Keith Glasscock
Gold $$ Contributor
First post, bear with me.
Shooting a semi-custom Savage 308. This rifle produces excellent groups with 175 SMKs and 110 V-maxes. It is my attempt at a go anywhere, do anything, buy ammo at the local sporting goods store, kind of rifle.
Here is the rub - I can only pull off a little load development work - too many other things to do.
Back to my 155's. I know they aren't the top-of-the-line bullet, but they serve me well for long range varmints, etc. (at least they did in my previous 308). I also happen to have a truck-load of them and don't really want to have to find new bullets.
Just to eliminate a few variables, I've done an OCW test and I am using the best charge from that test (nearly max - velocity in the 2875 range). I am absolutely certain that I'm doing a good job at the bench - I test these bullets at the same time as I test others that are grouping very well. I've even shot them round-robin to eliminate me as the culprit.
Good reloading practices are being followed. Ammo is straight (within .001), charges weighed, brass fully processed, and all other components are known for good performance in 155 grain 308 loads.
My problem is vertical stringing with the A-maxes. I'm thinking it is seating depth. Right now, I have been testing with 10 thou jam. Does anyone have experience with these bullets and what they really seem to like - jump, jam, how much? My previous rifle had a factory chamber that was throated half way to the muzzle. I know I can safely jump them up to 60 thou in the new rifle, but with the exception of a group shot at 55 jump, I've not tested any jump depths.
What I'm looking for is a short-cut. I can't take the range time (or expend the components) to work my way through in small increments to find the sweet spot. My calculations show I'd need about 60 rounds to find and verify the sweet spot - not to mention the time at the range.
I think I should be able to get this thing into the 5's or 4's easily. Thoughts or ideas?
Thanks!
Shooting a semi-custom Savage 308. This rifle produces excellent groups with 175 SMKs and 110 V-maxes. It is my attempt at a go anywhere, do anything, buy ammo at the local sporting goods store, kind of rifle.
Here is the rub - I can only pull off a little load development work - too many other things to do.
Back to my 155's. I know they aren't the top-of-the-line bullet, but they serve me well for long range varmints, etc. (at least they did in my previous 308). I also happen to have a truck-load of them and don't really want to have to find new bullets.
Just to eliminate a few variables, I've done an OCW test and I am using the best charge from that test (nearly max - velocity in the 2875 range). I am absolutely certain that I'm doing a good job at the bench - I test these bullets at the same time as I test others that are grouping very well. I've even shot them round-robin to eliminate me as the culprit.
Good reloading practices are being followed. Ammo is straight (within .001), charges weighed, brass fully processed, and all other components are known for good performance in 155 grain 308 loads.
My problem is vertical stringing with the A-maxes. I'm thinking it is seating depth. Right now, I have been testing with 10 thou jam. Does anyone have experience with these bullets and what they really seem to like - jump, jam, how much? My previous rifle had a factory chamber that was throated half way to the muzzle. I know I can safely jump them up to 60 thou in the new rifle, but with the exception of a group shot at 55 jump, I've not tested any jump depths.
What I'm looking for is a short-cut. I can't take the range time (or expend the components) to work my way through in small increments to find the sweet spot. My calculations show I'd need about 60 rounds to find and verify the sweet spot - not to mention the time at the range.
I think I should be able to get this thing into the 5's or 4's easily. Thoughts or ideas?
Thanks!
