[docglock]

Have owned a Bushmaster Varminter for about six months. It has a 24" fluted, match barrel with 1 in 9 twist, 2 stage competition trigger, crowned muzzle, etc. I reviewed four published magazine articles on the gun. Each article reports that the gun is capable of consistently delivering sub MOA performance (five shot groups of 0.5 to 1.0 MOA) with premium commercial (not hand loads) ammunition. One article even claimed it could produce "three shot groups of 0.25 MOA with regularity" with handloads. Well, I have been trying and trying at both 50 yards and 100 yards. Using a Leupold Vari-XIII scope up to 20X I have registered some groups of 0.6 to 0.8 MOA, but the majority of groups are in the 1.0 - 1.5 MOA range. I know this is not bad for an AR, but I would have expected better. I've used just about every premium ammo, including Black Hills and Federal, in the 40-60 gr bullet weights. Using Federal LC military M193 I get usually 1.5-1.75 MOA (with an occasional flyer). Have not tried reloads. I think my technique on a benchrest is about average or better. Can you believe published reports? Does anyone else have anything to report on the Bushmaster Varminter or the performance any scoped, out of the box AR-15 style match rifles?

 

[Ridge Runner]

My 24" RRA varminter will shoot in the .2's for 3 shots with black hills 68 gr. mhp's on a fairly regular basis.
RR

 

[armabill]

There are many variables to contend with. Wind, temperature, gun, sights, lighting, ammo and ones self. It's a wonder that we hit the target at all.

All in all, I think that we do pretty darn well.

 

[arrowbullet]

If I have one word of advice, make sure that you're getting your eye close to the iron sites. The .223's are designed to be close, and if you're not, your groups are going to suck. I figured this out the hard way.

 

[Coyote]

If I have one word of advice, make sure that you're getting your eye close to the iron sites. The .223's are designed to be close, and if you're not, your groups are going to suck. I figured this out the hard way.

I agree with the above. I was really surprised that with the AR you almost have to make eye contact with the rear sight. But as stated, it sure improves the groups. We have to remember that when the AR was developed, a good group would of been 6 to 8 inches at 100 yards. That is the kill zone in a humans chest area. The weapon will do much better than that if worked with. I have a 3 x 9 scope on mine and am looking to put a 1.5 x 5 leo on it. You can not believe how fast you can track a target at 3 power and how accurate you are when shooting fast.

 

[Flak 2]

Some people can just shoot a little better than others thats all. In the general discussion when I left the review on the MPA30 CHEAPO carbine with a 2.5 shotgun scope on it, one of the guys there shot a 3'' 5 shot group at 100yds. with the thing. Out of 5 guys there he out shot everybody with all the rifles there his and ours! One guy had a Armalite AR15 20" A2 stainless barrel there and this guy was doing sub 2'' with 55gr. WW white box and some surplus ball with open . On average his groups were half the size of everybody elses there. I won't tell ya what his groups were with his Remy 700 in 22-250, I was very impressed though.

 

[quadfan]

Originally posted by arrowbullet
If I have one word of advice, make sure that you're getting your eye close to the iron sites. The .223's are designed to be close, and if you're not, your groups are going to suck. I figured this out the hard way.

Also,a little trick I learned in the Marines when shooting open-sights is to put a 2" or so piece of tape over the place where the upper closes down and mates with the buttstock.This will help keep the gas fumes from screwing with your eye!!

 

[Flak 2]

you can also use some black silicon and some stock bedding release agent to stop the gas coming back the charging handle into your eye.