What is my rifle telling me?

[hydro556]

Hello gents.

I finally got my new custom from JJ over at APA (Patriot). Received it last week and out of the gate it is showing to be an impressive hammer.

Specs-
Patriotized Rem 700 SA
20" Broughton #6, 11 Twist,threaded.
RB trigger @ ~2 lbs
etc. etc.

I have a bunch of Federal FGMM 168 and that is the ammo Jered had told me shot the best in his accuracy testing. So, other than a few mild, generic handloads I had, everything it has seen has been the 168 FGMM.

In all my other 308's. custom or factory, I have had far better luck with 155 Scenars and 175 SMK's. To the point that I dumped all my 168 SMK's, because they just wouldnt perform as well.

Well, this rifle absolutely loves them. The first 5 shot group I fired with the rifle (bipod/rear bag. off bench) was .498. And that has shown to be typical in subsequent shooting. The few handloads I have fired from this rifle have been the generic 175 SMK loads I mentioned earlier.

I have by no means thoroughly tested the 175's, but the little shooting I have done, seems to scream that this rifle likes 168 SMK's. I would have to look at the log, but I think I have about 150 rounds through the rifle. Shot a few groups at 100, more groups at 300, and shot my 45% IPSC silhouette at 630 yards.

With the FGMM 168's I shot my best group ever at 300 yards today. 5 shots in .772". Ringing the steel at 650 took, from memory, ~5.0 mils and proved to be boringly easy. The lack of wind did help.

So, I am trying to determine the best course of action. I have never really tried to "copy" any factory ammo, but am tempted, given how well this rifle likes the Gold Medal stuff. I am going to trade a buddy a couple hundred 175 SMK's for the same number of 168 SMK's and start working on a load. Since 90% of my shooting is <700 yards, the superior downrange ballistics of the 175 SMK are not a factor.

The COAL of the Gold Medal stuff is only 2.79/2.80". Would you guys start with this? I use Varget and Lapua cases with Federal 210M primers.

Should I just start on the mild side with Varget, and load the 168SMK at 2.80 and go from there?


Eventually I hope to load some of my Lapua 155 Scenars as well, but I am thinking I should focus heavily on the 168's for now, would you guys agree?

Here is a picture of the rifle-

 

[MinorDamage]

Re: What is my rifle telling me?

2.80" is pretty standard for loading manuals and factory ammo. It allows function in most any chamber regardless of throat length. You should do the standard work up for any new rifle as no one can tell you what is correct or incorrect as far as YOUR rifle goes. Honestly, I would do the typical work up with all three projos and go from there. You will figure out quickly what is going to yield good results and what won't. Start at 2.80", find your node for your powder charge, and then play with seating depth.

Josh

 

[snipedogg]

Re: What is my rifle telling me?

You should invest in a bullet seating depth gauge, especially running all these different bullets and weights. I made a home-made one that I can tell you how to make just PM it's very simple. This will help you keep track of what your max length can be. In my 308 with SMK's I used Varget/Lapua/210M as well, and my depths were out around 2.840 I believe. Which was .010 off the lands and they loved it. You want to work your way back from the rifling, not towards it.

 

[LoneWolfUSMC]

Re: What is my rifle telling me?

Just run a workup with RE15, Varget or IMR 4064. Work up until the speed duplicates what you are seeing with FGMM from your barrel.

Use Federal Brass and Federal Match primers and you have pretty dang close to FGMM.

HOWEVER..... might I just suggest loading some 168 SMK's up with RE15 or Varget and running a ladder test. You may find that your rifle REALLY likes a charge that is a little hotter or slower than FGMM.

 

[Suasponte]

Re: What is my rifle telling me?

Easy way to find you lands!

Take a old piece of brass and size it. Prep it like your going to load it. Then take a dremel tool with a diamond cutting wheel and cut a slot across the case neck. After you get that done polish off the burrs and polish the inside case neck with a brass cleaning brush.

Squeeze the neck together just enough to hold the bullet and chamber it. Remove it carefully and measure, this should be the dimension touching the lands. Do this 2-4 times keeping the numbers written down. They should all be within .001 to .002 of each other.

Start back from there .004 and work in. Hopefully your mag will allow you to load out longer then 2.8"

Terry

 

[hydro556]

Re: What is my rifle telling me?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: LoneWolfUSMC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just run a workup with RE15, Varget or IMR 4064. Work up until the speed duplicates what you are seeing with FGMM from your barrel.

Use Federal Brass and Federal Match primers and you have pretty dang close to FGMM.

HOWEVER..... might I just suggest loading some 168 SMK's up with RE15 or Varget and running a ladder test. You may find that your rifle REALLY likes a charge that is a little hotter or slower than FGMM. </div></div>

LW, this is what I think I am going to do. I am going to ask my buddy to bring his chrono next weekend (I dont own one) and see what I am getting from the FGMM. Then I am going to start load development with the 168's. I dont have any currently.

In the meantime, I loaded up a bunch of 155 Scenars starting low and working up, 10 rounds at a time. Will try and shoot those tomorrow and see if it likes the 155's. I havent shot anything that light yet.

will advise tomorrow.

 

[MitchAlsup]

Re: What is my rifle telling me?

My general opinion is that you can start with any match grade bullet and work up a stellar load with a gun that shoots that well right from the get go.