Ammo suggestion for RPR (.308)

So i might jump in and give some people here a stroke. I pick up my rpr last week but my scope and match ammo wont be here til Monday. So i got a little bored so i put my 99 dollar Bushnell banner on it and bought 2 boxes of Barnull ammo at CT and hit the range. All groups were fired from a bench while sitting using a harris bipod.

 
So i might jump in and give some people here a stroke. I pick up my rpr last week but my scope and match ammo wont be here til Monday. So i got a little bored so i put my 99 dollar Bushnell banner on it and bought 2 boxes of Barnull ammo at CT and hit the range. All groups were fired from a bench while sitting using a harris bipod.




First group at 100 meters. 5 rounds.





Next group was 7 rounds



last group10 rounds, pretty much one raged hole. the group up in the corner was 2 rounds to check zero.

Match ammo and 4-20 scope will be here monday. will report back on how much better or worse this RPR shoots with the good stuff running through it.

Cheers
angry
 
BadAsMo said:
My RPR seems to like the 155 SMKs and a hard hold. But you probably wont find them in a cheap load. Probably need Federal Gold Medal Match for a comparable.

5 round groups with a soft free recoil hold are no better than around 2 inches with this load, but hold the rifle firm with pistol grip and cheek hard into the rear bag and groups drop to about 5/8" at 100 yards. Problem is that "hard hold" feel is relative and difficult to repeat and makes a difference on point of impact.

I think the gun with standard barrel is just too light to do well with heavier ammo, unless you "got a good one".
Click to expand...

That's indicative of poor body position/recoil management.
 
ntm said:
That's indicative of poor body position/recoil management.
Click to expand...

No, its not actually...

Its called consciously and deliberately testing the conditions that affect how that particular rifle performs.

Some rifles will shoot bug holes with free recoil and shoot badly when held firm.
Some rifles shoot well regardless of how they are held.
Some rifles shoot badly unless they are held hard.
Some rifles always shoot badly.

The problem with a rifle that only shoots well under a hard hold is that such a hold is difficult to replicate under a varied set of positions. In such case, the groups achieved at the range under controlled/controllable conditions will not be realistically achievable in the field where conditions are not controlled or controllable.
 
Last edited:
BadAsMo said:
No, its not actually...

Its called consciously and deliberately testing the conditions that affect how that particular rifle performs.

Some rifles will shoot bug holes with free recoil and shoot badly when held firm.
Some rifles shoot well regardless of how they are held.
Some rifles shoot badly unless they are held hard.
Some rifles always shoot badly.

The problem with a rifle that only shoots well under a hard hold is that such a hold is difficult to replicate under a varied set of positions. In such case, the groups achieved at the range under controlled/controllable conditions will not be realistically achievable in the field where conditions are not controlled or controllable.
Click to expand...

You're actually testing how you perform.
Nothing changes in harmonics between the two holds, simply with a hard hold you are less susceptible to the effects of poor recoil management, though as you mentioned, ultimate consistency suffers.
The differences between various rifles you are seeing is likely related to how much recoil energy you're dealing with, depending on the different rifle's caliber, weight, and brake/no brake. With your loose hold, heavier recoiling/lighter weight rifles are going to exploit any errors in form and/or rest setup.
 
ntm said:
You're actually testing how you perform.
Nothing changes in harmonics between the two holds, simply with a hard hold you are less susceptible to the effects of poor recoil management, though as you mentioned, ultimate consistency suffers.
The differences between various rifles you are seeing is likely related to how much recoil energy you're dealing with, depending on the different rifle's caliber, weight, and brake/no brake. With your loose hold, heavier recoiling/lighter weight rifles are going to exploit any errors in form and/or rest setup.
Click to expand...

Head=Rock.
The test was INTENTIONAL!!!
 
I've had really good luck PPU 308 ammo. It's about $22 a box. Not match grade, but i've got just under MOA performance out of it. I'm not a great shot yet, but after 10 or 12 shots I start to settle in and get the fundamentals going and my groups tighten up. And its fun to shoot.

I've just tried my own hand loads today. Instead of hijacking your thread I think I'll start another, but I learned a few things doing it.

I saw lots of advice to hand load, and I would agree - but you can make it worse too - and that is where the real learning starts :)
 
I'm pressing my own 308 for my rpr.
Nosler 168gr spitzer
Federal brass
CCI primers
Imr 4064 powder (42 1/10 Gr)

Took thing out first time over the weekend and 2" at 400y no problems off a boresite and minor adjustments. We did reach out to 650 yards on an 8" gong. By no means we're we bench rest shooting just some nice off the tailgate shots
 
njlondon said:

I don't get this at all. Not the above comment; I totally agree.
The "why" of someone doing this!
I never met a rifle that didn't like Federal Gold Medal Match.
Too expensive? Time to get into reloading.
I am very biased and realize it.
Succumbed to the AR disease and bought a Daniel Defence. Sold it a month later. My handguns mostly sit in the safe.
I suffer from the (apparently) incurable "only accurate rifles are interesting" disease!
Click to expand...

amen brother. I try to buy other guns... Pizzed if she isn't sub moa. acceptable when below .75... happy when below 1/2 moa
 
My factory ammo suggestions would be:

Hornady Superformance Match 168gr A-MAX
Nosler Custom Competition 168gr

After that, if you get hooked on precision shooting, buy a reloading set up and start loading your own.

**I wouldn't shoot 7.62X51 mil surp ammo through a .308 chambered rifle as a cheap alternative, rather some $20. a box .308 hunting ammo.
 
OP, when I want reasonably affordable, yet reliably accurate factory ammo. I always look to the Hornady brand of ammunition.

Hornady can make for decent brass to reload with, later when you get to it too.


BadAsMo said:
Head=Rock.
The test was INTENTIONAL!!!
Click to expand...

Regardless of what you think, NTM's information is valid.


& nice shooting Angry.

Cheers D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom