what accuracy can/may expect with a "cheap" barrel

[AKA Hugh Uno]

taking some time out from my 'megalomania,' I decided to follow up on a rather contentious discussion about the cababilties of aftermarket barrels etc. (see below) with a follow up range test with my .308 match rifle. It has a WILSON standard weight barrel screwed on by Dean Dillabaugh at DGR and the rifle was then sent to Carl Leisinger in NJ for his match tweaking (bedding, unitizing, etc.).

I have owned other match M1As and M1s with both match barrels and USGI barrels.

The points I sought to make include the following:

1. There is almost ZERO significant advantage between the typical commercial standard weight barrels (Wilson, Criterion) over a USGI standard barrel in excellent shape.

2. A heavy match barrel has only a SLIGHT advantage (of increased stiffness) over a standard weight barrel in accuracy until they both start heating up, then the heavier barrel will have another SLIGHT advantage. The extra weight also steadies things a bit, but so does 4 pounds of lead in the buttstock.

3. I doubt that the Krieger "standard" JCG legal barrel provides more than a SLIGHT advantage over an excellent/new USGI or other quality commercial barrel in intrinsic accuracy. At BEST, perhaps a 1/4MOA using MATCH AMMO over the same USGI or new other commercial tube set up in exactly the same set up in another rifle. It's a great barrel, but does not perform "miracles."

4. M1 Garands, including MATCH M1's CANNOT consistently shoot USGI LAKE CITY etc, M2 Ball ammunition under 2MOA. In other words, two full 8 shot clips firing two consecutive SUB TWO MOA (2.0 inches for arguments sake) groups in a ROW. No matter how good the rifle, the BULLETS can't do it. HXP Greek MIGHT do it in some rifles and Danish in SOME rifles, but not by a huge margin.

5. Standard NON-MATCH M1 Garand rifles will usually not shoot LC M2 ball ammo under THREE 3.0 inches CONSISTENTLY. In fact, a standard M1 rifle that shoots consistent groups of about 3 to 3.25 inches is an EXCELLENT shooting rifle.

Thus, off a quality rest and a rear bag at 100yards, a "typical" M1 match rifle with good quality commercial barrel shot the following groups (and a 30.06 set up the same way with a good USGI or commercial barrel would do the same thing given ammo it "likes").

XX grs 4895 168 Hornaday Match bullet 1.2"

XX grs VARGET 168 Hornaday Match bullet .990" (group on bottom)

FN Euro M80 ball ammo (best M80 I have ever shot) 1.8"

Most M80 (7.62) GI ball ammo won't stay under 2.0 inches EITHER even in a match rifle including stuff like Radway Green, various USGI stuff, etc. In fact, most wont stay under 2.5 inches and even this FN stuff hovers in the 2.0 - 2.5" range, it's just better than MOST M80 out there.

maybe if I have another free afternoon, I will take my Clint Fowler 30.06 rifle out with some LC ball, HXP etc.

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[Mizzouboy]

Funnily enough, the only ammo I have ever shot thru my H&R stock Garand is HXP. It shoots well enough, usually around 3"+ or so on a good day with my old eyes. This said, I thought the HXP to be great ammo. The interesting thing is if I feed it to my really clean 1903A4, the groups open up to 6", even with the 2.5X scope! Using 150 grain handloads, it'll tighten up to under 2". One O' those things that make ya say Hmmm...