09-04-2020, 11:09 PM
Klem Wrote:DV,
The Grendel is no more or less potentially accurate at 100M than any other AR calibre. At 600 it's different; wind comes into play and that's where speed and BC influences the outcome, with the shooter's ability to judge and compensate lessening that effect on group size.
If you have a Savage bolt gun then there's another point of difference. Bolt guns will easily outgun AR's for group size, in all calibres. Justifying the loss of accuracy potential is semi-auto firepower and so you have to somehow compare that need/want against the loss of accuracy and decide which is more important.
Grendel was designed to be used in an AR so it makes sense that you don't try and match other calibres that are more suited for other receivers. By that I mean if you want more velocity and start looking for longer barrel then you may as well get an AR10 in a heavier 6.5calibre with a reasonable length barrel than an AR15 Grendel with an overly long, heavy barrel out the front of a light-weight, flexible receiver.
I suggest the following average group size for 4rds out of an AR @ 100;
0.7-0.8MOA for a top-tier barrel (Bartlein, Lilja, Kreiger). Best gun and conditions.
0.9MOA for Tier 2 barrels (e.g. Shilen).
1+MOA for other barrels. It's a lottery and you may get lucky, but more likely not.
This assumes a decent repeatable scope and match trigger.
Lilja and Krieger drop-in's are only $500. Compared to the cost of the rest of the gun including scope the difference between an average and best shooter is nothing - $200. That's the cost of ammunition spent in the first few shooting sessions of frustration.
Klem, thanks for the input. I realize that an AR won't shoot like a bolt gun. I mentioned it only in reply to Grayfox's question of a new gun shooting sub-MOA out of the box. Your reasoning on the cost difference of a top tier barrel makes a lot of sense, but I'd have trouble springing for a $700 Bartlien. Do you have an opinion on the Wilson Super Sniper? Would you consider it a Tier 2 barrel or somewhere in between Top Tier and Tier 2?