Shooting Less Than 300 - Flat Base?

[Gosu]

Shooting either 200 yards or 300 yards with a .308 Rem 700 1 in 11.25. Most of the time I am using 168 Nosler BTHP and recently I tried 178 grain AMax. I had issues with the AMax tumbling.

Should I be really looking at flat base bullets instead of BT?

 

[Xcount]

Re: Shooting Less Than 300 - Flat Base?

IF your bullet is tumbling at 300 then you have a load/gun problem not a bullet problem. Yes, there can be some gains in accuracy with a FB bullet at 300 in .308 however you need to figure out why you are tumbling.

This is not benchrest shooting and I don't see the need to lose a significant amount of wind cutting ability just to maybe gain a little bit smaller group. It's not just the FB that shrinks groups it's the combo of slow twist barrel (14 or 15). There is always a compromise.

 

[Gosu]

Re: Shooting Less Than 300 - Flat Base?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Xcount</div><div class="ubbcode-body">IF your bullet is tumbling at 300 then you have a load/gun problem not a bullet problem. Yes, there can be some gains in accuracy with a FB bullet at 300 in .308 however you need to figure out why you are tumbling.

This is not benchrest shooting and I don't see the need to lose a significant amount of wind cutting ability just to maybe gain a little bit smaller group. It's not just the FB that shrinks groups it's the combo of slow twist barrel (14 or 15). There is always a compromise. </div></div>It was more noticeable at 200 than 300.

 

[Xcount]

Re: Shooting Less Than 300 - Flat Base?

what is your exact load and rifle?

 

[Gosu]

Re: Shooting Less Than 300 - Flat Base?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Xcount</div><div class="ubbcode-body">what is your exact load and rifle? </div></div>
20" barrel .308 Rem 700 5r stainless 1 in 11.25

Tried several different powders including Varget, CFE223 and BLC2
Only bullet I have issues with the 178 AMax, regardless of powder

I can list all of the different combinations that I tired but I will say that I also have been using BLC2 with 168 grain Nosler Comp BTHP and yielding very good results or anywhere from .4moa to .7moa at 300.

 

[Xcount]

Re: Shooting Less Than 300 - Flat Base?

well, you got me. Sounds like you're using standard components so standard safe loads should not tumble. I know guys talk about bullets going quiet or to sleep after a certain distance but I have not seen this problem with Amax's.

all's I know is you don't need FB bullets for 300 unless your in benchrest or 300m competition. I would double check the load personally.

good luck.

BTW, there is a difference between yawing and tumbling. tumbling is when the bullet hits sideways, usually after super sonic to sub sonic transition and total loss of stability. so I am thinking you're seeing more bullet yaw than tumble and it could just be the bullet has'nt really stabilized fully yet. I have not seen this problem with 178's at any distance.

 

[cmh2007]

Re: Shooting Less Than 300 - Flat Base?

with that twist rate i don't think you should have been tumbling the bullets. is the bore of your gun ok? what about the crown?

 

[Gosu]

Re: Shooting Less Than 300 - Flat Base?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Xcount</div><div class="ubbcode-body">well, you got me. Sounds like you're using standard components so standard safe loads should not tumble. I know guys talk about bullets going quiet or to sleep after a certain distance but I have not seen this problem with Amax's.

all's I know is you don't need FB bullets for 300 unless your in benchrest or 300m competition. I would double check the load personally.

good luck.

BTW, there is a difference between yawing and tumbling. tumbling is when the bullet hits sideways, usually after super sonic to sub sonic transition and total loss of stability. so I am thinking you're seeing more bullet yaw than tumble and it could just be the bullet has'nt really stabilized fully yet. I have not seen this problem with 178's at any distance. </div></div>Very interesting, I will check the targets tonight. It is very possible it is more of yawn than a tumble.
Thanks for the help - Joe

 

[Gosu]

Re: Shooting Less Than 300 - Flat Base?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: seaaggie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">with that twist rate i don't think you should have been tumbling the bullets. is the bore of your gun ok? what about the crown? </div></div>Anything is possible although I don't think likely. I can tell you that I shoot 8 different loads through it and the rifle is only 5 months old with sub 500 rounds through it. No damage has ever occurred to it and all of the other rounds shoot fantastic. Nice clean cut holes and great groups.