Colt has had a crazy amount of changes in the model number and toll marks of the standard 6920 (“M4”) in the last few years. Now it’s just the “Carbine” with so many different marking changes that only Brent can keep up with it.

With the simplified changes in markings came the inevitable cries of drop in quality from the usual internet experts (shitwits). A few weeks ago, I got an upper from a friend that was only months old. I decided to do an accuracy test to see how it does.

I don’t bother with the stupidity of doing accuracy tests with M193 or M855 or dogshit ammo. So, all ammo was match, match quality handloads of my own or premium ammo otherwise.

As is my wont, I used my trusty 10X Leupold on Larue mounts for optics and the lower used a Larue match trigger. Gun was fired at 100 yards from a BR competition rest and front and rear bags which I forgot to take pictures of. I’m still getting over the stomach virus, so sue me.

Above is a 100 yard group of 10 rounds using my own 77 grain hand loads. Sierra HPBT with 24 grains of Varget. KNOWN SAFE IN MY GUNS ONLY. Disclaimer.

Groups fired at 100 yards. Upper left is 3 rounds ( all I had left) of my flat base HP 53 grain hollow points. Upper middle is 75 grain TAP. Upper right is 62 grain SOST.

Bottom left is the Hornady 73 grain ELD and bottom right is the Federal 77 grain Gold Medal Match.

That’s about all I had the energy for. After the stomach virus I was running out of energy quick. I will give it some more testing in a few weeks but I don’t see much more point. It is a rack grade M4 from Colt. Accuracy is what I expect from Colt with good ammo and good optics and a proper rest.

Below is barrel markings for spurgs and purists.

Buy new production with confidence. This gun is factory other than my match trigger and adding a colt side sling swivel. New production comes with front sling swivel in the traditional place, which I don’t like on a carbine. Thanks to Brent for giving me that side sling. They are getting hard to find these days.

3 Comments

  1. LSWCHP's avatar LSWCHP says:

    OK, theres something I’m missing here. In the third picture top left, you’ve got mean point of impact in the upper right of the black target square with 53 gn projectiles. Nice shooting, BTW. I wish I could do that.

    Second target square with 75 gn projectiles HAS MPI centre top edge of the black square. Then the last three groups with 62, 73 and 77 gn projectiles are about…I dunno…1.5 inches below the bottom of the target squares.

    Did you use different powder charges with each load? I don’t understand why the second group is in the black with the first group despite being heavier projectiles, but the other heavier projectiles are shooting so much lower.

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    1. Shawn's avatar Shawn says:

      I very often adjust the scope to make the POI not hit in the black of my actual aiming point so I can better see the group on a lighter colored background as my eyes get tired or strain to see because of lighting when I don’t bring a spotting scope. When shooting for groups I rarely care where the group lands though I now realize its not as aesthetically pleasing to readers or confusing. I guess I should mention that when I post the groups so people don’t wonder about wild group position changes

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      1. LSWCHP's avatar LSWCHP says:

        Ah, OK. Roger that.

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