Disappointed with myself today

JelloStorm

JelloStorm

Gunny Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 23, 2010
1,409
2
42
Northeast Pennsylvania
#1
Rifle:

Remington 700 Varmint .308 barreled action
McMillan HTG stock - pillars molded in - BDL bottom metal
Action was bedded by a gunsmith
Trigger pull = around 3.5lbs
Scope - Nikon Monarch 3-12x42SF
Shit ammo - Federal 150gr soft point form Walmart $15/box
Good stuff - Hornady Superformance SST 165gr

So I recently built this gun and took it out shooting about two weeks ago and wasn't quite happy with my results. I knew I was flinching a lot with the rifle only being on a bipod and me using my hoodie as a rear bag on a bench. My groups averaged around 2.5" @ 100 yds

Today I was able to shoot of a bench but using a tripod and rear sandbag. With the Federal 150gr soft point shit I got around 3" at 100 yards groups.

Not entirely sure I wasn't moving the gun around. Sand bag's aren't noob-proof ya know...

With my Superformance 165gr SST's I'd place two in a 1" circle but have a flyer out left around 3".

I'm convinced that it's me.

So after getting pissed off I put a deer target out at 200 yds and aimed about 1" high.

First 3 shots of Superformance SST's ended up like this:

3" low, 2" left
2.5" low, 1.75" left
2" LOW, 1.25-1.5" left

Ok, so the Thundergods of shooting aren't with me today it seems. So I adjust (1dlick = .25 moa @ 100 yds) 6 clicks to the right.

Next volley of Superformance 165gr SST's are thus:

in a 3" kill circle on the deer target:

1.25" high, .75" right
.5" high, .5" right
.5" low, .75 ish right

Getting better but still not getting super tight clover leaf groups some guys get/claim on this forum.

Kinda pissing me off. Not sure if it's me or the gun but it's about a 2-moa with the idiot behind it currently.

Any advice here guys?

I know hand-loaded stuff is preferred but I want to shoot with and be proficient with good hunting ammo I can get commercially, hence the Superformance SST.
 
#3
Re: Disappointed with myself today

If you want to see what you and the rifle are really capable of, then get some top quality match ammo like FGMM or Black Hills in 168gr or 175gr. Your rifle should perform well with one of these, then you can work on checking what it can do with hunting ammo once you have gained some confidence and know what it and you are capable of.
 
#5
Re: Disappointed with myself today

3" groups were about all I could get out of the federal soft points when I went to zero my AAC-SD when I first got it too. Been shooting Southwest for awhile now and can get the clover leaf when I do my part.
 
#6
Re: Disappointed with myself today

Get some snap caps and practice with them. You can even have someone load your magazine with both snap caps and live rounds when you shoot. That way you can see if you're flinching or not.

Also my rifle is essentially the same barreled action as yours and hates the superformance.
 
#7
Re: Disappointed with myself today

Good ammo. Makes a world of difference, especially in hunting weight rifles.

Have what equates to a horror story of getting my cousin's .270 Win. to group at 100 yds. He'd been playing around with different ammo. We found what he needed.

Basically, he thought muzzle velocity was everything. Helped him learn better.
 
#12
Re: Disappointed with myself today

Superformance 178 match was a no go for me, not a hunting round, but was not nearly as good s FGGM 175's. Plus with primer blow outs, I had enough of it. Sold the boxes off once Hornady replaced them.
 
#13
Re: Disappointed with myself today

JelloStorm,

Determine a baseline with FGMM 168 or 175. If results are unsatisfactory, start eliminating variables.

If you are after a .308 hunting round, I'm getting < 0.5 MOA out of my GAP with Federal Premium (P308C). This ammo is loaded with Sierra GameKing 165 gr BTSP. As a comparison, FGMM 168 is < 0.4 MOA.

Kevin
 
#14
Re: Disappointed with myself today

The federal powershok 150 soft point shot 1 MOA from my stock savage. Totally possible your rifle doesnt like it, but it's nit "shit". Winchester super X is shit.

You need more practice. See my sig. It applies to factory ammo too.
 
#15
Re: Disappointed with myself today

Everyone is saying its the ammo but I have found that the SST's are very accurate. Your particular rifle may not like them but that doesn't mean they are shit.

I have found the Nosler Ballistic Tips to be very accurate as well. Nosler loads their own ammo now and you can also use the Winchester Bal Silver Tips. They are Nosler bullets if you didn't already know that.

ETA: I have also found the regular Hornady custom load shoots better than the superformance.
 
#16
Re: Disappointed with myself today

In addition to the solid comments above regarding better ammo like FGMM or Black Hills, I would also add for you to get yourself a decent rear bag (or similar) and see what you can do prone. You might be surprised how you do compared to shooting off a bench.
 
#17
Re: Disappointed with myself today

Why not shoot it off a benchrest and eliminate the variable of it being your flinch. Use a real rear bag instead of a hoodie or shoot prone. Do whatever it takes you steady your shot and look up the shooting tips if you haven't already. Good luck.
 
#18
Re: Disappointed with myself today

If you havent tried FGMM then thats the next step. The last variable to get down in a situation like this is youself. You can be a perfect marksman but if your ammo is shit, thats your limiting factor. If you try FGMM and cannot do sub MOA, then next I would have someone else shoot it.
 
#21
Re: Disappointed with myself today

I have 4 week old R700 SPS-V in .308 Win. I have a Harris LS in 9-13" and used a Caldwell rabbit ears rear bag. Using FGGM in 168gr, I printed 2 3-shot groups of 0.192" and 0.225". My handloads using 42.0 gr RL-15 and 168gr SMKs over CCI BR2 primers were all averaging between0.25"-0.475'. Whe I had larger groups I believe it was my technique, not the rifle. The tupperware stock has issues but the rifle works.

Keep working on it and try some different loads...the 12" twist should work well for 168gr up to 190gr at least.

BTW, FWIW, I've been shooting for 57 years and am a NRA rifle instructor. No magic there, but, at 15-16lbs free recoil, I don't flinch with a .308. I wouldn't say the same with a .375 H&H but...................

Good luck,

FH
 
#22
Re: Disappointed with myself today

Let a known shooter shoot it! That's my vote as well. Im sure you got a camcorder,set it up and watch yourself shoot. Or better yet have the "shooter" watch you. You need to find someone who has their crap together in your aera
 
#23
Re: Disappointed with myself today

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Good stuff - Hornady Superformance SST 165gr</div></div>

You don't know what is 'good stuff' until you find what works best in that rifle. Reloading makes it easy, the alternative is testing, (sometimes a lot of,) factory ammo.
 
#24
Re: Disappointed with myself today

Well im gonna say some other things that users seem to have missed. I mean at 100 yards its really not that difficult to get a good group even if your not a great shooter. Now I remember I went out to the range and was having very similar issues. I was getting really pissed to say the least. I figured I would call it a day, when putting my rifle away I realized that the bolt holding the bipod to the gun had come loose from shooting. So then I was assuming that the gun was jumping around all over the place. I also noticed once about how much tension I had on the action screws. Make sure they are torqued down properly. Try torquing them a little less or a little more and see how your groups fair then. I know every ammo will have a slight different zero to the next. but choose any decent ammo, check the gun for everything tight, and go shoot some more. I am sure it will get dialed in that way
 
#25
Re: Disappointed with myself today

I had the same problem with my SPS V, I thought it was me as well. Sent it off to a Smith to get the action trued, he shot it, and said it was the rifle. He sent the rifle back to remington and is building my new rifle on a brand new action.

I was using 168 Grain AMax and Hornady 177 HP Match, and was getting 2"-3" groups. Heck, even shot it from a lead sled and it continued.

Shortly there after, I cleaned the Snipers Hide Dot drill target with a .22 LR at 50 meters and posted a clover leaf in sight in, which was a big relief as I was worried it was me.

Buddy of mine was beside me when I was attempting to shoot the dot drill with the SPS V and smirked, you using buck shot in that thing? I thought that was hilarious outside of the money I knew it would end up costing me.
 
#26
Re: Disappointed with myself today

1 settel down and relax...it's all fun.

I recently had the same issue at the range. There were too many variables to exactly pinpoint the issue, Me, new reloads, stock swithcs, me...I suck, new scope, shifting winds, did I say me...cuz i suck, fouled bbl.

I was so pissed but I took stock in that I could call all the shots on the ones I knew were me.

Sometimes it's a combination of things and you have to eliminate all variables you an.

when you switch ammo, it may take a few rounds to have the gun settle in. I recommend patching out poweder and some of the copper. It's worked for me in my guns but other simply keep throwing bullets til it starts spreading rounds.

I'm starting over. Back to the original stock and cleaning the bbl as best I can (yea, I know don't say ). I know the gun is capable of .75 Moa or better so now it's back to finding a base line. I know what the bbl does from completely clean with several factory loads. So that's where I'll start.

If you're still having problems. Get someone else to shoot it. No use in wasting ammo. If the gun shoots with the other person you'll have your confidence in your rifle and it will force you to remember your marksmanship skills.
 
#27
Re: Disappointed with myself today

1) When it came out, Hornady Superformance became better known for its diagnonal vertical stringing than its super performance.

2) With a factory Remington, <span style="text-decoration: underline">you </span>are the quality control. If it doesn't shoot MOA, send it back. On the second try maybe they'll rebarrel it with a rifle that has a round chamber.
 
#31
Re: Disappointed with myself today

I think it's been said. But everyone has a bad day from time to time. Check everything again, including to be sure the scope didn't go south on you.
 
#32
Re: Disappointed with myself today

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: seanh</div><div class="ubbcode-body">which stock do you have? Is it free floated enough? Are your action screws properly torqued?
</div></div>

McMillan HTG stock sniper fill so it's solid.

Not sure on the action screws but they're on there. I don't have an inch/lb torque wrench.
 
#33
Re: Disappointed with myself today

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Radar86</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think it's been said. But everyone has a bad day from time to time. Check everything again, including to be sure the scope didn't go south on you.

</div></div>

Scope tracks correctly. Every adjustment put the rounds where they should be. I'm sure it was either just me, or a combination of me and ammo.
 
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