Bear Creek Arsenal now posting pictures of groups at 100 yards on their website

[LRRPF52]

Even if all of those things are squared away, the likelihood of a $124 barrel being worth the time it takes to iron it all out just doesn't justify itself in the slightest.

It's not high-browed either, since you can get an amazingly-accurate barrel for $325 going with a Criterion.

I'll agree with you that we don't know the assembly method, barrel mate-up with the receiver, barrel nut torque, what trigger, balanced torque on the ring fasteners, cross bolts, etc.

But again, it isn't worth the range time and ammo just to find out the inevitable.

I've seen what ARs do on-target when the barrel is loose in the upper.

You still will get consistent hits on paper within reasonable range.

Same with loose scopes that appear to be mounted well, but aren't.

Going completely off-target may be a combination of all those things.

I would still get rid of the barrel.