Range time with the Remington 700 AAC-SD 16.5" .308 PIC HEAVY

[driller212]

Hey guys,

Just thought I would share some of my first range experiences with my new AAC-SD. I am by no means a precision shooter, so keep that in mind with my groups and distances shot I am however trying to get into the game and get my shooting skills back up to par.

My setup:
I put a Vortex Viper 6.5-20 optic on Leupold dual dovetail bases with medium rings.

My first range trip with the rifle was fun but horrible at the same time. I had american eagle 150 grain FMJ rounds, and they shot like absolute crap (I probably didn't help any) and I could not get the rifle to group. I came armed and ready on my next range trip with some 168 grain hornady HPBT loaded with 42.5 grains of IMR4895. Finally I could get it to group decently. As you can see from the pics my rifle can shoot far better than I can ( I am working on that). The groups pictured are at 100yds. I did not photograph my 250 yard target as my groups were not very good (shooter error) and I only used it to calculate an approximate velocity for my reloads. My calculated Velocity averaged out to be 2510fps.







Hornady HPBT reloads


The bottom hits are from sighting in the rifle. Not a bad 5 shot group for me.

Another 5 round group but not very good

Last group of the day, not my best but definitely not my worst.
Most of the day was spent trying to get a decent group at 250 yds so I could get a good velocity estimate.

Overall I love this gun to death and will likely hunt with it this year. My shooting isn't anywhere near good yet, but if it was easy to shoot I don't think I would be as interested in it. I would like to stretch things out when my skills improve, and hopefully an introductory precision shooter course is in my future.

 

[ABlast81]

To help improve your groups even further I would bed the action. I have the 20" AAC-SD in .308 and found that before the bedding job my groups were similar but I had to have my front bag just in front of the magwell otherwise the stock would flex too much. Since the bedding job and lots of time behind it the groups get smaller and having the front bag way out helps with stability.

 

[Trinimon]

To help improve your groups even further I would bed the action. I have the 20" AAC-SD in .308 and found that before the bedding job my groups were similar but I had to have my front bag just in front of the magwell otherwise the stock would flex too much. Since the bedding job and lots of time behind it the groups get smaller and having the front bag way out helps with stability.

+1. After bedding and slowly testing out some handload bullet/powder combos, I'm shooting sub MOA groups now.

 

[ultimate_monkey]

ah good ol vic fish and game...


also shooting of those range rest things isnt helping you any get a good front rest or bipod and rear bag

i see your location is all over the place, shoot me a pm some time, i need a reason to pull out the glock and a range trip would do the trick


oh, and IIRC the further targets at VFGPA are 225-230 yards. not 250.. might help your velocity calculations

 

[driller212]

To help improve your groups even further I would bed the action. I have the 20" AAC-SD in .308 and found that before the bedding job my groups were similar but I had to have my front bag just in front of the magwell otherwise the stock would flex too much. Since the bedding job and lots of time behind it the groups get smaller and having the front bag way out helps with stability.

I see, well I may get that done sometime down the line. For now just load development and shooting practice.

ah good ol vic fish and game...


also shooting of those range rest things isnt helping you any get a good front rest or bipod and rear bag

i see your location is all over the place, shoot me a pm some time, i need a reason to pull out the glock and a range trip would do the trick


oh, and IIRC the further targets at VFGPA are 225-230 yards. not 250.. might help your velocity calculations

Ah I was unaware of that. That will help for sure.

So at 4.25 MOA down at 230yds, my calculation yields 2410fps. Maybe I will try 43.0 grains next time. Next time I am in AB I might go somewhere with some greater distances. I need to invest in a range finder.

 

[Soyoman1980]

I don't know if I'd bother bedding that Hogue stock. It's very flimsy, the weight of the barrel alone is enough to cause the stock to bend and touch the barrel eliminating your free-float. Which we all know screws with barrel harmonics. I have the 20" version myself and found I was better off investing in a stock with full length aluminum bedding. An HS Precision or Bell & Carlson stock would be your best, more affordable bet.

I ordered the B&C 2092-02 model myself $220, brought my groups in to sub-moa with that mod alone. Check out Red Hawk Rifles out of Colorado, they'll ship stocks up to Canada no problem, here's the link to the stock I bought http://www.redhawkrifles.com/products/tactical-stocks/2092-02-remington-700-sa-a2-stock-black. If you want to take it a step further after getting the new stock I would definitely suggest bedding, but ONLY with a stock worth doing it in.

Also as a side note, I find my 20" with that 1:10 twist really likes 180gr loads. I've personally been using Federal Power-Shock factory loaded 180gr and get sub-moa at 328y (300m). It may vary for others, everyone is different. But for factory ammo, that's pretty damn good in my books.

 

[supernova]

Does Redhawk ship USPS or just UPS?

I don't know if I'd bother bedding that Hogue stock. It's very flimsy, the weight of the barrel alone is enough to cause the stock to bend and touch the barrel eliminating your free-float. Which we all know screws with barrel harmonics. I have the 20" version myself and found I was better off investing in a stock with full length aluminum bedding. An HS Precision or Bell & Carlson stock would be your best, more affordable bet.

I ordered the B&C 2092-02 model myself $220, brought my groups in to sub-moa with that mod alone. Check out Red Hawk Rifles out of Colorado, they'll ship stocks up to Canada no problem, here's the link to the stock I bought http://www.redhawkrifles.com/products/tactical-stocks/2092-02-remington-700-sa-a2-stock-black. If you want to take it a step further after getting the new stock I would definitely suggest bedding, but ONLY with a stock worth doing it in.

Also as a side note, I find my 20" with that 1:10 twist really likes 180gr loads. I've personally been using Federal Power-Shock factory loaded 180gr and get sub-moa at 328y (300m). It may vary for others, everyone is different. But for factory ammo, that's pretty damn good in my books.

 

[d1ce]

You have no excuses shooting less than MOA with an AAC-SD with BBL. Here's my result this summer. I can shot this group all day with the right load.

Done this with 165gr speer btsp with 44.5gr of IMR4895. 2.800 COAL. Federal Brass

 

[Buzzballer]

^ sounds like you should be doing the precesion challenge.

Nice looking rifle, I'm still searching for the perfect load for my rifle. Precesion takes time apparently....

 

[Shibby!]

^ sounds like you should be doing the precesion challenge.

I agree.

Silences the talkers and those "groups like this all day".

As I said before, I once heard some more hunter orientated folk shooting one day say they had groups touching at 300 yards. Of course that peaks my interest knowing its WELL beyond my skill. I slid my gun around and peaked through my scope to discover a 2'x3' page of paper speckled with shots... Yea. 300yard touching groups. a huh.

I've seen close, tight groups. My buddy even did 1.5" at 300 to my 2.5", but touching they were not.

 

[Soyoman1980]

@ Supernova, they ship USPS, takes the better part of a week to reach me up here in Cold Lake, AB.

@ The others, agreed. Took me a lot of shooting to get to the point where I was shooting moa or better beyond 200m. I do have the benefit of military training, but it's still something that takes time and good shooting fundamentals to achieve. But I digress, keep at it guys and have fun guys.

 

[d1ce]

Here's how I can shoot sub moa all day.

I use the OBT method to find the right barrel harmonics, the correct charge.
I load all charge within 0.1 grain with precision scale.
I made a batch of 0.2 0.4 0.6 -0.2 -0.4 -0.6gr to compensate with the ambient temperature.
I keep notepad with info on powder charge in function of temperature.
I only chamber the round at the last second before firing to prevent the barrel heating up the round.
I weight all my bullets to make sure they are uniform
I weight all my case to make sure they are uniform
I measure all my case to make sure they have same dimension
I chrono all my shots so my ES was less than 10.

By doing correctly the aboves you have no excuses to shoot over MOA.

 

[Chinbullco]

Here's how I can shoot sub moa all day.

I use the OBT method to find the right barrel harmonics, the correct charge.
I load all charge within 0.1 grain with precision scale.
I made a batch of 0.2 0.4 0.6 -0.2 -0.4 -0.6gr to compensate with the ambient temperature.
I keep notepad with info on powder charge in function of temperature.
I only chamber the round at the last second before firing to prevent the barrel heating up the round.
I weight all my bullets to make sure they are uniform
I weight all my case to make sure they are uniform
I measure all my case to make sure they have same dimension
I chrono all my shots so my ES was less than 10.

By doing correctly the aboves you have no excuses to shoot over MOA.

With doing all that how did you come up with such a crap group?

 

[Lt John McClane]

My rifle shot the same with the 150 gr (all over the map), it likes 168 horn hpbt match or 175 smk gr bullets. You would sho0t tighter groups using a bipod and rear bag, and I would probably change the stock (its phucking garbage).

 

[d1ce]

Because I mostly use 150gr fmjbt bullet which isnt made for precision. I can keep it under MOA 1/2. but when I use SMK 175 i can achive all touching groups. Hey I have an AAC-SD not a palma F class.

 

[Donny Fenn1]

You have no excuses shooting less than MOA with an AAC-SD with BBL. Here's my result this summer. I can shot this group all day with the right load.

Done this with 165gr speer btsp with 44.5gr of IMR4895. 2.800 COAL. Federal Brass

But that isn't 1MOA if that is the standard BR style target...

 

[Shibby!]

It's also only one group.

Till you get 5-5shot groups under 1/2 MOA can you talk. Prove it.

On a site note, I was ringing the 12" bell at 1000y today. Always puts a smile on my face.

 

[d1ce]

But that isn't 1MOA if that is the standard BR style target...

The outter black square is an inch, let alone the flyer which is shot with a factory ammo.

 

[driller212]

My rifle shot the same with the 150 gr (all over the map), it likes 168 horn hpbt match or 175 smk gr bullets. You would sho0t tighter groups using a bipod and rear bag, and I would probably change the stock (its phucking garbage).

That is unfortunate. I can't afford a new stock right now, so I will likely just work on my technique and loads for now. Good to hear I am not the only one with the 150's going all over.

I don't know if I'd bother bedding that Hogue stock. It's very flimsy, the weight of the barrel alone is enough to cause the stock to bend and touch the barrel eliminating your free-float. Which we all know screws with barrel harmonics. I have the 20" version myself and found I was better off investing in a stock with full length aluminum bedding. An HS Precision or Bell & Carlson stock would be your best, more affordable bet.

I ordered the B&C 2092-02 model myself $220, brought my groups in to sub-moa with that mod alone. Check out Red Hawk Rifles out of Colorado, they'll ship stocks up to Canada no problem, here's the link to the stock I bought http://www.redhawkrifles.com/products/tactical-stocks/2092-02-remington-700-sa-a2-stock-black. If you want to take it a step further after getting the new stock I would definitely suggest bedding, but ONLY with a stock worth doing it in.

Also as a side note, I find my 20" with that 1:10 twist really likes 180gr loads. I've personally been using Federal Power-Shock factory loaded 180gr and get sub-moa at 328y (300m). It may vary for others, everyone is different. But for factory ammo, that's pretty damn good in my books.

Thank you for this, I will likely get a stock from here sometime in the next year.

 

[Trinimon]

I bedded my factory Hogue stock on my AAC-SD and it made a big difference. Though I'm not the greatest shot by any stretch of the imagination but here's some load testing I was doing a few weeks ago. I'm still going to buy a better stock eventually but that crappy Hogue stock is salvageable until you can afford to replace it.