.308 into the lands; better groups

[RDavies]

I think a barrel that is that inconsistent will only be a pain to you and you should sell it cheap. To keep up international relations, I will even give you some money for it to take the problem off your hands. I will send you a forwarding address and cheque soon.
On a serious note, if you have got 150 shots through the barrel, it is likely that it will soon get a velocity jump and go out of tune, needing a powder load reduction to get it back in. I have found on a few occasions that the load will be great on a new barrel and just when you take it to it's first match, it starts showing vertical from this velocity jump. Some of my rifles got it after 100 (all 6mms) rounds, some at 150 (all were 6.5s and 7s). A few 308 shooters didn't get their 150 kick until around the 3-400 round mark. Nothing carved in stone, but something to look out for which could happen.
In all my cases it was with custom button rifled barrels so yours might be different.

 

[desertrat]

I think a barrel that is that inconsistent will only be a pain to you and you should sell it cheap. To keep up international relations, I will even give you some money for it to take the problem off your hands. I will send you a forwarding address and cheque soon.

Too late. I have 28 million pounds British Sterling just waiting for me if I send in $2000 to help get it going...the email says it's all true!

On serious note. I have about 235 through it now and I have noticed that a small powder reduction (.5 grains) is bringing in the best of it. Ha, thank you! Thought I was going crazy but it just goes to show you that things can & do change.

I have some Berger's 155.5 Palmas that I am going to try in about an hour...wish me luck cause this may mean I win breakfast!

 

[Erik Cortina]

A few observations.

You are going the wrong way if you start neck sizing only. Always full lenght size to keep things consistent.

If it shoots better jammed, then jam it.

There is no correlation between fast powder and jumping or jamming. Same goes for slow powders.

I personally don't jump anything, I seat all my bullets in the lands, if they don't shoot in the lands I change something else. Eventually they shoot.

Good luck.

 

[jo191145]

Another note, I personally would not call .5 grains a small reduction. Even with the volumne of a 308W.
If I have a load thats working very well I'll go through the entire spectrum (node) in .1 gn increments. Round Robin style. Usually several times.
If you want to get a factory rifle shooting dots it takes work, tweaking, faith and quite a bit of understanding.
Quite often you'll find a .1 increment that just shoots tighter than the rest.

Much of that may depend on the accuracy of the scale being used. Most are within .1gns + or - on a good day.
Figure an average day at .3gns total dispersion. Hence the need to really zero into the center of the accuracy node as close as possible.

As for Eriks suggestion to FL size everytime for consistency. Follow it
If you have a decent necksizer at least buy a Redding body die and learn how to use it, Everytime!

 

[amlevin]

If you want to get a factory rifle shooting dots it takes work, tweaking, faith and quite a bit of understanding.

And sometimes it helps to have one or two of these on the bench while shooting

 

[jo191145]

If you want to get a factory rifle shooting dots it takes work, tweaking, faith and quite a bit of understanding.

And sometimes it helps to have one or two of these on the bench while shooting

Only if you buy Remingtons

 

[MrMajestic]

You are going the wrong way if you start neck sizing only. Always full length size to keep things consistent.

If it shoots better jammed, then jam it.

I personally don't jump anything, I seat all my bullets in the lands, if they don't shoot in the lands I change something else. Eventually they shoot.

What he said! What case prep have you done? Have you tried Lapua LR primer cases? Nothing against the Palma SR primer version I'm just not sure you need another variable. Consistency is your friend to repeat those great groups!

 

[desertrat]

"Another note, I personally would not call .5 grains a small reduction. Even with the volumne of a 308W.
If I have a load thats working very well I'll go through the entire spectrum (node) in .1 gn increments. Round Robin style. Usually several times.
If you want to get a factory rifle shooting dots it takes work, tweaking, faith and quite a bit of understanding.
Quite often you'll find a .1 increment that just shoots tighter than the rest"


I didn't see any changes in group size with just .1 gr increments. Granted I did see some vertical change, but overll group size for what I've seen with this rifle changed drastically at almost 2 grains from where it started coming together.

I am not the only one firing nice groups from it either; 3 others put down sub .5 inch groups last Sunday, and two of them cut their targets out to keep!

But thank you for the advice all; I loaded up several different grain loads and RL-15, Lapua Brass, 168 Amax seem to be working out very well, and I've dropped it down to an even 44.0 grains for now.

On to some Wolf primmers or Tula's depending on what I can find. Has anyone used Tula's?

 

[gpoldblue]

Just a tid bit info only, but I think the 308 holds the 600yd group record. Like .470 something. Man, 5 shot 7/16" from 600yds with an 08, incredible. I believe it was John Lewis unless it has been broken. Heck, I don't mind seeing that at 200yds.
I know it's just one group, but who wouldn't want to shoot it.

Jim

"Just one group".......................Just about ALL world records are "JUST ONE GROUP"............My opinion
is be like Bonneville speed records have to be backed up for an average to be a record.
......just sayin'

 

[6bra1k]

"Just one group".......................Just about ALL world records are "JUST ONE GROUP"............My opinion
is be like Bonneville speed records have to be backed up for an average to be a record.
......just sayin'

me thinks replying to a TEN YEAR OLD THREAD is like shooting one group...not much use..why ???