Modern Varminter - another range report UPDATED POST 61, better groups

[ianfroese]

While I couldn't find any high quality ammunition in Brandon, I decided today was a beautiful day to shoot, so off I went with my modern varmint to shoot some PMC 55 gr, just to see what happens. My first 3 groups were terrible, again (between 2.0-2.7" @ 100m). So I say screw it, I'm taking the nightforce off, let see how the Sightron does. Now would you believe my trouble all along was a Nightforce scope? With the Sightron, five groups of 5 shots, and my biggest group was 1.85", and smallest was 1.22". The five group average was 1.65", or 1.44 moa. That's as good or better than I've ever shot my Swiss with El cheapo ammo.

What's the lesson? Maybe I shouldn't rag on a gun until I've eliminated all variables (though really, who expects a NF to be the weak link??). I liked this gun before, now I love this gun, and it will absolutely be my go to Varmint killer. I'm really looking forward to driving some match ammo down range once I can get my hands on some. Thanks to everyone who gave suggestions throughout this thread, and thanks to ATRS Shaun for suggesting trying a different scope!

 

[emerson]

While I couldn't find any high quality ammunition in Brandon, I decided today was a beautiful day to shoot, so off I went with my modern varmint to shoot some PMC 55 gr, just to see what happens. My first 3 groups were terrible, again (between 2.0-2.7" @ 100m). So I say screw it, I'm taking the nightforce off, let see how the Sightron does. Now would you believe my trouble all along was a Nightforce scope? With the Sightron, five groups of 5 shots, and my biggest group was 1.85", and smallest was 1.22". The five group average was 1.65", or 1.44 moa. That's as good or better than I've ever shot my Swiss with El cheapo ammo.

What's the lesson? Maybe I shouldn't rag on a gun until I've eliminated all variables (though really, who expects a NF to be the weak link??). I liked this gun before, now I love this gun, and it will absolutely be my go to Varmint killer. I'm really looking forward to driving some match ammo down range once I can get my hands on some. Thanks to everyone who gave suggestions throughout this thread, and thanks to ATRS Shaun for suggesting trying a different scope!

Thanks for the update. Many of us read these these threads(ATRS stuff) and try to separate the sound data from shiller/frag-fest exchanges.

 

[beltfed]

I wouldn't be so quick to blame the Nightforce. I would say that you as a shooter might need to educate yourself on shooting with a scope that has a fixed parallax which is what the NXS 2.5-10 has.

 

[ianfroese]

I wouldn't be so quick to blame the Nightforce. I would say that you as a shooter might need to educate yourself on shooting with a scope that has a fixed parallax which is what the NXS 2.5-10 has.

Could be. Though I've shot many scopes, from fixed parallax, to AO, to side adjustment, with over half being fixed parallax. That's not to say there isn't something I can learn yet, but I would say I'm not a newbie to different types of scopes.

Anyways, the point was that once I switched scopes, my shooting improved, for whatever reason.

Thanks for the update. Many of us read these these threads(ATRS stuff) and try to separate the sound data from shiller/frag-fest exchanges.

I agree, it can be hard to find accurate results when people have egos and so much money invested into their guns.

No one should take too much from my reviews. I am basically an average/below average shooter shooting a nice gun and seeing what happens.

In the end I'm happy with my results.

 

[CAD]

Happy you are happy.

BTW the more reading I do on that Super performance hornady 75gr ammo, the less surprised I am at the results you and I got. Mine was grouping near what I can do with IMI m855!

Not out of an ATRS

 

[ianfroese]

Happy you are happy.

BTW the more reading I do on that Super performance hornady 75gr ammo, the less surprised I am at the results you and I got. Mine was grouping near what I can do with IMI m855!

Not out of an ATRS

That's interesting to hear. I've had pretty good results in the past with the 53 gr stuff, but really had never used the 75gr. I guess it really isn't anything special.

Anyways, I have some hand rolled loads ready to go, just need to find the time to group them!

 

[redshooter]

Hornady 75gr Match projectiles are good value, I can get them to shoot pretty well out of my HBAR. They are not the subject to the same rigid specs as Sierra's, but the are half the cost and still work. One more time, unless the load is tailored to the rifle there is no guarantee it will perform...that applies to any factory ammo.