[tortoise]

Will the Semi's be as accurate? Never found a auto/semi to be as accurate as bolt action.

Out of the box, an AR action is often more accurate than a bolt action. A highly tuned AR action is probably slightly less accurate than a highly tuned bolt action built from a good platform (like a Rem 700), but on any given day that may shave fractions of an inch at several hundred meters. Benchrest differences that generally won't affect a sniper in other words.

You are correct that most semi-autos are not as accurate as bolt guns, but the AR action is the exception to that rule. A few basic mods (part swaps) on an AR15 will have it running rings around your average bolt gun in the accuracy department. As the AR shows, semi-autos are not intrinsically inaccurate, it is just that most semi-autos were designed for uses where accuracy doesn't matter too much. The AR was designed for military purposes, but many aspects of its design make it an intrinsically accurate rifle.

In this new rifle, the Marines have an excellent sniper rifle that can also function as a battle rifle out of the box. Army SF has been using these particular rifles for ages already, so they are proven quantities. Extremely accurate.

[devane617]

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[Ancesthntr]

A few basic mods (part swaps) on an AR15 will have it running rings around your average bolt gun in the accuracy department.

OK, let's hear 'em - which ones offer the biggest improvement, and what's the approximate cost (for those of us with ARs, who want to make real tackdrivers out of them)? Thanks.

[absolootezer0]

i dunno, my "match" grade AR doesn't shoot quite as well as my 700 (3/4"- AR, 1/2" 700). but both are out of the box sub moa.

[going hot]

After the firing pin strikes the primer, and the propellent is ignited, the barrel begins to vibrate, like a tuning fork, until well after the bullet has left the barrel.

The trick is to ensure the vibration is repeatable, each and every time the trigger is pulled, to vibrate each and exactly the same way each and every time.

With the bolt gun, the only thing moving after ignition is the projectile, and the vibrating barrel, which in fact can be controlled by shape, flutes, size, free floating etc.

The semi auto has either a piston and connector rods etc (if piston powered), or if gas only, then the bolt itself, in both configurations, does unlock, slam back and then go forward to lock and load another round. Yes, the bullet has usually left the barrel by the time the motion is complete, but there is in fact motion while the bullet is traveling down the barrel, which will in fact effect the vibration frequency of the barrel, which then may be in a different place when the bullet exists, than the time before, or after. The gas port and tube also connect to the barrel, thereby changing the controlled vibration as well as shape when heated or heating.

True, the AR type platform is more accurate (provided it is chambered for .308) than other type of semi's, but the bolt gun is inherently more accurate, and the same time spent tweaking both will give the bolt gun superior accuracy.

That is why sniper rifles are in fact bolt guns, accurate, with a good shooter, well out to 800-1000 yds.

Will a gas gun compete? Yes, I have several, and they are tack drivers, but all things considered, including the ambient temperature, warm vs cold barrel, warm vs cold ammunition, and humidity, a finely tuned bolt gun with floated barrel and glass bedding will reach out and touch someone with minimal moa deviation with appreciable improved accuracy, with tighter groups, than a comparably tuned semi.

For more information, i would recommend reading "the ultimate sniper", by R. Plaster.