Seeking input on accuracy expectations on a Proof carbon prefit barrel for 300 PRC

[Deleted member 115591]

Hello all,

Put together my rifle a couple of months back. Specs are as follows:

Bighorn TL3 LA
MDT ACC chassis
Triggertech diamond 2 stage
Area 419 hellfire brake
Proof Research carbon prefit barrel chambered in 300 prc (26" with 1:9 twist).

The issue I have been having is that I cannot get it to group. I shot it with my reloads (225 eld-m, ADG brass, 75 grain of H1000). Groups I was getting was around 1.5" to 3" at 100 yards.

I reached out to Proof and they responded by saying that I they do not guarantee anything with handloads. This led me to go on a long search for factory ammo.

I was able to locate two boxes of Hornady 225 ELDM factory ammo and took it to the range today. Results were exactly the same. Cannot get anything better than 1.5" at 100 yards.

So I was wondering if this kind of accuracy is to be expected? I really hope not as it would be kind of disappointing to have a brand such as Proof do so badly in accuracy.

Any input will be greatly appreciated!

P.S., everything was torqued to spec and double/tripple checked. Action screws, scope mounting screws, scope rail screws, and barrel.

 

[PinesAndProjectiles]

Who chambered the barrel?

 

[Dave62677]

Who chambered the barrel?

Title said proof prefit

 

[PinesAndProjectiles]

Title said proof prefit

Well, there’s Bartlein prefits also but that doesn’t mean Bartlein chambered them.

Regardless, now that The OP has shot factory ammo, what has Proof said about their barrel?

 

[nn8734]

Did you perform any load development on this barrel or was the load recipe in your OP simply ported over from another 300prc (or something you pulled off the net/got from someone else)?

The four Proof prefit barrels I’ve owned all shot lights out with minimal load development.

 

[Steel head]

I’d try another bullet or possibly powder.
Some barrels just hate certain bullets or powder combinations.

 

[Potsy]

Scope puke?

 

[Deleted member 115591]

Well, there’s Bartlein prefits also but that doesn’t mean Bartlein chambered them.

Regardless, now that The OP has shot factory ammo, what has Proof said about their barrel?

Havent reached out to Proof yet... Wanting to get some input as to expected accuracy before I reach out to them.

 

[Deleted member 115591]

Did you perform any load development on this barrel or was the load recipe in your OP simply ported over from another 300prc (or something you pulled off the net/got from someone else)?

The four Proof prefit barrels I’ve owned all shot lights out with minimal load development.

When I was trying it with my handloads, I was getting the same types of groups (no less than 1.5") with H1000 and RL26, various powder charges and seating depth. Really difficult for me to do load development given the groups I was getting, so I gave up and tried some factory rounds.

 

[nn8734]

When I was trying it with my handloads, I was getting the same types of groups (no less than 1.5") with H1000 and RL26, various powder charges and seating depth. Really difficult for me to do load development given the groups I was getting, so I gave up and tried some factory rounds.

What about different bullets? You try any others?

 

[AllenOne1]

How are you shooting these groups, bipod and rear bag, standing free hand, front bag no rear bag, etc.? Not to sound demeaning but how well can you shoot, what is the smallest group you have shot and with what?

 

[theLBC]

how many rounds down the pipe so far?

 

[Deleted member 115591]

What about different bullets? You try any others?

Tried some 230gr A-tips, no improvement.

 

[nn8734]

Tried some 130gr A-tips, no improvement.

130? Do you mean 230?

 

[Deleted member 115591]

How are you shooting these groups, bipod and rear bag, standing free hand, front bag no rear bag, etc.? Not to sound demeaning but how well can you shoot, what is the smallest group you have shot and with what?

Front bipod, rear bag. I would say average shooter. Can consistently shoot .5 to .75 inch groups. Some times when I am luck, I can get .25. Shot mainly 6.5cm. But can do about .5ish with my friends larger magnums (338 and 300 norma).

 

[Deleted member 115591]

130? Do you mean 230?

lol, sorry, I do mean 230 atips

 

[Deleted member 115591]

how many rounds down the pipe so far

135 as of this morning.

 

[AllenOne1]

Front bipod, rear bag. I would say average shooter. Can consistently shoot .5 to .75 inch groups. Some times when I am luck, I can get .25. Shot mainly 6.5cm. But can do about .5ish with my friends larger magnums (338 and 300 norma).

You better get Proof on the phone, I'm not going to say it's the barrel but you have something that is not working correctly. Your combination of parts listed sounds solid enough to get you to 1/2 MOA with little issue normally.

 

[Hawk in WY]

I have multiple Proof CF barrels, some Proof prefits, some blanks chambered by Long Rifles Inc. Both shoot equally well.

All shoot half moa or better without much load development.

Could be a bad barrel but more likely a combination of recoil management and parallax/cheek weld. Do the following:

Clean the barrel. Start the bullet .02 off the lands. I have had good results with both H1000 and RL-26 with 200-grain class bullets in the 300 PRC.

Dial out any parallax. That alone could account for half the group size. Make sure your cheek weld is the same every time.

Experiment with your hold. Some rifles like to free recoil, some like to be held down. The 300 PRC is recoiling before the bullet has left the barrel. You cannot let the rifle get away from you. Follow through. You need a solid front rest to shoot good groups. That should take out some of the vertical.

Hope that helps.

Good luck.

 

[Deleted member 115591]

I have multiple Proof CF barrels, some Proof prefits, some blanks chambered by Long Rifles Inc. Both shoot equally well.

All shoot half moa or better without much load development.

Could be a bad barrel but more likely a combination of recoil management and parallax/cheek weld. Do the following:

Clean the barrel. Start the bullet .02 off the lands. I have had good results with both H1000 and RL-26 with 200-grain class bullets in the 300 PRC.

Dial out any parallax. That alone could account for half the group size. Make sure your cheek weld is the same every time.

Experiment with your hold. Some rifles like to free recoil, some like to be held down. The 300 PRC is recoiling before the bullet has left the barrel. You cannot let the rifle get away from you. Follow through. You need a solid front rest to shoot good groups. That should take out some of the vertical.

Hope that helps.

Good luck.

Thanks for the input Hawk. Will try shooting the rifle with a front rest. I will also double check my parralax but I don't think that is the issue as I always check my parralax when I first get behind a rifle.

 

[Ledzep]

While it's hardly "standard", I've seen a barrel or two (Proof carbon wrapped) that never really tamed down. The vast majority shoot very well, but occasionally a wild child makes it through. All in all, fairly understandable considering what's going into manufacturing them, and I will still vouch that Proof is the best thing going for carbon wrapped barrels.

I'd do a sanity double check, if I were you. Make sure everything is in order, and if nothing (factory stuff included) shoots better than 1.5 MOA give Proof another call.

 

[Georgedubya]

I have a proof Desert tech barrel chambered by SAC and it does not shoot factory 300 prc well. Probably about 1.5 moa. I attribute this 100% to the ammo, which has given some of my buddies trouble as well. I am not a hand loader but understand that you should be able to get that to work. Wish I could help.

 

[acudaowner]

keep your hopes and expectations high

 

[Deleted member 115591]

Was told by Proof to try lighter weight bullets...

Gonna see if I can bum a few 185s from a buddy of mine and try that out.

 

[Dave62677]

I will be piss if my barrel only limited to bullet weight that is not optimize in that caliber.

 

[Rebel Rooster]

Not a 300 prc, but my son has no problem shooting .5 moa with his proof 6 creed barrel with hornady factory ammo. I do know that atips like quite a bit of jump, but you said you tried factory as well and that was a no go. If you are completely sure your fundamentals are on point, you should be trying to get something done about that barrel.

 

[Deleted member 115591]

Thanks for the input guys.

Spoke to John at Proof, he had asked me to send the barrel back to them.

They are going to find out if its the barrel or maybe the idiot behind the barrel.

 

[Awesymoto]

Thanks for the input guys.

Spoke to John at Proof, he had asked me to send the barrel back to them.

They are going to find out if its the barrel or maybe the idiot behind the barrel.

Any news?

 

[Deleted member 115591]

Any news?

They tested the barrel for me and said it shot well, so they sent it back to me.

I installed it back in my action and chassis, still shooting poorly.

Only difference I saw was that they were using a stock and not chassis when they did their testing.

 

[4O6shootist]

Don't know if this was covered, but check scope rail trq, all optical attachments, ensure muzzle device is snug, orntry groups without muzzle attachment. One thing I've heard and experienced with magnums in a chassis, they do benefit from bedding the recoil lug, I always torque chassis screws to 65" # and then go a lil more. Just cuz it's a 700 clone action into a 700 inlet chassis doesn't always mean the lug is flush against the recoil lug area in the chassis. I had a 300 norma imp that shot lights out in the bedded manners eh1, dropped it into an xlr magnesium long action chassis and groups opened up. Sold the chassis. Buddy of mine who purchased, bedded his action in at the lug and it shot satisfactory. He was using 300wm.