OK, Weather Warriors---Best FACTORY loads?

[AKElroy]

What .308 FACTORY ammo have you found most accurate? Mine is shooting right at MOA w/ federal premium 150 gr, which is fine, but not really setting my hair on fire. I have not tried the 168's or 180's & they are probably even better suited to the faster 1/10 twist.

For you Savage guys, what factory loads does yours like best? I am looking for an accurate hunting round.

Secondly, Is the 100 yrd POI difference enough to warrant changing zero when alternating between 150's and 168's/180's?

 

[Rokman]

Sorry but I shoot handloads and have great success with 165-168 grains so far in my Savage. When I shot factory ammo I liked Winchester Supreme and Federal Premium. You shouild be able to find a load between them to try. I would think the point of impact would at least warrant a change between 150-180 grains because of the loss of velocity. I may be a stickler, but I zero my scope for for whatever ammo that I use everytime even if it is that close.

 

[TonyAngel]

I don't shoot .308, but I have a couple of friends that do. One shoots a Remington 700 and the other a Savage. They give each other crap about their rifles all the time, but agree on a couple of things. For factory ammo, they shoot Federal Gold Medal, I do believe. For handloads, it's Sierra 168s over Reloader 15. They can sit there all day and poke one hole five shot groups.

 

[bpl]

For factory ammo, they shoot Federal Gold Medal, I do believe. For handloads, it's Sierra 168s over Reloader 15. They can sit there all day and poke one hole five shot groups.

I believe he is looking for a hunting load though.

 

[Uncle Mike]

I believe he is looking for a hunting load though.

Ever shoot a deer with Sierra Matchking's? One word, nasty! Not much penetration, but it'll look like a really big shark took a bite out of your deer....same with the Hornady A-Max target bullets.

The majority of these 'target' or 'match' bullets have really thin jackets with soft(er) lead cores, and tend to do what they were designed to do, fly well, and disintegrate on impact, which is why they aren't recommended for game, the explosive nature and shallow penetration of these projectiles can mean wounded animals, but IF the shot is placed in the correct spot, well DRT nasty!

Now, back to the question... Savages are extremely accurate production rifles, but like any machine, the 'sweet spot' has to be found! hehehehe

We shoot-in rifles at the shop with Federal Gold Medal Match or Hornady Custom Target ammo, then, based on the customers desires, we will shoot the ammo he or she wants to use in the rifle for hunting, if the rifle in question is a gaming rifle.

Most of the Savages seem to like just what your using, Federal Premium, Wichester Super-X, Remington Core-Lokt, and they tend to like the lesser expensive, ho hum, nothing fancy, bullets...a plus in my book!

I just shot-in a Savage 116 30-06 last week, it was a one holer with Remington green/yellow box 165gr Core-Lokt at 2800fps Muzzle Velocity, but if we pushed to much passed that speed, groups opened up, I shot Hornady Superformance 165gr SST's through it, and the rifle turned into a shotgun, which has been our experience with the new SST's in a lot of rifles.

 

[courtgreene]

I agree with Uncle Mike that more expensive is not always better depending on the rifle. MINE likes winchester super-x and it loves the 180 grain flavor. I switched to it from 150grn corelokts thinking the heavier bullet would stop deer from running away. That was dumb but i didn't know any better at the time (years ago). What I discovered is that it became much more accurate. Thus, my DRT's increased anyway. Maybe yours will like the same bullets, maybe not. You never know until you try. plus they aren't expensive... i think they are running like 80 cents a shot. Best of all, most walmarts carry 180's and 150's. Finally, test everything you plan to hunt with and zero for it before you hunt. ive learned that the hard way.

 

[dakotasin]

i've had excellent luck with hornady custom 165 interlocks.

 

[AKElroy]

I picked up two boxes of Federal's Fusion 165gr today; I will see how the heavier loads do this weekend.

 

[wleggart]

Black Hills Gold

I have a tactical .308 that shoots amazing groups with the 168 grain Barnes Triple Shock ammunition. I also have loaded some 150 grain Triple shock to try in my .308 deer gun( 45.0 Gr. IMR 4895 maximum OAL). The barnes bullet is an all copper 100% retention bullet that performes well on game. .308 seems to like the heavier bullet, but I expect the 150 grain to work well, and there are some advantages in dead on aiming distance.

 

[AKElroy]

I may try the Barnes route. The Federal Fusion really shot poorly. My .308 shoots cheap 150 gr Remmy core-locked far better. I am beginning to question the Savage at this point; It shot MOA the first outing on a green barrel with 150gr core locked. It is now shooting 4 MOA w/ the Federal Fusion. Scope is tight; I wonder if it could be the torque on the much lauded accustock giving it fits. Questioning wheather I can get a load to shoot in this rifle by the time this season starts.

 

[Uncle Mike]

Loosen the action in the stock, leave the 'Accuwedge' loose and re-torque the front and rear action bolts to 30 inch pounds and try that, you'll more than likely end up with around 40 or so inch pounds on the action screws, after all is said and done.

See IF this approach does you better....and please, get back with us with your results!

 

[C-grunt]

When I had my Savage it REALLY like the Winchester 168 grn Ballistic Silvertips. Shot those better than Federal Gold Medal Match and my handloads. Really expensive ammo though.

 

[AKElroy]

OK, I took down the weather warrior today to confirm torque values on the mounting bolts & wedge. The rear bolt was very loosely torqued, and I am hopeful that is my issue. I added torque in 5 in. lb increments until I have all dialed in @45 In lbs. I also re-torqued the DNZ scope mounts to 30 in. lbs.

I am going to pick up a box of the afformentioned ballistic silvertips tomorrow, and hope for better results. My last range trip was 3 hours with 3 rifles. This trip will be only the Warrior, and my caffein deficient migrane induced self. If it fails to produce, I will loose the wedge. If it still won't group, someone on this board may get the deal of a lifetime. I will be using the Leadslead to remove all variables.

Pics to follow tomorrow-----

 

[taliv]

i'm still not sold on using match bullets for hunting, but there are some deals out there on Fed GM Match with 168g SMK for about $18/box of 20, before a $5/box mail-in-rebate, which if you can put up with that sort of nonsense, is $13/box; cheapest i've ever seen

 

[AKElroy]

I just want to see it group to get some confidence in this rig. If I am shooting weight to weight, I am going to call it good for POI. Thanks for the tip---

 

[LoonWulf]

MOA is probably better then you need for anything your likely to shoot with an 08, but smaller is better neh?

I have some guns like some specific ammo, and some that dont. i have an 06 that wont put fusions into a fist size group at 100yds, but will go under an inch with 168grn bergers over 4350. Keep checking other ammo

Also if youve run more then a few boxes of rounds thru it give it a serious cleaning and start over. Again some guns shoot fine fouled, better even, others do not lol. None of mine seem to like fouling, and my 6x47 hates it.

 

[Sunray]

There is no 'Best' factory ammo. Every rifle will shoot the same ammo differently. Whichever brand and bullet weight that shoots best out of your rifle is the 'best'. Since you're not reloading, you have to try a box of as many brands and bullet weights as you can to find the ammo your rifle shoots best. The price of said ammo means nothing.
"...looking for an accurate hunting round..." An MOA is great for factory ammo, but try some 165 grain hunting ammo. The .308 loves the weight and they'll kill any game you care to hunt.
"...enough to warrant..." You have to sight in again every time you change ammo or bullet weight.

 

[AKElroy]

Range Report!!!

OK, I don't have to sell it. When I first got this rig, I posted that I was really pleased with its performance w/ Remmy corelocked. I figured w/ such a fast twist, if it groups cheap 150's well, it must be a tacdriver w/ heavy premium ammo.

Not even close. The lighter Remmy's are still its favorate food. I am still disappointed, though. What I have is a servicable, reasonably accurate hunting rig. What I had hoped for was the hyper accurate rig this rifle is billed as being. Here are today's satisfactory results: (At least it likes to eat cheap!)

 

[Uncle Mike]

AKElroy...that is the standard, HONEST, 9 out of 10, 116/16's accuracy!

I just shot a custom built, from Savages custom shop, so it has the Savage factory barrel, 116 today and it mimics your rifles performance fairly closely.

I was able to get slightly tighter groups with the Remington cheap date ammo in 165 grain flavor, but the rest of the ammo I tested, which was exactly what you have, with the exception of all my stuff was 165 grain, printed almost exactly the same as your rifle did!

Federal Gold Medal Match would do a 1/2" consistently from the Savage...as long as the barrel didn't get too hot!

The Horandy Superformance turns her into a shotgun, no matter the bullet weight.

We have been seeing the Superformance ammo do this on a regular basis at the shop, so it wasn't a suprise, I had to try!

You know, the old Hornady light and Heavy Magnum ammo was great, I don't know what happened.

 

[AKElroy]

AKElroy...that is the standard, HONEST, 9 out of 10, 116/16's accuracy!

That's good to hear, I guess. I have a Model 70 featherweight 7 mag made in the evil 90's that easily outshoots this. I have a 1965 Model 70 .270 that also groups more tightly. I guess I was looking for a little more from this "accuwhatever" deal.

In any event, it will be my go-to deer rig this year. Being synthetic & stainless, it will see hard use as the front seat gun. It is shooting good enough for that.

As for being honest, well, this is an anonymous forum. If I were using my real name, I would have shot these groups from 50 (-:

 

[jmr40]

This one works for me. http://www.hornady.com/store/308-Win-150-gr-SST-Superformance/ An honest 2965 fps in my 22" barrels and sub MOA in my rifles. Street price is around $26.

I can equal or slightly better the accuracy with my handloads, but cannot come close to the velocity.

 

[grtwhthntr]

My Model 10 .308 likes the 150 grain Winchester soft points and the Hornady Superformance 150 grain SST's. They both shoot tight groups. The only load I've found that it doesn't seem to like is the cheap Federal 150 grain soft points.

 

[AKElroy]

http://www.hornady.com/store/308-Win...Superformance/

Tried it; that's the third photo. My gun hated it. My logic would have been right with you; the group sure isn't, though.

 

[jmr40]

Try the 150's in the Superformance. My gun didn't care for the 165's either.

 

[Snipez19]

with the 150gr winchester powerpoints i was shooting .75 moa and it was only my third time shooting my whole life. I got a weather warrior in .308 for christmas and i went to the range the other day, shot two 3 shot groups at under an inch. The gun is obviously much better than me!