Handloading the Long Range Red Dawn Response Team/Republic Defense Force Rifle.

[John G. Gore]

Our first test:
Rifle #1 = Savage Axis II - The model that came with a mounted hunting scope.
Barrel = 7-08 Remington factory 22" 1:9 RH twist.
Trigger = Timney trigger replacement.
Base = Warne Steal - I couldn't find a 20moa steal base for the Savage Axis. Warne makes a steal Weaver style flat base so we opted to try that. We JBWelded this base on backward to mount the scope with the proper eye relief. This base has 5 slots, 2 on the front and 3 on the rear.
Rings = Badger
Scope = SWFA SS 10x42 MQ
Bipod = Harris

Handloaded Combat Ammo (HCA) = Hornady brass trimmed and crimped to 2.034 with a full/thick neck.
Handloaded Practice Ammo (HPA) = Hornady brass that is too short to crimp to 2.034 or fails to have a full/thick neck when trimmed to 2.034.
Brass = Hornady - sized just enough to no longer feel any resistance when closing the bolt by adjusting the re-sizing die down a tad until the dummy round loads without resistance.
Primer = CCI 200
Powder = Reloder 19 (46.0 grains)
Bullet = Hornady 162 grain SST - Off the lands but as close as we can crimp and safely stay within the max case length.

Best HCA 3 shot 100yds. group = .663 MOA
Worst HPA 3 shot 100yds. group = .82X MOA (X=memory failure at X0FDC475). It was less than .825.

HPA test with new brass: We see a +.2-.3 mil (rise) difference in impact on 350yd steal. We have not noticed this with once fired HPA.

We haven't had a chance to shoot at long range yet but so far this one looks promising.

 

[John G. Gore]

Rifle #2 = Winchester 70 Classic DBM.
Barrel = 7MM Remington Magnum 26" 1:9.5 RH twist.
Base = Warne steal 20-MOA Tactical Rail (M676).
Rings = Seekins Precision.
Scope = SWFA SS 12x42 MQ.

Handloaded Combat Ammo (HCA) = Remington brass trimmed and crimped to 2.449 with a full/thick neck.
Handloaded Practice Ammo (HPA) = Remington brass that is too short to crimp to 2.449 or fails to have a full/thick neck when trimmed to 2.449.
Brass = Remington - sized just enough to no longer feel any resistance when closing the bolt by adjusting the re-sizing die down a tad until the dummy round loads without resistance.
Primer = CCI 250
Powder = Reloder 26 (67.0 grains)
Bullet = Hornady 162 grain SST - Off the lands but as close as can crimp and safely stay within the max case length.

Best HCA 100yds group = Although I have zeroed, slipped the scales and shot some steal out to 350 I haven't dial calipered groups on paper yet. Just been using my calibrated eye ball. Still need to do this.
Best HPA 100yds group = .556 MOA with new Remington brass and 67.0 grains of RL26 and a .656 MOA with new Remington brass and 67.7 grains of RL26.

This one belongs to me, still has the factory wood stock. I had to sand, stain and varnish to float the barrel just to sight it in new off the shelf. Had to repeat this after each of the first three hunting seasons. I hadn't shot in a long time and my lack of recoil management shows in a lot of the groups as I worked up the RL26.

Another promising factory rifle and hand loaded combat ammo combination.

 

[John G. Gore]

Rifle #3 = Browning X-Bolt.
Barrel = 280 Remington 26" 1:10.5 RH twist.
Base = Murphy Precision Stainless Steal.
Rings = Murphy Precision Stainless Steal (on order).
Scope = SWFA SS 10x42 MQ (sitting on shelf waiting for rings).
Temporary rings and scope = Tasco and Tasco 3-12x40AO
Bipod = Harris LMS

Handloaded Combat Ammo (HCA) = Hornady brass trimmed and crimped to 2.539 with a full/thick neck.
Handloaded Practice Ammo (HPA) = Hornady brass that is too short to crimp to 2.539 or fails to have a full/thick neck when trimmed to 2.539.
Brass = Hornady - sized just enough to no longer feel any resistance when closing the bolt by adjusting the re-sizing die down a tad until the dummy round loads without resistance.
Primer = CCI 200
Powder = Reloder 19 (55.0 grains)
Powder = Reloder 22 (56.0 grains)
Bullet = Hornady 162 grain SST - Off the lands but as close as we can crimp and safely stay within the max case length.

This is a new shooter with his first rifle. We worked up the above listed powders. The RL19 looks like it has 3/4 MOA at best potential. The RL22 groups looked a bit better and more consistent. I didn't have 280 Rem. dies so we got the 100 free bullets with the new Hornady 280 dies. We used the free 139gr bullets over some RL19 and zeroed the old Tasco to 350 yards. Our new shooter got some trigger time on steal at 350 yds. and by the end of the day showed much improvement. We will paper test the HCA and HPA once we have the new rings and scope glued on. I'm also looking forward to testing some Barnes 168 LRX in this 1:10.5 barrel. If you have been using RL23 in a 280 Rem. I would like to hear about it.