Try as I might, I just can’t get groups under about 1 1/4”. This is a Black Rain Ordnance Spec 15 in 5.56. Barrel is 16”. Brass is Lapua. Primers are CCI400. Powders tried are 4064, BL-C(2), and now (again) H335. The trigger is an upgrade.

This being my first AR since the one Uncle Sam issued me in the Marines, maybe I’m expecting too much. All my bolt guns are tuned and have great barrels.

I am open for suggestions.

I'd say that accuracy is very good from an AR. Plenty good for hunting or protection.

More info. I just called the office of Black Rain and reached some young lady and told her that I would like to discuss the fact that my reloads aren’t producing the desired accuracy and see if I could get some guidance. Maybe I’m just missing something, this being a Wylde chambered barrel.

And she said that perhaps I missed in the owners manual where they don’t recommend shooting reloads, but just factory ammo. I said that I’ve been shooting reloads for about 40 years longer than she’s been alive, and could not see any possible reason a good reload isn’t better than most factory ammo. She couldn’t get off the phone fast enough, saying she’d get the CEO to call me.

Maybe accuracy isn’t going to be stellar in this rifle. Maybe 1 1/4” is as good as it gets. If so, a new barrel will be required.

That young lady did not inspire me with confidence.

Maybe I'm just too darned picky.

I think you might have unrealistic expectations for a middle-of-the-road rifle. 1-2 MOA is all I would expect from it personally. BRO isn't exactly known as a premium precision brand. And I guarantee shes instructed to tell you that for the same reason I dont recommend reload recipes to customers at work, and the same reason most AR companies recommend factory ammo-liability.

Are you just trying 1 bullet with those powders ?

Maybe the bullet and rifle aren’t going to match...

That is about all I ever expect from an AR. I have one that is true match grade and will do 1/2 MOA consistently but it's a Precision Reflex upper with a Douglas match barrel in 6.8 SPC. It's one of the most accurate rifles I own.

I recently built a precision 5.56 using a Compass Lake Engineering MK12 barrel with a matched bolt, geissele rail, geissele trigger, magpul prs gen 3, AP receivers, tool craft bcg and SLR adjustable gas block. It's shooting about an inch to 1.25" at 300 yards with reloads. Playing with 8208 xbr and various bullets...73gr eldm, 68gr bthp, 75gr bthp. At 100, I've shot multiple 3/8-1/2" groups while doing load development. The only other AR I had was a factory Daniel defense m4v1. It never got much better than an inch at 100.

That’s terrible accuracy

+1 with 8208xbr. Try different bullets. Using standard sights?

For what is damn close to a budget AR, not really. If it was a Triarc, SOLGW, KAC, LaRue or something of similar quality, Id agree with you.

The Black Rain CEO hasn’t called me yet, so I went back to the workshop. Cleaned the barrel of copper and carbon instead of just carbon. Went to my notes to see what had worked best in earlier shooting. Cold barrel, which is a bit different from yesterday. Trimmed and primed some new Lapua brass. Put 6 rounds in about an inch or a bit more. Nice round group. I can live with that accuracy and not complain too much. The bullet, which I didn’t mention earlier, is that Sierra 65 gr Gameking. A very accurate bullet.

What I have learned is that this rifle and its whippy barrel likes to be clean and cold. I really wanted H335 or BL-C(2) to work because I have plenty of it.

If I decide later to get a better barrel, I’ll consult you long term knowledgeable AR guys.

I’m not familiar with Black Rain but I have a very budget Complete Anderson AR that will shoot 1 1/4 all day

Gun, scope mount and scope for under $700 OTD

I’d consider mine very much a budget, beater AR

"Whippy"

If you can say it, and I understand it, it is a word.

I'm not a super high end AR guy, but in my experience that's not terrible accuracy from an AR platform rifle. I would never expect to get the same type of accuracy out of an AR that I can get with my bolt rifles. As others have said, I do think it would be worth it to try different combinations to see if your rifle likes them any better, but I wouldn't expect a substantial improvement.

Well, like I said, other than the one the Marines loaned me in the 70’s, I’ve never tried to shoot an AR for accuracy. I didn’t have much of an idea what was expected or possible. I sort of assumed that I can do better with reloads. And, since I must have shot well over 100 rounds, using 3 powders, looking for the magic load, and having most of the groups being not so good, I suppose I have done better than what just any old load will do.

Till now I haven’t had an inaccurate rifle, if I can say that 1” groups are inaccurate. Most rifles I have will shoot to 1” if I’m having a bad day. This rifle may shoot to an inch if I’m having a good day.

I guess I have fallen down the rabbit hole of AR accuracy. Must remain calm...

^^^^^^

What trigger?
What optic?
Also, try Varget with that GK. My Rock River is 1/2” with 55 and 65 GKs. And those 65s are amazing for a 223 bullet on game.

I resisted using Varget since I only had a small amount. Figured it would be just my luck to find a great load with it and have none.

Interesting,or maybe a coincidence, that my bolt gun load is 24.3 gr of H335 and the AR load is 24.5 gr. Almost the same, but not quite.

https://shopwilsoncombat.com/223-Wylde/products/400/

That’ll fix it.

^ This

I have a couple ARs that shoot 1/2" MOA with factory match grade ammo.

Didn't see on any posts someone asking/mentioning TWIST RATE.

I don’t think you need a complete upper from Wilson, but I do suggest ordering a barrel from them and get a MBT trigger from LaRue.......

Don't give up yet. May just not like 65 gr Gamekings. What is the barrel twist?

Also, have you tried factory ammo yet? Might be a good idea just as a baseline.

What trigger?

What optic?

And try working up to 25.0 grains of Varget pushing a 55 GK.

7 twist. Larue trigger in it. 65 gr Sierra GK. Athlon Midas HMR 2.5-15.

It’s shooting to an inch or so now, so I’m good. If I can find more Varget I might give it a try with that 65 gr bullet.

Maybe later, at some undetermined date, I might upgrade the barrel. What I fear is that might lead to replacing every dang thing on the rifle in order to work my way to great accuracy. I’m trying to be happy with Ok accuracy.