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Long range shooting AR platform

5K views 43 replies 17 participants last post by  Tomanyguns 
#1 ·
Hello,

I was curious on what your opions are on what would be a good AR platform rifle for long range shooting? I was thinking about something in 6.5 mm.

Thanks for your help
 
#4 ·
What do you consider long range? Are you looking for a semi auto or a bolt action chassis gun with AR furniture?

Ps- your post was moved to black rifles under the rifles section.
 
#35 ·
If it doesn't matter to you a bolt gun would be a better choice, then it becomes a question of budget.

If I were going to get into it I would look on 6mmbr trading post for a used Stolle panda in a br stock preferably in a 6.5x47 Lapua, if you have a good budget just have one built. Either way a Stolle right bolt left port action and Bartlein barrel would be at the top of the want list.

Reading the articles on 1K br on 6mmbr is a great way to educate yourself on what's out there and being used now.

Nielson's 6.5x47 Nationals Winner
 
#6 ·
Off the top of my head, Google Ruger precision rifles and bergara rifles. There are a number of others of course. As far as cartridge, I am new to the 6.5 Creedmore, but I like it alot so far.
 
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#7 ·
The 6.5 creedmore in and AR10 or even a .308 in an AR10 platform would do well. If your wanting to stick to the little guy (AR15) platform. 5.56 actually isn't a horrible medium-long range cartridge. I'm no marksmen and I can make contact consistently out to 450 yards, I do alright all the way out to 600. I've seen guys shoot .223/5.56 all the way out to 1000 yards with precision.

If you want something different, there are many options. You can go the way of a wildcat or the Grendel. Check out AR15performance.com and Mad dog weaponry. They both design and sell barrel for wildcat cartridges that perform great.
 
#15 ·
I believe they do! If I'm not mistaken it is with iron sights? Maybe not. I've seen guys do it out at the range in Las Cruses NM when my brother lived there. They faired pretty well but were using rifles built more to the task with nice long range optics and some match ammo. It can be done. That is a really nice FREE shooting range open to all the public and it goes out past 1000 yards. Furthest I have is like 195 yards at our range now. Used to go out to about 500 but people messing around doing the wrong thing got us in trouble with the city who holds our lease. Can go shoot in the desert as far as I want though in many areas.
 
#19 ·
Yes sir, I realize 1000 yds is a long distance. I would like to stick to the 6.5 mm. I wanted to know my best options. I really like something in an AR platform cause of different options for the gun. I really appreciate all the advice from everyone!!! I like the idea of it being a bolt gun as well.
 
#21 ·
Do you or are you planning to reload? If you get a chance to bump into Darrker on the forum, he is pretty knowledgeable on the 6.5 cm. The grendel is supposed to be an outstanding round as well, but for whatever reason, does not seem to be as popular yet.
 
#25 ·
Hello, yes I would probably reload. I'm thinking that my better options is a SPR rifle. The only reason I was looking at something in 6.5mm round was because after reading various things it sounded like it has a higher BC and can reach the longer ranges better than the 5.56. Dollar Bill, I agree with you. If I'm spending my money then I want it to be very accurate. Don't get me wrong I know that I play a factor in that but I still want my money to go to something that going to be worth it.

Thanks again for everyone's help!!!
 
#26 ·
My $0.02 regarding 6.5 Grendel or .264 LBC



Years ago, I decided to turn a 5.56 Nato upper into a 6.5 Grendel upper. I bought a .264 LBC-ar Les Baer barrel and bolt (at the time, "6.5 Grendel" was trademarked and you had to pay Alexander Arms royalties to stamp it on a commercial firearm or ammunition, Les Baer "invented" the same round in order to avoid this nonsense. AA has since come to their senses.). I think I made a mistake in getting a 20" barrel, however, and not going with a 24".
That little powder stack is apparently pretty heavily effected by barrel length, because my loads end up about 300fps slower than the load data suggests. I still find it acceptable for SHTF work at 600 yards, but that additional 300fps of muzzle velocity would be nice to have if I wanted to shoot to 1000 yards.
 
#27 ·
All depends on your level of expections and are you competiting. I've shot standard issue M4 14.5" guns out to 5-600 yrds with irons and 20" out to 800 yds with irons for service rifle. I would have no problem stepping up to 1000 yds with the same set up. Only takes time and being able to read the wind and learn your bullet drop. Now a 6.5mm you're not going to have to work as hard to get hits. Build what you want and have the best barrel you can.




CD
 
#29 ·
#36 · (Edited)
Dont know if this helps, but with the right .223 AR-15 and 70-73 -77 gr mag length loadable bullets you can match or exceed the 150 gr 308 performance for wind drift and bullet drop.

Example: White oak offers AR barrels 22 to 26 inches for 1000 yard guns.

But then again the 308 with bullets above 150 gr will begin to pull ahead of.223 again .

know that i think about it ,it might have been 300 WM ? and not the 308 been to many years ago i discovered this.
 
#37 ·
Long range shooting is an expensive hobby :)

I have hits out to 1400 with my Larue OBR, with 16.1" barrel in 7.62x51, on IPSC steels, using M118LR, and the help of an excellent spotter. The mechanics of shooting at distance aren't hard. What is hard is being good at calling wind.

At the last school I went to, they were making hits on the same targets at 1200 yds with 77gr Mk262, out of 16" AR15's. No idea how much oomph was left on the round at that range, but the hits were consistent, and I wouldn't volunteer to catch one of them.

To answer your question, the AR's you'll be able to be sure will get you accuracy are not cheap. You might luck into one - The guys on my PD's sniper element all bought personal DPMS AR's in .308. Of those, all but two sold them, because only the two would consistently hold better than 2 MOA. One of the guys in the school I went to started with a DPMS with a Counter Sniper brand scope. Day Two, the scope launched springs and small pieces out of the top turret, Day Three, the DPMS started failing to reset, and shooting inconsistent groups, no matter who shot it. He finished the last 7 days with a school rifle.

I know guys who have built extremely accurate .308 AR's - some were very reliable, some require constant tweaking. The "standard" in AR10 parts varies even more wildly than that of AR15's. You might get lucky, and everything works great together, or you can tolerance stack yourself into a real s-storm.

Off the shelf options that are consistently solid are Nemo, Larue, GAP, and repotedly, the newer KAC. They all come with a stiff price tag.

Shooting a semi accurately takes more concentration than shooting a boltgun accurately. The boltgun will always be more forgiving of minor screw ups on your part. If you can consistently do your part, modern semis can do some crazy stuff at distance.
 
#39 ·
As far as long range guns that are easy to shoot in the wind, have low recoil and are not super expensive to load for the 6.5x47 would be my first choice. Add to that it's popularity with world class shooters and you won't waste anytime looking for a load, they've already been there and done that for you.

6.5×47 Lapua Cartridge Guide within AccurateShooter.com
 
#41 ·
I have an ar10 I built in .243 win. It has a BHW 24" 1x9 twist barrel on it. I normally shoot 85 gr Sierra bthp in it, but have shot all the way up to 105 gr. hornady a-max in it. It will consistently shoot .5 moa or better even with factory loads. It has no recoil, you can watch the bullet impact. One of the bright spots to this caliber is that ammunition is readily available and generally reasonably priced. I would highly recommend this caliber for what your goals are. I use mine every day for hog and coyote control. I have had the 85 gr. Sierra completely pass through a 125 lb. boar at 350 yards and have hit coyotes well past 500 as well. The .243 has better ballistics than the .308 past 500 yds.
 
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