Just finished up the 204 build! Can't wait to take her out for a test run! Im headed out tomorrow to get it dialed in, 20 degree weather be darn! This rig is going to have to get used to shooting in cold weather haha. Picked up a 50rd box of Fiocchi 32g V-max and a box of hornady 40g vmax. I don't expect the 32s to shoot too well with the 1:9" but I need brass anyways, and who knows, I might get lucky!
Upper:
24" Shilen 1:9" Bull barrel with headspaced matched bolt
MI Low Profile GB (Modified to be even lower profile)
MI 15" OD Green Gen 2 SS FF Tube
DPMS Chrome Carrier
BCM Gunfighter MOD 4 CH
Lower:
CMT Billet Lower (Still waiting on it, so I robbed the RRA one from my 6.
Black Rain Ordnance Trigger
Magpul UBR
Magpul MIAD
Optics:
Vortex Viper HS 5-15x44 Mil/Mil in burris PEPR
New .204 AR build Fresh off the bench!
- Tokimini
- Senior Member
- Posts: 428
- Joined: Wed Dec 08, 2010 8:21 am
- .204 Ruger Guns: Remington 700 SPS with a Shilen barrel
- Location: Victor, NY
Re: New .204 AR build Fresh off the bench!
Sweet. It should be a tack driver with the Shilen barrel.
Re: New .204 AR build Fresh off the bench!
Well, I bundled up for 14 degree weather and hit the range. The gun ran through all 70 rounds flawlessly. I did a quick bore sight by taking the upper off and removing the bcg. I took my first shot at 25y and it was a dead center hit! I moved out to 50, and continued dialing it in. Once I was satisfied, I headed out to 100y, got it dialed in and shot some groups. I can tell this barrel has potential for some serious accuracy. I got a 4 shot group under .5" and a couple of 3 shot groups in the .4s I was very interested to see that the 32g Vmax was shooting decent groups for me despite the fast twist. I was also shooting 40g Vmax with minimal differences in group size. I cant wait to get my dies and start building some better loads. I think the groups will also tighten up when shot from a sturdy bench with a good rest, and and once the loose nut behind the scope tightens up haha. All my shooting was done from a bipod in the prone position except for the last 12 rounds. I shot those off shooting sticks from the sitting position.
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- Senior Member
- Posts: 306
- Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2008 5:05 am
- .204 Ruger Guns: Savage Precision Target/Shilen Custom
Re: New .204 AR build Fresh off the bench!
Don't worry about the fast twist with light bullets. My Pac-Nor 1:8.5" twist barrel shoots the Barnes 26 Grain Varmint Grenade into the .2's, at 4,110 fps in a bolt action (using RL-10x). In my Colt M-4 with a 24" Hart 1:9" barrel the 24 grain Hornady NTX shoots reliably below .5" in initial load testing with ACC LT-32 powder. In the photo below the limiting factor is my trigger goofs and the Wolf 223 Small Rifle Primer. The Winchester Small Rifle Primer or Remington's 7-1/2BR should shrink groups over the Wolf which is a magnum primer. However, keep in mind this rifle is not semiautomatic, it has no gas port in the barrel so it operates as a straight pull bolt action. This is to circumvent California's confusing assault weapons law so it can be used to hunt varmints on public lands without drama. Next step is to work up loads with RL-10x which should increase velocities without pressure problems.
Colt M-4 ten shot groups @ 100 yards, red diamonds .5" square.
Your initial groups with factory ammo is very encouraging, outstanding really! I recommend that you consider using one of these in place of the rear pin: http://www.sinclairintl.com/gun-parts-t ... d7591.aspx I also tightened the front pin lateral slop with custom honed shims (revolver cylinder end shake bushings honed between two Carborundum stones to 1/2 the clearance of .009"). The less the upper flexes on the lower, the better. However, your accuracy is already so good the varmints will probably never know the difference. Building these things is fun!
Colt M-4 ten shot groups @ 100 yards, red diamonds .5" square.
Your initial groups with factory ammo is very encouraging, outstanding really! I recommend that you consider using one of these in place of the rear pin: http://www.sinclairintl.com/gun-parts-t ... d7591.aspx I also tightened the front pin lateral slop with custom honed shims (revolver cylinder end shake bushings honed between two Carborundum stones to 1/2 the clearance of .009"). The less the upper flexes on the lower, the better. However, your accuracy is already so good the varmints will probably never know the difference. Building these things is fun!