swing and miss..

[srak]

new rem 700 bdl in 30/06
not sure if any of you come across a powder/primer/bullet combo where you barely put the test rounds inside a 1ft pattern at 100yds but, i have.
i have limited powder and primer selections available to me. so i use what i can get.
sent 180gr bullets downrange in my new '06. i grouped across a standard 8x11 pistol target, corner to corner. edge to edge. wow
same result with varying powder charge wts.
after a few disappointing attempts, for shets n giggles i made a handful with hornady ftx 160gr bullets i had left over from an ol 30/30 lever i have ( it's a wall hanger now ), same powder, same primer.
they grouped inside a .50 cent coin.
i've own reloading books, manuals, read online and print publications over the years. a few stated they didn't try this and that combo due to performance, i think i've finally duplicated what they meant with the 180gr in my rifle.
just one of life's mystery's i guess

 

[round]

twist rate

You picked the wrong bullet to start with.

 

[Dufas]

Powder? Bullet? Shouldn't be that bad depending on load.

 

[HTSmith]

twist rate

You picked the wrong bullet to start with.

Could be, but the standard Remington 10" twist should stabilize any regular 180Gr. bullet. All copper or an elongated boat tail could be exceptions.

 

[AlNyhus]

Have you tried another scope?

 

[RegionRat]

Strange indeed.
Are we sure those 180 grain bullets are 0.308?

 

[srak]

.308 sierra 180gr pro hunters, shot bad with scope and iron sights. standard twist tube. had scope off, set standard pistol target out 75 yds, made a .50 cent group with the 160 ftx. used same powder, same primer.
go figure

used sierra bullets for decades.

 

[DShortt]

.308 sierra 180gr pro hunters, shot bad with scope and iron sights. standard twist tube. had scope off, set standard pistol target out 75 yds, made a .50 cent group with the 160 ftx. used same powder, same primer.
go figure

used sierra bullets for decades.

As mentioned above, I'd check the bullet diameter with a micrometer.

 

[steve210]

Sounds like the action screws are loose to shoot that bad

 

[Skedaddle Shooter]

I think I’d try a 168 grain bullet and see how that does.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I would try some factory ammo(Rem). Show us target pics.

 

[RegionRat]

.308 sierra 180gr pro hunters, shot bad with scope and iron sights. standard twist tube. had scope off, set standard pistol target out 75 yds, made a .50 cent group with the 160 ftx. used same powder, same primer.
go figure

used sierra bullets for decades.

Well, the good news is the rig and your 160 grain reloads worked.

That those 160 loads worked well makes this just as confusing as before.

Take a pause and go over everything again. The 180s should also have worked in a 10 twist.

 

[K22]

Unless there is something mechanically wrong with the rifle and / or scope, the 30 06 is one of the easiest cartridges to find an effective load given its long history, even for 180 grain bullets. With that said, bullets can make a significant difference.

The fact that you got very adequate hunting accuracy with the 160's seem to indicate that there is nothing awry mechanically with the rifle / scope.

Shooting 180 grain loads from the bench can quickly wear on you due to the recoil. It takes a seasoned shooter to not develop a flinch after several rounds off the bench which is often needed in load testing.

In my experience, IMR 4350 with 165 grain bullets is an accurate and the best all-around performing combo for the 30 06. IMR 4895 with 150 grain bullets is an excellent combo for deer.

 

[ELR LVR]

.308 sierra 180gr pro hunters, shot bad with scope and iron sights. standard twist tube. had scope off, set standard pistol target out 75 yds, made a .50 cent group with the 160 ftx. used same powder, same primer.
go figure

used sierra bullets for decades.

I have read and heard if the box of bullets had been dropped on a hard surface, such as concrete
they are now junk
the bullets could have been dropped at one time
(The lead being very soft deforms inside - screwing up CG to Center of Form)

 

[round]

Could be, but the standard Remington 10" twist should stabilize any regular 180Gr. bullet. All copper or an elongated boat tail could be exceptions.

I dont know what the standard twist rate is for a 30/06 , if there is one, but I'd agree that modern bullet designs may present some issues.

Maybe the OP can post some photos of the bullets being used .

 

[HTSmith]

I got the 10" twist from the Remington web site. Sierra Pro Hunter is a standard flat base cup and core bullet. Weird stuff can happen though.

 

[DShortt]

I'd still measure the bullet diameters, if any are left. Gotta start somewhere and given that a different bullet preformed that much better in the same rifle with the same brass, powder, primers, rifle, scope, reloader and shooter........


That narrows things down in a hurry.

 

[joshb]

I'd still measure the bullet diameters, if any are left. Gotta start somewhere and given that a different bullet preformed that much better in the same rifle with the same brass, powder, primers, rifle, scope, reloader and shooter........


That narrows things down in a hurry.

Hmm. 7mm?

I have read and heard if the box of bullets had been dropped on a hard surface, such as concrete
they are now junk
the bullets could have been dropped at one time
(The lead being very soft deforms inside - screwing up CG to Center of Form)

I think that’s hornswaggle. In the machines, the bullets are formed, then dropped into a bin. By that old wive’s tale, every bullet is ruined.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

With a hunting rifle, nice to know you can load better than factory.

 

[rockhound78]

Is it a NEW gun, or just one new to you? Reason I ask is that I had bought a 700 bdl in 30-06 that would group about like yours. I pulled it from the stock, looked at everything and went to put it back together. Thats when I noticed the barrel would hit the side of the stock barrel channel. I had to remove over 1/8" of wood from one side of the barrel channel and glass bed the channel.
Shot great after that.