Following much deliberation between a custom and the Steyr 08, I went with a custom. Steyr could not supply a rifle with a 30 inch barrel so it wouldn't suffice my needs.
Eventually I setup my FClass rifle with a tactical feel
Surgeon XL - 308win
Barrel 30inch 1.11
Jewel trigger -very light indeed
Manners stock with Choate cheekpiece
S&B 5-25, P4F illum. Metric
Third eye tac rings,
AI Mag +harris
Rifle built by Osprey Rifles - UK
I initially wanted to try the heavy ones 185s+ over a good dose of N550. my smith however suggested i try the 155.5 over a hefty dose of N540. I had weight sorted the Lapua brass in batches of 0.3 grains, neckturned the necks by 0.0005 to 0.015 just to make them concentric and primed with Federal GM210. Bullets seated with K&M arbor press and wilson dies. I like the fact that you can alter seating depth on the range, quick, easy and precise.
Taking his suggestion I measured the freebore of the rifle till the berger touched the lands. this measured 2.280. I setup to seat them 0.010 off the lands. I worked up loads in 0.5grn increments seeking to find the pressure limit. Started at 45.5 and loaded 3 rounds, 1 round at 46, another at 46.5 (seen at the top) and 3 at 47. the rifle seemed to shoot all of these in the same spot so I figured the 47grain load should be tested at 600yds. Loaded 6 of these and had a go. The chrono marked 18ft/s spread, not the smallest but its not a bad load.
first group out of this rifle at 100yds - encouraging 45.5grn
at the top 2 shots at 46 and 46.5, below are the 3 shots at 47
At this point I noticed no signs of pressure. The velocities quickload predicted were spot on 2911ft/s for 47grains of N540. this group at 600 measured 4.8inches in vertical. Not happy with this much vertical
Since this match the QL data, I had a go with 47.8 which would give me 2950. these were tried at 600 right away.
with a tad over 2.7 inches of vertical at 600 and a weekend of shooting approaching, I loaded 100 rounds. Looking back at my score cards, this load held an average of 3inches of vertical at 600 over 20 shots. I will play with the seating depth hopefully reducing vertical to 2 inches or thereabouts. All brass was sized with Forster FL sizing die in a portable harrel press, Sinclair mandrel used to expand the necks to 0.3065 giving ideal neck tension.
Would I change anything? not really, the Schmidt is abit on the heavy side compared to March or the sort but I love S&Bs, theyre durable and moreover I like the looks.
Having looked at a 12-50x56 with Sport fine reticle, I have started pondering on actually changing mine for it. I am half sure that with such high mag, my hold on target can be more precise to extract the full potential of the rifle. moreover since I click my windage, the reticle is not of much use. when the wind was gusting, i only held minor amounts using the target as reference. I reckon when you are trying to squeeze the accuracy potential of your rifle, everything counts.
Eventually I setup my FClass rifle with a tactical feel
Surgeon XL - 308win
Barrel 30inch 1.11
Jewel trigger -very light indeed
Manners stock with Choate cheekpiece
S&B 5-25, P4F illum. Metric
Third eye tac rings,
AI Mag +harris
Rifle built by Osprey Rifles - UK
I initially wanted to try the heavy ones 185s+ over a good dose of N550. my smith however suggested i try the 155.5 over a hefty dose of N540. I had weight sorted the Lapua brass in batches of 0.3 grains, neckturned the necks by 0.0005 to 0.015 just to make them concentric and primed with Federal GM210. Bullets seated with K&M arbor press and wilson dies. I like the fact that you can alter seating depth on the range, quick, easy and precise.
Taking his suggestion I measured the freebore of the rifle till the berger touched the lands. this measured 2.280. I setup to seat them 0.010 off the lands. I worked up loads in 0.5grn increments seeking to find the pressure limit. Started at 45.5 and loaded 3 rounds, 1 round at 46, another at 46.5 (seen at the top) and 3 at 47. the rifle seemed to shoot all of these in the same spot so I figured the 47grain load should be tested at 600yds. Loaded 6 of these and had a go. The chrono marked 18ft/s spread, not the smallest but its not a bad load.
first group out of this rifle at 100yds - encouraging 45.5grn
at the top 2 shots at 46 and 46.5, below are the 3 shots at 47
At this point I noticed no signs of pressure. The velocities quickload predicted were spot on 2911ft/s for 47grains of N540. this group at 600 measured 4.8inches in vertical. Not happy with this much vertical
Since this match the QL data, I had a go with 47.8 which would give me 2950. these were tried at 600 right away.
with a tad over 2.7 inches of vertical at 600 and a weekend of shooting approaching, I loaded 100 rounds. Looking back at my score cards, this load held an average of 3inches of vertical at 600 over 20 shots. I will play with the seating depth hopefully reducing vertical to 2 inches or thereabouts. All brass was sized with Forster FL sizing die in a portable harrel press, Sinclair mandrel used to expand the necks to 0.3065 giving ideal neck tension.
Would I change anything? not really, the Schmidt is abit on the heavy side compared to March or the sort but I love S&Bs, theyre durable and moreover I like the looks.
Having looked at a 12-50x56 with Sport fine reticle, I have started pondering on actually changing mine for it. I am half sure that with such high mag, my hold on target can be more precise to extract the full potential of the rifle. moreover since I click my windage, the reticle is not of much use. when the wind was gusting, i only held minor amounts using the target as reference. I reckon when you are trying to squeeze the accuracy potential of your rifle, everything counts.
