Extended Inquiry Project

Efficacy of modified-fit M4 carbine barrels

Matthew Ruopp UWRT 1102-028

Who cares?
I do! I had a problem with one of my rifles.
Military service rifles based on this design.
AR-15 one of, if not THE most ubiquitous rifle in U.S.

Precision vs. Accuracy:

Minutes of Angle
Angular: 1-MOA = 1/60th of one
degree
Linear: 1-MOA 1 per 100yards

Ballistipedia.com

Acceptable standards per MILDTL-71186A: Rifle/Carbine must

place 10 rounds within 5.6
circle at 100 yards ( 5.6-MOA)
with sights in a standard
setting.

Why modify barrels?

Mating surface 0.15in^2
Barrel extension to
receiver clearance 0.003
0.004 (enough for
movement at muzzle)
Shimmed barrel fixed
my poor accuracy and
poor precision.

Developing a working
knowledge
Was my result a fluke or improvement to design?
Internet forums were unreliable sources full of
anecdotal evidence.
No peer-reviewed articles were found on this issue
Loctite fixes

Focused on statistical analysis of shot groups.

The Experiment
1. Select 3 similar AR-15 type rifles or carbines.
2. Record 10-round shot groups with standard-fit
barrels.
3. Modify barrel fitment to remove clearance between
the receiver.
4. Record 10-round shot groups with modified-fit
barrels.

Getting after it
Test rifles were
disassembled,
cleaned, inspected,
reassembled.

 Denver Defense, LLC provided

50-yard indoor range with
shooting rest.
Same lot of match-grade
ammunition used for testing.
TA-31 4x32 ACOG used for all
groups.

 Barrels fit with

0.0007 0.0012
interference
Receivers heated
to 220F fit to
barrels at room
temperature.
Interference fit
allows for zeroclearance to
receiver up to
212F
Yes, that is my
oven.

Statistical analysis of sample groups:

Targets were digitized using OnTarget TDS software; sample

Data were exported into .csv files

Population statistics computed with

shotGroups calculator

And the results are

Conclusively inconclusiv