Bushmaster Varminter help **Update**

[RottenII]

What should I expect for group size at 100yrds with this rifle? I have a Leupold 4-12x on it and the BEST group Ive had was .75 using handloads. I usually average 1.25-1.5 in...

Ive used various bullets from Sierra, Nosler and Hornady from 52-69gr, CCI41, Rem 6.5 and 7.5 primers, Varget, H335, IMR 4198, 4895, LC and Rem brass etc.

Maybe Im expecting too much? I know my Bushmaster 16in Carbine with just a Kobra reddot will give me 1.0 groups all day using Varget and Nosler 69grs...

So far Im a bit dissappointed with it. I don't claim to be a sharpshooter but from a bench rest I would think I should be doing a little bit better than this.
Opinions welcome.

[hagar]

They probably will tell you it's "within factory specs", but I would be highly annoyed with that sort of group out of my flattop AR. I have a 22 inch Harris barrel with 1 in 8 twist on mine, and it will shoot really really tiny groups all the way to 600 yards with 68 Hornadys, and it will shoot well at 1000 with 75 AMax bullets. Try shooting it at longer ranges, if it shoots the same group at 200 yards maybe the bullet is not well stabilized at 100. 1 in 9 twist by any chance?The Sierra 60 grain bullet will be a good test. I have a Ruger 243 that shoots smaller groups at 200 yards than 100, goes against all rational thought, but it does.

[Survey Punk]

I bet a good trigger would help. Not the Bushmaster match job either. I'm thinking more like a Jewell or Rock River.

JB

[RottenII]

Yup, 1-9 twist. I have not tried the 60gr Sierra's but the .75 groups Ive gotten were with the Hornady 60gr Vmax with either varget or IMR4198.

Im guessing a trigger job may help but I still feel I should be doing better than what I am getting with the stock jobber. :(

[hagar]

The 60 Vmax is a great bullet as well. Try some ball powder with Rem 7.5 primers. Some barrels just don't like extruded powders, but on the other hand my rifles that really shoot, shoot well with anything.

How clean is your barrel? Copper fouling and the dreaded carbon ring 3 inches up your barrel's throat will play havoc with your accuracy. Did you buy this new, or from somebody that made it a habit to bumpfire a bunch of 30 round magazines through it every time they went shooting?

What do your groups look like? Is it one round (but big) group, a figure 8 group, or does it string horizontally or vertically or sideways?

Try a good cleaning with Sweets to get rid of copper, flush it with Kroil or whatever you use, run some JB bore paste through it, and finish it off with some Kroil again, and then dry it with some clean patches.

I assume your scope and mount is solid, and not the cause of your big groups.

[RottenII]

Brand new a couple weeks ago...followed the breakin steps they list with the paperwork.

Groups are pretty much round..just large!

Scope and mounts are tight.

Ill give it a good cleaning like you said and give some ball powder a try. I do have some 748 and H335. I appreciate the help on this.

[TerryN]

Buy some 52 grain Sierra match bullets and try them on top of 25.0 grains of H335. That's a known accuracy load, and generally shoots very well in any twist barrel.

I would think that you could squeeze some sub-3/4" groups out of that gun with the glass on it. ARs with round fore ends are kinda difficult to benchrest very well, though, because they want to roll on the bag.

I'd suggest cleaning the bore thoroughly, then firing a few fouling shots to remove any residual bore solvent and/or oil, and then shoot a couple of 5-shot groups VERY SLOWLY. Concentrate on sight picture and trigger pull, and see how it shoots.

I've also gotten exceptional accuracy out of the Remington 50 grain PLHP bullets over stout charges of W748 in a 1:7" twist Colt. They're cheap bullets, but man do they shoot!

You'll need a good aftermarket trigger to realize the optimum accuracy from your AR. As another member said, do NOT buy the BM trigger!

Good luck!

[RottenII]

Thanks to all for the advice. Ill try some of it and report back.

[IO_Joe]

I have one just like yours. I haven't done any extensive shooting with it, yet found out that mine didn't like Hornady 68 gr. BTHPs (groups were consistently > 1 inch). It shot a little better with some Black Hills 69 grain loads. I didn't try the lighter 52/53 grain BTHPs.

Have you run a couple of boxes of factory "match" rounds through it? It may take some time to find the bullet and powder combination that it likes the best. Good luck!

[RottenII]

I did try a box of Federal Match and was ok but still in the 1.25 range. Im going to tinker with some things and go out to the range hopefully next week.

[RottenII]

Skipped work today and went out to the range.

Cleaned the bore good with sweets, Eds Red and some bore paste.

My first two five shot groups were using known load of 52gr Sierra MK and 25grs of H335.
Got 1.25 and 1.40.

Two best five shot groups of the day were with Hornady vmax 55gr with 19.2gr and 20.2gr of IMR4198. Both groups were right about .85

Out of 16 groupings, Im still aver. 1.25-1.75. Im thinking its just what this gun will shoot.

Sad part is I also took my 1940 RC K98 8mm with a Leupold 3x9 and using handloads I know it likes, had four consecutive groups at .55, .70, 1.0 and .70. The Mauser only cost me $150.00 plus the scope. :(

[hagar]

Sell it on BARF.com, and get a Model 1 with a 24 inch barrel and 1 in 8 twist. Sometimes, you just have to statr over! I guarantee you that scoped AR's can really shoot, I bet I can shoot better groups than that with my iron sighted AR15.

[RottenII]

I spoke to Bushmaster today and Im sending the upper back. They claim they will see how it shoots for them and If Im correct, they will replace the barrel. Ill let ya know how it turns out. Thanks for all the help.

[kram 432]

Mine is a heavy barrel built at home and will do 1' at 200 yards with a rest. Bushmaster upper and a USMC match barrel.l.Hope Bushmaster can solve the problem..

[RottenII]

I spoke to Bushmaster this morning. The gunsmith found the same problem as I did....poor accuracy. They are sending out a complete new upper this afternoon. The rep I spoke to said the new upper was tested to make sure it was in specs. Ill let you know when I get it back and get out to the range.
Appreciate everyone's help.

[homelandprotector]

Good form for BM to replace the upper.

My BushMaster Predator has been excellent.

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/412/china06218ze5.jpg

[RottenII]

Ya, Im hoping I can say the same thing now. What scope are you using?

[homelandprotector]

That is an old Bushnell hunting scope, that pic is almost a year old and the rifle now has a Springfield armory 6x40 mil spec.

[RottenII]

Got the new upper yesterday. 15 days from the day I mailed the old one. No complaints there.

Got out to the range today and ran various handloads through it. Depending on which one I was ave. between .50 and 1.0 with most in the .75 area. Im happy with that.

Kudos to Bushmaster for making it right and for the helpful and fast customer service.

Thanks to all that gave advice on this. It will be my first stop when I start a couple of my first AR builds soon. :bow:

[jrgunman]

So you are happy with a new upper that shoots the same or .25 better than the old one, but most in the .75 inch range, and you are happy with that, but sent the other one back becuse it shot .75 inch groups.......sound like its not any better, but your happy and thats all that counts

[hockeysew]

Kudo's to Bushmaster-
All of mine have always performed flawlessly and the one problem I had they fixed with no hassle. Even with purchases of parts the customer service has always been +5
My Varminter with the carbon steel barrell has shot .75 to.50 10 shot groups at 150 yards consistently. I just followed BM'S "break in" recommendations from the git go and then cleaning after the range sessions from there...

I am sure that it is probably capable of better groups, but it sure aint the rifles fault:(

[RottenII]

Originally posted by jrgunman
So you are happy with a new upper that shoots the same or .25 better than the old one, but most in the .75 inch range, and you are happy with that, but sent the other one back becuse it shot .75 inch groups.......sound like its not any better, but your happy and thats all that counts

THe original ave 1.25-1.50..with the BEST at .75

The new upper ave .75...with MY best at .50. It can probably do better with someone better behind the wheel.

The new upper pretty much cut my group size in half so yes, Im happy with that. ;)

[RottenII]

[i]I am sure that it is probably capable of better groups, but it sure aint the rifles fault:( [/B]

Of that I have NO doubt.:D