That's really interesting. If I'm understanding the data correctly the same Mk18's were shot suppressed and unsuppressed. Here's my read:
- Average group size increases as round count increases.
- Rate of increase in group size is independent of suppression up to 1200 rounds.
- At 2400 rounds, there is a large increase in group size with a suppressor.
- From 2400-4800 rounds group size declines with a suppressor, while group size continues to increase at a steady rate without a suppressor.
- Above 4800 rounds, group size increases at a stead rate, but groups from suppressed guns are about 1" smaller
I'd like to know what the standard error of group size is within each data point. Is this pattern observed in all guns? Or just one gun acting wonky? I'm having a hard time coming up with a universal mechanism that explains this pattern.
My personal experience is from using a LMT Mk18 with a T1 at carbine matches for a year. I had a casual bet (which I won) about the viability of this gun out to 400+ yds. The Mk18 seemed noticeably more accurate with a Surefire Mini. Obviously, that's totally subjective and anecdotal.