Got in some range time today at 100 yards with my 30'06 Match rifle

[cprher]

This is my 30'06 match rifle built for me by Sid Goodling in Spring Grove, PA. It's a blueprinted Remington 700 action with a Tubb bolt, an Xtreme Model 22 trigger, Schneider barrel with 1 in 10" twist and McMillan Baker Special stock. The scope is a Weaver T-24 with 1/8 MOA clicks in TPS rings on a Nightforce 20 MOA rail. I normally do all my testing at 200 and 300 yards but since my move to VA I've decided to take advantage of the local 100 yard range. Benchrest shooting is not normally my thing but it is remarkably challenging with an impressive array of ways to screw up a shot. The ammo is not tailored to the gun but rather my standard match ammo I load for all my 30'06 rifles (168 SMK, 46.5 grains of IMR 4895, Winchester case and Win Lg match rifle primer). I will start reloading for this gun soon but will most likely lean towards heavier bullest such as the Sierra Match Kings in 190 and 210 grain weights. Without further preamble, here is the gun and the results. The groups are numbered in order they were shot and all are 5 shot groups.





In group 5, four shots went into .243". In Group 6, four shots went into .308".

Keith

 

[BBDartCA]

Try IMR4350 for a bolt gun. Usually will start shooing much better results when you start pushing those rounds out past 200 yards. 4895 is good Garand powder but I've found it really has limits beyond 150g in any '06.

 

[cprher]

Thanks

IMR4350 is my powder of choice for reloading this rifle. The load I referenced is my go to all around load in all my 30'06 rifles I don't tailor loads for such as my Model 1917, my two hunting rifles (this is my practice round) and my load for offhand practice. It's just a very consistently accurate load in any 30'06 I've tried it in.
Keith

 

[OYE]

What's your goal for your groups out of that rifle ? OYE

 

[cprher]

My goals

For this my goal was me, not the rifle. I know the gun routinely shoots sub-.5MOA, but I don't off the bench. I'm getting my bench technique to improve so I can properly test other rifles that I don't know as well. For example, the rifle below is brand new and only tested at 100 yards. It's made to shoot Swiss 7.5X55mm GP11 ball ammo only.




The first target showed good potential but in two of the groups (B and C) I had unexplained horizontal dispersion.



I know from experience that type of error is me and not the gun. So I followed it up with another session and got this result.



Notice that the group at the top is strung horizontally. If it hadn't been then it would be pretty tight. Bottom line: I need to improve my technique off the bench to properly test my rifles and their loads.

Keith