AR-15 Accuracy Destroyed by Heat? Myth or Reality...

Published on October 9, 2024
Duration: 7:53

This video investigates the impact of sustained high rates of fire on AR-15 barrel performance, specifically focusing on group size, location, and velocity changes. The experiment compares a lighter Faxon Gunner barrel with a heavier Nordic Components barrel, firing 90 rounds each in 30-shot groups. While some minor degradation in accuracy was observed in later groups, the overall impact was deemed minimal for typical AR-15 shooting scenarios like multi-gun or black rifle matches.

Quick Summary

Sustained high rates of fire on AR-15 barrels showed only a mild increase in group size and minimal zero drift, suggesting barrel heat is not a significant accuracy issue for typical competition stages under 60 rounds. A heavier barrel like the Nordic Components 18-inch demonstrated slightly better performance than a lighter Faxon 14.5-inch Gunner barrel.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction: Testing Barrel Heat Effects
  2. 00:18Barrel Specifications: Faxon vs. Nordic Components
  3. 00:37Test Setup: Free-Floated Handguards, Optics, and Chronograph
  4. 01:09Mantis X1 Elite and Ballistic X App Usage
  5. 01:35Ammunition Details: 77gr Sierra Match Kings
  6. 01:43Shooting Process and Initial Observations
  7. 02:09Temperature Readings and Environmental Factors
  8. 02:27Combined 90-Shot Results: Faxon vs. Nordic Components
  9. 02:51Faxon Barrel: 30-Shot Group Analysis
  10. 03:44Faxon Barrel: Zero Drift Analysis
  11. 04:08Nordic Components Barrel: 30-Shot Group Analysis
  12. 04:27Nordic Components Barrel: Zero Drift Analysis
  13. 04:4010-Shot and 5-Shot Group Breakdowns
  14. 05:28Velocity Data Analysis: Heat Impact
  15. 05:58Conclusions and Final Thoughts
  16. 06:50Suggestions for Future Testing

Frequently Asked Questions

Does sustained fire significantly degrade AR-15 accuracy due to barrel heat?

Based on testing 90 rounds through two different AR-15 barrels, sustained fire showed only a mild increase in group size, with minimal zero drift. For typical competition stages under 60 rounds, barrel heat is unlikely to be a significant accuracy detriment.

How did barrel weight affect accuracy under sustained fire in AR-15 testing?

The heavier 18-inch Nordic Components barrel performed slightly better than the lighter 14.5-inch Faxon Gunner barrel in terms of overall 90-shot group size and consistency, suggesting barrel mass may offer some advantage against heat-induced accuracy degradation.

What was the observed impact of barrel heat on AR-15 muzzle velocity?

The velocity spread in the final 30 shots was minimal, with the Nordic Components barrel showing 14 ft/s and the Faxon Barrel showing 7 ft/s. This suggests that heat from sustained fire did not significantly increase muzzle velocity in this test.

What are the key differences in performance between a Faxon Gunner and a Nordic Components AR-15 barrel under heat?

The Nordic Components barrel achieved a 90-shot group of 3.329 MOA, while the Faxon Gunner had 4.765 MOA. Both showed a slight opening of groups in later shots, but the heavier Nordic barrel maintained better overall precision.

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