Semi-Auto vs Bolt Action Accuracy with Cheap Ammo

[rchman]

I'm having trouble sifting through stories/reports/internet lore on accuracy with cheaper 308 ammo (PRVI, PMC, NATO Surplus, Winchester etc...).

Supposedly, bolt action shooters are claiming to get under 1 MOA with the above mentioned brands. My Noveske AR10 is capable of 3/4 - 1 MOA (10-shot groups) with FGMM, but would open up to 2 to 4 MOA with pretty much anything other than true match ammo (Hornady and FGMM).

<span style="font-weight: bold">So, can bolt actions handle cheaper ammo better</span>? Or, is it mostly a case of people reporting their best 3 shot group of the day. In which case, I'm sure one could eventually get a 1/3 MOA 3 shot group with Wolf if I tried long enough (just a matter of probability).

Has anyone noticed that semi-autos are more sensitive to cheaper ammo?

P.S., sorry if this has been asked before. I wasn't getting any luck with the search.

 

[dieselgeek]

Re: Semi-Auto vs Bolt Action Accuracy with Cheap Ammo

Ive been noticing my ddm4 shoots cheap ammo pretty well. My 700 on the other hand only likes the good stuff. I think each rifle is going to be different.

 

[ORD]

Re: Semi-Auto vs Bolt Action Accuracy with Cheap Ammo

GARBAGE IN...GARBAGE OUT!

Regardless of the rifle...generally if you shoot garbage through it, you'll get garbage results. Whether it is garbage ammo with a 1/2 MOA capable bolt action or garbage ammo through a 1MOA capable semi-auto...you aren't going to be able to achieve comparable results with it. Whether a semi-auto or a bolt gun, accuracy will deteriorate. BUT...as with all rifles...they all have "preferred" ammo/reloads/etc. The sweet-spot on one rifle may be the worst-shooting ammo in another.

Now, because of the basic nature of semi-autos (more moving parts, different recoil impulses/how shooters deal with them, ammo getting beat-up when chambered from the mag or while its in the mag, etc., etc., etc.), garbage ammo from a semi-auto MAY tend to fare a little worse than the same ammo from a bolt action in terms of how big a decline in accuracy you'll see from match ammo/reloads to garbage ammo. Those "differences" may magnify garbage ammo "inaccuracy" in a semi.

 

[j.c.]

Re: Semi-Auto vs Bolt Action Accuracy with Cheap Ammo

Not all of that ammo is crap. The Belgian surplus is very good shooting, there are probably others as well. PRVI's match ammo is very good, easily sub-moa.

My guess is that some of these claims are true. The fact that your rifle doesn't shoot them as well doesn't mean anything is wrong with your rifle either, though and I wouldn't generalize it to "bolt actions are great with cheap ammo". What weight of ammo does it seem to like best in the premium match?

ETA: a lot of factory .308 rifles have a 1:12 twist. With the lighter loads like the surplus, that may make a difference.