New rifles

[Kentucky]

My friend and I both bought Savage Axis .308s. My Buddy bought some Remimgton 150 grains and I bought some Remington 180s. I thought that havering a 9.5 twist that the heavier bullet would be more stable. We both sit down and preceded to go through the BORING barrel breaking in by Savage instructions. Anyways when all was sails and do e my buddies 150s were grouping pretty nice and my 180s were all over the paper. Is the 180s too heavy for that rifle? I now know that Savage recommends 168 for best results and when I start reloading all this brass I will go to Hornady 168 Z Max unless told different .

 

[Clever]

Need more info:
Be more specific, Is the rifle bone stock, scope base and rings, trigger pull, are you shooting off of sand bags or Bi-Pod, what kind of scope..

Savage Axis .308Win

308 WIN
Rate of Twist 1:10
Weight:6.5 lbs
Overall Length:43
.875"Barrel
Length: 22"
Ammo Capacity: 4


If this is what you have? the rate of twist right or left is 1;10. I would recommend FGMM 175gr HPBT Sierra Match King, Black Hills or Hornady in the same format. Torgue to proper in pounds (Stock, Base and Rings). Lighten trigger pull 3.5 t0 3.0Lbs would be Ideal.
When you start reloading the rifle will let you know what it likes. I know that Hornady 168gr A-Max is a good projectile, I am not familiar with Z-max. Good Luck

Clever

 

[FearNoWind]

It's difficult to say whether or not that 180 grain bullet should shoot well in your rifle. As bullets get heavier they also get longer. That can make stabilization problematic. But it still depends on the bullet shape, etc. Your rifle may shoot one style of 180 grain bullet just fine and another will perform horribly. However, IMO and based on the manufacturer's recommendations, I'd suggest you work with a lighter bullet and establish a base line for comparison before trying to work with something that you already know doesn't make the cut.

 

[Rockfish Dave]

I doubt the twist rates are the issue. Your 1:9.5 twist and his 1:10 twist should easily stabilize the 180's.

Sounds like something else is going on. Have you checked to make sure:

• the barrel is floated?
• the lug (at a minimum) is bedded
• the action screws are torqued correctly
• the scope rail is secure
• the rings are torqued to the scope base
• the scope paralax is set correctly
• that the scope is not malfunctioning

Those would be the first things I'd check. If those are all okay, I'd consider sending back for Savage to take a look at.

 

[sable tireur]

My friend and I both bought Savage Axis .308s. My Buddy bought some Remimgton 150 grains and I bought some Remington 180s. I thought that havering a 9.5 twist that the heavier bullet would be more stable. We both sit down and preceded to go through the BORING barrel breaking in by Savage instructions. Anyways when all was sails and do e my buddies 150s were grouping pretty nice and my 180s were all over the paper. Is the 180s too heavy for that rifle? I now know that Savage recommends 168 for best results and when I start reloading all this brass I will go to Hornady 168 Z Max unless told different .

Online diagnostics can be extremely frustrating simply from the standpoint that we can't see the rifle or actually handle it. So our options are limited to resorting to the endless lists of 'what-ifs' or taking a stab at WAGs.

The first thing I would ask is to either define 'all over the paper' or put up a picture of the target with a scale for reference. Reason: I have a bench rifle which will routinely shoot in the 3's without much of a problem. However, occasionally my groups open up to be in the 4's, which to me with that rifle is 'all over the paper'. It's all in the context.

Second, I would let your buddy shoot some of the 180's while you try some of his ammunition in your rifle. This should tell you quite a bit immediately. We know that the twist rate is fine but rifles can be finicky things where sometimes particular load combinations will not perform up to our expectations.

Third, are you capable of steering this rifle as set up, to acceptable groups? I don't ask this to be mean. I ask you to examine your ability in conjunction with this rifle to see if you might be a little awkward or uncomfortable with the design. Was your hold relaxed and steady?

I suggest starting with the list above just to be sure that everything is tight and has been checked to eliminate it from potential problems.

That should get you going.
Regards.

 

[FEENIX]

My friend and I both bought Savage Axis .308s. My Buddy bought some Remimgton 150 grains and I bought some Remington 180s. I thought that havering a 9.5 twist that the heavier bullet would be more stable. We both sit down and preceded to go through the BORING barrel breaking in by Savage instructions. Anyways when all was sails and do e my buddies 150s were grouping pretty nice and my 180s were all over the paper. Is the 180s too heavy for that rifle? I now know that Savage recommends 168 for best results and when I start reloading all this brass I will go to Hornady 168 Z Max unless told different .

MontanaMarine shoots them 215 Berger VLDs in 1:12" out of his .308 Win, granted it's a custom load and have the altitude on his side, but just want to point out that the bullet weight and twist rate noted shouldn't be a factor.

Handloads are developed and customized for a particular rifle. I have 3 .300 Win Mags (one of which is a Savage) and none of them have the same load. Having said that, your rifle probably just doesn't like that particular load (as noted above), that will change when you start hand loading.

You have gotten pretty good recommendations, but please take no offense but make sure it's not the nut behind the trigger that's causing the challenge on hand. gun)

In the early 1990s while at Tucson Rod and Gun Club range, I fired 3 rounds each from of my 3 rifle and have to wait until the range is cleared and safe to retrieve my targets.

While waiting, I was admiring the set-up of the shooter to my right; a beautiful Blaser rifle in .30-06 topped with S&B. He was shooting factory ammo and was very frustrated as he was adjusting his scope often.

He asked if I can help and I gladly obliged. I fired 3 shots; I was 2" high and 2" right from his last POI but was well within 1 MOA at 100 yards. He fired 3 more shots and it was even worst than his last shot. However, I did noticed he was jerking the trigger and anticipating the recoil ... also closes his eyes in doing so.

Come to find out, he had shot 3 boxes of ammo already and the best I can advise him at the time was go home and come back another time. Unfortunately, that was the last time I ever saw him at the range. In this case, it was clearly the nut behind the trigger.lightbulb

Good luck and happy safe shooting/hunting. Cheers!

 

[Laelkhunter]

Just for fun, shoot three of your buddie's 150 grainers out of your rifle, and let him shoot three of your 180 grainers out of his rifle. OR you can let him shoot your rifle with your loads, and you shoot his rifle with his loads. See if the rifles still group the same with different shooters.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Just for fun, shoot three of your buddie's 150 grainers out of your rifle, and let him shoot three of your 180 grainers out of his rifle. OR you can let him shoot your rifle with your loads, and you shoot his rifle with his loads. See if the rifles still group the same with different shooters.

I think this will tell the tale. gun)