Need custom gunsmithing for my Ruger SR 556
I bought a Ruger SR556 last spring. Relatively pleased with the action, recoil and no serious issues with it, other than I want to be able to exchange barrels on it.
The stock 16 inch barrel is good for general shooting out to around 300 yards, but I want to change to a 20 inch barrel for longer range and accuracy. Ruger won't sell the SR 556VMT (20 inch. barrel) upper alone, or the barrel.
So, its either throw down $2k for the SR 556 VMT or find a gunsmith that can build it for me.
Anybody out there that has any good leads for me?
Or is the best advice to unload the thing and buy a more customizable DI rifle.
I'm climbing the learning curve.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Iraqgunz
You do realize that with proper optics and ammo and assuming you know how to do your job you can reach out to at least 600M with a 16" barrel, correct?
If not then the issue has little to do with the length of the barrel but the rifle itself and other factors.
The money you will dump into trying to make it something it isn't will be very costly.
Thanks for that bit of knowledge. I'm learning as I climb the mountain.
I'm limited to 300 yards at the local range I shoot at. I'm preparing to go to a range with longer distance shooting this spring. Thats why I'm exploring the issue now.
So, what I've gathered so far is that it would be much wiser to buy a custom upper or complete rifle to meet my requirements. I'm also going to have to get a more powerful, long range rifle and some stronger optics.
But thanks, I'm happy to receive all the wisdom that everyone is sharing here.
How close are your groups?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
markm
Yep.. we've stretched a 12.5 out to 700 with 69 gr SMKs and an ACOG...
I don't expect to drive nails out that far. Just hitting the target at that range would get me stoked.
What's your take on Polygonal Rifling?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
The_Hammer_Man
First things first..
The SR556 is, at best, a 1-2moa carbine in it's factory condition. Hitting 8 inch groups at 300 isn't that bad considering. Especially with mil surp ammo.
I have one of these in the shop that a client of mine has modded and remodded and will probably mod again! It's cost him over $2k in parts and labor to make his weapon only marginally better than factory.
Have I given him advice that sounds suspiciously like it came out of one of M4.nets carbine guru's mouths.. hell yes! Does he listen? Hell no!!
Please.. and I do mean please listen to these guys. They know what they're yapping about.
Things about the stock SR556 that IMHO need changing immediately.
A) Barrel. The stock barrel sucks just a bit. (i'm being nice too)
B) Trigger The stock trigger is gritty/crunchy. I encourage people to put Timney's or Geisslle's in them. Although I think putting a G-trigger in a SR556 is polishing a turd.
C) Stake the castle nut. (out of 10-12 that I've worked on NONE of them were staked.)
D) Muzzle device This wep is one of the few carbines that needs an MB on it. (muzzle brake) I recommend PWS556's and Z-Comps as suitable.
YMMV of course but, if as everyone else in this thread has mentioned, if you couple good glass with good ammo AND a good trigger your results will improve.
anything else will be pilot error :)
I've been learning a little about the barrels that Black Hole Weaponry produces and am getting intrigued.
Changing the triggers might help me too. I don't have much recent experience with other rifles to make a comparison yet. The last time I shot an AR before this one was 12 years ago, shooting stock A3's on my Navy LCU. They were virgins when we broke them out.
I'll take that advice for action
Quote:
Originally Posted by
MistWolf
BEFORE CHANGING ANYTHING ON THE RIFLE- before changing the barrel, the upper or the trigger- CHANGE THE AMMO!
The M855 ammo isn't made for accuracy but to be produced in mass quantities. 8 inches at 300 yards is less than 3 MOA and is a little better than average.
I have a 20" rifle with a Lothar-Walther barrel that shoots 7 inch groups at the same range with the same ammo. But it will shoot well under 1 MOA with the right load.
A shooter cannot know what the true potential of a rifle is until it's tested with good quality ammo. Replacing the barrel or upper or trigger is a waste of money if you are not going to shoot good ammo.
Before replacing the trigger, remove it from the lower and clean it up. Then, lube the sears, pins and the bottom curve of the hammer with grease and re-assemble. This will go a long way to smoothing out an AR trigger and making it predictable
I'll do a thorough cleaning of the lower and inspect it closely for any burrs or deformities, then lube it before I take it to the range again. I'm out, working on my tug for the next three weeks. So don't expect a progress report real soon.
Thanks for the advice, though. It helps.
A new upper is my latest rasoning.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mastiffhound
I would just buy a 20" DI upper(I did exactly this) and be done with it. $400 to $600 hopefully when the panic subsides (maybe less, lots of morons paying too much right now) slap it on your lower and your gold. The trigger is sucky at best, if you can get use it then great, but replacing it couldn't hurt. You don't have to buy a new gun, with lowers being so hard to get keep yours. Don't get rid of it. The AR has been called the big boy's erector set for a reason. This is the cheapest and easiest route to take and it will work. Selling your rifle and wishing or praying you can find another could be a bad idea. No ban, well no big deal. Ban, well your screwed.
I may even go for a larger bore, after all the advice I've been getting and reading I've been doing on the subject.
I'll be cleaning up the lower, looking for poor craftsmanship and such, then lubing it up good before seriously considering replacing the trigger group.
Thanks for the advice.
By the way, I've heard that there was a loss in the Koran's translation. The correct reading was retribution by 40 Virginians, with George Washington leading the charge.
Going for the full upper.
However, I understand from reading up on the development of it that it uses the same BCG and magazines as a 5.556/.223. They took .223/5.56 cartridges, trimmed off the neck and the .308/7.62 bullet fits in it. From other information I gleaned from the internet, the .300 AAC Blackout's ballistics rival the 7.62/39's. So sounds like a real winner. All I have to do is scrounge up some cash.
No anyone that is looking for a 1993 Husky 350 WRC? I'll probably sell it to get the upper.
Another thing I learned is that with polygonal rifling, I can get more accuracy, longer range, higher velocity and longer barrel life out of it. I'm also going to be looking for a piston rifle for reliability.
Anyhow, good luck with your build.