Hey guys, Just wondering what your getting from your 'stock' Colt HBAR match target, model MT6601C as far as accuracy goes? Thanks, Jay

Jay-Don't have a Colt, but a Bushy 20" HB with 1 in 9" twist. With the proper handloads I can put them in a dime at 100 yards.(here's my fav. load: 25.5 grains H335, Hornady 50 gr. V-Max., CCI benchrest primer...OAL-2.450"......Good luck, and have fun----those black rifles get hungry!!!

With the Colt, you're spending alot of money on that little horsey on the side. You are also buying a rifle that won't accept upper receivers from other manufacturers without an adaptor. The fun really starts when you want to drop in an aftermarket trigger, and find out the trigger and hammer use nonstandard pins.

I have the Colt HBAR Elite, with the 24", 1:9, free floated barrel. I shoot mostly 50gr Vmax, with some 69gr Match Kings when I get the urge. Everything is under an inch, with some going under .5", though this isn't the norm. This is from a bi-pod laying on the ground, not over sand bags. I have quite a few friends shooting a large assortments of AR-15's, never had a problem getting one to shoot under an inch.

Urodoji is right. You are going to spend some money on the name, and you will have to get a large pin trigger group if you want to change it out. JP Enterprises makes a very nice trigger setup that I have in my rifle.

Armalite, Bushmaster, Colt, DPMS, and Rock River Arms all make very nice AR type rifles that will shoot very respectively. I've probably left out a manufacturer or nine that make quality rifles, but these are the ones that I have had at least some experience with and would recommend to others.

Colt makes a pretty fine rifle, one which with good ammo you should expect quite good accuracy. When talking about groups, most fail to mention how many shots were involved. Three is an insuficent number in my opinion, for real infomation. Five is a better number and 7-10 will really tell you a lot about how good your ammo is! I have shot sub .2" (three shot) groups with handloads, but represenative 5-10 shot groups like to stay somewhere around 1" or less, with a good scope attached. Mine likes Sierra 60 gr Varmint bullets at the shorter ranges.

In mine I installed one of the Jewell two stage triggers and find it an excellent device. Zediker, in his book "The Competitive AR15" suggests buying a COLT as a starter. More advanced users might try building one up from parts. http://www.ar15.com/ would be a good source for info on "what everyone is using" at present.

Thanks Capt. Tom and the rest, anymore users of the Colt HBAR match target? Yes, I usually use 5 shots for my accuracy tests, that Jewell sounds like a good idea, but my son Tyler isn't bothered by triggers, and doesn't care about accuracy, but if he does get a AR, I won't let him waste ammo either, I've got extra scopes laying around to do serious accuracy tests, any suggestions for a good mount for a regular rifle scope? Thanks, Jay

I shoot a Colt Elite, 24" 1-9. It is bone stock and shoots .7" 10 shot groups occaisionally, 1.0 on demand. I've shot lots of 5 shot .5 groups, too (all from the bench). It likes around 26.0 gr VV 135 and the Sierra 52 or 53 grain bullet designed for ARs and random headstamped surplus brass. I don't sort or weigh, just load on my progressive and shoot. I think it would do even better if I took more care in the ammo but coyotes can't seem to care exactly what part of the heart they get shot so I don't bother. I hate the darn trigger, though. When hunting it's really hard to tell when it's going to break and I've missed some fast shots I shouldn't have for that reason alone. (missed plenty for operator error too but that's not part of the question, eh? ) I keep promising myself a new trigger but haven't got around to it yet.

[ 11-20-2003, 19:43: Message edited by: tiggertate ]

Tiggertate and Knightkrawler, Do you guys think the elite model has the same quality of barrel as the HBAR Match target(NON competition model)?

I too like a match grade type trigger, the Jewell on my VS223 is a dream to shoot, and if I had a Colt HBAR or whatever rifle that had creep and 5lb trigger, it would get a different trigger, RE: Match grade, it's just so much easier to shoot nice groups with them, now if I can only convince my sonny boy of that.
I think he's more interested in shooting for self-defence from the way he talks, in which I'd use a pistol myself. Jay

I got my Colt 6 years ago and at that time it was the only model (supposedly) with an aftermarket barrel. I was never able to find out who made them. A lifelong family friend in South Texas who sells thousands of guns retail every year says all the H-Bars shoot good. Having said that, his brother constantly tells me he wants dibs on mine if I sell it and it will cost him more used than the newer regular H-Bars he could get from the family store. I think Colt provides a factory scope mount in all the H-Bars; mine came with one. It is a B-Square extrusion and looks a little cheesier than the cool tactical stuff but it is functionally perfect.

[ 11-20-2003, 21:35: Message edited by: tiggertate ]

The flat-top models are much better for scope mounting. Leuopold and others make a carry handle Weaver type scope rail, which I have used and is "OK". It is not as good an attachment as a flat-top, but works. Another problem is the very high scope line, which can make canting, even a little bit affect the otherwise fine accuracy that is possible. J&G sales and others have a cheek rest that can be attached, though I had a home-made one that worked fine from wood and foam (not pretty).

Flat-top are however not currently leagal for service rifle matches. My Colt A2 is worth at least as much now as when I bought it, they seem to hold their "value"

Good Luck!