My First precision/long range rig.

[crout]

I've been working on this for a couple of months.

she started out as a Savage 12bvss-s in 223.
scope: 4200 6-24x50
barrel: 26" shilen SS match in 223 with 1-8 twist

I haven't had a whole lot of time to fondle her at the range yet but she shows alot of promise. and i have a ton of stuff to learn. the accutrigger is a little tricky at first. I don't want to get my expectations set too high but just out of curiousity what kind of accuracy could i get out of this rig?

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The first time at the range i loaded up some 40gr v-max and some imr3031 to break in the barrel and sight the scope in. i was shooting at 100yards. my first shot was on paper but i pulled it. the accutrigger caught me off gaurd then the next 4 shots measured .459 outside to outside i had to use one of the mildots because my scope had no down adjustment in it and i was still about 5" high from where i was aiming. i'm not sure the moa on my rail as it came with the gun but it's way too much.

I shot 5 more of the 40gr then moved on to 300 yards after cleaning my barrel again. i thought i'd give the ladder load method a go with my 75gr amax and some varget. i shot 3 foulers with 23gr. it measured reasonably well(.900 OTO) and then i started, first shot at 23gr then the next at 23.2 went 2.5" right and 2" high then shot 3 at 23.4 was .25" low of shot 2. then that was it every other shot just kept jumping 1-2" all over the place.

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Needless to say i'm going to repeat the test with the fireformed brass and some match primers and see if i get similar results or better ones. i was hoping to get a good grouping at the higher velocity but if i have to settle for 23.2-23.4gr of varget with a great group i think i'll survive.

 

[manitou210]

Your sweet spot will be around 25gr of Varget but all fellows shooting similar guns as yours some factory and some lidja & Hart barrels. have moved away from Hornady A max's and shoot 80gr Sierra's and Bergers with stunning results.VT 540 & Rl 15 could be very good in your gun
good luck

 

[KDX]

You have a good gun with awesome potential. I wouldn't bother cleaning it for barrel break in purposes. I just bought a new one and hopefully will have time to work on some loads this week. Benchmark powder works really well for the lighter bullets in .223 I'll be trying it with 50gr Vmax and 60gr Noslers in a 1 in 7 twist barrel.

 

[akelies]

Good stuff. She looks promising, just keep at her!

I'm a noob to precision shooting myself. After having served a few years with the canadian forces i thought I would start with the biggest cal i can find , so i got a savage arms 7mm rem mag. big mistake. it's costing my wallet to feel lighter and my shoulder to throb after shooting sessions.

Now I realize why it's a hunting round, because your supposed to shoot about 1 deer a year with it!

Now I have to sell it and pick up a .223 like yours or a .308

I plan to make it all custom fit to me and have a real go at it.

 

[KDX]

Good stuff. She looks promising, just keep at her!

I'm a noob to precision shooting myself. After having served a few years with the canadian forces i thought I would start with the biggest cal i can find , so i got a savage arms 7mm rem mag. big mistake. it's costing my wallet to feel lighter and my shoulder to throb after shooting sessions.

Now I realize why it's a hunting round, because your supposed to shoot about 1 deer a year with it!

Now I have to sell it and pick up a .223 like yours or a .308

I plan to make it all custom fit to me and have a real go at it.

Do yourself a favor and buy a decent .22cal rifle and learn how to shoot well first.

 

[Obtunded]

Good stuff. She looks promising, just keep at her!

I'm a noob to precision shooting myself. After having served a few years with the canadian forces i thought I would start with the biggest cal i can find , so i got a savage arms 7mm rem mag. big mistake. it's costing my wallet to feel lighter and my shoulder to throb after shooting sessions.

Now I realize why it's a hunting round, because your supposed to shoot about 1 deer a year with it!

Now I have to sell it and pick up a .223 like yours or a .308

I plan to make it all custom fit to me and have a real go at it.

I wish someone would engrave these comments and nail them on the top of this forum The 7RM can be an exceptional long range round, but it is NOT the caliber to learn the fundamentals of precision shooting.

In order to master long range precision shooting, one should start with short range prcision shooting. The ultimate extreme end of short range precision is benchrest shooting. Typically, they use small cartridges with light bullets. F-Class is an eclectic mix of benchrest and TR.

As to the efforts of Crout, your rifle should be capable of producing excellent results. A proper barrel will give you the confidence to know that the gun should be capable of quarter minute accuracy; finding it will be a combination of shooting skill and reloading skill.

Stick with 100 yard/meter shooting and perfect both. Whern you KNOW your gun puts 'em where you want 'em, move out to longer distances, where the results are 100% shooter and you can correct accordingly.

 

[Mystic Precision]

Crout, looks like you are well on your way to having a 1/4 min rifle. So nice to see that the Shilen barrel is working for you. The test group at 100yds and that nice little cluster in the upper left corner at 300yds is very indicative of the accuracy you should be tuning for.

Now that your brass is fireformed, neck size properly so there is no runout created. Same goes when you seat the bullet. CCI 450 primer will work if you can't find any BR4's.

Instead of shooting 1rd and trying to see a pattern (obviously not working for you), shoot 2 or 3rds at each 0.1gr increment and look at the group. Since 23gr worked well and likely a mild load, you should be looking for a load approaching 25gr of Varget with those 75gr Amax (assume OAL is to fit the mag).

My SWAG is that from 24 gr to 25gr you will find another node where the bullets snuggle nice and tight together (of course, watch for pressure signs). A few tenths past this load, you will start to see obvious pressure signs or your velocities will be higher then expected. Max velocity should be in the 2950fps range.

By the way, your 0.9" O-T-O group would be approx 0.676" CTC. At 300yds, that would be a 0.225 min 3rds group. That is right there with some of the most expensive F class rigs competiting so your rifle definitely shows potential. The key is getting it repeatable.

If you haven't done so, bed that action. I am presently working on the same rifle for a CGN member and the inletting is 'generous' to say the least. Bedding will certainly help your groups become more consistent.

I will be working up loads for my 223 barrel shortly and will post results.

Jerry

PS looks like your scope is set up perfectly for LR. I bet with a 5" high 100yd zero, your 300yds groups were just a bit low or right on - PERFECT. Now you have more then enough elevation to make it to 1400yds. Use the mildots for shorter distances - why we have them above the center in the first place.

 

[crout]

You have a good gun with awesome potential. I wouldn't bother cleaning it for barrel break in purposes.

Don't worry. that was the extent of my barrel "break in" 2 - 5 shot groups.

 

[crout]

Good stuff. She looks promising, just keep at her!

I'm a noob to precision shooting myself. After having served a few years with the canadian forces i thought I would start with the biggest cal i can find , so i got a savage arms 7mm rem mag. big mistake. it's costing my wallet to feel lighter and my shoulder to throb after shooting sessions.

Now I realize why it's a hunting round, because your supposed to shoot about 1 deer a year with it!

Now I have to sell it and pick up a .223 like yours or a .308

I plan to make it all custom fit to me and have a real go at it.

7mm is a great round. but you're right it packs a good thump.
223 is one of the best rounds i can think of. light recoil, somewhat cheap to shoot compaired to others, great barrel life and it can reach out pretty far if you have some nice heavy bullets.

 

[crout]

Instead of shooting 1rd and trying to see a pattern (obviously not working for you), shoot 2 or 3rds at each 0.1gr increment and look at the group. Since 23gr worked well and likely a mild load, you should be looking for a load approaching 25gr of Varget with those 75gr Amax (assume OAL is to fit the mag).

My SWAG is that from 24 gr to 25gr you will find another node where the bullets snuggle nice and tight together (of course, watch for pressure signs). A few tenths past this load, you will start to see obvious pressure signs or your velocities will be higher then expected. Max velocity should be in the 2950fps range.


If you haven't done so, bed that action.


Jerry

PS looks like your scope is set up perfectly for LR. I bet with a 5" high 100yd zero, your 300yds groups were just a bit low or right on - PERFECT. Now you have more then enough elevation to make it to 1400yds. Use the mildots for shorter distances - why we have them above the center in the first place.

i worked up in .2gr incriments and went up to 25.8gr of varget. the load is compressed at 25.8gr but no pressure signs.

the stock is already bedded. and being a bvss-s it's a single shot so i can load to whatever oal i need. but i read that the amax likes a jump so i jumped them.

my scope. not good on my 300 yard target i am aiming at the bottom, which is 6" below the first shot. and i'm using a mildot above the cross hair. so i think i need to shim the front of the base if possible?

 

[Mystic Precision]

If you are not set about your rings, Burris Sig Zee 30mm rings will let you shim your scope to set the elevation precisely where you want. You could of course shim the front of the base but I would suggest bedding around the base so that it doesn't rock.

Sounds like you have one of my 'zeros'. I set mine to be dead on for 500+yds and use the dots for closer. Where I shoot, that is the nearest target and we go out from there.

Feedback I am receiving is also indicating that these Shilens are breaking in very fast. Good thing considering they are match barrels and lapped.

How did the load shoot at 25.8gr? Did you get any velocity?

Look forward to more of your range reports.

Jerry

 

[pockets]

Try some TAC with those bullets. In my 223 with 75gr. hornady HPBT I get ES of 2-4 and SD of 1-2 FPS consistently. Neck sized, seated .010" off the lands. Under 1/2" groups easily.