700 sps tactical holdovers

[djthemac]

howdy guys!

I am a noob to the long range game, and I just picked up my first rifle. It is a Remington 700 sps tactical 20" in 308, and I can't wait to take it to the range to try out.

I do not have access to a chronograph, but I was talking with someone else on a different board that mentioned somebody here posted hold overs for a 20" barrel. I tried the search function, but I couldnt find it. Could someone point me the right direction? thanks

 

[flyrodder]

Re: 700 sps tactical holdovers

I don't know if anyone has posted anything, but you'll need velocities to get decent hold overs. You can either chronograph or measure drops at various ranges and back into it, but either way a ballistics calculator is the way to go. You can google them and either find a free online one or buy one.

Barrel length will help, but I have three .270s, and one with a 24" barrel has the same velocity as another with a 22" barrel using the same load, while the third has to run 0.5 grains LESS powder to get the same velocity out of its 22" barrel.

Zak Smith has some very good introduction to tactical long range on his DemigodLLC website. Not exactly what you are looking for, but if you are new to the game it is good reading.

 

[Kalman]

Re: 700 sps tactical holdovers

Barrel length is meaningless compared to the ammo you're putting through it. If you don't have access to a chrono (own, borrow, rent) I'd start by taking what's printed on the box, use that to get "on target" at 100, 200, and 300 yards (or more) then use that with a balistics program to calculate you're velocity and BC. You've got 2 variables, so you'll need 3 data points. If you know the BC, you'll only need two. The farther out you can measure the shot and drops, the more accurate you'll be.

 

[winxp_man]

Re: 700 sps tactical holdovers

No one in the world can give you the info for such question because your ammo is unknown. The velocity has to be known for any info to be given. If your using factory ammo then you will have to look on the box for velocity readings at the muzzle. If nothing is on the box check the ammo brand website.

 

[head2h2o]

Re: 700 sps tactical holdovers

Are you buying factory ammo or reloading? If you are reloading, you can get an idea or what your velocity is from the reloading manuals, but even then, it is not going to be exact. You have 2 options to figure out your dope that I can tell. Find a chronograph and enter your info into a ballistics calculator, or shoot at multiple different ranges until you figure out what your dope is.

 

[sgtbutt]

Re: 700 sps tactical holdovers

Find a load you like whether thats factory or homeloads (and if its a home load you really should have a chrono). Once you have your load that you intend to use on a regular basis find your own hold overs. Find out your come ups for 100, 50 or even 25 yard/M increments that you see fit. Write them all down and bam, you have your dope for that load.
But seriously, get a chrono. I started loading again and and using my dad's old chrono and loving it. They're not that bad price wise and will tell you alot about the performance of your chosen round.
YMMV

 

[djthemac]

Re: 700 sps tactical holdovers

I will be using factory loads, but I would love to learn to start reloading.

Does anybody have any good ideas for factory loads to start out with. I understand that heavier rounds 170+ grains tend to stay true farther out, but 150 grain should be ok for less then 500 yards. I have read that Federal gold match SMK are the bees knees, but a quick trip to cabellas revealed that 20 rounds goes for $37.00... ouch.

I am going to see if the local range has a chronograph that I can borrow, as that would probably be the easiest way to get data for ballistics calculations.

I also have a scope question for you gents:
If I have a 100 yard zero and I am using 12x mag so that I am able to use my mildots, and I find that for my particular load, at a specific range requires 30 MOA of adjustment, do I have to use only the 12X magnification I originally used to zero the scope or can I increase the magnification power and still dope the scope the 30 MOA required?

 

[CSAR]

Re: 700 sps tactical holdovers

Go to the reloading section and subsection to see .308 loads. There's also thread for the SPS tactical loads. I doubt you'll be shooting farther than a 168gr Federal Gold Medal Match round will be good for so my suggestion is to shoot it for now. cheaper and easier to get. Also, go to the JBM ballistics site and use 2550fps for the calculations. Most 308 SPS's are running around that speed.

 

[Evolution 9]

Re: 700 sps tactical holdovers

You can play with the magnification all you like without affecting the required adjustments as long as you are dialing those adjustments (with the turrets) rather than using the reticle for holds.

 

[calling4life]

Re: 700 sps tactical holdovers

MidwayUSA has the Federal Gold Medal 168gr round on sale right now

23.99 a box, or 221 a case

Great round, I'd recommend buying the case, would get you the experience needed to figure out some of your questions on your own, and get the trigger finger oiled up and ready for game.

 

[Gravity_Knight]

Re: 700 sps tactical holdovers

I have the same rifle. So far with factory ammo I have had the best luck with Hornady. SST superformance shoots flatter than anything else.. 165's seem the most accurate. Some of their heavier grains just don't perform for me as well. ( I shoot out to 700yards) possibly due to the 1:12 twist. But every rifle is different.

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: 700 sps tactical holdovers

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: djthemac</div><div class="ubbcode-body">howdy guys!

I am a noob to the long range game, and I just picked up my first rifle. It is a Remington 700 sps tactical 20" in 308, and I can't wait to take it to the range to try out. </div></div>

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2011/05/gear-review-field-density-altitude-compensator/

I used this Monday with my Remington tactical 308. I am impressed!

My 175smk load is right at 2550 +/- a couple feet per second. Federal's FGGM 175smk load should be very close to this velocity as well in the tactical. I knew the temp was in the 80's and my range altitude is a few feet short of 1000'. I applied the temp and altitude and came up with a DA of 2000'. Slid the card to +2k and started pulling the trigger. I shot from 500y to 1000y, at this velocity my load was subsonic at 975y. My impacts were a 1/4 minute low at 5&6 hundred, dead nuts on at 7-9 and 1000 was 1/4 minute high. That is much better than my preprinted tables I usually take with me!

JBM ballistics is a good online calculator as well, but I can’t take that in the field with me...


My drops monday were:

500= 3.7 mil or 12.25 moa
600= 5.0 mil or 16.75 moa
700= 6.4 mil or 22.0 moa
800= 8.0 mil or 27.5 moa
900= 9.9 mil or 34.0 moa
1000=12.0 mil or 41.25 moa

That should get you close but will not be right on for you as I am sure your altitude is higher than mine, you will likely be using a little less. Weather conditions will also effect your out come from these numbers.

I was shooting at 75-80 degrees at ~960asl, BP was around 29.65 (corrected pressure) and I had a low pressure system coming in towards the end of my shooting which may have been a reason for my higher impacts at 1000.

http://www.wunderground.com

and

http://www.wunderground.com/history/

are good sources for current and historical weather data, FWIW

I set a personal best record (for this particular rifle anyway) at 600, my vertical was under 3" and horizontal was ~4" for 4 shots... and at 1000 I had three land inside 6" with two more opening the overall group size to 11"

308's rock!


Also, if you have the factory rifle I assume you have it in the original stock. That stock has a tendency to touch the barrel when a bipod is employed and leads to stringing of groups once you get out about 200-300 yards. You have two options if it touches, 1-new stock or 2-hogging out the offending area.

I had a pss stock that I dropped mine into and a DIY skim bedding job with devcon steel. That stopped the group stringing and decreased my overall size plus made it much more consistent. It went from a ¾" grouper at 100 to a "I can't believe I'm shooting this tight with a factory rifle" sized group...

 

[Tacticalrum]

Re: 700 sps tactical holdovers

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Gravity_Knight</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have the same rifle. So far with factory ammo I have had the best luck with Hornady. SST superformance shoots flatter than anything else.. 165's seem the most accurate. Some of their heavier grains just don't perform for me as well. ( I shoot out to 700yards) possibly due to the 1:12 twist. But every rifle is different. </div></div>

+1 Hornady Superformance shoots very well out of my shooting partners .308 as far as box ammo goes.