I just purchased a vangaurd in 7mm-08, now just wondering if any suggestions on what ammo to start with,yes I know every gun/ammo shoots differently but with the cost of ammo just looking for a starting point.I'll probaly pick up a box of cheap federals for barrel break in after that looking for a decent MOA
7mm-08 ammo
- Thread starter Pinchedfinger
- Start date
Alberta Bigbore
CGN Regular
- Location
- Edmonton, Alberta
Buy a box of nosler, whitetail country.Is the cheapest around just over $40 to break in your gun?And if it's just meant to be a deer gun and it shoots a really well.Use that
I tried the Nosler WT Country in my new Winchester XPR 7mmx08, they were very hard to chamber. I now reload and don’t have that issue. I think the problem was a tight chamber in the XPR and maximum length cartridges. The XPRs are known to have tight chambers. My Vanguard in 308, has never had the same issue with any ammo, but have not tried WT Country in it.
The Nosler brass is nice to reload.
Tallcooldrink
Member
- Location
- Riding the wild, wild West, baby!
I would say the Hornady Whitetail 139 gr, is a decent starting point. That’s what worked for me getting everything dialed. And didn’t break the bank either.
Pinchedfinger, it's been my personal experience, with every Vanguard I've owned or helped with, "they need all the help they can get."
I'm a bit of an accuracy freak, so my expectations of a rifle may be different from those you expect.
I have yet to see an off the shelf Vanguard shoot factory ammo into consistent groups under 1.5 inches at 100yds. Most of them are 2 inch rifles.
With a bit of tweaking to the trigger and bedding, and good glass, you might be able to get it to shoot consistently into 1.5 or slightly less.
If you hand load for it, maybe, and that's a big maybe, an inch.
I'm sure there is the odd "unicorn" out there, or so the owners will claim, but they're few and far between.
I don't "break in" barrels, neither do a lot of other folks, but some swear by it, with little or no proof, other than they got used to the rifle while they were "breaking in the bore."
If you do start with "cheap" Federal ammo, which really isn't all that cheap, or poor quality, and it shoots well, stick with it.
Premium ammo doesn't always shoot better than "cheap" ammo, but it usually has better bullets, with consistent powder charges.
There isn't a lot of "bullet selection" when purchasing off the self ammo, if you can find flat base, spire point bullets, your rifle will very likely shoot them well enough to hunt Deer size game with out to 300yds.
I'm a bit of an accuracy freak, so my expectations of a rifle may be different from those you expect.
I have yet to see an off the shelf Vanguard shoot factory ammo into consistent groups under 1.5 inches at 100yds. Most of them are 2 inch rifles.
With a bit of tweaking to the trigger and bedding, and good glass, you might be able to get it to shoot consistently into 1.5 or slightly less.
If you hand load for it, maybe, and that's a big maybe, an inch.
I'm sure there is the odd "unicorn" out there, or so the owners will claim, but they're few and far between.
I don't "break in" barrels, neither do a lot of other folks, but some swear by it, with little or no proof, other than they got used to the rifle while they were "breaking in the bore."
If you do start with "cheap" Federal ammo, which really isn't all that cheap, or poor quality, and it shoots well, stick with it.
Premium ammo doesn't always shoot better than "cheap" ammo, but it usually has better bullets, with consistent powder charges.
There isn't a lot of "bullet selection" when purchasing off the self ammo, if you can find flat base, spire point bullets, your rifle will very likely shoot them well enough to hunt Deer size game with out to 300yds.
^ I must’ve had one of those unicorns with the VG2 in 300Wby I had.
Consistent 1” groups with Horandy 200gr ELDX’s. Original owner supplied some reloading info at time of my purchase and said it would tighten up with those loads, but I never felt the need to go beyond factory ammo.
Consistent 1” groups with Horandy 200gr ELDX’s. Original owner supplied some reloading info at time of my purchase and said it would tighten up with those loads, but I never felt the need to go beyond factory ammo.
Aha, so it’s not just me that’s had trouble getting vanguards to shoot well. And all along I thought it was cuz I bought used and so inadvertently got the ones people were selling cuz they didn’t shoot well.
I dont take photos of groupings for the sheer pleasure of posting them online to stroke my ego in front of others… (not you, just in general).
Not sure where or when online that became a thing to justify ones or the rifles abilities really. Most of us regulars have been on CGN here a long time, it should be taken at face if someone of that duration states Sub or MOA accuracy from a model/make.
Having said that, if I’m selling and the potential purchaser requests some sort of photographic validation, I will gladly make my way to the range and get some for them.
It could be both? Lol
So, you got a unicorn, and now everyone must have one?????
I could care less about photos on the internet or even a cell phone. I've seen so many 25 yard groups touted as being 100+ yards, I only believe it if I'm there or the target is witnessed and signed. Then of course there are the "one off" bragging targets. The list goes on.
Like I said, there will be unicorns but they most certainly aren't the norm, and if you have one, and the rifle is doing what you want it to do, keep it.
I'm willing to bet the fellow you purchased it from did some tweeking to get it consistent.
Good on you for having a Unicorn.
Good gawd man, you carry on like you are some sort of omnipotent gun guru.
I’ve had plenty of Vanguard’s and Howa’s that shoot as good as any Tikka or Remchester’s I’ve had.
Your condescending replies do not better the community.
Haha, yup that’s occurred to me as well
If you say so.
