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First Timer Help! LR Hunting 308 Handloads

First time reloading and first time posting to a forum. Take it easy on me.

I've decided to handload some long range hunting 308 rounds for my Bergara Wilderness Ridge. My goal for this ammo is to achieve half MOA, to reach out and hit targets at 1000yds, and to be lethal out to around 600yds although I will probably never shoot at an animal that far. The specs for my setup are a 20" 1-10 twist barrel with a Sandman S mounted up and an internal magazine that restricts my possible OAL. Before I begin with my reloading process, I'd like to say that all the testing is done prone at 100yds with sandbags and a bipod also allowing the barrel adequate time to cool between shots. I make sure that everything on my rifle is torqued to spec prior to testing and my rifle is capable of regular half MOA with quality match factory ammo. So with some of the usual suspects out of the way, let's begin.

Components:
Federal Gold Medal 210M Primers
Lapua Brass
Varget
Hornady ELD-X 178gr

P.S. I have already loaded and shot the first firing of the brass but do to my lack of confidence is the testing procedures I used I decided to trash all of the data I gathered from the first firing.

My reloading process is as follows:
Deprime using universal depriming die
Clean out primer pockets on Frankford Arsenal Work Station
Use super fine steel wool to remove carbon on case necks
Brush out case necks with bronze bore brush
Tumble 2-3 hours in corn cob media
Clean out Redding Type S FL Bushing (.336) die and lube cases with Hornady one shot
Bump shoulders back .002" (All dimensions of sized brass was around +-.001")
Retumble 1 hour
Trim to 2.005" on Frankford Arsenal Work Station
Chamfer and Deburr
Swab out Case mouth
Prime cases to the stop (not necessarily crushing) using a Frankford Arsenal hand primer
Throw powder in RCBS Chargemaster
Seat bullets with Redding Competition seating die

My results so far in my second firing are less than ideal.
I performed a Modified OCW Ladder Test that consisted of loading in .3 grain increments 3 rounds a piece from 41-43.7 grains. Shooting over a chronograph (Caldwell G2) as well as round robin style for groups allowing 2 minutes between shots. The groups I have shot are a train wreck and seem to have no pattern or meaning to me. All groupings from this reloading project have been atrocious ranging from 1"-4". The velocity however pointed to a node at 41.9-42.2 (2450 FPS) and another at 42.5-42.8 (2500 FPS). I stopped at 43.7 grains because in my past testing I had some consecutive hard bolt lifts although I have not experienced that at all since so I loaded another ladder from 41-44.3 grains and again the nodes were the same and I also seemed to have no pressure signs. So next, I chose the lower node and loaded 6 groups of 3 at 42 grains and loaded CBTO of 2.152"-2.122" in .006" increments. The resulting groups were not ideal ranging between 1.4"-2.6" and the velocities ranged from 2451-2528 FPS. I have struggled with this chrono more than anything and getting random velocities as well as missing shots completely although it is always 15 feet away from the muzzle and in the most optimal light I can use. One day I can get 2450 with a particular load and the next day I come out with seemingly identical conditions and I will get +-100 FPS with the same load.

So here are my questions
Is it normal in a bad load to give you velocities that vary so drastically day to day?
Is there a problem in my reloading process causing these poor results?
Is it just that I chose a bad bullet? If so give recommendations for a good long range hunting match grade bullet please.

Sorry for writing a book.. Anything helps, Thanks.
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Firearms 338 Edge

got a business opportunity I want to take advantage of but need some funds so was gonna let my 338 edge go. Brand new unfired. I have 5600 in it with brass and bullets.
Will take 3650 plus shipping.

Bat HR action, foundation stock,30” k&p 8tw barrel, brake, arca rail, fitted bottom metal. Bix tac sport pro X trigger, 100 berger bullets, Peterson brass.
Built by Kinport Peak Rifles.
Solid as they come!

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SOLD Black Vortex Gen 3 6x36 2600 shipped

Like new cannot find a mark
Only been on the bench
Rare black color
Seekins 1.26 rings
Mils
Very clean
Almost $2900 new with tax at europtic
Box and manual all included
$2600 shipped with rings
$2500 no rings
PayPal friends

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Firearms Pork Sword 223 For sale. $2000 shipped.

New gen Remington 700 in 223. 16.5" 5R barrel with a 1-8" twist. Triggertech Special 2 stage trigger installed. Area 419 20MOA rail. Pork Sword folding stock chassis with 6 slot MLOK fore end. 4 AICS 10 round mags. It went directly into the chassis when I got it. All told it's got 180 rounds down the pipe. Shoots extremely well with Sig 77gr MK's. Sub MOA consistently, 1/2 MOA mostly. Suppressor, bipod, sling and optic are not included. $2000 shipped.

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Firearms Vudoo .22lr Barreled Action W/2 mags

Vudoo Barreled Action
TriggerTech Diamond trigger
ATS Tuner
40 MOA rail
2 mags 14 round by L3I. This is the new Elite version.
Cerakoted Flat Dark Earth
Barrel fluted by Long Rifles Inc
Only about 2K rounds fired. Used SK Long Range and Lapua CenterX

$1650.00 shipped

You can call or text if needed. PM me for number.
Basic



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FBI reveals first photos of Thomas Crooks' firearm, IEDs in car trunk

Not sure if real or not, but here is the link

The Optic That Saved Trump's Life

I take back everything I've ever said bad about Holosun.

If Thomas Matthew Crooks had been using anything other than the SHIT-TIER, freedom-hating, communist-produced, garbage-constructed, neckbeard-marketed, IP-thefted, 25MOA parallax optic that is Holosun, Trump would be dead*.


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*Yeah, I know it's not an infallible conclusion . . . because there could be concomitant causes of Crooks missing. But I'm not going to pass up on the chance eviscerating Holosun. You shouldn't support them.

Low cost chassis options

I’m looking for a low cost chassis for a Howa 1500 build, I was looking at a short action, but now I am considering a long action and the one I was looking at (KRG Bravo) is not available for long actions, at least not according to the drop down menu on their website. Plus, it appears that the Bravo might have an issue holding zero if the back end is removed and reinstalled, which was the main selling point for me.

So what I am looking for is a chassis system similar in price to the KRG Bravo+the KRG tooless LOP, so $700ish or under, but preferably a lot less, this is intended for a budget build so $300-$500 is probably the sweet spot.

The only requirement is that it has a tooless LOP adjustment and tooless cheek riser (sorry I just don’t see stock spacers as valid in the 21st century, plus adjusting them on the fly is obviously not going to happen), or it is compatible with adding one later like the Bravo.

But ideally it should also be either removable/detachable without loss of zero or folding.

I’m aware of the MDT LSS, and that was my original plan, but by the time I add a pistol grip, folding stock adaptor, buffer tube, and stock it will be pushing $1,000, which is too much. I would prefer an all in one solution.

I also considered the Howa TSPX, but the lack of a tooless LOP or the ability to add one (at least not that I could see) turned me off.

Any suggestions?

If I must I will stick with the Bravo but it will make storage and transport an issue.

SOLD MPA BA Competition Chassis Sold

MPA BA, Right Hand Rem700 footprint. Fresh Black Cerakote. Includes Ultra Bag Rider, Competition Side Rails, Two (2) Weight Inserts for the side rails, Area 419 Arca rail, Spogot Mount for Arca Rail, NV Bridge with thumb rest, Gray Ops Thumb rest, Syke Clutch and Wiebad Cheek cover. Sold

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Optics Sold: NIB Vortex Razor HD GEN III - 6-36x56 MRAD EBR-7D Reticle, FFP, RZR-63602

SOLD

$2299, shipped within USA (lower 48, Alaska & Hawaii pay actual shipping costs). No international shipping.

New in Box, never used, never mounted. Vortex Razor HD GEN III - 6-36x56 EBR-7D Reticle MRAD, FFP, RZR-63602.

1st posted "I'll take it" in this thread trumps any PMs. This scope is also listed over on Accurate Shooter, so I'll do my best to take the 1st "I'll take it" here or there, whichever comes in first. Venmo, cashier's check or bank money order preferred.

Thanks for looking, and please let me know if you have any questions.

Best,

/Steve

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Constitutional Convention - What to put in it?

Say, theoretically, we are able to take back all three branches of govt. in 2024 and have a filibuster proof majority in the Senate (I know... Herculean effort). But if it did happen, would this not be the perfect time for a "Constitutional Convention" to make some significant amendments happen. And, I believe we have enough states to ratify most of these, so it's a matter of getting them through the convention part. What would you want to see them tackle?

For me, the following:

1) Fix the count of SCOTUS Justices at the present level, 9, and not allow the court to be "packed." Re-affirm the "Appointment for life" for all justices unless they choose to retire or are impeached, tried and convicted.

2) Clarify the 2nd Amendment as follows:

The right of the "People" to keep and bear arms as outlined in the 2nd Article of Amendment is an individual right and applies equally to each and every law abiding US Citizen. No US citizen shall be denied that right unless convicted of a violent felony or adjudicated mentally incapable of possessing arms by a competent Court of law. In either case, the person denied that right will, after a period of time after release from incarceration or mental recovery (10 years), be eligible to apply for reinstatement of those rights. "Arms," as defined in this amendment include any/all "conventional" handheld firearm devices, parts, and accessories that can be attached to them. No Federal, state or municipal Govt. shall deny any Law abiding US Citizen the right to construct, possess & utilize any such weapons/devices, as long as they are not "prohibited persons" per the above and as long as the weapons are used for "lawful" purposes.

3) An amendment formally prohibiting the US, State and/or local govts. from confiscating a US Citizen's property (temporarily or permanently) without a formal trial or hearing at which both parties are present (ie. not "Ex Parte") and at which the forfeiture of that property is a component of the sentence or judgement, after the final adjudication at that trial/hearing. If held temporarily (as evidence), the subject has the right to recover that property and to sue the govt, for damages, should that property be unrecoverable or damaged while held as evidence. The US Citizen has an absolute right to a formal accounting by the govt. of what was taken, temporarily or otherwise as an aide to recovery, should the court rule in the citizen's favor. {Hopefully, this covers Red-Flag law confiscations and Civil Asset Forfeitures}.



What amendments would you like to see at the next Constitutional Convention, if we could get one convened?
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