How am I doing so far?

[EL34]

FNG here, never shot long range before, 'bout 600yds is as far as I've shot. I'd like to go out farther, and have a few pieces of equipment, and plans to buy a few more. Just want to make sure I'm on the right track.
First off I've read enough stickies that I now have sensory overload, but I have been reading........so as to not ask so many stupid questions.
What I have so far, is a Winchester M70 Heavy Varmint in .308 Win. Bought the rifle new probably 10-12 years ago, and have put maybe 200-250 rounds through it. It's bone stock I have'nt done anything to it, other than recently added a 20 MOA EGW base, and Harris bi-pod. I also have a large stock of LC & IMI Match brass, and several flavors of bullets.
I'm still needing some glass, and "think" I've settled on an IOR 3-18X50.
So, once that's all put togather, and with a little more reading perhaps, I'm hopeing I'm off to a decent start? If I'm way off track here feel free to give me the new guy hazing, and slap me around some!

 

[cooper623]

Re: How am I doing so far?

i would put the rifle in a top notch stock such as a Mcmillan, AICS, HS precision, or manners. In my experience this has had the most dramatic effect on group size (tied with using really good quality ammo). Alot of people will say to go out and replace the barrel but I would say that unless the groups are terrible, keep it for a while. Yes, top notch barrels such as schneider, kreiger, shilen, etc.... are great and certainly help, but at the same time I have found that factory barrels can be pretty decent and certainly good enough while you are learning and working on getting fundamentals down.

 

[acidone]

Re: How am I doing so far?

I think you've definitely gotten off to a good start. Although not the most popular of choices (Winchester), they're a great action. A friend of mine has almost the same set-up and it shoots 1"-3/4" groups all day long with his custom loads. I've shot it and was really impressed with the accuracy!!! It should be a real good shooter

 

[EL34]

Re: How am I doing so far?

I just went with the Winchester, cause it's been sitting in the safe scopeless for 6-7 years, thought I mind as well get some use out of it. Speaking of stocks, does anyone know who made the stocks for the Heavy Varmint for Winchester? I'll try to post some pics of the stock too.

 

[doc76251]

Re: How am I doing so far?

Ummmmm, you have quite possibly one of the best production rifles ever sold. The stock is an HS-Precision and the barrel is a Schneider. How do I know this.....

Photo by Lindy while at ASC 04 or 05 while spotting for another shooter.

I finally burned the barrel out with one day to go at sniper school, final round count just north of 9K rounds. After 500 rounds of knocking the feathers out of the barrel it would consistently shoot sub-MOA (some of those sub-MOA's were down right scary).

The only thing you need to do is add a cheek piece and bed it after scraping out that crap Winchester put in the bedding block.

Cheers,

Doc

 

[EL34]

Re: How am I doing so far?

Well, thats certainly a pleasant surprise! Cheek piece, I see them on alot of rifles, but know nothing about them. What are some good brands to check out? Also, will Brownells Acraglass bedding compound work well?

 

[doc76251]

Re: How am I doing so far?

Karstan makes about the best one

http://karstenskydexcheekrest.com/

Get Steel Bed or Marine Tex. Acraglass and Aluminum are not a good mix IMHO.

Run 175/178's a bit warm, I found 44.0gr of Varget in a LC match case to be nirvana.

Cheers,

Doc

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Re: How am I doing so far?

Hey Doc:

Even w. a burned out barrel, you still shot better than everyone else!

Cheers,

Sirhr.

 

[former naval person]

Re: How am I doing so far?

Just check the bedding, work up a load and shoot. Dam fin rifle. JMHO