How competative will my rig be ?? FTR

[tammons]

I know I need to do my homework and go observe some matches etc but curious what you guys think
and if this rig in its current form will be competitive.

What I have.....

Savage long action, machined recoil lug, SSS trigger, Choate Tactical stock, Shilen 26" S7 contour 10 twist 308 bbl, EGW 20moa base, Burris rings, Super Sniper 20X scope with the new mil hash retical, Vortex bubble level.

Probably will eventually end up with a 8-32x something scope.

Have a couple of normal rear bags and no adequate front rest yet. Thinking either a Harris, GG+G Heavy duty XDS bipod or a Sinclair.

I originally had a 30" bull barrel, but would like to occasionally use this rifle to set up and wait for long distance hogs so a 26" S7 bbl seemed to fit that plan better.

Right now I am thinking 600 yards will be about it for FTR, but I might try out 1000 eventually.
I had originally thought to start out with 208 gr amaxes, but got a deal on some 178 gr match bullets
so will start with those.

308 Lapua palma brass, CCI BR primers, and CFE 223 powder or maybe varget.
Also have a lot of RL17 but I think its too temp sensitive.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Erik Cortina]

Can you tell us about the testing you did with Reloader 17 that showed it to be "too temp sensitive"?

 

[tammons]

Some of that came from what I have read, some from experience.

I did not do any real scientific test, but was testing 308 loads over a chrono out of a short 308 hunting bbl a few years ago, 208 amax and RL17. Hot loads.

Original test loads at about 75-80 degrees in the spring, found a max and backed off a bit due to hotter weather coming in the summer. Later in August and probalby 95-98 DF outside, mid day I shot the same load over a chrono and found an additional roughly 50 FPS.

 

[Keith Glasscock]

Loads aside, your rifle will be quite competitive. I'm still shooting with a similar combo (though I put on a 30" barrel and regret it). My rifle seems to be able to win any F/TR competition I enter in, I'm the limiting factor.

6" barrels actually work quite well at 1k. Heavy bullets are in order for that.

Good luck

 

[Erik Cortina]

6" barrels actually work quite well at 1k. Heavy bullets are in order for that.

Good luck

6" barrels? Is this a pistol? LOL

I'm sure you meant 26" barrels.

 

[queen_stick]

My advise is to simply take it to a match.

First 1K match I went to (benchrest) I thought for sure I'd have no chance because I had a hard time getting 300yd groups to stay under 1.5 inches. (everything I read said I need to shoot .75" or less groups at 300yds, if the intent is to compete at 1k. My average groups doubled that!) What I quickly learned, was that the rifle/load was plenty accurate, but the act of reading conditions, and knowing when NOT to shot, meant a lot more than the rig I was using.

Go use what you have... if your equipment is holding you back, you'll identify it quickly.

 

[tammons]

I kind of figured it would work, just wanted to hear from experience.

I had a target rifle a while back, unworked savage action, 6mm BR Shilen barrel, Choate varminter stock, machined recoil lug, SSS trigger and it would shoot an honest 3/4" group at 300 yards although on that one I has a farrel base and a 12-42x nightforce scope. Nothing really special though.

That and price is one reason I bought a Choate tactical stock. The SS scope I am not sure about but I know they are solid.

I had one about 5 years ago, but did not care for the retical as it was normal mil dot and too fat.
This seems a lot better.

Now I just need to work up some accuracy loads.

 

[savageshooter86]

I would use the Varget over the CFE223 for the 178 personally. Just seen smaller groups with it than 223 powder. I Savage 308win was short action?