Gunfighter

specrat · Joined: 29 Jun 2007 Posts: 201 Location: the shop

All right you guys with long gun knowledge, need some input here: I am not reloading yet and my rifle is at the point where break-in should be over and I need to find out what she likes to shoot. Any input on what ideal 3-5 make/model/grain, etc of ammo to purchase and try through my gun would be greatly appreciated!
Gun: Remington 700 .30-'06 with 27.5" bull barrel in a Choate 'sniper stock'

Thanks shooters!

Semper_Fi · Joined: 08 Jul 2007 Posts: 397 Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

You have a tactical 30.06 Spec so let's bypass target ammunition for the moment. To achieve long distance accuracy with serious knock down power, consider the following 30.06 rounds:

Black Hills Gold -
168 grain A-Max
180 grain Barnes Triple Shock
180 grain Nosler AccuBond

Hornady -
150 grain Inter Bond
165 grain Inter Bond
180 grain Super Shock Tip

Remington -
150, 168 and 180 grain AccuTip

Winchester -
150, 168 and 180 grain Ballistic Silvertip

My 28" 7mm Remington Mag system performs best (accuracy and power) at 1,000 yards with 150 grain Remington AccuTip ammo and the 22" .308 semi-automatic M1A gives best performance at 700 yards with 168 grain Winchester Ballistic Silvertip ammo.

One 30.06 shooter we practice with uses 180 grain Sellier & Bellot FMJ practice ammunition.

markb · Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 15 Location: WA

Looking for some advice. I am fairly new at percision shooting so bear with me please. Trying to figure out what to do next. Have recently built a 300 win mag rifle. Little history on the rifle. ER Shaw helical fluted # 5 heavy contour barrel which was tuned to the receiver. Bolt was lapped, heavier recoil lug put in. Timney trigger adjusted to 1.5 Lbs. 20 degree single base for scope, mcmillan A4 stock with bipod. Barrel is crowned and free floating and properly broke in. Nightforce 8-32 56 mm objective 30 mm tube. Rifle weighs 15.5 lbs. This rifle should shoot sub M.O.A. but shoots 3" goups. I trouble shot the rifle, everything is tight, 40 inch pounds on action bolts, scope tight etc. Check the throat of the chamber and it is elongated, which means I have to lengthen the round out to 3.499 inches which exceeds sammi specs. The round is still 0.05" short of riflings.
I removed the bipod, ensured free floating barrel, shot 1.5" group with factory ammo. Measured out chamber throat, and lengthened out bullet to within 0.05" of riflings. Shot a .65 group.
My question is should I have the rifle reamed down to get closer to specs or continue to load long. This also interfers with factory ammo loads.

Ezekiel 25:17 · Joined: 06 Sep 2007 Posts: 35 Location: Houston TX.

Markb
Hey, I'd love to help but I don't know what the F$%k your talking about.
Thanks

Semper_Fi · Joined: 08 Jul 2007 Posts: 397 Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

Your groups should consistently be less than 1.0" with the rig you have. As you troubleshoot your weapon, stay with the same ammunition and also check chambering and seating functions.

NightForce makes an excellent scope but are you sure the etched reticle plate is secure? I had to send a Nightforce 5.5-22x 50mm in to have the etched glass reticle re-seated so you may want to check that as well. How old is the optic and how many 300 mag rounds have you fired in conjunction with the NF optic?

Are you testing your weapon in a benchrest frame, and, how is cold bore vs. warm weapon vs. hot weapon accuracy?

Ezekiel 25:17 · Joined: 06 Sep 2007 Posts: 35 Location: Houston TX.

Semper_Fi
I'd agree, but I don't know what the F#%K your talking about.
Thanks

markb · Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 15 Location: WA

Semper Fi,

I broke the barrel in with just box ammo, than I used match grade Federal 180 gr BTHP for first accuracy shots but still was over 1.5 MOA. Hand loads with the cart OAL set at 3.499 inches produced the best group. Loaded with 70 gr IMR 4831, match primer and winchester brass and 190 gr BTHP. This gave me the best group, only problem is OAL is 3.499 inch. Not touching rifling though. Should I mill (bore) the throat down to specs or just leave this? Does this means I will have to be dedicated to handloads?
I also am careful not to overheat the barrel, cold barrel shots, are still greater than 1 MOA except with adjustment to 3.499 OAL of round.
Rifle has had 40 rounds break in and 20 round match factory and 15 rounds hand load.
Nightforce scope is brand new purchased just for the rifle. I will check it for reticle movement, good thought.
What do you think, leave well enough alone or run it to the factory.

Semper_Fi · Joined: 08 Jul 2007 Posts: 397 Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

Tactical weapons need to be repeatably accurate with off-the-shelf ammunition and your 100 yard coefficient of variation is far too wide for 500 yard combat effectiveness.

Bottom line, combat shooters need to achieve consistent 24" hits at 500 yards and this requires high quality equipment, proper training and practice, practice, practice.

Find a gunsmith that specializes in 300 win mags.

Kudos to Ezekiel for excellent coaching at Tactical training...

markb · Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 15 Location: WA

Have taken your advice, found a good gunsmith who specializes in surgical percision in the 300 win mag. He is going to change the throat length to the riflings. Thanks for the advice.

Semper_Fi · Joined: 08 Jul 2007 Posts: 397 Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

Good move Mark and keep us posted on the results of the gunsmith's efforts.

With modifications completed, break out the benchrest gear and fire 10 shot groups from 100 and 200 yards allowing timed 1 minute intervals between shots. Group diameters will indicate the weapon's repeatability as it transitions from cold bore to warm weapon state at each distance.

Plot where each shot hits and the dots should connect at 100 yards with 2" groups or less at 200 yards from the benchrest.

300 Win Mag cartridges exude a lot of heat so maintaining tight 10 shot groups is crucial to winning the fight.

Consider zeroing your scope (at your preferred distance) over the span of 10 shots allowing 5 minutes between shots as most critical situation shots are taken cold bore. It doesn't take 10 shots to zero a scope but in getting tight hits during the exercise your knowledge of, and confidence in, the weapon increases.

Protect freedom and prosper...

markb · Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 15 Location: WA

Thanks for the advice, as soon as I get the rifle back I'll let you know how she shoots.