Next step towards match loads

[john 800]

I have been looking to shoot a mid range prone or f/tr match for a while. I have a savage 11 varmint rifle in 308 that seems to shoot as well as can be expected. I have a few different powders and bullets to try , varget, imr 4064,imr 4895. 175 smks. That part i think will be straightforward, what i dont know anything about is prepping or sorting brass, and i have never messed with dies other than my hornady standard full length sizing dies. I have some annealed lc match brass i got used. Do i just start developing my loads or do i get into measuring runout turning necks, using bushing dies ect? I think my time is best spent learning how to shoot but at the same time if i can eliminate a flyer or two, It may be less confusing learning to shoot at 600. Im all ears! Any thoughts would be welcomed, even if it is about something i didnt ask about

 

[chkunz]

Start by shooting three ten shot groups with what you consider your best load for your baseline. Then you have something to compare your "improved" loads to. You may find that your baseline is as good as some of your improved loads. For the best comparison change only one thing at a time as you attempt to improve over your baseline. It takes a lot of data and effort to do meaningful load evaluation but there is really no short cut, mother nature is a bitch.

 

[3081FTR]

Its hard to say if the things you have suggested will help without knowing what the gun is doing now - if your not shooting .5 - 3/4 moa vertical consistently then I doubt that turning necks etc will help unless the brass is really bad. Brass can shoot more consistently once it has been fired in your chamber - but if you have different brass you will need different loads.

 

[Bronsin]

My experience with a .308 Savage was that the chamber was fairly sloppy and not exactly concentric to the bore, however, I did finally get it to shoot with some consistency and accuracy with the same bullets you have, and 41.5grs of IMR4064. It must be used with FL sized cases and the bullets seated to jam .010. Neck Sizing in a chamber that sloppy was a complete waste of time.

 

[ireload2]

What are the best groups you have ever fired at the longest distance with any rifle?
How many groups? How many rounds fired with the .308 so far? What kind of scope?
Have you gone to a match before? Sometimes one of the competitors will allow you to shoot his "more experienced" rifle.

 

[john 800]

Thanks so far everyone.
Ireload2, the farthest i have shot regularly at is 300 yds. The best groups i have got out of this rifle have been 4, 3 Shot groups at 200 measuring .6"-.8" that was sighting in with my deer hunting load of 150 ballistic tips and varget standard cci primers win brass .015 off the lands. That was off a front and rear rest, not a bipod like i would need for F/tr. The rifle has maybee a few hundred rounds through it, it is pretty new to me and has just a 4.5-14x weaver GS, but it tracks dead nuts. My goal is to give f class a try and see if its something i like and learn to shoot better, i am not expecting to be competitive right away and i accept that, i just want to better myself so far.
And i am completely new to this i have never ben to a match of this type

 

[john 800]

Steve, what brass and primers were you using?
41.5 grs of 4064 is a load that was recomended to me by a guy that i respect alot.

 

[Bronsin]

Steve, what brass and primers were you using?
41.5 grs of 4064 is a load that was recomended to me by a guy that i respect alot.

Lapua Brass and Fed210GMM