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Post by savageshooter2k on Jul 10, 2015 19:35:31 GMT -8
Hey guys, this is my first post here but I have been reading for a while. I post on other 6.5 boards as well. I purchased my 18" BHW 1x9 twist barrel from surplus arms about 2 months ago. I had somewhat low expectations coming in. I am a huge fan of the 6.5 cartridge as I have a creedmoor that shoots factory hornady Ammo to the tune of 1/2 MOA or better. I was hoping to get a poor mans version of those results with the 264 LBC or Grendel. I thought if it will shoot around MOA with boxed ammo and better with hand loads I would be happy. The problem is the first day out I was shooting excellent groups with factory SST ammo. I shot a .310", .455", and .665" 5 shots groups at 100 yards with the first 15 rounds I fired. I then loaded the rest and began hitting bulls eye after bulls eye on 1/2" Orange circle targets. Being the pessimist I am I thought there is no way I could repeat those results and I was right. I bought 5 more boxes of SSTs and now none of them have come close to repeating that performance. I even went out and bought 3 more boxes from another company to see if it was a problem with a certain lot. Now all of my groups are around .800"-1.25" which incidentally is right around what I should with PPU 120 grain boxed ammo.
So assuming Its not shooter error what do you think the problem is? Did I just get a magical box of Hornady SST ammo the first time out and reality is that my gun is just as accurate as I am shooting now? Or has my barrel become less accurate after about 200 rounds? Also I would note that I did the barrel break in per the instructions from the BHW guys. Another item to note is that I have switched scopes just in case that is the problem. I took one off of another AR that has been rock solid for years.
Thoughts?
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Post by gpsman007 on Jul 11, 2015 3:28:41 GMT -8
Have you cleaned the barrel? If so this could be the issue. I have a CZ in 204 that I had never cleaned that shot really well.one day I decided it needed a good cleaning and it got one. The next trip to the range groups had went front 1/2moa to 1.25 moa. If this is the case just keep shooting accuracy should come back.
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Post by savageshooter2k on Jul 11, 2015 7:50:37 GMT -8
Yes, I am religious about cleaning the barrels on my rifles after every trip to the range. I was starting to think that maybe cleaning it was the problem. I have a Savage rifle that shoots better when the barrel is fouled and I can go several trips to the range without cleaning it and its actually more accurate with a dirty barrel. So I have run it both ways. Greg suggested a few products to me that i have not used in the past for cleaning and I am going to give them a try.
I also just starting hand loading for the rifle so we will see how that goes.
Is anyone seeing mixed results with your boxes of Hornady ammo. Like one lot will shoot great but then another not so?
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Post by gpsman007 on Jul 12, 2015 6:15:37 GMT -8
i have seen some issues with hornady however i see more difference between the SST and Amax My grendel likes the SST's better with 1/2 moa while the amax's hover around the 1moa orbit
what did greg suggest to clean the barrel? Hummm?
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maxbc
Junior Member
Posts: 10
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Post by maxbc on Jul 22, 2015 11:12:25 GMT -8
The best "average" accuracy you can expect from quality (match) factory ammo is 1moa in any gun or any caliber. You may get lucky occasionally with the odd lot if you happen to get a box that matches the harmonics of your barrel. The main reason most of us reload is to tune the load to our barrel.
My experience with Hornady bullets is that they are very good "for the price". As with most things in life, you get what you pay for. If you want a chance to beat 1moa, choose ammo loaded with Sierra Matchkings. They are the most consistent bullets I've tried. Nosler's are great for hunting, but nobody I'm aware of uses them for serious target shooting. They have thick, tough jackets in the bearing surface area which helps hold them together when they hit bone but is not conducive to accuracy.
If you want to consistently shoot 0.5 moa or better, you must handload. Berger's are more accurate than Sierra's if you are willing to take the time to sort them by oal and bearing surface length.
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Post by GLSHOOTER on Jul 22, 2015 11:30:44 GMT -8
The best "average" accuracy you can expect from quality (match) factory ammo is 1moa in any gun or any caliber. You may get lucky occasionally with the odd lot if you happen to get a box that matches the harmonics of your barrel. The main reason most of us reload is to tune the load to our barrel. My experience with Hornady bullets is that they are very good "for the price". As with most things in life, you get what you pay for. If you want a chance to beat 1moa, choose ammo loaded with Sierra Matchkings. They are the most consistent bullets I've tried. Nosler's are great for hunting, but nobody I'm aware of uses them for serious target shooting. They have thick, tough jackets in the bearing surface area which helps hold them together when they hit bone but is not conducive to accuracy. If you want to consistently shoot 0.5 moa or better, you must handload. Berger's are more accurate than Sierra's if you are willing to take the time to sort them by oal and bearing surface length. Actually many of us are shooting the Nosler CC bullets in our target guns.We have found they excel in the 264LBC and in the 6.5X6.8. I shoot Hornadys and Sierras in my 243 LBC's using the 87's and 95's match bullets. For varmints I actually prefer the Noslers in many chamberings and then the Hornady. For my 20's it is Bergers or Sierra. Across the board the Green Box does work great but some chambering constraints may come into play even on them.I shoot Bergers a bit but have found in 6 MM the Sierras run with them in my LBC's group wise. YMMV Greg
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Post by savageshooter2k on Jul 27, 2015 14:07:54 GMT -8
The best "average" accuracy you can expect from quality (match) factory ammo is 1moa in any gun or any caliber. You may get lucky occasionally with the odd lot if you happen to get a box that matches the harmonics of your barrel. The main reason most of us reload is to tune the load to our barrel. My experience with Hornady bullets is that they are very good "for the price". As with most things in life, you get what you pay for. If you want a chance to beat 1moa, choose ammo loaded with Sierra Matchkings. They are the most consistent bullets I've tried. Nosler's are great for hunting, but nobody I'm aware of uses them for serious target shooting. They have thick, tough jackets in the bearing surface area which helps hold them together when they hit bone but is not conducive to accuracy. If you want to consistently shoot 0.5 moa or better, you must handload. Berger's are more accurate than Sierra's if you are willing to take the time to sort them by oal and bearing surface length. I agree with the premise of what your saying. I hand load for three precision rifles. I also load this round and my handloads have also seen diminished accuracy. I cleaned the barrel using the method Greg gave me and it did not make a difference. I'm beginning to think I have a problem in the barrel to receiver fit. I'm going to completely rebuild the rifle to see if that changes anything.
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