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Hard to shoot sub 1" with a 150 gr in a .30 cal?
Travis Hallam
Member Posts: 1,044 ✭✭✭✭
I was wondering if it is difficult to get a 30 cal to shoot a sub 1" group using a 150 grain bullet? I used to shoot great groups with a .308 Warbird in a 165 grain but the 300 WSM finnlight I shot did not seem to shoot too well using them. It shot good enough to take 2 really good bucks at 265 but the group was closer to a 2" at 100 yards then the usual less then 1" group that I am used to getting with Sako's. I liked the rifle but sold it hoping for something more accurate. I have the chance to get another in the same caliber and I am aware that every rifle will shoot one bullet better then another but just wondering if it is difficult to get a 300 WSM to shoot tight with a 150 grain. I had a nice muzzle brake so recoil was not an issue at all. Thanks for any help.
Comments
If not try different brand of factory
and see what you get.
For what it's worth.
W.D.
Bullet LENGTH, barrel twist (and a hundered other factors that you CANNOT control unless you handload) are all factors in the INHERENT accuracy of any bullet/rifle combination.
There is one question I would like to ask however, what size groups are you getting at 200 (and or 300)yd?
I'll let you do the research yourself, but there is a known phnominon that occures with bullets that start out spinning to fast, and it often takes them more than 100yd to completly settle down.
With good bullets it will shoot 1" and that's with iron sights, all day long. Granted that's one of my best shooting iron sight military guns, but it surely can be done.
The main thing is the twist rate to be concerned with, and the consistancy of the ammunition you are shooting. As an example, I have a friend that has a civilian M-4 carbine with a 1-8 twist. He also had another varmint upper with a 1 in 12. I told him for gophers and coyotes to use the Hornady 40 grain V-Max loads in the varmint upper. In the M-4 upper they produced groups of 2-3 inches at 100 yards, and in the varmint 1/2 inch. When he switched to the 62 grain match load in the M-4, his groups were MOA or better. So all of this said, I suspect that the rifle you had either had a mechanical problem or the twist was a bit fast for the lighter bullet weights.
Best.