Some range time...

[orkan]

Spent yesterday afternoon with the chrono on the twins. Figured I'd share the results.

Those 1" squares look pretty big through the nightforce!

100yds view.

Rifles:
Remington 700 SPS Tactical .308 - 20" 1-12 twist -- Nightforce NXS 5.5-22x50
Remington 700 SPS Tactical .223 - 20" 1-9 twist -- Leupold VX-III 4.5-14x40 LR

Range Conditions:
Temp - 70f
Wind - 30mph
Angle - 6 Oclock
Elevation - 1250

-------------------------------------------------------------
168gr Nosler Ballistic Tip
43.5gr Varget
CCI BR2
LC LR 07
O.A.L. - 2.845
ogive. - 2.190

5-shot Group (fps)
2552
2516
2543
2535
2533
ES - 36
AV - 2535fps

-------------------------------------------------------------
168gr SMK
43.5gr Varget
CCI BR2
LC LR 07
O.A.L. - 2.788
ogive. - 2.198

5-shot Group (fps)
2566
2554
2576
2558
2570
ES - 22
AV - 2565

-------------------------------------------------------------
168gr SMK
42gr Varget
CCI BR2
LC LR 07
O.A.L. - 2.788
ogive. - 2.198

5-shot Group (fps)
2481
2482
2469
2483
2437
ES - 46
AV - 2470

-------------------------------------------------------------
175gr SMK
43.5gr Varget
CCI BR2
LC LR 07
O.A.L. - 2.788
ogive. - 2.198

5-shot Group (fps)
2577
2544
2545
2548
2552
ES - 33
AV - 2553

-------------------------------------------------------------
175gr SMK
42gr Varget
CCI BR2
LC LR 07
O.A.L. - 2.788
ogive. - 2.198

5-shot Group (fps)
2453
2441
2460
2440
2435
ES - 25
AV - 2445

-------------------------------------------------------------

I wont even bother listing the chrono data for the .223... since I can't get enough varget into these little cases to get things going fast enough. Here are some groups for the hell of it.

group 1

group 2

group 3

group 4

group 5

 

[Killswitch Engage]

Re: Some range time...

good shooting there but if i may...i think you could possibly tighten things up with a smidge more speed. i am not a compressed load speed freak but your chrony data is slow for those loads. maybe get into the 2600 range.fwiw

 

[Killswitch Engage]

Re: Some range time...

try 43.3 varget. here is a 5 shot group shot today @100yd measuring .400

mv average was 2645

175smk
fgmm 1f brass
43.3gr varg
wlr

700pss

 

[jakermeister]

Re: Some range time...

dgunn what was your COAL?

 

[orkan]

Re: Some range time...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dgunn</div><div class="ubbcode-body">good shooting there but if i may...i think you could possibly tighten things up with a smidge more speed. i am not a compressed load speed freak but your chrony data is slow for those loads. maybe get into the 2600 range.fwiw </div></div>

I tried 44gr of varget and my groups started opening up. Do I dare put more than 44gr in that LC LR brass? I'm seeing no pressure signs at 44... but the brass is thick and I am not showing any signs in the primer either.

I will add my rifle specs and field conditions to the original post at the top.

20" 1-12 twist, stock sps tactical barrel.

Wind was blowing 30-35mph from 6 O'Clock. temp - 70f

 

[Killswitch Engage]

Re: Some range time...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jakermeister</div><div class="ubbcode-body">dgunn what was your COAL? </div></div>

2.797

 

[Killswitch Engage]

Re: Some range time...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: orkan</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dgunn</div><div class="ubbcode-body">good shooting there but if i may...i think you could possibly tighten things up with a smidge more speed. i am not a compressed load speed freak but your chrony data is slow for those loads. maybe get into the 2600 range.fwiw </div></div>

I tried 44gr of varget and my groups started opening up. Do I dare put more than 44gr in that LC LR brass? I'm seeing no pressure signs at 44... but the brass is thick and I am not showing any signs in the primer either.

I will add my rifle specs and field conditions to the original post at the top.

20" 1-12 twist, stock sps tactical barrel.

Wind was blowing 30-35mph from 6 O'Clock. temp - 70f </div></div>

ahhh...the 20 incher has you slowed up alittle. i was wondering considering i am usually getting 2690ish from 43.5 varget. i don't know on going much above 44gr as i am not a big fan of beating the hell out of stuff for 50fps. maybe a primer like the m-34 would help. i use them with lc match brass and varget. same load as posted is 43gr even with m-34 primer.

 

[orkan]

Re: Some range time...

Perhaps I'll have to deal with the slow speed... until I can get a faster barrel.

 

[johngfoster]

Re: Some range time...

I'm using 44.4gr Varget behind 175 SMK and getting speeds over 2750fps. That's just where it seems to like things for accuracy in my rifle.

 

[orkan]

Re: Some range time...

What rifle do you have john?

I was really hoping to get 2750 with 175's but it looks like I'd have to compress the load to get that kind of velocity with these cases and varget.

 

[1SMALLJOHNSON]

Re: Some range time...

If you're looking for speed, check out this new stuff when it comes out. Alliant Power-Pro Medium Rifle. Their ballistics state 2720 fps, out of a 24 inch barrel with a 175 gr SMK. A 26" barrel should give you another 100 fps.

 

[orkan]

Re: Some range time...

I'll be shooting suppressed mostly... so a barrel longer than 20" is not optimal for my use.

 

[sawgunner2001]

Re: Some range time...

Don't feel bad about your velocities. In my 20" LTR (.308) I'm getting 2625 fps using;

46.0gr Varget
168 SMK @ ~2.835" OAL
CCI BR2
Win brass

At 46.5 groups opened up and at 47.0 I experienced sticky bolt lift and only moderately higher velocities.

 

[johngfoster]

Re: Some range time...

I have a custom Remington 700 with a 25" Bartlein 5R barrel. You are going to get a bit more velocity out of a custom barrel. A factory Remington barrel will be a fair bit slower. I would expect at least 2680 out of this load from a factory barrel though. As always, work up your loads with caution.

 

[orkan]

Re: Some range time...

Well, based on an average of 2550, I'll be able to take a 175SMK to 1000yds with 41 minutes in the gun. Would you say that is acceptable until I get a new barrel?

 

[oeser]

Re: Some range time...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sawgunner2001</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Don't feel bad about your velocities. In my 20" LTR (.308) I'm getting 2625 fps using;

46.0gr Varget
168 SMK @ ~2.835" OAL
CCI BR2
Win brass

At 46.5 groups opened up and at 47.0 I experienced sticky bolt lift and only moderately higher velocities. </div></div>

This just goes to show the differences in the same type of gun.

In my LTR I use 45.5 grains of Varget with 168 AMAX's and I am getting 2730 fps. I can get a consistent 1/2" to 3/4" any more or less Varget and I open up.

 

[LSOSGT1109]

Re: Some range time...

I was at the range with my LTR Saturday. I was shooting 175 SMK moly's at an average of 2685 out of FGMM brass with 44.5gr of H4895. Does that sound about right? Accuracy was good, holding about .5 moa 5 shot groups at 100.

 

[beretta989]

Re: Some range time...

Shooting at the good old Huron gunrange I see. How do you like the Hogue stocks that come with the sps tacticals.

I have the 223 tactical with a mark 4 6.5-20x50 mildot Mark 4 rings and bases with a H-s Precsion Police stock and a reworked trigger.

 

[flashhole]

Re: Some range time...

orkan - I like that bench top. Did you make it? If yes, got any pointers for others who might want to make one like it?

 

[308isgreat]

Re: Some range time...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: orkan</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Well, based on an average of 2550, I'll be able to take a 175SMK to 1000yds with 41 minutes in the gun. Would you say that is acceptable until I get a new barrel?

</div></div>

Yes, that is more than acceptable. You really don't need more than 20 inches of barrel in a 308 to get out to the 1k mark. Practice as much as you can with the barrel you have, as there is no substitute for trigger time.

 

[orkan]

Re: Some range time...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: beretta989</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Shooting at the good old Huron gunrange I see. How do you like the Hogue stocks that come with the sps tacticals.
</div></div>
Yup, huron is right! You from around here?

I don't like those hogue stocks at all. The forend moves around when I lay it on the bags or the bipod, and comes in contact with the barrel. Not to mention, I can FEEL it flex when I steer the rifle. The gun shoots... but I feel very confident that it will shoot BETTER when I get a real stock on there.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: flashhole</div><div class="ubbcode-body">orkan - I like that bench top. Did you make it? If yes, got any pointers for others who might want to make one like it? </div></div>

I didn't make it, but I know how it was made. Make wood concrete form about 4" or thicker. Mix up some concrete and pour it in. Grade it off nice and smooth and let it setup. Then, concrete some steel tubing vertical in the ground and level them off. Weld some pegs on the top of them just long enough to get into the concrete. Drill some matching holes in the concrete and set it on there.

Done.

 

[orkan]

Re: Some range time...

Well I went back to the range with the chrono again today.

Shot 8 more five shot groups. I tried setting the 168's out farther with a 2.250 to ogive instead of 2.190. They reacted badly.

Out of all the groups, there is no doubt that 42gr shoots better than anything else I've found thus far with both 175SMK and 168SMK. The only down side is that I'm averaging 2480fps with the 42gr varget load. Its what the gun likes apparently. Veeeeery slow. I was really hoping to be above 2600... and even closer to 2700 if possible. Doesn't look like I'm going to get the job done with this setup. I'll probably be around 2450fps with the suppressor on.

Quite the learning experience.