LR308, where to go for better accuracy?

[mason.ostrom]

Ive got an LR 308 that I have upgraded over the past several years. Specs are as follows:
DPMS upper, lower and bcg
Blackhole weaponry 16" barrel, mid gas heavy profile
superlative arms adjustable gas block
timney trigger
magpul acs stock
troy alpha handguard

the rifle is reasonably accurate averaging about 1 MOA at 100yds groups open up at longer ranges, but I don't have issues hitting a 2/3 silhouette at 550yds.
I would like to work on getting this rifle more accurate. Where would my money be best spent? I'm considering a new barrel like a criterion, a rainier arms match, or a proof ss barrel. Other options are a new trigger. The Timney I have is old and has gotten a bit mushy. I love the trigger tech I put in my AR15 and would switch to another one of those. Last, I've consider getting a pj scs. I just replaced the buffer spring and buffer, and I'm running the adjustable gas block low enough that the rifle just cycles with my silencerco specwar on. One click lower on the gas block and I occasionally get a failure to completely cycle. All this to say that I don't know how much the scs will do for me.
So what do you guys think? Where should I look to improve accuracy? Thank everyone for you're help!
Mason

 

[Forward543]

Barrel. 90% is in the barrel.then ammunition. If you dont handload, start. it is alot more cost effective to get ammo that is consistent.

 

[L.R.Novice]

You didn't mention what ammo you are shooting or how you are positioned. If you're shooting basic ammo with the handguard sitting on a block of wood and the butt stock floating then 1 MOA is excellent.

Ammo is key. I've seen groups cut in half just going from decent ammo to match ammo. Federal Gold Medal Match is reasonably priced and works in almost everything.

Then I would get a fixed stock with a higher comb and flat bottom. You need to be much more attentive to position and recoil management with a collapsible stock. Even though the ACS has the lock it still has some wobble. I recommend the PRS, rigid, adjustable and rides a bag like a dream.

Then if needed get a barrel. Something with a pedigree (Shilen, Bartlein...). My guess is that if you aren't already doing the first two suggestions then you'll be just fine with the barrel you have.

 

[Kopfjager1]

Just to piggy back off of L.R. Novice; What optic and mount are you running?

My experience with BHW barrels is phenomenal. No need for a new barrel unless its towards the end of its life. But considering youre running a Superlative Arms gas block, I doubt your barrel has a high round count, unless its an old barrel and new gas block. BHW barrels are good, not the best, but what youre looking for, they will suffice. Quality match ammo is next.

As for the trigger, I was a huge fan of Geissele SSA-E (still am), but I made the switch to LaRue MBT, and will recommend those over a SSA-E. However, I wont recommend any other trigger other than those 2.

The SCS is not needed nor are the heavier buffers, since youre running an adjustable gas block. If you didnt have adj. gas block then yes the heavier buffers would be needed to slow down carrier speed.

 

[mason.ostrom]

I am an experienced handloader and do hand load for this rifle using 175 smks and imr 4064 to make a recipe that is very close, if not identical, to fgmm. I agree that a stock that fits well is an important part of accuracy. But can I expect an improvement in accuracy with a change in stocks that could potentially be as good of an improvement as a nicer barrel?

 

[L.R.Novice]

I am an experienced handloader and do hand load for this rifle using 175 smks and imr 4064 to make a recipe that is very close, if not identical, to fgmm. I agree that a stock that fits well is an important part of accuracy. But can I expect an improvement in accuracy with a change in stocks that could potentially be as good of an improvement as a nicer barrel?

It depends. If your barrel is decent then yes, you should be getting better than 1 MOA. If the barrel is holding you back then no, the stock won't overcome that. I recommend the stock because I have seen cheap barrels do better than 1 MOA with match/handloaded ammo. I've seen shooters struggle with collapsible stocks. They are difficult to get natural point of aim and follow through. You're always fighting the slop in the stock and the point contact on the rear bag.

They being said, form/position is key. Are you shooting prone or bench rest? Using bags or bipod? Good natural point of aim?

 

[padom]

I didn't have the best luck accuracy wise with 175smk/4064 in my AR10. I'm my 308 bolt gun the combo was deadly. I had the best accuracy in my AR10 with H4895 and Varget and the 175smk..


A barrel upgrade to something like a Bartlein, Kreiger, Rainier Ultramatch (shilen) would give you the accuracy your looking for.

 

[Strykervet]

Keep a good dope book and learn what conditions and ammo make changes. Ensure all is tight and in order. Fundamentals. I don't like adj. stocks but I do use the SOPMOD extensively, it has almost no to no slop. It's only one I'll use. B5's are nice but aren't generally as tight as the LMT model. A good cut rifle barrel will give you good groups, yeah, but I'd say first you need to find out the limitations of this weapon once you've removed all the variables you can.

I had a factory LR308, one of the first ones. It had a factory barrel and I could never get better than 1MOA so I sold it. My KAC will go under that and with tweaked ammo I bet it'll be good for .5 some day. I have a Satern barreled Grendel, it's a .33MOA rifle but good luck getting a Satern barrel unless he already has one for sale or you can find one you want from a vendor. The wait can go on for custom stuff, literally, forever.

 

[mason.ostrom]

I didn't have the best luck accuracy wise with 175smk/4064 in my AR10. I'm my 308 bolt gun the combo was deadly. I had the best accuracy in my AR10 with H4895 and Varget and the 175smk..


A barrel upgrade to something like a Bartlein, Kreiger, Rainier Ultramatch (shilen) would give you the accuracy your looking for.

So maybe I'll try some H4895 I. There and see what I Can get out of it.
Also, maybe I'll try a new stock too. 99% of my shooting is from prone from an atlas with a rear bag, or from field positions.

 

[8up]

Like all the great posts have already mentioned, they are spot on for a gasser 308. Find a good load, use it extensively. Yes, rifle set up does make a difference. You need a rear stock that will give you the best cheek height, is solid, and has enough area in the toe of the stock to ride bags or be supported. PRS comes to mind. A magpul ctr with the larue pod is a good combo if you want collapsed version.

Sounds like you already have a decent set up currently. Cannot stress enough of using the fundamentals correctly to drive it. Maybe just one small error in your fundamentals might be keeping your groups from where you want to be. Just a thought to consider.

 

[mason.ostrom]

I will admit that I am not the best gas gun shooter. I am much better with bolt guns. I have spent a lot of time this year shooting my gas guns and have improved significantly with my AR15 but am still looking for the same improvements with my 308. Thanks everyone for the help! Any other opinions, keep them coming.

 

[Ledzep]

A light crimp made pretty significant changes in my semi-auto accuracy. Bullets do slosh back and forth in the neck several thousandths of an inch both pushed back into the case (riding in the magazine under recoil) and back forward (inertial slam home). The crimp seems to cure that and in the example of my .223 SBR cut group size literally in half with no other changes made.

 

[brianf]

you also shooting a semi auto.
pay attention the the first and last shot (if you bolt stays open) of the mag, they act differently.
the first shot is not in the same exact chamber position because the bolt has been closed not slammed by gas.
the last shot with a bolt that stays open changes the recoil pulse, which throws shots off.
what is your accuracy target, a really good gas gun will hold .75MOA if you want a consistent 1/2MOA weapon go buy a bolt gun.
people will chime in that their gas gun will do 1/2" all day but let them show a 20 round aggregate like in a competition (not run around PRS).
and like said before, dump the stock and get one with adjustable cheek piece. or get a cheep pad and tape it on.
you can take some one that is a good shot, sight the rifle in while in prone position then have them move to a bench and the POI will differ by 1/2" @ 100 (or more if they do not have good form), just because of the new relationship between the cheek/eye/scope (take one shot, get up walk around..sit down..one shot..get up walk around..etc. do that 5 times in a row and see what happens)

 

[mason.ostrom]

Have you guys used the magpul M118LR mags that allow for a longer COAL? I picked up a couple at cabelas a few weeks ago and loaded some bullets using my normal load but at approx. 0.030 longer coal to fit the longer mag. This seems to have improved my groups slightly. I'm going to keep messing around with seating depth and see if I find a better COAL node.

 

[padom]

The Magpul M118LR only allow up to about 2.83" COAL. I haven't used Magpul mags in an AR10 in years. They collect dust on the shelf. I run KAC mags but you can also use Larue mags as well. They allow up to 2.871" COAL. Probably not necessary for guys running 308 AR10's with 175smk which like to be in the 2.805-2.81 range but 178 ELD-M maybe. Us 6.5cm AR10 guys running 140's make use of the KAC and Larue mags longer COAL over magpul.

 

[mason.ostrom]

Anyone have any ASC 308 mags? I did some reading that said that they allow as long of an oal as the larue and knights mags. Can anyone verify this?
***Edit*** I just went back and looked at ASC's website again and it says that the max internal length for their 308 mag is 2.865. Not quite as long as the Larue or KAC but at $14 a piece vs $75+ I'm going to give them a try and see if lengthening seating depth more improves accuracy any more.