AR15 at 200yds

D

Duke of Lawnchair

New member
Maybe some of you could help me out? I finally tried the 200yd mark with the AR15, and was wondering what loads you folks use, and their results. The AR15 that I'm using has a DPMS DCM upper and Jewell trigger, and can hold 5 shot groups of 1" all day at 100yds (Spanish ss109) if I do my part. The gun groups better with the Black Hills, sub moa with 52gr and 68gr.

The only ammunition that I tried at 200yds was the Spanish ss109 which produced groups of 5 a tad under 3". I know that practice, practice, practice and a good load is what it takes, but maybe a little nudge in the right direction as far as load development won't be so bad :)

Thanks,
Jim
 
With SS109s (M855 to us uSGI types), 1.5 MOA is plenty good.

Now go back and try it with those Black Hills 52-gr and 69-gr match bullets. You *should* do much better.

If the wind's not blowing, the 52-gr bullets are okay out to 300.
 
Sorry

Qman & Cheapo,

Thanks for the replies, and I apologize for my late response. I totally forgot about this thread!

A little update:

200yds with 75gr Black Hills produced a group of 4shots at 1.5" and the fifth (last one) opening the group to 3.4". The rifle seemed to do about ~2.5" with the Black Hills. Looks like I found the right load for 200yds, but the pilot (me) needs a lot more practice.

Thanks,
Jim
 
Duke, I'm in the process of load testing with my new AR that I purchased to shoot NRA highpower. I mounted a Taswco Super Sniper 10x42 mil-dot scope on the carry handle, just to help with the load testing and to the the most human error out of the picture. All rounds were fired from a bench, with a Hoppes shooting rest up front, and a bunny ear bag at the rear. I am using USGI brass from Scharchs, fully processed (primers punches, pockets reamed, cases sized and trimmed. The bullet was a 69 gr. HPBT (my rifle has a 1 in 8" twist), the primer was a Winchester small rifle, and the powder was surplus 4895 from http://www.high-techammo.com . All ammo was loaded on my Dillon 550B, with a reamed powder funnel and a Forster Ultra seating die. Seating length was 2.250". Loads started at 20 grains, and increased .5 grains to 23 grains. I loaded 30 rounds of each, and planned for a long day at the range. I shot 5 shot groups, and used 6 targets at 200 yards...that way I could get 6 5shot groups without having to go downrange. I also set up the chrono, and recorded each shot, average speed, extreme spread, and standard deviation. the last groups I shot, as time was running short and I was sure my wife was wondering if I was every going to come home, was 1.25" NOT JUST ONE GROUP, but 4 targets, with three targets all having 1.25" 5 shot groups and one being slightly larger, at about 1.5". This was with 21 grains of powder. I hope to continue load testing tomorrow, or sometime this week.
 
load development

Steve Smith,

Thanks for the tidbit of info. The load that you have seems to be working quite well for you. Your bullet is a 69grainer, Sierra HPBT MatchKing? During the summer I'm going to get serious and actually start my load development for my AR15. Like you, my barrel is a 1x8 twist. At 100yds I'm confident with the Black Hills 52grainers. Never tried the 52grainers at 200, but used the 75's instead. However, when I reach out to 200yds, as you can see my groups open up. My targets at 200yds are the NRA SR-1 styled targets.

I've never thought of mounting a scope on the AR15, but I think that is definately the right way to go as of now. Actually, I have a Tasco Super Sniper 10x42 sitting atop my m1a at home. I'm planning to keep the m1a an "iron sighted" rifle, and use the scope for load development on my AR15s.

How do you like the tasco?

Thanks,
Jim
 
Well, this is the first time I've used it. Mine is actually fo my M1A as well. I used one of those carry handle mounts just to do this temporarily. My mount came from Brownell's. As I said, the rifle will be used for NRA Highpower Service rifle...I'm not sure if those 52 grainers would work for real accuracy work at 200 and 300 yds, but thy'd probably work fine for reduced target practice. I don't know if you're interested in Highpower, but if you have an A2 lower for that DCM upper, you oughtta be legal for Highpower, and what's the use in just plinking with that kind of rifle? You paid for it, now put it to work! :) Remember, a 1 MOA rifle can win every Highpower match in the country...the shooter is the variant. If your rifle will shoot under 1 MOA at all ranges, then all that's left is you. Of course, what I jsut said seals my fate as well...I proved tody that my rifle will shoot at about .6 MOA, so now I am DEFINATELY the weak link. It's time to practice.


Oh yeah...Sierra.



Hey, I don't know where you live, but here in Colorado, summer is here...get out there and shoot!
 
highpower

Steve,

Matter of fact, I built this rifle with the intention of giving service rifle a try! That's why I've been shooting it this entire time with irons. The local range around these parts hosts reduced courses, 100yds. For this, I believe that the 52gr fodder will be more than adequate. However, the 200yd shooting is my little "excursion." I've been shooting 100yds for quite some time, anything past that has been "perimeter" targets such as steel plates and manhole covers.

At 100yds, the rifle can do a best of .60" for 5shots. When I do 10shots, it opens to a tad under 2". Both with the 52gr Black Hills.

The notion of shooting highpower has been put on the backburner. I built the rifle during the fall season, and had planned to shoot some highpower during winter but school demanded my time. It is now spring, and school is still hitting me fairly hard. However, the way I see it, the summer is OPEN! The exception being that I'll be on an internship.

Take care,
Jim
 
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