Advice

6247 Views 48 Replies 9 Participants Last post by Trikky74, Aug 20, 2017

Trikky74

Discussion Starter · Aug 13, 2017

3

I posted this on another forum I creep on, but I really should have posted it here to begin with.

Hi,
So today was my first day, ever, shooting a bolt action .308.

Previously I have used assorted handguns and carbines, this however was a big change from what I was used to. I am attaching some images of today along with what was happening, any advice you all could throw my way would be appreciated.

I bought a Remington 700 sitting in a Bell and Carlson medalist stock w/magazine. It has a Harris bi-pod and a VIPER HS 2.5-10X44 scope and a Timney trigger.

I shot today from prone at an outdoor range and I was having issues from the very beginning. I was having a problem getting a good position on the rifle without losing the sight picture. I'm pretty sure I was booger hooking the **** out of the trigger as well, my groups were absolutely atrocious.

On the plus side, I am pretty happy all 15 rounds I sent downrange hit the target at all lol! The target was only set at 100 yards.

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ddd oo7

· #2 · Aug 13, 2017

Ammo is a major part of your problem. 147 ball ammo won't shoot well in any rifle because it is not precision ammo. It is made for machine guns.

If you want to get a baseline of what the rifle will do then get some 175gr Federal gold medal match. I assume the rifle was used when you got it...so Clean the barrel thoroughly with wipeout patchout and accelerator paying special attention to the Carbon ring at the front of the chamber. Then shoot 20 rounds of the Federal Gold Medal Match to season the barrel to the Sierra bullets. Then shoot 20 more in 5 shot groups to see how they do.

Use a bag in the rear to support the stock.

Use a piece of paper to make sure the barrel is floating.

Check to make sure all scope ring and base screws are tight...but don't overtigten if you don't have a torque wrench.

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Trikky74

Discussion Starter · #3 · Aug 13, 2017

Thanks,

I will try to take all that into account when I hit the range tomorrow. I need to start finding some reasonable "plinking" ammo or learn 2 reload lol!

ddd oo7

· #4 · Aug 13, 2017

Reloading is the way to go. It will save you some money. More importantly it will allow for more precise rounds.

However precision shooting is expensive any way you cut it.

Reactions: 1

straightshooter1

· #5 · Aug 13, 2017

When I first got my Ruger Precision Rifle, I too started off with a couple of boxes of PMC Bronze and had similar results. Then I switched to Federal's 168 gr Gold Medal Match rounds and the groups quickly tightened up to less than 1 MOA. And will just a little trigger time and practice these Federal's were consistently coming in around .750 MOA. So, don't despair over the results you got as a lot of that is the ammo you used. You can find Federal's Gold Medal Match 168 gr or 175 gr rounds at Target Ammo on line for $179 for 200 rounds + free shipping costs when you buy that much. So, I don't feel $0.90 a round is bad at all.

As ddd 007 said, reloading really is the way to go . . . if you plan on doing much shooting and have the time. There is a substantial learning curve though to do better than these kinds of factory match ammo. If you don't already have the reloading equipment, the cost of it takes a while to break even. But this is not a short term decision, huh? ;-)

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Ted_Feasel

· #6 · Aug 13, 2017

This may help... it really did help me identify some faults with my technique. If you are left handed just reverse all the information.. good lock and loading!! If you are using 10 twist barrel, hornady makes a VERY good factory match ammo hornady black in 180gr, if 12 twist try 168 gr.. the longer your barrel, the slower burn rate you want. The general idea is you don't want pressure and burn to still be generating once the bullet has left the barrel... this is for many reasons, 1) it's just wasting powder if it's not propelling the bullet and 2) if there is enough pressure still expelling after the bullet has left the barrel, that pressure can actually act as a tail wind blowing your bullet of center causing wobble or tumble... any seasoned loaders please correct me if this is wrong.

Edited by mod to remove pistol shooting chart from a rifle shooting discussion. Never bring a pistol to a rifle fight.

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ShtrRdy

· #7 · Aug 13, 2017

Hey Ted, since the chart is for pistol shooting I don't know how useful it will be to the OP. Some things apply but there are other things when shooting prone which can cause problems.

Ted_Feasel

· #8 · Aug 13, 2017

True enough... though it did help me stop pulling

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Trikky74

Discussion Starter · #9 · Aug 14, 2017

2

So I went to the range today and tried to work on some of the advice I was receiving and I think I made some progress and identified areas that need work.

By using a bag under the butt when I was shooting I was able to get rid of the "sway" that was causing my shots to drift but I was having a real issue with recoil control. I couldn't get the bi-pod to "load" on the concrete, it was too damn slick.

I was having real issues with the scope, the further I dialed up the magnification the harder it was to hold any sort of sight picture, in fact I folded myself around the gun so much today I am pretty sure I popped my spine out of alignment lol!

The scope was either never dialed in and zeroed at 100 yards or the last owner wasn't very competent; my tightest groups came when I held over the target and tried to wing it. I am assuming i need to loosen the scope mounts and get behind it and torque it back down when I get a comfortable sight picture.

I am contemplating taking the whole rig to a local gunsmith and having them tear it down and put it back together printed rather than trying to diagnose every issue I run in to that isn't tied directly to my lack of experience with bolt guns, any thoughts on that?

This picture represent a rather pathetic group I got by aiming about 2 feet above where I wanted to splash.

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This picture represents how little recoil management and scope control I have with this rifle, I'm starting to get strangely depressed lol.

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Martino1

· #10 · Aug 14, 2017

Primal Right's website has a library. There is an article entitled Zero Force Firing Position. I believe it may help you tighten things up a bit if technique might need a little tweaking. It's a long read, but I read it ten times and my groups did tighten up.

Look up the torque specs on your rifle components and get yourself a Fat wrench. Get everything tightened down to the proper specs. It might cure your problem and cost you less than a trip to the smith. Even if it doesn't clear things up for you, You'll want a torque wrench if you are going to inspect or change out any rifle components yourself.

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Tim37

· #11 · Aug 14, 2017

I got a cheap door mat from home Depot when I'm shooting off a bench I lay it on it that helps the bipod to grip. Also a lot of shooting mats have straps or flaps that hold the feet of your bipod.

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Trikky74

Discussion Starter · #12 · Aug 14, 2017

Thanks, I am taking the time to read it this afternoon while taking breaks at work. I appreciate the info.

Trikky74

Discussion Starter · #13 · Aug 14, 2017

Tim37 said:
I got a cheap door mat from home Depot when I'm shooting off a bench I lay it on it that helps the bipod to grip. Also a lot of shooting mats have straps or flaps that hold the feet of your bipod.

Stopping by tonight!

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Ted_Feasel

· #14 · Aug 14, 2017

Trikky74 said:
Stopping by tonight!

That's a good Idea... I just have a old tarp I use but I bet a rubber mat for my bipod to rest on would be nice when laying down... I've always used this but yesterday got some bags I'm anxious to try out... I've been dry running them and they are comfortable

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Trikky74

Discussion Starter · #15 · Aug 14, 2017

LOL,
I just ordered those bags from Amazon, they had them for a really nice price for the set.

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Ted_Feasel

· #16 · Aug 14, 2017

Trikky74 said:
LOL,
I just ordered those bags from Amazon, they had them for a really nice price for the set.

I know, they delivered them yestday evening and I ordered yesterday morning... their main warehouse is 30 minutes from where I live

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straightshooter1

· #17 · Aug 14, 2017

Ted_Feasel said:
I know, they delivered them yestday evening and I ordered yesterday morning... their main warehouse is 30 minutes from where I live

I have a similar shooting bag combo from Amazon that was empty when I got it, so I filled it with rice. It works really well at keeping the rifle steady and it seems to really reduce the harmonic feedback when firing off a round. I feel it's helped with my load development as it helps with accuracy.

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Ted_Feasel

· #18 · Aug 14, 2017

straightshooter1 said:
I have a similar shooting bag combo from Amazon that was empty when I got it, so I filled it with rice. It works really well at keeping the rifle steady and it seems to really reduce the harmonic feedback when firing off a round. I feel it's helped with my load development as it helps with accuracy.

Mine came packed full, I didn't look to see what buy by the weight and feel i would guess it some kind of sand. I'm guessing it will take me a few to get accustomed to it as I've always shot free hand, from a sled or bipod... I hope it helps my consistency as it did yours

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Ted_Feasel

· #19 · Aug 14, 2017

Ted_Feasel said:
Mine came packed full, I didn't look to see what buy by the weight and feel i would guess it some kind of sand. I'm guessing it will take me a few to get accustomed to it as I've always shot free hand, from a sled or bipod... I hope it helps my consistency as it did yours

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I've setup dry in them and they feel VERY comfortable..

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ShtrRdy

· #20 · Aug 15, 2017

If you have a friend who shoots pretty good you might see if they will give it a try.

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