Help with Fierce cold bore accuracy recommendations

[.300 Dakota]

Hey guys, I have an old college buddy who is looking to upgrade his long-range rifle. He currently uses a Browning X-Bolt HC LR in 28 Nosler with 1:8 twist and 26" barrel. He was looking at their Pro and McMillan models, but I have steered him toward Fierce at the same or just slightly more price point. He found one online that is apparently an older model (he is looking at 300 Win Mag only due to the availability of components) with a 26" barrel and 10 twist. He called Fierce and they are talking to him about the newer models, which have 24" barrels and 9 twist.

He hunts in Southern corn/bean fields, and most of his shots are 300 - 500 yds, but can be as far as 750 or 800 in the extreme.

His current 28 Nosler shoots 1/2" at 200yds, which is where he has it zeroed, but he missed 3 really big deer last year, which was attributed to lack of cold-bore accuracy. He uses H1000, so temp stability should be ok.

I am trying to see if any of you have experience with the Fierce rifles and know if the cold bore accuracy is really good on any of those, or if there is another comparably priced maker that's better. The Fierce rep was telling him that many people had best cold bore accuracy with their carbon fiber wrapped models. I don't have enough experience with CF barrels to advise him. His main concerns (and mine) is that the new guns have 24" barrels with 9 twists and weigh 6 pounds or nearly so, vs the 26" 10 twist barrels in the older models. He wants to use a 165 grain bullet, which is flatter to 500 than 210 - 250 grainers that would be better for really long range. Also, at 6 - 6 1/2 pounds of rifle, he's going to take a pounding with the big heavy bullets. He shoots out of an elevated shooting house and doesn't have to carry the rifle miles on end, so I'm telling him the newer lightweight, fast twist models are trendy and perhaps the best designed sheep/mt goat rifles on the planet, but may not be the best designed Sourhern whitetail rifle.

Cold bore accuracy is his main concern. Any advice around Fierce or others on this subject?

 

[L.Sherm]

If he missed 3 deer and it shots .5 moa at 200 its more than cold bore.
Out of all the guns I've shot and loaded for ive never had one that would shoot that bad to miss 3 deer cold bore.

 

[.300 Dakota]

Quite possibly. Still, any advice on Fierce or others would be appreciated.

The 28 has worked well for him in the previous year. The temp was a good bit colder on the hunts than in load development, but H1000 was used. Could be that the cold bore PLUS some variation in pressure from some temp sensitivity? I think the shots were closer to 300yds, also. Between two and 3 for at least one but around 300 for the other two. He's changed scopes (twice), and now identifies cold bore placement as the unchanging variable that may have been the straw that broke down the wagon with whatever other factors at play. I think his shots the first year with the rifle were inside 200, up to 250yds.

 

[The Oregonian]

If he missed 3 deer and it shots .5 moa at 200 its more than cold bore.
Out of all the guns I've shot and loaded for ive never had one that would shoot that bad to miss 3 deer cold bore.

It shoots 1/2" at 200, so 1/4 MOA. I'm with you, something doesn't add up and I think it is something other than cold bore accuracy. I'm not trying to blame your friend, but I bring it up bc I think y'all are barking up the wrong tree by focusing on cold bore.

 

[sturner]

^^^^^
i agree

 

[The Oregonian]

Quite possibly. Still, any advice on Fierce or others would be appreciated.

The 28 has worked well for him in the previous year. The temp was a good bit colder on the hunts than in load development, but H1000 was used. Could be that the cold bore PLUS some variation in pressure from some temp sensitivity? I think the shots were closer to 300yds, also. Between two and 3 for at least one but around 300 for the other two. He's changed scopes (twice), and now identifies cold bore placement as the unchanging variable that may have been the straw that broke down the wagon with whatever other factors at play. I think his shots the first year with the rifle were inside 200, up to 250yds.

No, it shouldn't be temp or cold bore. And if it was either of those things he needs to work around them by having a cold weather load and knowing where his cold bore hits relative to follow up shots.

If it shoots 1/4 MOA at 200, he would have to miss by a lot to flat out miss a deer at 300. Like maybe 10" or more depending on his point of aim.

 

[.300 Dakota]

Possibly head positioning. Ok. Thanks guys.

 

[sturner]

Never understood cold bore

 

[LaHunter]

My money is on shooter error.

 

[Quintus]

I am just getting rolling with my first Fierce rifle in 6.5PRC and I am impressed so far. With any rifle I always note my cold bore shots and I always shoot prior to a hunt if I get a drastic weather change from my last session. Going from 40F to -25F can have a dramatic affect regardless of powder used. His current rifle is probably fine, he may need to shoot from his stand and verify his zero from that shooting position and note his cold bore shots. My guess is his field position is changing his mechanics.

 

[tribb]

I am just getting rolling with my first Fierce rifle in 6.5PRC and I am impressed so far. With any rifle I always note my cold bore shots and I always shoot prior to a hunt if I get a drastic weather change from my last session. Going from 40F to -25F can have a dramatic affect regardless of powder used. His current rifle is probably fine, he may need to shoot from his stand and verify his zero from that shooting position and note his cold bore shots. My guess is his field position is changing his mechanics.

Yep

 

[softtail103]

I have many Fierce long range package rifles. I have no cold bore issues at all. 771 yards on a elk last year with my 300 PRC. This sounds more like a shooter issue than a cold bore issue if the .5 @ 200 numbers are correct.

 

[Clyde M]

I was recently called out for stating that I only care about the accuracy of my hunting rifles, from a cold barrel. I fire three shots under field condition from a cold barrel fairly quickly. Once I work up a load for a rifle on the bench, then I tune it for actual hunting conditions. I would hate to be on a hunt of a life time and miss because my first shot didn't go where I wanted it to go. Every rifle is different in this respect, just my thoughts.

 

[shinbone]

Ah, com'on guys. The OP comes up with a creative excuse to buy a new rifle, and ya'll shoot him down. Where's the enabling support?