Rem 700P 308

[M-61]

My Rem 700P (1-12twist) struggles holding 1 inch 5 shot groups with 165 Sierras. 168 Bregers and Sierras are worse. ( Both with 4064) I've jammed and jumped with little luck. 150 Sierras shoot 3/4 inch groups (all at 100 yards) but are horizontally strung but tight. Today I shot 125 Sierras with 43 gr of 3031 and even though they have a huge jump to reach the lands they shot 3/4 also, but with the horizontal string. I loaded these mainly because I had them never thinking they would shoot as well as they did.
I have to be doing something wrong but I can not figure it out. This is all off a bench with rests....neck sized RP brass...CCI primers....weighed powder.
Why the stringing and why horrible results with 165/168 bullets?

 

[KT]

Try 44gr of Varget with the berger 168's. I have found that almost every berger bullet I have shot like to be in the lands. Try running them .10 to .15 in the lands.

KT

 

[H2OBUG]

I may be real close to the previous post I would use a 155 Berger over 44 of varget .020- .015 off the lands.

 

[leadburner]

I had better luck with benchmark, 3031, & rl 15 in a savage 308. Seated the bullet .015 off the lands. Good luck.

 

[dreever]

I have a 700P in .308 that will only shoot 175's decently. 155's are horrible, 168's better, but the 175's is what it wants. Lapua brass,CCI250,43.0 grains Varget 175 Sierra's bullets seated to 2.800 which are waaaaayyyy off the lands. You could always buy a box of factory loads. Federal Gold Medal Match 175's. They have always been a benchmark to duplicate. I pulled one apart and it looks like 41.3 grains of 4064. I asked Federal and they said they use a "Blend" of powder that is not available. It sure looks and acts like 4064 though.

Danny

 

[dreever]

Also check everything. Are the scope base screws tight? Are the screws and ring cap screws tight. If it's a 700P in an H&S stock torque the action screws to 65 inch pounds. Is the barrel touching the stock anywhere or can you slide a dollar bill all the way back to the action. I'm anal I torque everything mentioned above. Make sure your equipment is ok, then concentrate on the load. It's easy to overlook one little thing that can have you pulling your hair out.

Danny

 

[Johnboy]

one other thing to look at with the Bergers VLD.most if not all who load them test at 200 or better yet 300 yards.for me in my 5R I tested at 300 with the 168gn VLD and found a good load.the load was at 43gn's with Varget.went low because I wanted the bullet to work at closer ranges for the shoots I would take.I all so have them in the lands only feeding one at a time.yep I hunt with one at a time.but did find another length to load at but went with the longer lenght because it just shoot better.


hope you find a load soon. know what its like not being in the woods.

 

[GNERGY]

Like Johnboy said, test them at 200 or 300 yds if possible. Even Berger says tha VLD's don't go to sleep till past 100 yds. My 700 SPS likes the 168 VLD's with 44 gr IMR 8208, Br2 primers loaded to 3.00 OAL. It averages 2675 fps. and can keep them under 3 inches at 500 meters.
Tarey

 

[vman]

I would check the rifle first. Scope base and rings, action screws etc. Is the rifle bedded? I know they say they dont need to be but it will always help. If you have devcon around a simple bedding job goes a long way.

I have shot 155 scenars, 155 bergers, 175smk, 185 bergers and 155 amax out of my rifle. I tend to seat my bullets out so they kiss the lands and dont really experiment with too much jump. Everything listed above shot fine, the 155 Scenars shoot really well.

 

[cliefellow]

I also have a 700P in .308. I shoot a Sierra MatchKing 168 and 175. I usually use Benchmark and sometimes I use Varget. I usually get a one hole group with one flyer. Every now and then I get the horizontal stringing and every time it seems to be a breathing issue. Forgetting my breathing mechanics seems to get me the flyer or the "stacked" holes.

 

[M700]

One MOA from a factory production rifle isn't all bad.

If you're comparing your results to others who post on the internet... Well, remember that internet posts can be a lot like fishing stories...

I think you will likely tighten up the group a bit with work, but don't beat yourself (or the rifle) up too badly over one MOA from a production rifle.

My pet load for the 165's/168's is 45 gr Varget, Lapua brass and CCIBR primers, or Federal 210 match primers - either is fine. Winchester brass is fine too, after a little prep. Haven't messed much with the Remington brass you're using, not in .308 anyway. Another good powder to try with the 165/168 class bullet is Reloader 15.

Link to an excellent article on the .308 Win: http://www.6mmbr.com/308Win.html

Regards, Guy

 

[bfr 4570]

My 700P did not really shoot tight groups until about 150 down barrel. With 168s VLDs was Lapua brass, BR2 primers, 45.5 gr Varget and LOA 2.86.

 

[Jm32526]

I agree with the other fella's. I would start with the hardware (rings, mounts etc.). How many rounds do u have through the barrel? Maybe the crown is damaged. Also make sure your two bolts (around the trigger guard) are torqued to the proper specs (that happened to a buddy of mine). I am not questioning your skills but getting really close to MOA with a stock 700P is pretty decent. I had a xcr 20" that no matter what I did (hornady and Sierra 168 match) I rarely shot under moa at 100. If you try all the suggestions that everyone mentioned I would consider bedding the stock, installing a match barrel, truing the action or a combination of them. good luck!

 

[markm87]

Is the rifle bedded? I know they say they dont need to be but it will always help. If you have devcon around a simple bedding job goes a long way.

Yeah. Those Vblock stocks still need a skim bed. We shot ours for a few hundred rounds... then the RifleSmith showed us where the action screw hole was starting to egg out a bit from the action moving around in there.

 

[jonbearman]

My new favorite powder is xmr8208.I use 42.5 grains with the 168 grain hornady match bullet.I have gotten real good accuracy with blc-2 and h335 as well. I have a vs remmy with the 1 in 12 twist heavy barrel and it shoots under a half inch.This is one I will leave alone till the bore is shot out.

 

[CJ6]

To go along with Jon a bit, I use XBR 8208 (43.7grs.)with 155 AMax's standard Lapua 308 brass and Wolf primers. Win. brass also workes when prepped (slight load adjustmets).

 

[Redhighpower]

The 1-12 twist should shoot the Sierra 175's better than the 168's. 43-43.5 grains of Varget ,Sierra 175's, 2.800" long. Its a simple load just let it jump. Since you are geting one inch groups with 168's seems to me you are doing pretty well. I would follow dreever's comments. Make sure the rifle is bedded , barrel floated and action screws are torqued properly. Larry

 

[xdeano]

i shot some incredably small groups with my old 700P. I was using the 155g Lapua and it shot them excellent. Besides that the 175 SMK worked really well.
xdeano

 

[sbhooper]

I also use 45 grains of Varget. I shoot 165 Interlocks exclusively in my little Rem Model 600 .308. If I do my part, this load shoots sub-minute which is not bad for a short, light rifle. I have shot it out to 200 yards on paper and still held minute of angle. Velocity is 2556 out of the 18 1/2-inch barrel.

 

[jpistolero02]

I had the same results as Red. 43-43.5 of Varget and the 175's shot half inch or better in my 700P at 100. I was shooting Lapua brass. If you shoot Winchester brass you can bump it closer to 45 for the optimal load. I was also loading way off the lands to keep it in the magazine.