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Posted: 8/24/2006 6:08:10 AM EDT
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Hey guys. I carried out a little experiment on my rifle to see the difference (if any) in point of impact between resting off the barrel and of the magazine. I shot six, three shot groups of xm193 at 100yds. Three resting off the barrel and three more resting off the mag. To my amazement the difference was enough to miss my target entirely. Off the barrel the shots were clustered up about four inches higher than the groups taken off the magazine. I expected some difference but not that much. So than it got me thinking if maybe something was wrong with my gun like a loose barrel. I mean if all AR15’s and M16 had that much variation, (if they are not free floated) why would they ever have become as popular as they are? So what is the deviation in your non free floated rifle? Is something wrong with my gun? Will free floating completely eliminate this issue? Thanks. |
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Free floating, ultimately, is to provide for consistency between shots. With nothing touching the barrel, we remove the harmonic inconsistencies and remove any pressure placed on the barrel by a sling, rest, etc. This has more of an impact on shot to shot differences than overall POI shifts. In my experience - no - the difference is not that great. Now - if you said you attached a sling and pulled hard slung up tight for one test, then unslung for the second, you might be able to induce that level of POI shift. Something sounds fishy about your test.... I'd see if you can continuously repeat it. It could be that resting off the mag - the weapon is sitting higher, or lower, and causing you to take a different cheekweld, throwing off your groups. |
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I have noticed a 3/4" difference in POI at 100 yds just by holding the rifle tighter or looser. This was an AR shooting off a bench with a bipod attached to the free-float tube. In doing this testing I was able to make distinctly different groups while aiming at the same spot just by changing how I held the rifle. It was quite a learning experience. Different rifles react in different ways, though they all react to changes. The only way to see this is to have a rifle accurate enough to consistently show the differences, and for the shooter to notice the differences. |
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