Need help from experienced shooter

S

Solar

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Hi all,
I am new to target rifle shooting. I want to get some opinion on whether hand loading will improve my shooting.
I have shot 2 groups. Each group has 10 rounds in it.
Rifle is Sako TRG-22 Cal 308 WIN.
Scope is Nightforce NSX 8-32x
Ammo is Hornady Match 168 gr A-MAX.
Distance is 100 yards. I shot using a bypod (resting on a bench) in a sitting position.
One group diameter is 0.812" edge to edge or 0.512" centre to centre.
Second group diameter is 0.797" edge to edge or 0.497" centre to centre.

Just want to get some opinion on how much more improvment can I get by going to hand loading?
2ndgroupingshots10rounds.jpg

Groupingshot10rounds.jpg

Thanks for the help.
 
Groups

Well that is some mighty fine shooting and if you can afford to shoot that factory ammo all the time then it may be tough to improve on. I'd keep my groups to 5 shots, and move out to 200 yards and see how you do there.

What do you want to do? Compete, or just shoot for fun? FS
 
Hard to improve on those groups at 100yds, but you will save money with handloading.

Accuracy and money aside. Handloading for me is also an extension of my love for shooting. Gives me something to do shooting related when I'm not at the range.

You also learn a lot about ballistics when you reload that you wouldn't necessarily learn by just buying factory ammo.

Basically, the benefits of handloading go beyond the results at the range.
 
Fassteel said:
Well that is some mighty fine shooting and if you can afford to shoot that factory ammo all the time then it may be tough to improve on. I'd keep my groups to 5 shots, and move out to 200 yards and see how you do there.

What do you want to do? Compete, or just shoot for fun? FS
Click to expand...

If I want to compete, what will I need to do? I do plan to go out to 200 yd and 300 yd. 300 yd is the max distance at my range.
 
Excellent shooting ! You may have a rifle/ammo combination that may not be improved upon. However,the only real way of determining that is to shoot that same ammo at the distances you anticipate competing at to determine consistency. Use your home range and then work your way out further.
The benefits of handloading are that you can tailor the loads with different bullets and charges to improve performance at competition distances as well as the monetary saving.
The choices are extensive for 308.
Cheers
 
Solar said:
If I want to compete, what will I need to do?
Click to expand...

1. Get plenty of trigger time (this is where handloading will shine as you can shoot 2-3X as much over buying match ammo)

2. Stay at the 100yd mark until you are comfortable that you can shoot good groups every time, then move out to 200yds.

3. Shoot in as many adverse conditions as you can (wind, rain, mirage, sun, overcast, etc...) and see what affect that has on your groups and learn what you can do to compensate for those conditions.

Solar said:
I do plan to go out to 200 yd and 300 yd. 300 yd is the max distance at my range.
Click to expand...

Once you are comfortable at the max distance of your range, sign up for events at other ranges. Depending where you are in Alberta you have a great range at Kananaskis that has competitions out to 900m or there is Nokomis range in Saskatchewan and also Vokes range in Chilliwack BC which goes out to 600m.
 
You are off to a wonderful start. Reloading will make shooting so much more affordable cause the only to improve is more trigger time.

Given the equipment, that ammo is right where good handloads would perform. A fantastic, and lucky match.

If you want to compete, then handloading is the only way to fly. Costs way too much to run factory.

Best bang for the buck is the new Lee anniversay breech lock reloading kit. Dirt cheap and will make fantastic ammo. I would suggest quality dies like the Lee collet neck die, or a bushing die from Redding or Forster, Redding body die, and a forster or redding seater.

This will help you make low runout ammo which is critical for LR accuracy. From there, you can test different bullets. Varget and CCI BR2 or FED210M are the components of choice. You already know that the Hornady works so the AMax is a great place to start.

You may also want to consider the Berger and Lapua bullets. Might shoot more consistenty in your barrel.

you are well on your way to having a very competitive rig in tactical and F class. Start shooting further right away and adj your ammo and gear as needed.

Good luck...

Jerry
 
Solar said:
If I want to compete, what will I need to do?
Click to expand...

Find out where the competitions are being held. Your Provincial Rifle Association might be a start. Call the match organizer, then show up with your rifle and lots of ammo:D Don't expect to win your first match, ask lots of questions, find a mentor.
Too many guys are afraid to move away from the 100 or 200 yard line. Your rifle won't wear out any faster shooting 1000 yards than it will shooting 100, and you don't have to pull the trigger any harder to get the bullets way out there. I say jump in with both feet:rockOn:
 
Hey Solar, Nice Shooting! Your equipment is top drawer as well!

If you 'google', go to the APRA website. They have a schedule of matches at Homestead Range just West of Calgary/Cochrane. Your rig would be perfect for F-Class in the F-TR/Restricted class. 100 is definitely a good starting point, but 600-900 can sure sober you up a bit!

I think hand-loads and plenty of trigger time will cuts your groups in half.
 
Thanks for all the replies.
I will for sure trying the 200 yd and 300 yd - just to see what I/my rifle can do.
Then I will be trying a few matches and see.

S.
 
If you have more money than time, just keep shooting. At 100 yards thats pretty impressive. See how much (if at all) it opens up at 200-300 yds. Handloading will help cut costs if you want to shoot more and you can play with all sorts of things like different powders, primers, bullets and combinations to see what your guns likes. But it does take time, and then more time.
 
I have also have a quality 308 rifle and I usually test my loads a 300 yards. It exagerates your mistakes. I shoot with wind flags (at the range) so Its easier to determine if my rifle tuning is off or If i'm reading the conditions improperly.

As for reloading, you will get as many opinions as there are members on this forum. For that reason an many others, it takes a few years of trial and error before becoming very good at reloading. But its a fun learning experience. My suggestion is to find out who competes in benchrest matches in your area and ask for their advice.
 
Just a question on group size. Since I can get 0.5" to 0.8" group size in 100 yd, is 1.0" to 1.6" group size is about the best that I can get in 200 yd?

I am trying to figure whether the group size is directly proportional to distance (assuming wind is not affect the shot).

Also, how big should the target and the bullseye be when I am shooting 200 yd?

Thanks.
S.
 
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