Frustrating!

[Splat]

I tried finding a hunting load for my AIAT 308 with 168gr Barnes TTSX using Varget. Since it's for hunting I used once fired LC MACHINE GUN brass (I'm thinking this is one of my issues). I have a LOT of freebore in my AT so I loaded these to 2.930" using a Forster Ultra Micrometer seating die. That is still .07" from lands. I checked with a comparator and I'd have to seat to 3.00" to touch lands with these bullets. I loaded the following charges:
42.6, 43.0, 43.4, 43.8, 44.2, 44.6, 44.9.
I found two nodes that produced best groups but they were 1.025" groups with 42.6gr and 44.6gr. I'm used to tighter groups!

My questions are: should I rework the load with the fire formed LC brass (Neck size with collet die) or Lapua brass first or should I play with seating depth depth first? Or scrap the Barnes and go to Accubonds... I love the terminal ballistics on these TTSX but I have to be able to hit 'em first! I have 4 shooting lanes that go from 175 yards to 800+ yards. I probably wouldn't take a shot past 400 yards... Lol


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[dauntedfuture]

I have to assume that you are shooting at 100 YDS. I also have to assume you are shooting 3 or 5 round groups; a 10 round group would show you a much more realistic idea of how that load shoots along with some chronograph data. 1.025 is close enough to call it 1 MOA, or 4" at 400 yds which is plenty accurate enough I should think for a deer. These are hunting bullets; they are not match bullets. Experience tells me that even in my match rifles SP, and Sierra gameking bullets just don't shoot at well at BTHP match bullets. I understand the limitations of the bullets and the intended application. More specifically your brass; almost any factory brass or NEW unfired LC brass will be better. You can weight sort, uniform, neck turn etc. LC brass all you want and it will be OK but still have a smaller internal volume then most any other brass will. LC brass is also not that uniform nor concentric. IF you tried the same load in commercial cases it is POSSIBLE that you will reduce your groups by a SMALL margin. I think your limiting factor is your bullets and at the end of the day your rifle. At the end of the day your rifle has a factory barrel with lots of freebore from what you say. For what its worth, for my 1000yd competition guns, a 2" 10 shot group at 200 yds with under 25 FPS is my goal. There is a big difference between a 3 and 10 shot group and rather then wear my barrel out testing and testing and testing, I go and shoot.

 

[Splat]

I was shooting 100 yards but I only shot 4 rounds. I was going to do the OCW test but did the ladder testing instead and I usually shoot 5 rounds for ladder testing. My SD's using MagnetoSpeed were 8.3 with the 42.6 load and 9.0 with the 44.2 load. Best SD was 3.8 with the 44.9gr load but the group was 1.071" with a flyer.


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[CharlieNC]

I have found major improvement using fire-formed LC brass; and like the Lee collect neck size too (assuming the case still fits the chamber). I was pulling out my long-gone hair doing load development until I got to that point after initially FL sizing the LC. Try collect sizing first, then switch bullets if you're not satisfied.

 

[culater]

scrap the brass and go lapua and weigh the barns bullets to see any differance. Go with accubond I think your rifle will like it.

 

[bkw1911]

I'm surprised you were able to resize the machine gun brass to begin with. That stuff can be very out of spec. I'd try new brass then try different powder if you're dead set on the barnes.

 

[Splat]

It took A LOT of work to get it sized. Several stuck cases and 500 pieces later and it was done. I planned on using it my DPMS 308 but I figured I'd give it a try in my AI for hunting rounds.


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[MarinePMI]

It took A LOT of work to get it sized. Several stuck cases and 500 pieces later and it was done. I planned on using it my DPMS 308 but I figured I'd give it a try in my AI for hunting rounds.


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Imperial sizing wax and a small base die will fix this.

 

[Splat]

Imperial sizing wax and a small base die will fix this.

Exactly what I did. Now that I've fire formed some to my gun, I'm hoping it will be more accurate. Ill rest some with Lapua and fire formed LC.


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[STLSteve86]

Frustrating!

Barns tsx are one bad ass bullet. I've never seen a deer drop so fast in my life.


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