Range Report my rifle doesnt like 155eld

[stork23raz]

So still run a 700-308. In a couple years I hope to move over to 6.5 but for now this is where I'm at. So no 308 bashing please.

anyway I normally shoot FGMM 168. The gun shoots 175smk well, but 168 better, and the furthest I get to shoot at home is just little over 600 yards.
I've tried 168 amax before and they didn't do great. Barrel is 1:12 twist . So I seen Hornady now has 155 ELD. I thought well that might be a better option, faster, flatter, and higher BC. So I bought 2 boxes to try out.
First I shot a little at 100 to see where my point of impact was.
So far so good,

Next stepped out to 304. shot few 3 shot groups, this was average size.

Now im getting a little worried, as this was the average group size. I was getting.

So next I go out to 526, Before I shot paper, I shot at 8" steel and never could hit so switched to cardboard to find where I was hitting.
shot some 5 shot groups. , this was typical,


I this box had some bullet fragments shatter where I sat it over my steel target.
If you full view the pic you can see where I circled in red the holes.
At this point I was really starting to worry that it wasn't the ammo, it was me or the gun. I've never had any ammo in this gun shoot so poorly. So I ran back into the house got my go to ammo FGMM 168smk. dialed back to 304,

looks typical for me and my gun.
go back to 526, but with 168smk.
this time I'm aiming at the square on the top left
.

So my gun really doesn't like the 155eld. to bad. OH well.

 

[fdkay]

Is it still shooting the 168 smk's ok?
Some chambers/barrels just don't like the Hornady profile.

 

[stork23raz]

Is it still shooting the 168 smk's ok?
Some chambers/barrels just don't like the Hornady profile.

Yep. 168 smk still doing great. So ill just keep buying them. This is the first new round I've tried in about 3 years. So I figure Ill just stick with the 168s for rest this barrel. They do all I need, its just sometimes the grass looks greener over there and you wanna try something new

 

[bfglowkey]

Could also be the factory powder/charge doesn't line up with your rifle. That's not uncommon

 

[stork23raz]

Yea, its just interesting results.

 

[grego88]

Interesting you posted this....I tried Hornady 168gr ELD's in my 700 today and they did terrible. One group was nearly 2 inches at 100 yds...it was probably the worst group my rifle has shot yet. Normally I shoot Hornady's match 168's (non ELD) and can usually manage .75" if I do everything right on my part. Think I'm going to sort the rest out based off weight and length from the from the ogive, then once they are gone make the switch to SMKs.

 

[MCSO1357]

Most of the 308 chambered rifles that I’ve had didn’t like any 155 gr. bullet, also haven’t had much luck with Hornady offerings as well..best loads were Sierra Match offerings in 175gr and Berger 185gr Juggernauts..I don’t think 1-12” twist rate will stabilize the 185’s though.

 

[Nintendo64]

Yeah my 308 won’t shoot 155 elds either but it loves 155 Nosler custom competition. Really that’s interesting the 185 juggernauts did fine for me in my 1/12 twist but I have a longer 27” barrel.

 

[MCSO1357]

Yeah my 308 won’t shoot 155 elds either but it loves 155 Nosler custom competition. Really that’s interesting the 185 juggernauts did fine for me in my 1/12 twist but I have a longer 27” barrel.

I could be mistaken on the twist for the 185’s...they were phenomenal in my 24” barrel with 1-11.25” twist.

 

[captainemil]

That looks like my targets, a few weeks back I was trying out some 220 ELD s in my 300 win mag, they did not want to work for me, the 210 vld works great

 

[OLD308]

If your set on running 155 look at the Sceaners from Lapua. Or the Serria 155. I was always of the opinion that a quality rifle given enough time would make any bullet with in reason work. The ELDXs are starting to make we wonder. Not giving up yet, but your not the only one struggling with load development via ELDX.