 MPI BCG
Palmetto State MOE lower build kit
Surplus Ammo & Arms stripped lower
JP Enterprises yellow trigger spring kit.
Total investment: $833.38
My accuracy expectation is 1.25 MOA or better with factory 75/77gr ammo (FGMM, Black Hills, Hornady Match/Steel Match, etc.) from a rest, and hopefully MOA or better using tuned reloads.
-----
Monday afternoon, the last of my upper components arrived via Brown Santa, so I set out to get everything assembled. Using MidwayUSA's "how to build an AR" tutorial, I got everything put together in about 2 hours. Not too bad for my first upper build, though I had a hell of a time getting the FA pin installed and the BHW barrel was a very snug fit into the SAA upper. After installing the barrel nut I checked headspace with GO/NO-GO gauges and BCG from my other AR, and that checked good. The dust cover was VERY stiff to the point I thought it was stuck and that I had somehow buggered up the upper...but a good yank on the charging handle to pop it loose the first time and it seemed to work normally.
Wanting to test the upper for function, I decided to rob the BCG and lower from my other AR and head up to the forestry in Henryville. I picked up a Rock River 1" cantilever mount ($60) from Orion Arms and mounted an old Swift 4-12x40AO scope for the purpose of initial testing.
I had 50 rounds total:
20 rounds of Remington/UMC 55gr Metal Case
20 rounds of 68gr HPBT/25.0gr Varget/Rem 6 1/2
10 rounds of 75gr HPBT/24.5gr Varget/CCI-450
I used the 55gr UMC to check function, get the scope on paper at 25yd, verify zero at 100yd, then fired two 4-shot groups. Groups were shot from a bench using a Caldwell Rock Jr rest and sand sock.
4-shot groups with the 55gr UMC were...unimpressive, though not entirely unexpected, at 3".
Next I fired three groups with the 68gr HPBT (2640fps); two 5-shot and one 10-shot. The first group was pretty good, measuring at 1.25" with four shots going into 0.8". Second group was worse at 1.5", and the 10-shot group had 6 shots into 0.9", 7 shots into 1.25", and three bad fliers that were pretty much me.
Finally I fired two 5-shot groups with the 75gr HPBT (2590fps). These were what I was hoping to achieve from this rifle, with the first group coming in right at 1" and the second about 0.85".
A few thoughts:
1. The old Swift scope is destined for the trashcan. I had major focus & parallax issues and even with the AO couldn't get a consistent sight picture. I'm certain a better scope, even one with less magnification, would have resulted in noticeably better accuracy results. I'm thinking this rifle will end up wearing a Weaver 3-10x40 mil/mil optic in the very near future.
2. Using the lower from my other AR for the initial test, I quickly learned the importance of a good trigger in a precision AR. When I assemble my SAA lower I'll use the JP springs straight away, but start saving pennies for a Gieselle SSA-E.
3. The rifle went BANG when it was supposed to and functioned as designed. I did have a couple attempted double-feeds but I was using a brand-new 20rd P-Mag and really didn't have much lube in the upper. I'll lube everything up and see if the problems continue.
All in all, it was very gratifying to put it together myself and have a generic 75gr HPBT hand load shoot two 5-shot groups of MOA or better...especially with the scope & trigger I was using. I look forward to breaking it in more and testing different types of factory ammo (Hornady Steel Match 52/55/75gr, FGMM 77gr, Black Hills, etc) for accuracy.
