how accurate can .308 be ?

[dansig]

I just got a 30 cal barrel on my Howa, Krieger 1-10 twist HV so I went for the .308 just for fun.

for the first 4 shots I cleaned the barrel after each shot, then took 3 shot group and cleaned, took 2 foulers and another 3 shot group.

I don't have dies for .308 yet so I bought Lapua FMJ 123gn to shoot in the barrel.

here are the first 7 shots

and here is the second group

first group is .115" and second group .214"

I think that's quite good for factory ammo at 100m but how good can it be with competition loads ?

 

[fdshuster]

In addition to cleaning between each of the first 4 shots were you making scope adjustments? I've never seen that much change on P.O.I. caused by cleaning alone.

Regardless, the other 3 shot groups are excellent. Proof that Krieger makes some really fine barrels (my favorite) and Lapua is making some high quality ammunition. Would be interesting to see how the groups hold up with 5 shots each and at further distances.

Looks like you have a winner there.

 

[dansig]

yes I was making scope adjustments, just put the scope on before first shot. got it spot on in 4th shot and got no copper fouling after that shot so I went for groups.

 

[bheadboy]

Dansig
the 308 is and can be very very accurate, in br, a number of winners were shooting the 308 in the 1970 shooting <.200 over 5 groups at 100 and 200.

do not discount the 308 as a bug hole

Bob

 

[jonbearman]

I quite agree also as I have a bunch of guns in .308. My favorite is my bull barrel savage I built with a mcgowen pre fit that shoots real good,in fact,better than me.You are going to have a riot with the .308.I am hooked,period.

 

[watercam]

When the barrel finishes breaking in, say around 100-200 rounds, you should see it's best grouping. Should last a while with that cartridge as well...

 

[fdshuster]

Most 308 barrels have a life of around 4000 rounds, give or take a few hundred either way.

Had to put a brake on mine. The recoil was killing me off the bench. It now recoils like a 243.

 

[dansig]

Most 308 barrels have a life of around 4000 rounds, give or take a few hundred either way.

Had to put a brake on mine. The recoil was killing me off the bench. It now recoils like a 243.

I've been shooting .300 Win Mag the past year, the .308 is quite easy on my sholders...

 

[Alex Wheeler]

John Lewis holds small IBS group at 600yd for heavy gun with a .308, its in the .4s.

 

[Steve Blair]

John Lewis holds small IBS group at 600yd for heavy gun with a .308, its in the .4s.

[br]
That's a decent group.

 

[boogershooter]

I had a Ruger varminter and also a Rem. PSS , both factory rifles that would occaisionally shoot 5 shots in 5/8"ths. at 100 yds. But I'm not going to say all day long
LOVE THAT 308!

 

[Steve Blair]

Here's a 1/4 scale silhouette shot with my Pierce .308 at 300. Krieger 26", 10" twist. Berger 155.5 over 8208 XBR @ ~2990. The first seven were looking really good until the afternoon wind started up strong. Note that the scoring rings are not visible at 300. [br]
A good .308 can be beaten ballistically at long range and accurately at short range. But, it would be tough to name another cartridge that can do everything the .308 can do.

 

[fdshuster]

"The 308 is quite easy on my sholders". Depending on the weight of the rifle, and having arthritis does not help.

 

[Leaddog]

A good .308 can be beaten ballistically at long range and accurately at short range. But, it would be tough to name another cartridge that can do everything the .308 can do.

Well said.

 

[XTR]

I'm not a BR shooter so the kind of accuracy I can be happy with is somewhat different, that said, my 30" Kreiger barreled 700 action has produced many 200 yard groups that are in the .3s center to center (at least according to my "ontarget" software) and in the .2s for vertical. I'm slow firing not fast shooting like a BR shooter shooting for groups so the wind plays some role.

Here's one that I scanned the other day shooting 178s

 

[coreydelong]

Stock 26" barreled M700 in .308. Bedded in a B&C Medalist stock, Harris Bi-pod with a rear bag. Nothing fancy here at all. Rig less scope was under $1000 with the B&C stock.

My 13yo bangs 12"steel plates at 1K with it. 185g Bergers or 155g Scenars both do well. Varget on this target, but I've had just as good of luck with IMR-4064.

 

[alf]

how good can it be with competition loads ?

My first Hunter BR gun was a 308....Kodiak, Kreiger, McMillan, Jewell, but went to a 30x47 on subsequent barrels for less recoil.

Usually the shooter ends up the deciding factor, the 308 can hold it's own.

This is from my tactical/swat wannabe gun:

 

[broncman]

I was at the Butner 600 yard matches last weekend. On sunday, Chuck Furness was on fire shooting a remington actioned 308 in the F/TR class. He was the OW for the first two matches on Sunday. Beating the F open scores as well....

He shot the spindle out on his sighter SEVERAL times....I was his relay partner and it was awesome to watch.

199 10x for sundays first match...

When you start shooting the same hole at 600....what more can you ask for?

 

[mr45man]

I have only shot this barrel 26 times so far.
1-11 Krieger 25" off saw horses in the woods.
(I was messing with the rests on the center target)

Its only 100 yards but it should be a hammer off a shooting bench. This is a proven load from the 308 cartage guide on here. that i worked up to the day before

 

[James EPS]

I have a ruger ss var 308 that never really shot all that great until I had a 308 shooter with a krieger barrel wanting me to make some 150gr FB custom bullets on my dies, so I sent him 100 to try and he called and now wants 1000, so I decided to load up some varget and my 150's and all I can say is wow, it wont shoot with my 30BR but darn close.

So yes with the right combination of components those 308's will get the job done...

James
E.P.S Bullets