Can't believe how much better my AR shoots after free-float.

[Ballistic043]

you should not see that huge of a difference between FF and non FF at close range. unless your barrel is loose or something. or maybe you just got some much needed practice in the first time

[Bug Splat]

I always FF my rifles. Don't see any reason not too. FF a barrel on an AR is so easy to do I'm still surprised that some don't do it. Why wouldn't you? Whats the downside besides cost?

[ar15barrels]

I used to think I was a terrible shot, my groups were horrible and sighting in took me a little longer then the average shooter. After free floating my barrel my groups have been half what they previously were. I have been taking a little more time on my shots but the difference was very evident ( all of a sudden after free floating my shooting becomes 100% better ). Anyone ever have a similar experiences ( day and night difference ) ? I was just wondering what else would improve my accuracy ( other then practice of course ) . Got a 4lb trigger and using a Stag 3H upper. I also vaguely remember a thread on calguns discussing the most important things for accuracy but cannot locate it, can anyone help?

This is old news.

Molon on ar15.com did a great analysis with only changing the handguards to a freefloat handguard:


The other things that will help significantly are the barrel, the ammo, the trigger and the optics.

[ar15barrels]

After my many years of shooting, exhaustive testing and re-testing of many theories, methods, and accessories... studying zen-like arts, meditation, and even taking a sabbatical to a Buddhist temple deep in the hills for seven months, all to improve my shooting skills... I found that above all, putting the target 6 feet away from the muzzle does WONDERS for accuracy.

.

What do you do about the powder burns?

[Rock_Islander]

I just picked up my OLL AR rifle. It came with a free float handguard and a big ol' bull barrel.

I just recently slapped on some flip up iron sights, and my optic. I can't wait to sight it in, and start some plinking.

I think that free floats have always been a no brainer as far as accuracy, and a bull barrel is always a more stable barrel platform for your projectile to launch out of. Having both in my rifle excites me to the bones.

[Res]

After my many years of shooting, exhaustive testing and re-testing of many theories, methods, and accessories... studying zen-like arts, meditation, and even taking a sabbatical to a Buddhist temple deep in the hills for seven months, all to improve my shooting skills... I found that above all, putting the target 6 feet away from the muzzle does WONDERS for accuracy.

.

I tried that w/ my AR, but i keep shooting 3'' lower than POA

[ar15barrels]

I tried that w/ my AR, but i keep shooting 3'' lower than POA

You are probably looking through the rear sight.
At close range, you look OVER it...

[ocabj]

What this means is... you should not anticipate when the trigger will break...

Pull as if you have no clue when your gun will fire... as if you didn't even know it was a gun and it would go boom. It should be a surprise.

Seriously, pulling as if you have no clue when your gun will fire is counterproductive.

I can understand trying not to anticipate in order to prevent flinch.

But trying to be 'surprised' by the trigger is not trigger control. There are better ways to solve flinch than trying to be 'surprised' by the trigger.

Shoot an unsupported position, i.e. standing, and you'll see that going for a 'surprise' trigger break will mean you won't be hitting where you called the shot. You're often going to be outside of call, or behind the trigger, meaning that your shot was not where you called but hit where your rifle trailed off after your mentally locked sight picture.

Here's an article on trigger control: http://www.odcmp.org/1207/default.asp?page=USAMU_TC

[Henry Hill]

This is old news.

Molon on ar15.com did a great analysis with only changing the handguards to a freefloat handguard:


The other things that will help significantly are the barrel, the ammo, the trigger and the optics.

Hey Randall I remember there was a thread about top 5 or top 3 most important things for accuracy and you were a large contributor to it. I can't seem to find it again, any chance you can help me out?

[ar15barrels]

Hey Randall I remember there was a thread about top 5 or top 3 most important things for accuracy and you were a large contributor to it. I can't seem to find it again, any chance you can help me out?

I've made a few too many posts to remember where they all are...

[Sunshine]

I always FF my rifles. Don't see any reason not too. FF a barrel on an AR is so easy to do I'm still surprised that some don't do it. Why wouldn't you? Whats the downside besides cost?

Extra weight.

[ar15barrels]

Extra weight.

Not always.

A Daniel Defense carbine length M4 rail is actually lighter than the barrel nut, delta ring, handguard cap and plastic handguards that it replaces.
In the case of a carbine, the only real downside is cost.

[Sniper3142]

Free floating a barrel DOES improve the accuaracy of a rifle.

It isn't a myth and is the reason almost ALL precision rifles are free floated.