Aero 308

[Larmo]

Looking for advice. Just built my first LR-308 parts list as follows

Aero M5E1 upper and M5 lower
Ballistic advantage premium 18" SS barrel
Ballistic advantage bcg
Vg6 7.62 brake
Magpul UBR
Aero handguard
Springco orange buffer spring
Kak heavyweight buffer
Milspec trigger (couldn't wait any longer to shoot it and it was the last piece I needed)
Cheap knockoff harris bipod I stole off my daughter's deer rifle lol
Primary arms 4x14x44 acss 308 dmr in warne rings

Heres my delima, took it shooting for the first time the other day. First round hits at 400,600,700,800 yards. 4 of 4 in a row @825. Got 1 hit in 4 rounds @ 906 yards with the help of a spotter. Now, I know obviously an upgraded trigger like the DMR would help tremendously and also buying a quality bipod couldn't hurt. But when I built this rifle it was meant to be more of a DMR type platform, but the range I went to has targets out to 1600 and I've caught the bug so to speak. Currently loading 185 berger juggs and according to my ballistics app I will get the full use out of my 1000 yard reticle. Is 800-1000 all I should realistically hope to achieve out of this configuration? Obviously upgrading trigger and bipod would help as would installing a longer barrel but for the money I would put into that I could use toward a chassis gun or nice optic? Really just wondering if I've hit a point of diminishing returns as far as putting any more money into this rifle and looking for advice from guys more familiar with it than me. Thanks

 

[John.Warren4]

Looking for advice. Just built my first LR-308 parts list as follows

Aero M5E1 upper and M5 lower
Ballistic advantage premium 18" SS barrel
Ballistic advantage bcg
Vg6 7.62 brake
Magpul UBR
Aero handguard
Springco orange buffer spring
Kak heavyweight buffer
Milspec trigger (couldn't wait any longer to shoot it and it was the last piece I needed)
Cheap knockoff harris bipod I stole off my daughter's deer rifle lol
Primary arms 4x14x44 acss 308 dmr in warne rings

Heres my delima, took it shooting for the first time the other day. First round hits at 400,600,700,800 yards. 4 of 4 in a row @825. Got 1 hit in 4 rounds @ 906 yards with the help of a spotter. Now, I know obviously an upgraded trigger like the DMR would help tremendously and also buying a quality bipod couldn't hurt. But when I built this rifle it was meant to be more of a DMR type platform, but the range I went to has targets out to 1600 and I've caught the bug so to speak. Currently loading 185 berger juggs and according to my ballistics app I will get the full use out of my 1000 yard reticle. Is 800-1000 all I should realistically hope to achieve out of this configuration? Obviously upgrading trigger and bipod would help as would installing a longer barrel but for the money I would put into that I could use toward a chassis gun or nice optic? Really just wondering if I've hit a point of diminishing returns as far as putting any more money into this rifle and looking for advice from guys more familiar with it than me. ThanksView attachment 7229417

What is the MOA capability of the rifle and what was the size of the target you were shooting at?

 

[Larmo]

What is the MOA capability of the rifle and what was the size of the target you were shooting at?

All were 12x20 silhouettes except for 900 was a 24x24. Rifle is a little less than .5 MOA with 168gr GMM. Didn't have my calipers so couldn't confirm exact.

 

[FunkyTownScout]

IMO the caliber is the main holdback going past 1,000. Change out the barrel or build another upper with a 22 inch plus 6.5 CM. That'll get you a few hundred yards more but probably not 1600 yard consistent hits unless no wind and you're at high altitude. If you want to cheat to 1600 yards I'd get a new rig with a magnum caliber like 300 winmag, Norma, PRC etc...

 

[BulletScientist]

If you're getting half MOA, take her to a mile!

 

[BulletScientist]

If you're getting half MOA, take her to a mile!

With 175gr FGGM

 

[bfoosh006]

Sure sounds like the rifle is GTG !

Your caliber is what is gonna be tough to do , consistently, out past 1K yds... it certainly can be done, and given your sub moa capabilites, I'd sure try...

But 1600 is a long way for a 308 to go accurately... even for a 6.5CM that is tough.

Given you can do sub moa with a USGI trigger... a better one will help you shoot easier... but, maybe not more accurately.

I would still install a better trigger, at the least a LaRue ( although I dislike the trigger bow shape, and wish it was more rounded off. )
At $80 , it is hard to beat the consistent good trigger pull of the LaRue's at that $80 price.

PSA has the Schmid Tool 2 stage one on sale... 9/10 times they are great... I have had one stinker.

 

[John.Warren4]

Did you validate your trajectory to your Ballistic engine ?

Should be somewhere in the 725-750 yard range for an 18" .308

If your engine ( what engine are you using) and rifle are not giving the same outputs you going to be spinning your wheels.

Also are you shooting prone with a rear bag? Is there a lot of mechanical wobble in your Bipods

What happens a lot of the time is shooters begin stacking variable errors. position, firing solution, environment, fundamentals all stacked on eachother can create a spiral.

Obviously changing the caliber, trigger and barrel will help. But those do not solve your immediate problem. Answer the the above and lets dig into this a bit.

 

[Larmo]

Hey guys sorry for the delayed response. Work has kept me away unfortunately. Hopefully shooting my ladder test with the 185gr this weekend weather permitting. My trajectory according to my ballistics app (strelok pro) is dead on out to 906. Havent shot any farther yet. 168gr FGMM IS 2650fps at the muzzle on the box and my gun came in at 2511fps (18 inch barrel ?). All shooting was done off of bipod and rear bag lying prone. Weather that day was low 60s (62-63) best I remember. Had to hold for 10mph wind between 800-900. It was entirely my first time shooting any farther than 300 yards so I'm sure a lot of the error was in the shooter. I don't realistically expect any more that 1k out of the rifle but dont want to sink another 5-600 dollars into the rifle if it's only going to get me another 100 yds or so. Just really don't have the firsthand experience to know what to expect from the platform and hoping to draw from people here that have the experience.

 

[Larmo]

Sure sounds like the rifle is GTG !

Your caliber is what is gonna be tough to do , consistently, out past 1K yds... it certainly can be done, and given your sub moa capabilites, I'd sure try...

But 1600 is a long way for a 308 to go accurately... even for a 6.5CM that is tough.

Given you can do sub moa with a USGI trigger... a better one will help you shoot easier... but, maybe not more accurately.

I would still install a better trigger, at the least a LaRue ( although I dislike the trigger bow shape, and wish it was more rounded off. )
At $80 , it is hard to beat the consistent good trigger pull of the LaRue's at that $80 price.

PSA has the Schmid Tool 2 stage one on sale... 9/10 times they are great... I have had one stinker.

I've never heard of the schmid tool triggers. I'll look into them, thanks.

 

[Larmo]

IMO the caliber is the main holdback going past 1,000. Change out the barrel or build another upper with a 22 inch plus 6.5 CM. That'll get you a few hundred yards more but probably not 1600 yard consistent hits unless no wind and you're at high altitude. If you want to cheat to 1600 yards I'd get a new rig with a magnum caliber like 300 winmag, Norma, PRC etc...

Broke over and put a R700 300 win mag with the 26 inch 5r barrel in layaway last week. Going to have it blueprinted and threaded for a brake at a local smith and see where to go from there. I really want to smack that 1600 yd target. Haha

 

[bfoosh006]

I've never heard of the schmid tool triggers. I'll look into them, thanks.

They are making those triggers for a lot of distributors.