I am new to this forum and while I see a lot of really great info out here I haven't seen anyone address the issue I have been having with my .308 so here goes:
Last fall I bought a used Remington 700 varmint in .308 1-12". The previous owner upgraded the stock to an HS Precision PSV002. I have since added a Timney trigger set to 1.5lbs and a Millet TRS-1 set in Leupold rings.
This is my first centerfire rifle and I am blown away with how accurate it can be at 100-200yds using my reference handload of 38.1gr Varget behind a 175 Sierra MK in Lapua brass using pretty much any primer. (best day out so far was five shots 3/8" c2c)
This load gets me sub MOA all the time but it is pretty slow and I suspect that is the cause of my groups opening up once I get out past 200 yds. I have tried different powders and bullet weights but any time I try to push the velocity past 2400fps, accuracy drops way off. I am a paper hunter so I don't have any specific need for higher velocity for short range but I have access to a range out to 500yds that I would like to play around with and I think I am being limited by my accuracy fall-off.
So my question: Do need to just accept that my rifle will only shoot well with low velo loads or are there directions I can go with my load development/other things I can try? (BTW accuracy with factory ammo is also terrible!)
Last fall I bought a used Remington 700 varmint in .308 1-12". The previous owner upgraded the stock to an HS Precision PSV002. I have since added a Timney trigger set to 1.5lbs and a Millet TRS-1 set in Leupold rings.
This is my first centerfire rifle and I am blown away with how accurate it can be at 100-200yds using my reference handload of 38.1gr Varget behind a 175 Sierra MK in Lapua brass using pretty much any primer. (best day out so far was five shots 3/8" c2c)
This load gets me sub MOA all the time but it is pretty slow and I suspect that is the cause of my groups opening up once I get out past 200 yds. I have tried different powders and bullet weights but any time I try to push the velocity past 2400fps, accuracy drops way off. I am a paper hunter so I don't have any specific need for higher velocity for short range but I have access to a range out to 500yds that I would like to play around with and I think I am being limited by my accuracy fall-off.
So my question: Do need to just accept that my rifle will only shoot well with low velo loads or are there directions I can go with my load development/other things I can try? (BTW accuracy with factory ammo is also terrible!)