Got my first long range hunting rifle from Snowy Mountain Rifles a few months ago and simply can't get her to group like I know she should. Have about 100 rounds down the barrel now.
Rifle info
1:10 Twist 28" Remington Varmint Contour Barrel
SMR 416 muzzle break
NXS 5.5-22
Manners MCS-TA
TS-100 SS Series in 338 Lapua.
Hand Load Info.
300gr Sierra Matchkings
89Gr(2700fps) & 93GR (2800fps) loads of Retumbo
Tried 4 different lengths from 3.950 up to 3.979
Laupa brass
Rem 9 1/2 Mag primers
300gr Berger Hybrid OTMs
93gr Retumbo (2800fps)
Tried 3 different lengths, kissing the lands, slightly off the lands, and magazine length.
Laupa brass
Rem 9 1/2 Mag primers
Have done a ladder test at 200 yards that didn't work very well, but my max load with a heavy bolt lift is 94gr with the the SMKs.
Even with all the variations I have tried the rifle shoots extremely consistently, just not very good groups. Best group I think I have had at 200 yards is about 1 1/2".
I'm kinda at a loss now to get these groups tighter. I have been following this guide pretty closely for the loading technique. Hand Loading for Long Range 1: Brass Prep
Perhaps another powder, bullet? With the fired brass length I am still about .20 off of what my max headspace measurement is. My last 2 reloads I have just selected my shortest round and trimmed to its length for consistency. Perhaps I should just not trim until I get up to that max length?
Forgot to add that on my second reloads on this new Lapua brass the case is slightly stiff when chambered even though I knocked the neck back.
Id be extremely grateful for any suggestions you guys may have!
Rifle info
1:10 Twist 28" Remington Varmint Contour Barrel
SMR 416 muzzle break
NXS 5.5-22
Manners MCS-TA
TS-100 SS Series in 338 Lapua.
Hand Load Info.
300gr Sierra Matchkings
89Gr(2700fps) & 93GR (2800fps) loads of Retumbo
Tried 4 different lengths from 3.950 up to 3.979
Laupa brass
Rem 9 1/2 Mag primers
300gr Berger Hybrid OTMs
93gr Retumbo (2800fps)
Tried 3 different lengths, kissing the lands, slightly off the lands, and magazine length.
Laupa brass
Rem 9 1/2 Mag primers
Have done a ladder test at 200 yards that didn't work very well, but my max load with a heavy bolt lift is 94gr with the the SMKs.
Even with all the variations I have tried the rifle shoots extremely consistently, just not very good groups. Best group I think I have had at 200 yards is about 1 1/2".
I'm kinda at a loss now to get these groups tighter. I have been following this guide pretty closely for the loading technique. Hand Loading for Long Range 1: Brass Prep
Perhaps another powder, bullet? With the fired brass length I am still about .20 off of what my max headspace measurement is. My last 2 reloads I have just selected my shortest round and trimmed to its length for consistency. Perhaps I should just not trim until I get up to that max length?
Forgot to add that on my second reloads on this new Lapua brass the case is slightly stiff when chambered even though I knocked the neck back.
Id be extremely grateful for any suggestions you guys may have!
