- Messages
- 2,405
- Reactions
- 576
This is really a story of a rifle but since a big part of it's success is due to ammo development I thought I'd post it here.
Recently I got the urge to buy that "ultimate rifle". One that could shoot with extreme accuracy at long distances. When I went shopping the rifle that caught my eye was a Les Baer Tactical Recon .308. Guaranteed to shoot 1/2 MOA groups. Sure is a nice rifle but the price tag was a little staggering. At just under $4,000, without scope, it was surely no "economy model". Anyway I got to thinking. Since I already had a really nice shooting .308 Remington 700 SS 5R milspec, that only set me back only 25% of the Les Baer, I decided to really see what I could do with it. I got really serious about load development.
Using Varget and Nosler Custom Competition BTHP's in 168 gr I got serious about finding the sweet load for this rifle. One that would deliver small groups at ranges beyond the usual target range of 100 yards. Since the max range of my club's facility is 300 yards that was the test area.
A 'two-bit' group that at least meets the guaranteed accuracy of a Les Baer, all from a rifle that is pretty much "off the rack" and even has close to 3,000 rounds through it.
Seems like the "old veteran" likes 43.8gr of Varget in a Winchester Case, a BR-2 Primer, and 2.800" OAL.
The group measured just over .5 MOA (again, this was at 300 yards). Sure glad I saved my money and invested in a NightForce NXS 12-42X56 scope instead. The LB didn't include a scope at that price so I figure that I came out with a rifle that's just as fun to shoot for half the price. I have no reason to believe that a little work on my part and I can tune that load just a little more. Some other test loads just above and just below this load had some "cloverleafs" in them but had an overall size due to the two rounds that were spread out by an inch or so from the 3-shot clusters. These groups were shot from a bipod, not sandbags or a rest. I just believe in developing a load in the same manner as I'm going to shoot it thus the bipod.
That said, the 168 is not even the suggested bullet for the Rem 5-R Milspec. It's supposedly "optimized" for the 175 gr projectile. I just have a thousand of the 168's so I'll have fun with them and then work up a similar load for the 175's.
Just goes to show that a lot of a rifle's accuracy can come from the load, not necessarily a bigger price tag. All the more reason that reloading is fun and very productive.
BTW, for those that are like my wife and wonder why the rounds didn't hit my point of aim which was the red dot, when testing ammo I like to purposely set my scope so the POI is off my POA. That way I have a constant point to center my scope reticle on rather than shooting it out in the first few shots.
As a parting shot, has anyone shot at a quarter? If so, what range? How did you secure it? If you hit it, how did you find it afterward. Just want to try it for grins and giggles.
I've been also saving golf balls for a summer shoot at a local "pit" when I can get together with my Grandkids. Sometimes I just get tired of plain paper.
Recently I got the urge to buy that "ultimate rifle". One that could shoot with extreme accuracy at long distances. When I went shopping the rifle that caught my eye was a Les Baer Tactical Recon .308. Guaranteed to shoot 1/2 MOA groups. Sure is a nice rifle but the price tag was a little staggering. At just under $4,000, without scope, it was surely no "economy model". Anyway I got to thinking. Since I already had a really nice shooting .308 Remington 700 SS 5R milspec, that only set me back only 25% of the Les Baer, I decided to really see what I could do with it. I got really serious about load development.
Using Varget and Nosler Custom Competition BTHP's in 168 gr I got serious about finding the sweet load for this rifle. One that would deliver small groups at ranges beyond the usual target range of 100 yards. Since the max range of my club's facility is 300 yards that was the test area.
A 'two-bit' group that at least meets the guaranteed accuracy of a Les Baer, all from a rifle that is pretty much "off the rack" and even has close to 3,000 rounds through it.
Seems like the "old veteran" likes 43.8gr of Varget in a Winchester Case, a BR-2 Primer, and 2.800" OAL.
The group measured just over .5 MOA (again, this was at 300 yards). Sure glad I saved my money and invested in a NightForce NXS 12-42X56 scope instead. The LB didn't include a scope at that price so I figure that I came out with a rifle that's just as fun to shoot for half the price. I have no reason to believe that a little work on my part and I can tune that load just a little more. Some other test loads just above and just below this load had some "cloverleafs" in them but had an overall size due to the two rounds that were spread out by an inch or so from the 3-shot clusters. These groups were shot from a bipod, not sandbags or a rest. I just believe in developing a load in the same manner as I'm going to shoot it thus the bipod.
That said, the 168 is not even the suggested bullet for the Rem 5-R Milspec. It's supposedly "optimized" for the 175 gr projectile. I just have a thousand of the 168's so I'll have fun with them and then work up a similar load for the 175's.
Just goes to show that a lot of a rifle's accuracy can come from the load, not necessarily a bigger price tag. All the more reason that reloading is fun and very productive.
BTW, for those that are like my wife and wonder why the rounds didn't hit my point of aim which was the red dot, when testing ammo I like to purposely set my scope so the POI is off my POA. That way I have a constant point to center my scope reticle on rather than shooting it out in the first few shots.
As a parting shot, has anyone shot at a quarter? If so, what range? How did you secure it? If you hit it, how did you find it afterward. Just want to try it for grins and giggles.
I've been also saving golf balls for a summer shoot at a local "pit" when I can get together with my Grandkids. Sometimes I just get tired of plain paper.