Decide to try my hand at the new(ish) class of Midrange prone events with my M110 clone LR308 rifle. Both the NRA and CMP now recognize the tactical AR as a separate rifle class in midrange prone. The rules have some restrictions such as a 15X max scope, and either bipod or sling.
Aside from a 100yd zero, my recent build on an Aero M5 with Criterion midweight match 308 barrel using a generic load of 41.5gr IMR4064 and Nosler 168's is giving me just a hair under 1MOA. Shooting a large frame AR on a bipod is a bit different from my normal midrange shooting with HP prone and a sling.
Last Saturday was Santa Margarita Gun Club's Midrange prone match, three strings of fire at 500yds. This was their kick-off of the new year's schedule on MCB Camp Pendleton's Range 214, with firings lines from 100 through 500yds and new electronic targets from Shotmarker. Basically the range is facing north, the sun is never in your eyes and the winds are steady full value from the left. My first string at 500yards was hovering around 3MOA, mostly due to trying to figure the proper combo of bipod loading, cheekweld, and shoulder pull. The second string I finally started getting things to settle down and kept shots within the 10ring. Unfortunately due to buffaloes wandering into the range cut short my last string to 15 rounds. Over-all, the rifle was staying a little over 1MOA at 500yds.
Next midrange match is scheduled for Jan 30th and Feb 6th. Events are open to Non-members and the military. Civilian non-members are required to get club sponsorship and base access visitor pass prior to events. Further info and schedule on the club website:
https://www.smgunclub.org/
https://www.smgunclub.org/events/