308 loads

[Benthejockey]

Ive got a short barrel steyr SBS tactical pro hunter in 308. I tried Sako Gamehead 150g factory loads and got probably 1.5moa which wasnt great so I ordered (pre being able to buy whatever you wanted off tinterwebs) a box of 168g Amax. Ive loaded them over H4895 at varying seating depths and varying charge levels. It didnt matter what I did I couldnt get them to shoot better than a shotgun! They looked ok at 50yds but when I tried them out to 125yds they didnt group smaller than 4/5 inches with or without the moderator on. So Im thinking it doesnt like 150s and 168s. So I need a bit of help! Do I go heavier or lighter? Maybe a different powder?

[phaedra1106]

How short is short and who shortened it? Have you had the crown checked?

 

My 16" .300AAC shoots 168 Hornady AMax, Match, Nosler CC, Sierra SMK, Lapua Scenar (167) all under 1.5" at 100yds if I do my bit.

[Graham M]

I'm using 47grns of Reloader 15 at the moment with 150grn Gameking bullets. Top load is 49grns but 47grns seems to shoot very well.

[Benthejockey]

Ive never actually measured it! I was considering sending it to Brock and Norris for a decent service and check over. The crown looks fine not super crisp but not chipped and chunks missing out of it. Im thinking of replacing the stock with a wooden laminate from form rifle stocks as these stocks are notoriously bendy.

[Albert 888]

What twist rate is it,I load 145g-185g in mine which is 1:10. At 100m Barnhaul surplus is the worst I have shot and that was around 2.5" group.

[phaedra1106]

Before replacing anything I'd ask around and try and get a few different factory rounds and try them, see if any give better accuracy.

[cervusman]

Try 48gr of BL-C2 under a 130gr bullet

[welshwarrior]

We need to know twist rate and barrel length before we can really help but I expect you need lighter bullets

[Benthejockey]

Ill have a look see tomorrow and measure how long the barrel is I think its 20inches. Im pretty sure its 1/10 but Ill do the cleaning jag/rag thingy to check.

[welshwarrior]

20" 1:10 should stabilise 150 and 165 happily I'd look at you powder then.

[Savhmr]

That should have no problems whatsoever in stabilising 190 grain match kings never mind 150 grains pills. I've shot a 1/11 twist 24 inch 308 to 900m with 190 gr smks into little over 12inch groups and that was under tricky weather conditions!

 

The default tends to be to go for a very load and jump tolerant design such as the 150 SMK, load to mag length and try with a suitably well matched powder such as N140, RS50 (TR140), or similar burn rate In a shorter barrel, perhaps a slightly faster burning powder like Ramshot Tac might work well.

 

For a 20 inch 1/10 I'd certainly be considering a load of between 43 and 44 gr of N140 or 44 to 45.5 gr RS50 under a 150 SMK. It's a tried, tested and proven combination (in each case)

Edited October 4, 2017 by Savhmr

[welshwarrior]

The RS50 load is where I'd start finding it reliable and consistent I use game kings

Edited October 5, 2017 by welshwarrior

[Dougy]

Bi pod or bag ?

The stock is very plasticky light and flimsy I would use a large heavy range type bag rest to zero off.

 

Should shoot 150 and 168s with no probs.

Edited October 6, 2017 by Dougy

[Benthejockey]

I havent got shooting bags but I was shooting off a rolled up coat so there wasnt any pressure forcing the stock to touch the barrel. I like the gun and its nice to shoot so I want to get it shooting accurately.

[Savhmr]

It's not the bullet weight that it doesn't like but perhaps the long throat may not be best suited, at mag length anyway, to using some large radius ogive bullet profiles that prefer to be loaded closer to the lands. Stick with tangent ogive or hybrid types. You can't go wrong with Sierra's #2155 Match King in that respect, nor their flat base Pro Hunter bullets. Both are very jump tolerant. 168 Amax can be notoriously barrel fussy and it can be hard finding a node when large jumps are involved. I'm unsure if it is because they like a faster twist due to their long-for weight profile or their ogive design. The easier tipped bullet to load for is the steeper tangent Ogive of the Sierra TMK. This was a 175 TMK group shot last week:

 

Edited October 6, 2017 by Savhmr

[Dougy]

A max are notorious for being a pain regarding seating depth.

It was just a thought about the rest, it's a common problem with those stocks end bipods. Hope you get it sorted.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Before replacing anything I'd ask around and try and get a few different factory rounds and try them, see if any give better accuracy.

 

Bang on the money, get some lighter rounds down the barrel at some distant paper, then start to work out what suits your lands.

[Graham M]

Makes sense. I used to shoot 158grn bullets through my .357 magnum revolver back in the 90s but when I tried to shoot the same bullets through my .357 Winchester underlever they grouped like a shotgun. Had to go down to 125grns before they shot any good (very well in fact)

Edited October 7, 2017 by Graham M

[Benthejockey]

Cheers gentlemen Ive been racing round the country since I posted this and havent had chance to open my cabinet never mind go to the shop and buy some more ammo. It is nice to be back working though!

[Harnser]

For many years I loaded 150 grain bullet with 45 grains of vit 140 . This load would boringly shoot MOA at 100 yards . Never ever let me down and shot all species of deer with it and many foxes .

 

Harnser