Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles Accuracy Build

If you were going to build a match type, heavy varmint AR type rifle, how would you go about it and why?

Billet receivers? Or machined?

Barrel twist and contour?

Bullet and load?

Lets hear it.

24" bull Krieger, Bartlein, Lilja, or other good custom barrel with 1/7 twist. I'd have it chambered at Compass Lake Engineering with their CLE match chamber.

Forged or billet receivers, doesn't really matter.

Id use Lapua brass and 70-77gr Berger bullets. Powder choice can vary.

I'd have Robert Whitley build me something in 6mm. Let him pick the parts.
http://6mmar.com/

If anybody can build a 1/4 MOA AR, it's Bob.

As mentioned above, the first part of an accuracy build is to find an Accuracy Smith up to the task, then listen to him.

There used to be a world class builder of benchrest rifles in Grants pass, but I think he's no longer with us.

If it was me, I'd prioritize the barrel and trigger as the best I could afford and let the rest take care of itself.

Top builders will get you what you want, and will steer you in the right direction to get it done the best way generally. Or refuse the job.

White Oak has not been mentioned, but is also quite adept... but even John there doesn't do it all and will point you to others he considers top of his trade for various projects that he doesn't touch.

Hmm, you said "match type".....what kind of match?

That makes alot of difference.

No type specifically in mind, just used it as a descriptive word. Maybe i should say one hole groups at 100, and maybe 3" groups at 600.

Just wondering what it takes to make an AR really good at distance.

3 inches at 600 isn't all that hard to come by. A decent barrel set up correctly and you can put all the parts together yourself.. done it many times..

Our best one was a krieger though.... 1.5 and even a couple groups less than that, 5 shots at 600 off bags with a scope of course.

Gotya.

If you want real accuracy in an AR, it requires an excellent barrel and chamber. I'd say away from the typical AR barrel brands and go with a real barrel maker such as those mentioned above, Chanlynn (if he's still in business) Krieger, Hart, Lilja, Bartlein, Lothar Walther, etc. and an actual .223 Rem match chamber. No BS 5.56 chambers if you want top accuracy.

YES go with a big name bolt gun type barrel, like krieger, lilja etc. Don't worry about the upper, a $49 palmetto one will do just fine

Lilja AR24 and 70 gr. VLDs over max loads of Varget.

From my experiences I would not buy another Walther barrel... but we all have issues with one or another...

With my help, my son just put together his first AR. The upper, lower, bcg, LPK, etc. came from Anderson Arms. It wears a Midwest Industries free float handguard, anda Magpul stock. The only other part not from Anderson is the barrel. It's a Wilson Combat Match 16" in stainless steel; 1 in 8 twist. I bought it from an individual in a classified ad. Cheap rifle indeed.

Here's the first 3 shot group from it once we got the 3-9 Tasco scope on paper at 100 yards, at the bottom of the #1.

No worked up loads; just some old handoads I had lying around.

I say all that to say this: Accuracy comes from the barrel. If you're going to skimp on price, don't do it on the barrel.

(60 grain Sierra Hp's and Win 748 powder.)

And a Wilson combat barrel isn't even considered by many to be a very top line barrel.

Good shooting and good job. Kids love em.

748 is very temp sensitive FYI. In the heat anywya, no clue where you are so it may not matter. Around 100 I've seen it blow mags out of rifles... with a previous warm but safe load

No, it isn't, but it isn't a bargain basement tube either.

Point is, it doesn't take that much to get decent accuracy, the other wilson brand consistently would do about 3/4 at 100 for what used to be 180 buck tubes, not bad.

Top line name tubes will scare 1/4 inch and do 1/2 all day long wiht right ammo.

Good job.

Your son should be happy and those 60 flat base sierras are really great accurate bullets on somewhat of a budget cost!

rost495- I've got a couple of factory AR-15's. They are stock. No mods at all. I'd like to build something of medium weight, with a 20/22 inch barrel, for informal target, varmints, and maybe a deer or two. Would you mind expanding a bit on your comment regarding a good barrel, properly set up?
I've got rifles with Schneider, Douglas and Shilen barrels. They are all good, imo. Who would you use for an AR barrel? I'm familiar with the basic process of truing an action, lapping lugs, etc. for a bolt gun. Not sure what is done for proper accuracy installation of an AR barrel. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks, Al