All you keep saying is 55 grain ammo, but WHAT KIND IS IT? I wouldn't be surprised by this size of group from Wolf, Monarch, Silver Bear, Brown Bear...etc. any of the old com block steel cased stuff, and some lower end re manufactured junk. WHAT KIND OF AMMO, WHO MADE IT???
easy big guy, easy...lol. i apologize for not saying, at first we started off with some Remmington, i never really posted that i think. BUT that is what i tested with. THEN he brought out some cheap stuff (steel case can't remember the brand), i told him that the cheap ammo is going to be an issue, so it was never fired. TRUST ME i understand what cheapo ammo can do. i shot WOLF once, just for the hellva of it and just once and never again.my .223 is a tack driver throw in some WOLF and hitting the paper then becomes your concern.
i wasn't wanting to make things complicated by simply saying all the ammo was good; must be the gun. i was just curious with this being my first problem like this with an AR, so that is why i asked. (if it wasn't the ammo, what else could it be was my thinking). i took it for granted that i usually use good ammo, in my opinion. we mostly have Remmington and Winchester ammo around. I have sighted my fair share of rifles in over the last 5yrs since having my range. i know that ammo makes worlds of difference. so i apologize by not giving dead on details. thats why i thought in the back of my mind to do a heavier load and or hand load a few. i have yet to tear the gun down and see whats up till i shot a different load through it.
THE OUTCOME-- 65 grain solved the problem. this weekend he came out and he had some hand loaded 65grain (IMR 4895 powder, 22 grains, and also some at 23 grains, Sierra .65 grain FMJ boat tail bullet.) cause he could not find anything good on the "need now" basis. with better results the gun did 1"--1.5" groups at 100yrds. we did 6 groups with each being 6 shots, shooting and cleaning as need be. he is pretty much happy with it, so its all his now to take out all the coyotes he wants.
sorry for the lack of info on my end but i do greatly appreciate all the insight and help.