OCW: GAP 300WM 190gr SMK RL-22

[coues7]

I've had this rifle built in 2007. It was built by George himself. I've shot match grade ammo, reloads and everything in between. I've never really been able to get anything under .75 MOA until today.

I started fiddling (AGAIN) with the 190gr SMK's and Reloader 22 again today. Doesn't GAP base most of their rifles off of the FGMM round?

According to OnTarget the best groups today were 0.597" and 0.599" both at 73.4gr.

Load Data:
Federal once fired brass
190gr SMK
FGMM 215M
RL-22 (Charge as shown)
2.873 (Base to Ogive)
Set at 2.863 (0.010 off lands)
Reloaded on Forster Co-Ax
All charges weighed on Acculab
Redding Type-S Competition Dies w/ 0.335 bushing

Sierra's Max load was 72.7gr (I never saw pressures signs on any of my stuff)

Below are my targets. Any thoughts?

Is it me? Is it my shooting?

 

[extreme]

COUES 7,
I would just like to know if you have been in contact with ga-precision and with george himself. what was said and why didnt it go back..
I have a 338 lapua being built as we speak ,,,with a 3/8 or less guarantee with match grade ammo.I hand load so after break in it,s up to me.
They have a lot of rifles out there shooting with my gurantee and less.
So what coarse of action did you take.

 

[coues7]

I've talked to George multiple times and have opted to keep trying. I'm **** near ready to give up.....

Here's a little background on how I'm shooting my rounds:

I should have explained my firing procedure. I'm doing EXACTLY as you described. I shoot a single round of a particular charge, put a Coleman air bed infiltrator into the barrel and let it run for 2 minutes. Then shot a single shot of another powder charge and repeat the cooling of 2 minutes.....All shots were done round robin.

One set of targets was shot a 0630 this morning and then another set was shot a 0900. I couldn't get any consistency out of the 1st set (written in red) so I shot the 2nd set (written in blue).

All shots were taken prone off a bipod.

For a $3500 rifle that is guaranteed to shoot 1/2 MOA or better is **** ******.

 

[Birddog75]

Just my opinion, but I think your too focused on powder and not enough on seating depth. I've seen groups like that shrink to .2 with just .010 difference in depth. I've also had real good luck in my 300 with H4831sc. Good luck, hope she comes around.

 

[coues7]

Do you recommend coming in or out with the seating depth?

 

[Birddog75]

Take your best charge so far and try .05 increments longer and shorter till she comes around. Start with a clean fouled barrel which I'm sure you are. And don't forget the cleaning rod in case you jam one in the lands.

 

[coues7]

I'll start with .05 increments next Friday. I still don't even know what to focus around is the only problem. I know tight groups are great, but when it comes to OCW that is not the original intent. I don't see any real consistent Point of Impact (POI).

 

[BountyHunter]

If this is a magazine gun, go to max COAL always to start. That way you only have one way to go and you find the magic seating depth much quicker and faster.

You see the issue starting in the middle now. Do you go up or down on the seating depth?

Plus RL22 is not normally known as the powder of choice in the win mag. I do not like its lot to lot variation that it has a long history with.

How about 4831 ir 4831 SC or something similar that is not as temp sensitive or known for lot to lot variations.

BH

 

[Mikecr]

a 3/8 or less guarantee with match grade ammo.

This is a pipe dream, bordering delusion..
For one; What EXACTLY is 'match grade ammo'?
Stop & think about this because it's just what OP is searching for to get the claimed results.
Why is he searching for it? Wasn't it guaranteed?
In my experience 'match' grade ammo -actually matches something(an exact load for my chamber).

This is perfectly inline with the Gunwerks discussion, and my contention that any customer should be buying the LOAD, that performance is guaranteed with, rather than merely another well built/expensive gun that leaves you no better than factory. That is, until YOU figure out how to get it shooting..
And truly, neither OP or GAP have any idea at this point just how well, or not, that gun will shoot. Right?
What kind of guarantee is that really?

Now I know GAP has built a bunch of really good shooters. But so has anyone else, including factory. So anyone should ask themselves what they are REALLY getting for their money(performance wise). Is it still a crapshoot, or a sure thing?
I would make GAP honor a guarantee by producing the load that meets it -for you.

 

[greenron15]

I shoot a GAP crusader in 308. .25 moa to 300 yards. I don't shot the 338 because of the recoil and flinch it causes. Maybe its you and not the rifle.

 

[coues7]

Doubtful

 

[coues7]

Went out and shot some more groups this morning. I focused on 73.0, 73.2, and 73.4 and set the jump to 0.05". I think I'll focus on 73.4 and 73.6, but put the seating depth at 0.01".

 

[Michael Eichele]

A couple of years ago I had the same problem with a rifle that 'should' have been accurate. I could never find any good accuracy and when things looked promising it would not stay consistent. As it turned out, the rifle was scary accurate but the problem I had was from the scope causing stress on the action. I mounted a one piece base with NFUL rings torqued to specs. The problem was the action not being perfect. Once I 'bedded' the base and lapped the rings, the problem went away.

Sometimes it is not the shooter or the rifle but some other key component. It does NOT take much of a flaw somewhere to create stress on the action, barrel or both.

 

[coues7]

I've checked the rings/bases.....GAP mounted all that but I rechecked it. I'll look into it though. I appreciate your input Mike.....goin' after some coues after Thanksgiving