Raining Lead

Accuracy is certainly important in a patrol rifle, but never at the expense of reliability. Having tested dozens of 7.62mm ARs over the years, the accuracy of most rifles has improved exponentially. Many standard rifles today are more accurate than precision rifles of yesteryear. Reliability? Not so much, as some will simply not run certain types of ammunition. Law enforcement agencies primarily issue ammunition ranging from 155 to 175 grains with either a polymer-tip or open-tip match (OTM) bullet, so this rifle needed to run them all—and it did.
Testing started with the two Brownells magazines loaded with Black Hills’ 155-grain A-MAX ammunition, my preferred duty load. I also used magazines from Magpul, Lancer, LaRue Tactical and DPMS loaded with ammunition ranging from old Federal 125-grain rounds to 175-grain OTMs and 180-grain AccuBonds. Each contained 10 rounds and was lined up on a table. They were all fired at a moderate rate at a 15-yard target from off-hand, pausing only long enough to reload. There wasn’t a single malfunction, and all of the shots fell into an 8-inch cluster. Just as importantly, the ejection pattern was very consistent, creating a rather large pile of cases at about 3 o’clock. Wearing tactical gloves, the handguard did get a bit warm but not uncomfortable given about 100 rounds fired at a steady pace. From a practical perspective, the R16SFST-308 ran the ammo at a pace and quantity exceeding most practical law enforcement conditions.
The R16SFST-308’s accuracy was excellent, especially with the 175-grain match loads. Barnes’ new Precision Match 175 OTM produced the best group, which measuring just a bit over an inch at 100 yards. Fired from prone and using a bag as a rest, there was some consistent vertical stringing on my part, but this replicates real-world engagements. Sure, you can use a bipod on a patrol rifle, but you’re more likely to rest the rifle against a barricade, bag or other naturally occurring support. If a bench presented itself during an active-shooter situation, my guess is this rifle would shoot sub-1-inch groups all day long.
Since agencies choosing this caliber may need to make shots at longer ranges, I tested this rifle out to 400 yards. Once zeroed, I used my Applied Ballistics Kestrel was for appropriate holds at 150, 200, 250, 300, and 400 yards. I then engaged 8-inch, steel IPSC silhouettes targets every 50 yards and “walked” my way out to 400 yards. I only missed due to wind at 300 yards. Given a steady 15- to 20-mph wind, that wasn’t bad at all, at least for me. In the real world of law enforcement, the R16SFST-308 was more than accurate out to 400 yards using the Horus H60 reticle for holds.
For most of the range testing, I used Gorilla Ammunition’s 175-grain SMK ammo Loaded using Federal Brass, Sierra MatchKing bullets and match primers, it is proving very accurate. I’ve tested it in several rifles now, and it consistently performs well, including in the Windham R16SFST-308. Given their popularity with LE agencies, I also used Hornady’s 168-grain TAP and Black Hills’ 155-grain A-MAX. Both did well on steel, and the Hornady load was a bit more accurate during group testing.