I have been piecing this together since September 11, 2010. I started with a Remington 700 SPS Varmint in .308win. It has a SWFA SS10x42 mounted in Burris XTR low rings on a Weaver 20moa extended tactical rail. I then bought the Harris 1A2 bipod. The stock was next to go, being replaced by a Bell and Carlson Tacical Medalist A2. The finishing touch was an Eagle Industries stock pack.
For two months, I have been trying to find a manufactured load that I really liked that I could find without looking to hard, or breaking the bank.
My first look was PRVI PPU Match 168grn bthp. Now, at $15/20rnds, I did not expect "Match" grade accuracy with this, and that is exactly what I got. At 100yds, my best group managed around 3in. For my first trigger pulls, it was good, but not what I hoped for. Either way, I felt it was good enough ammo to get the rifle broke in. I fired two boxes of it.
My next choice was Hornady 168grn A-Max Match ammo. My first time out, I got excited about this stuff as I bought 3 boxes of it from Midway for $19/20rnds on sale(about 4 months ago). To me, it just looks good sitting in the plastic ammo tray it comes it. And I was not let down. Granted, my first shooting with it was around 2.5in, but I was still impressed.
My third choice was what most consider the "Gold Standard" of .308win, Federam Gold Medal Match 168grn bthp. I found it for $24.99 at the local Academy and figured I'd give it a try. Now, I know not every rifle will like the exact same ammo, I accept that. But this stuff seemed to group a little larged than the Hornady. I was a little let down, but would not let one range trip have me ruling it out for good.
So, today I took it all to the range again. I shot 5rnds of all three, at 100yds, in about 100 degree Texas heat. As expected, the PRVI shot like crap. A good break in or having fun round, but not a "match" round by any stretch of the word. Then came the Hornady, followed by the FGMM. I didn't walk to my target after every group as I wanted to be a little more suprised from the results(although I could tell pretty good just through the scope what it looked like).
When I got downrane, I was suprised to see that the Hornady grouped better than the FGMM. With exception to my pulled(and called) first shot, the Hornady all grouped inside the bullseye. I couldn't get the FGMM to all hit. Needless to say, I have found my ammo.
My goal for the day, aside from finding "my ammo", was to practice on my marksmanship basics. If I were to do anything else to it, I would probably have the trigger replaced with something aftermarket. It currently wears the X-mark Pro trigger, and while it works well, I'm sure a better trigger would tighten the groups up a little better.
So, for those of you beginners out there just like me, as you see good accuracy can be had from a stock rifle. I did NOT modify the trigger, bolt, chamber, or barrel. Everything that sits on the rifle was all put on by me, torgued to all the right specs. The scope base was bedded according to the presentation made on www.8541tactical.com.
And now for the good stuff:
Hornady 168grn A-Max Match
FGMM 168grn bthp
For two months, I have been trying to find a manufactured load that I really liked that I could find without looking to hard, or breaking the bank.
My first look was PRVI PPU Match 168grn bthp. Now, at $15/20rnds, I did not expect "Match" grade accuracy with this, and that is exactly what I got. At 100yds, my best group managed around 3in. For my first trigger pulls, it was good, but not what I hoped for. Either way, I felt it was good enough ammo to get the rifle broke in. I fired two boxes of it.
My next choice was Hornady 168grn A-Max Match ammo. My first time out, I got excited about this stuff as I bought 3 boxes of it from Midway for $19/20rnds on sale(about 4 months ago). To me, it just looks good sitting in the plastic ammo tray it comes it. And I was not let down. Granted, my first shooting with it was around 2.5in, but I was still impressed.
My third choice was what most consider the "Gold Standard" of .308win, Federam Gold Medal Match 168grn bthp. I found it for $24.99 at the local Academy and figured I'd give it a try. Now, I know not every rifle will like the exact same ammo, I accept that. But this stuff seemed to group a little larged than the Hornady. I was a little let down, but would not let one range trip have me ruling it out for good.
So, today I took it all to the range again. I shot 5rnds of all three, at 100yds, in about 100 degree Texas heat. As expected, the PRVI shot like crap. A good break in or having fun round, but not a "match" round by any stretch of the word. Then came the Hornady, followed by the FGMM. I didn't walk to my target after every group as I wanted to be a little more suprised from the results(although I could tell pretty good just through the scope what it looked like).
When I got downrane, I was suprised to see that the Hornady grouped better than the FGMM. With exception to my pulled(and called) first shot, the Hornady all grouped inside the bullseye. I couldn't get the FGMM to all hit. Needless to say, I have found my ammo.
My goal for the day, aside from finding "my ammo", was to practice on my marksmanship basics. If I were to do anything else to it, I would probably have the trigger replaced with something aftermarket. It currently wears the X-mark Pro trigger, and while it works well, I'm sure a better trigger would tighten the groups up a little better.
So, for those of you beginners out there just like me, as you see good accuracy can be had from a stock rifle. I did NOT modify the trigger, bolt, chamber, or barrel. Everything that sits on the rifle was all put on by me, torgued to all the right specs. The scope base was bedded according to the presentation made on www.8541tactical.com.
And now for the good stuff:
Hornady 168grn A-Max Match
FGMM 168grn bthp
