My Lmt 308 is shooting about 1.5 moa. Two bullets almost touching and the third about an inch to an inch and a half high. (Not necessarily in that order.) The question is will the SS barrel net we atleast a quarter moa improvement? I'm also thinking the trigger could be a culprit too. Anyone have similar experience or advice.
- Thread starter banditjumper
- Start date
Of course a good trigger is always better. But, I think after a certain date the 16"CL changed. I read so many posts from people shooting 1/2 MOA with the 16"CL and the best group mine ever produced was 1-3/4". Not quite as good as the groups I could shoot with my Springfield Armory National Match M1A with NM peep rear/front post irons, when my eyes were a little younger.
I've read a lot of the same .5 moa stories. I don't expect that but I'd like a constant 1moa. I just wonder if the difference in barrels would help. I've tried several types of ammo and grains and they seem to shoot about the same. I'm stocking up on Hornady TAP 168 Amax.
Some of the cl are shooters and some aren't.
Mine does 1 moa, five round groups, but only with one specific handload. Everything else shoots as you describe.
I have a friend with a newer 16" cl that seems to shoot better than mine and isn't as picky about ammo.
I also have a 20" and an 18" ss barrel. Both are solid sub moa barrels, consistently. 1.5" five round groups at 300 are the rule, rather than the exception. They like 168 and 178 amax, respectively.
The cl never even came close to the ss performance.
So, hell yes the stainless barrels are worth it !
In my own personal experience, I'd say the CL is damn near as good as the SS. My 20" CL is on average .9 to .85 with reloads. Once in a blue moon i'll average down into the .7range, but that's about it. As for single 5shot groups, I've had group measurements down to .3's. I've yet to have an SS model from other people scream = I'm worth the extra money. The CL lmt barrels are top notch and if I was to sell mine and get another, then it would be CL as they just down right shoot. I would guess my LMT is close to 3k rounds down the barrel and the more I shoot it, the more accurate it gets (if I don't clean the barrel too much until accuracy really starts to fall off). The CL barrels like it dirty.
I have 4 barrels for my LM8MWS and LMTMWS. From that and most guys I shoot with having one or both, the SS barrels are more consistent on average than the CL as they should be. Without hand loads and good ammo; I have see n the 13.5 CL 308 barrel print .5 Moa many times. The SS barrels are not cheap but if one can afford to buy a CL, see how it shoots then pick up a SS if need be, that's what I'd do.
I had one of my CL barrels cut to 14.5 and fluted. Fun little booger to shoot.
I had one of my CL barrels cut to 14.5 and fluted. Fun little booger to shoot.
It's pretty much impossible to make such a judgement without owning both.
And doing the same load development for both, same shooter, same rest setup, same optics, etc.
I will make this guarantee, if you're shooting well with the cl, you will shoot better yet with an ss.
In my case, there was no comparison at all. The cl would throw out the odd sub moa group, the ss barrels would run deeply sub moa the majority of the time.
Thanks for the replys, I plan to swap out the trigger for a gessiel and see if that enables me to print a better group then plan to switch the CL for SS barrel. Between the two, I would think it would Have to make a noticeable difference.
I think you're missing what I'm trying to say.
You get some outstanding results with your cl as I have seen on your shoot out thread.
I'm not saying you can't shoot to the same level with a cl as I can with a ss, I'm saying that you will shoot to a higher level with the ss vs the cl.
As for the shoot out, I'll decline. It's -35 here right now, and will be for a few more months. Perhaps when it warms up.
I have the 20 inch SS but was recently told by my dealer (who said LMT told him) that the new CL barrels are just as good so no need to buy the SS. My first question was why did you sell me on the SS? Anyhow for the price difference, if I had to do it all over, I probably would have bought the CL. Now you can get a package with the 16 and 20 CL barrels for about the same as the 20 inch SS.
Wonder who he talked to at LMT? I bet Mr. Lewis would like to know who said SS barrels aren't worth the $$$... As I said, in my 4 barrels and being around at least a dozen more CL and SS, THE SS barrels are more consistent from the get go.
Some may ask what the need is from Moa to sub Moa but I want every advantage I can get. I have seen some CL barrels that shoot the lights out but that CL process can never be 100% consistent. As for life of their SS barrels; I think most would be shocked how far they can be pushed. A call to Gene at LMT can shed light on a very long barrel life even for the SS variants.
Some may ask what the need is from Moa to sub Moa but I want every advantage I can get. I have seen some CL barrels that shoot the lights out but that CL process can never be 100% consistent. As for life of their SS barrels; I think most would be shocked how far they can be pushed. A call to Gene at LMT can shed light on a very long barrel life even for the SS variants.
Snipe,
I do not think you'll regret it! (Getting the SS) I for sure don't regret mine.
I do not think you'll regret it! (Getting the SS) I for sure don't regret mine.
Did they give you any idea what sort of time frame is considered "new". My rifle was built 11/13 and was wondering if this is considered new or old. I am still waiting on glass so I have not had a chance to see how it shoots.
I did call LMT before I bought my rifle and was told a similar story of the CL barrels being quite consistent.
My experience from going to 20" SS from 16" CL was pretty much the same sub moa but gained the added velocity for the extra inches of barrel. The 16" CL is a good barrel just work up a load and get some trigger time its an easy sub moa shooter!
