New to forum - ammo questions

[adam1122]

Hi folks,

What are everyones thoughts on having a custom scope built by leopold or S&B in a .308. They ask for all the ballistic data, bullet weight, etc. Should I give them my 147gr South African target ammo since I shoot that 95% of the time or just give them my match ammo. I want the BDC to be built out right. What would you guys reccomend?

 

[KNIGHT11B4]

Re: New to forum - ammo questions

Ditch the BDC idea.

They will hardly ever be correct, Dope changes with conditions.

 

[DEDMNKY M82A1]

Re: New to forum - ammo questions

Plus every rifle shoots differently also. I would get a good quality scope put it on your rifle zero it and shoot with your choice of ammo and try and use that ammo as much as you can. Then you will eventually be able develope a BC card for the different ranges based on the performance of the rifle with that specific ammo.

 

[ORD]

Re: New to forum - ammo questions

I'd recommend you not waste your time continuing to shoot SA Surplus ammo 95% of the time, in addition to wasting your money on a scope with a specific BDC reticle/turrets.

The problem is that they are built to a specific load/bullet, at a specific velocity/altitude/etc./etc. and with even a slight variation in any single variable, your "BDC" can be waaay off target.

You are better off getting your own dope and keeping an accurate record of it that you can in turn make into a data card for your rifle (but doing it with 2+ MOA surplus ammo is going to be a PITA)!

 

[exhogflyer]

Re: New to forum - ammo questions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KNIGHT11B4</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ditch the BDC idea.

They will hardly ever be correct, Dope changes with conditions.

</div></div>

Exactly....just get the scope you want, a ballistic program TO GET CLOSE and work up an actual dope card for YOUR RIFLE.

 

[adam1122]

Re: New to forum - ammo questions

Thanks for the help on the topic. Only reason I shoot this crap ammo is bc I shoot so much....well over 4k rounds a month.

I dont want to sound lazy but I want to get at close as I can to my actual rounds performance without having to try to develop my own bdc and dope.

 

[Redmanss]

Re: New to forum - ammo questions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Adamxdavis</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks for the help on the topic. Only reason I shoot this crap ammo is bc I shoot so much....well over 4k rounds a month.

I dont want to sound lazy but I want to get at close as I can to my actual rounds performance without having to try to develop my own bdc and dope.</div></div> You have to realize what kind of answers you're going to get on a precision shooting forum. They will all be based accurately putting rounds on target in the most proficient manner available.

You asked what the recommendations of the forum are and you got them. BDC turrets are crap in terms of accuracy as they are focused for a single set of conditions that are rarely present. Just variations of muzzle velocity alone from lot to lot of your ammunition will throw them off, not to mention variations in density altitude which can change greatly with the temperature. These limitations with BDC turrets are exactly the reason the USMC dumped the Unertl scopes. It's not the 70's any more and present day technology is way better.

You can much more easily and accurately develop yourself a set of bullet drop charts for free using JBM Ballistics and apply them to any type of scope with target turrets you prefer. Even better you can get yourself any of the ballistic computers or applications for a smartphone/iTouch and enter the specific range data on the spot.

http://www.jbmballistics.com/ballistics/calculators/calculators.shtml

If you're already set on getting them, then go ahead and chrono your ammunition in the conditions you believe you will be doing the majority of your shooting and get the specifications of your projectiles for the proper data. Just keep in mind your custom turrets will only be accurate under those specific conditions and with that specific ammunition.

And me personally, I'd rather shoot 400 rounds of accurate ammunition building solid data and fully testing/developing my abilities than blasting 4000 rounds of inaccurate crap downrange, but hey, it's your money.....

 

[ORD]

Re: New to forum - ammo questions

^^^ What the man said!! ^^^

The opinions you have received here are what they are and if you disagree or have your mind made up otherwise...perhaps you would be better off seeking opinions from the braintrust on ARFCOM or elsewhere.

If you don't want to put in the time to further investigate the downfalls of BDC reticles/turrets, then go grab your favorite surplus ammo, write down the bullet weight, find out what muzzle velocity you are averaging from your rifle (I'd do a string of at least 50 rounds to obtain your average...not that it will matter), figure out the BC of the bullet, then determine what the average altitude and average ambient temperate you will be shooting at and then turn Leupold lose on creating a reticle and/or BDC turrets for you.

Good luck and God speed!

 

[adam1122]

Re: New to forum - ammo questions

Man I love this forum.....I just love shooting as much as I can hence shooting a lot of crap ammo. Best idea yet is getting a ballistics program for my berry and develop my own dope. The bcc idea is officially now in the toilet.

Don't do my own hand loading so I try to find the cleanest most accurate out of the box factorynammo I can buy....their are 20 plus recommendations for 308 factory loads. Black hills and ml118 is at top of the the list....i would shoot more of if but that stuff is pricey and i tend to dump 20 round mags on targets pretty quick.