Bushmaster M17S range report after flash hider install

[imanaknut]

Bushmaster has a notice in their manual about not removing the double muzzle nut on their M17S. The barrel is under tension set by the nut, so removing it could cause the barrel to either flex or be too tight in the receiver.

Sorry Bushmaster, some of us have half an idea what we are doing, so I removed the front nut and installed an M16 flash hider. It looks so much better now, but did I ruin the accuracy and reliability of this jewel? It always was a very accurate rifle out of the box.

Range report on the M17S with flash hider at 50 yards, light but gusty wind, cheap bench rest.... WOW!!! I had to readjust the scope to regain the zero, it was shooting a couple of inches high and right, but the 5 round group sizes were still around 2 inches as I got it on center. After that, both my daughter and I were able to hold 2 1/2 inch groups of 30 rounds!!! If I was able to really hold that puppy down, and only shoot the standard 3 or 5 round group, I am sure it would have shot better, but there was a wind blowing, we don't have a great rest to use, and I like putting 30 rounds on paper and then measuring. :D Regardless, I am really happy with what I did to return that M17S to the pre-clinton look that it was supposed to have.

We also had a good day with my Ruger P95, which at the 25 yard range I was able to keep all 10 or 15 rounds (depending on mag) in the head of the target. I have never had a pistol so accurate and easy to point.

On the other hand, my daughter started breaking in her new 9mm Taurus PT111. After a few hundred rounds, we have determined that Taurus is getting a call on Monday. She couldn't reliably hit the target at 10 yards. The pistol was all over the place, and it wasn't her, she had no problem with the Ruger. We found that we had to align the dots with the center one above the outer two in a triangle shape, and then we were able to hit a short range target fairly reliably. Not what I would be happy with as a carry piece, but it would still do the job knowing it's limitations.

We also had our Beretta Storm (9mm) out and it kept amazing me with it's reliability and accuracy. At the 50 yard range, with the iron (ok plastic) sights, I had no problem keeping all rounds in the widowmaker circle.

My M17S as it was ment to look:


http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data//500/13830Bushmaster_M17S_AB-med.JPG (http://www.gunsnet.net/album/showphoto.php?photo=49376&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)

[giwillig]

That is a mean looking M17. Nice job! Any pics of the Storm?

[HKroniK]

AKnut, does that thing have a bull barrel or a standard size barrel? What im getting at.. I'm trying to mount a standard birdcage flash hider, sorta like what you mounted on that badass rifle above.. What is the exact diameter of a standard birdcage AR flash hider? My barrel says B MP 5.56 NATO 1/9 H BAR. First off, is it even legal to mount a flash hider on a "post-ban" configured rifle??

i'd need a threader kit of course, anyone know a good source? (if it's even legal)

BTW, that M17 is sweet!

[ubersoldate]

Sweet!!
I want to add one to the collection before to long!

[imanaknut]

This is an American made rifle, and it has a threaded barrel from the factory, even in "during-clinton-ban" condition. With the clinton ban now a thing of the past, there is nothing wrong with adding the flash hider. If I remember correctly, it is a standard AR-15 hider, which is 1/2x28 it think. The catch is to not move the rear nut and use it as a lock nut for the hider. The barrel, a 21 1/2 inch heavy barrel is held in tension by the muzzle device. By the way, the 2 muzzle nuts were loc-tited in place. It was a real bear to get the front one off, but it did come with some effort. I wish there were more theads on the barrel but there seem to be just enough to hold the hider on and still tension the barrel correctly.

The M17S is a fairly heavy rifle, but well balanced because of the bullpup design, which allows the longer barrel in a shorter package. It is on my list of favored shooters. :up:

[HKroniK]

Im wondering why they loc-tited the nuts on there, did you buy it before the ban ended? You could probably thread it back more if we can find a threader kit for 5.56 barrels.. As long as it meets 16" threaded tight your clean right??

[imanaknut]

The 2 jam nuts lock a tube in place against the front housing cover of the receiver, which tensions the barrel which is held on at the rear by a lug. If the nuts are too lose, the front of the barrel wobbles around and if too tight, it climbs up the angled receiver. I think that is how Bushmaster got it past ATF that the barrel was threaded. It was part of the design to pre-tension the barrel. I have had this rifle for several years, bought well before the sun set of the clinton ban.

You could thread the barrel more, but you would have to shave the tensioning tube a like distance to be able to maintain the correct tension on the barrel, which is why Bushmaster recommends against removing the lock nuts.