Model 70XTR .300win mag

[q2hunter]

Dug deep into the corner of the cabinet to shoot my trusty ol' .300win mag. She's always been a shooter for a factory rifle, and my LEAST favorite to shoot on the bench. She stomps my rear! Shot her over the weekend, several 3 shot groups at 100 that were all between 1-1.5 MOA, most of them leaning toward the 1.5. That's not bad for a hunting rifle, but she used to do better than that with a hand load I worked up for her over 10 years ago. Since, I shoot her a couple shots each year to zero for hunting season, and that's about it. I've always cleaned her every 20-25 shots with Hoppes and patches. With these groups I decided to give her a good rough cleaning with Iosso bore polish. Took about 6 patches with the Iosso worked into the patch before they quit coming out black as night. Ran a soaked patch of Hoppes and let her soak 30min or so, patched it out, and then a lightly oiled patch. Took her back to the bench yesterday evening and ran 5 through pretty quick, only giving a minute or so between shots. This hand load is too hot to post, I'd hate for someone to get hurt, but its what I worked up to with this gun and she likes it hot. Nothing impressive about these first 5, but usually takes two or three foulers for this one to settle in. First shot is far right, next 2 cutting same hole, last two with a now pretty dang warm barrel went vertical. Last 3 shots were .7 though.



I set her aside and let the barrel cool completely whilst I fire formed some new 7mm Rem brass through my 700 classic. I raised her 1.5MOA, then I bore down on 3 focused shots at a smaller bull. Best I could measure, .68 outside to outside, .38 center to center. Best group I've shot with this gun, she must have really liked that good cleaning.