swing and miss..

[DShortt]

Hmm. 7mm?

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.

Perhaps even some bullets were not properly returned to the correct container.
The OP did say he had limited resources. Only the OP knows what that means.

 

[kenhwind]

In my experience the Remington Model 700 will shoot just about any load put in it.
Mine was a BDL LH, bought used with a Redfield "Wideview," scope and I probably shot every weight bullet out of it from the 125 grain to the 220 grain.

I do not recall any buckshot patterns from any of them.

 

[kenhwind]

Perhaps even some bullets were not properly returned to the correct container.
The OP did say he had limited resources. Only the OP knows what that means.

I bought some Aguila 130 grain RN 38 Super bullets and there is some 124 grain 9mm bullets mixed in with them. The bullets seat differently so I don't always notice until at the range.

 

[Olderthan dirt]

Hmm. 7mm?

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

That is true.
Send them to me , I will dispose of them for you.

 

[Fast14riot]

If the bullets measure 0.308 diameter, was the second load using the same brass? Possibly some chamber and brass tolerance stacking going on. Might try the 180s again in fired brass to verify.

 

[Kalitrazescapee]

A grand will shoot better than that. That being said 3031,4350,4064,2895, and for heavy bullets 4831.... Should shoot in any barrel.
I got a Ruger 77 cheap, barrel looked good and it shot small groups.....if you spaced them ten min apart....I didn't keep it long.

 

[searcher]

I've got a few guns with barrels that shoot a particular bullet into easy 3 MOA to 5" MOA groups with most powders listed in the manuals. They also shoot well under 3/8" MOA with the powder they like - using the same (hunting) bullet. Some barrels are very picky......

 

[srak]

new firearm
flinching ain't a problem. never been a problem. squad member used to place a coin on top of the muzzle in basic, dry fire exercises. wouldn't move if i placed one on today.
i can slide a bill all the way down to the lug. action screws are torqued to 40" lbs, has a composite stock. i used up the last of 160's with the last bit of powder it groups with. will use it on a winter moose hunt. after the season closes, i have a new can of h4350. i'll give that a try with the 180's. if the 180's still can't group, i'll try out some 150's with it.

 

[fatelvis]

I would buy one box of either 168 or 175 Gold Medal match factory rounds and shoot them. If you still are getting "patterns" with that ammo, it DEFINITELY your rifle or optics.

 

[GetReal]

Have you tried another scope?

My immediate thought. Or a loose scope / improperly mounted, or something..

 

[srak]

live out in a village located along the yukon river. the prices are high and the selection of ammo is limited. that's why i started reloading in the early 90's.
i have a box of sierra 150 gr pro hunters. give them a try sometime after the moose season closes.

 

[Doug Casner]

Whats length to ogive on the 30-30 bullets? Mine is a 30-06 cdl I free floated it shoots 150s and imr 4831 a .5 . Doug

 

[ELR LVR]

I've got a few guns with barrels that shoot a particular bullet into easy 3 MOA to 5" MOA groups with most powders listed in the manuals. They also shoot well under 3/8" MOA with the powder they like - using the same (hunting) bullet. Some barrels are very picky......

I agree with this
A few of my MOST accurate guns are picky like that with CUSTOM barrels
---
1.5 MOA, 1 MOA, 1.5 MOA, then give it the bullet it likes....
and suddenly it's stacking them on top of one another shooting in the .2's
---
??? after years of pondering I still cannot figure out the extreme differences other than Ogive shape

 

[209jones]

Never know til you shoot the new gun, go thru enough of them you can encounter "THAT ONE", had a couple, first thing you try scares the krap out of you, that you just bought a piece of junk. Those are a tad hard on the nerves.

 

[searcher]

I agree with this
A few of my MOST accurate guns are picky like that with CUSTOM barrels
---
1.5 MOA, 1 MOA, 1.5 MOA, then give it the bullet it likes....
and siuddenly it's stacking them on top of one another shooting in the .2's
---
??? after years of pondering I still cannot figure out the extreme differences other than Ogive shape

Yeah - I recently had a custom gun built with best components by very noted gunsmith. My first three groups were so bad with the "go to" powder for that load, it was very disheartening. Four powder changes later, magic. One enlarged hole. Powder changes are the best thing, I think, that folks can do to make a "crappy barrel" shoot as it should. Sometimes bullet changes - but fine tuning before something good is found is usually only a taste of what the barrel is capable of.

 

[ELR LVR]

Yeah - I recently had a custom gun built with best components by very noted gunsmith. My first three groups were so bad with the "go to" powder for that load, it was very disheartening. Four powder changes later, magic. One enlarged hole. Powder changes are the best thing, I think, that folks can do to make a "crappy barrel" shoot as it should. Sometimes bullet changes - but fine tuning before something good is found is usually only a taste of what the barrel is capable of.

ha yes,
This is why I hate seeing people say they bought the one powder everyone else is using so it should shoot good, but then ask for advice what else it could be, (barrel, scope, throat Leade etc)
and then try to conduct accuracy loads. (Varget and 6BR every time is one example)
there's 4 other powders to try also, at least, before finalizing that decision.
as you said, to see what that barrel is "REALLY" capable of

 

[ebb]

Was the scope new? Ive had scopes that have sat for years act up when put back into use. Some seem to eventually work OK others are dead and never come back.

 

[srak]

Was the scope new? Ive had scopes that have sat for years act up when put back into use. Some seem to eventually work OK others are dead and never come back.

Stated it shot like crap with a scope and with iron sights with 180gr. Then tried 160gr ftx and got a tight group with them

 

[srak]

Whats length to ogive on the 30-30 bullets? Mine is a 30-06 cdl I free floated it shoots 150s and imr 4831 a .5 . Doug

I pushed the bullets down slowly till the bolt closed with Lil to no resistance. If you look at the 160's profile, they aren't shaped like your typical spitzer

 

[Steve Donlon]

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)

You need to try more bullets and powder before making a conclusion.