No you have one option go shoot some groups and pick a load
well said
No you have one option go shoot some groups and pick a load
I am also wondering if, to some degree, the equipment or setup I have to measure with is is not adequate to measure to the degree that I need. The chronograph seems accurate enough at +/- 0.25% of stated velocity. but getting the gun lined up over the unit at the same height and angle is the tricky part.
No you have one option go shoot some groups and pick a load . Once you get a $2k+ rig with the scope to match , thats when you start buying other/better equipment ;-) .
Shadow9mm, low SDs can be obtained with a light rifle and no specialized sleds if your fundamentals are solid. M
Stop spending money , you can’t buy your way to better shooting .
I'm not expecting benchrest accuracy. Just looking for consist moa or sub moa. The rifle has struggled to do moa even with match ammo so far. My hope is that a hand load tuned to the rifle will get me there.do what what MarkCO said, you can get single digit SD's off a bipod. Learning recoil management is one aspect of process, don't expect it to happen in a week or even a month. A 6 or 7 pound .308 is a lot of rifle to handle but once you get good at managing the recoil on it then a 15 pound 6mm target rifle will be a piece of cake.
Like you said in your earlier post, use that rifle to improve with. Keep expectations reasonable. A off the shelf Mossberg is a great hunting rifle however don't expect benchrest groups with the factory barrel, stock and trigger
edit
truer words were never spoken, I outshoot guys every match whose scope cost more than my entire rig and I still have a long way to go in my learning process
I did not expect best SD es at max and it turned out as expected. But I figured max going down was the best place to start.In my 40 years of loading, the lowest ES and SD always give the best accuracy. The only cartridge I've loaded that meets the above, max loaded, is the 7mm Remington Magnum.
Gun is about 1.5-2moa with hunting ammo. Close to 1moa with match. I'm primarily a hunter but am wanting to get into match shooting.I didn't see where you mentioned group size anywhere. You a match shooter or a hunter? Then depending on which the only number's that really matter are group size. Chase all the number's you want if the group doesn't work for you, the number's are meaningless!
Also the bolt was pretty stiff at 47.0g with no pressure signs on the primers or heads. 46.7 felt ok no pressure signs.
Meh....some of the best groups in the world are shot off pedestal rest with FR & rr bags. I’m guessing your rest is ok for now, unless there is something obvious to you the shooter. As an aside, “lead sled” and “clamping down” are this that generally create poor accuracy.So I essentially have 2 options
1- New chronograph, something like the magneto speed or Labrador.
2- A lead sled, or something like it to lock the gun down and keep its placement consistent in relation to the chronograph.
Metal god said:I out shoot guys and there $2k rigs all the time with my Ruger American Rifle and $99 scope .
Shadow9mm said:I'm not expecting benchrest accuracy. Just looking for consist moa or sub moa. The rifle has struggled to do moa even with match ammo so far. My hope is that a hand load tuned to the rifle will get me there.
It's 1.5 to 2 with hunting ammo. Just over 1moa with factory match. That's between me and my buddy shooting. We can both shoot 3/4 moa regularly with his tc compass and hunting ammo. Hoping a dialed in load will get the gun shooting. Neither of like the trigger on the patriot. That's and bedding the stock are tge next upgrades.I love this answer....as true as it is, it can be false too. That said, a guy who shoots his Ruger American and $99 optic weekly, would scare guys who shoot under 10 times a year!
New rifles are often just that good. Often times $99 scopes are ok....as long as both are proven and you have a decent load.
How is factory ammo shooting? If it is typically 2”, I think your rest and fundamentals need looked into. Factory rifles with factory match ammo are 1moa or better, generally. A well tuned could get you down to 0.75”-1”.....which is fine as long as sd is 10ish.
All that said, some factory rifles are 1.5 moa at best. I have not seen one, but hear/read this regularly.
The thing is I am already happy with the rifle. I understand what I bought, and while it is not performing quite as well as I had hoped, it is not too far off and it is within a reasonable range for what it is.Just my opinion here but I bet you will never be happy with that Mossberg unless you change out the barrel.
If you are serious about getting in target shooting I would save the money and buy something you can find a prefit barrel for and learn to swap them out. It ain't rocket science. Savage, Ruger, Tikka etc. You can find a Savage 10 action with accutrigger new are can be had for less than 500, Boyds stock 200, prefit barrel 400. Assorted tools like GO gage and barrel wrench etc another 100. Then shoot that barrel out and you can replace it for another 400.
The alternative is buy a stock Tikka then get a prefit replacement when that barrel foes south. Stock Tikkas are tackdrivers from the factory.
Your money and you decision though, good luck