700 SPS Varmint .308 accuracy?

[km71107]

Here is a group shot today at 100yds with my new .308 700 SPS Varmint.It measured about 11/16" center to center. The scope is a Leatherwood 6.5-20X44AO. The load is 168 Match Kings in Fed. Gold Medal brass with 43.5gr of 4064 and Remington primers loaded to 2.80". This a load I picked to break it in and get used to the rifle. Right now I'm cleaning it with Kroil and JB. The rifle is box stock with 85 rds through it so far. Should it improve after it's had about 200rds through it? Would fire lapping help or should stick to load testing for a while and see what happens?

 

[Archermike]

Looking at the group I would just start working on different loads. Looks to me like your gun is doing well with the power but it might do a litte better with Varget or RL-15. Maybe try the 175grs SMK or the 175grs Bergers. I have found out that in my rifle,Winchester Model 70 Heavy Varmint 9oz trigger) the 175gr SMK will out shoot the 175gr Bergers out to 300yrds after that the Bergers will do a little better. SMK will shoot five shots in the .4's at 100yrds the Bergers will shoot in the .8's at 100yrds. At 400yrds I'm getting 3" groups with the SMK and 2" five shot groups with the Bergers. At 1000yrds they both will shoot under 1 MOA. I could not do that good using the 168 grs bullets. I usually use 43-44grs of Varget but I just started testing RL-15, and I'm very happy with 45grs of RL-15 so far.

Most of the time I'll end up getting groups like that it's because of the power or the bolts in the,wood) stock not adjusted to the right poundage.

 

[rbertalotto]

Those two hole groups are often seen on Remington rifles. It usually means the action needs a better bedding job or the recoil lug is hitting the bottom of the stock.

It could be as simple as the action screws are too tight or too loose.

But in any event, a rifle grouping like this can drive you crazy

 

[Twud]

Was the top hole your third shot? I have a Ruger Varminter in 22-250 that does this. I've come to the conclusion that it's barrel heat. Try letting it cool between shots one time and see what happens. It's a pain waiting to shoot while it cools, but try it once as an experiment. I use mine for groundhogs so repetitive shooting is a rarity.