All shots at 100 yards!!

Took the AR556 with the red dot Aimpont Micro and 3X burris to the range today and it shot lights out with Federal AR223 55gr. It shot good with the IMI 77gr Match HPBT.

Also took the Sako 85 30-06 with Trijicon 3-9X40. I have been very discouraged that I cant seem to touch bullet holes on every shot but apparently that is setting my goals too high for my skill level I guess. I noticed that it is supposed to be a free float barrel and itis not a free float barrel so I have been concerned about my accuracy.

Be brutal and let me know what you think. I am pleased with todays range trip. Once I got the scopes back on target I thought I shot well.

1st target in center is a combo of 150 gr core loct (3 shots)and Federal 223 55 gr(4 shots). Bottom right is 77GR Match HPBT (6 shots)
2nd target was very disappointing kind of since this is my chosen hunting bullet. I think it is my best grouping but it is low on target 2 inches vs the other bullet brands. 168 gr Hog Hammer BarnesTSX (4 shots). why is this?????
3rd target is 150 gr Core Loct (3 shots). Not bad but not perfect like some of you guys are.
4th target is 180Gr Federal Premium Power Shok (7 shots). Damn good I think especially since the 3 bullseyes were my last 3 shots!

I dont understand why the hog hammer 168 gr was so low? ANyone have ideas?

this was 180gr Federal Power Shok. not bad for me

Because it's different ammo, and is going slower, with a heavier bullet. You were zeroed for 150 gr bullets, and 168's went low. That's as normal as the sun rising in the east.

When bullets are impacting low, believe them. Bring POI up, in the scope.

This is why everyone should hunt with the exact same box of ammo they zeroed the rifle to.

I assume I should just figure out how many clicks (Probably 7 or 8 at 1/4 MOA) to adjust my scope when shooting this ammo. And adjust my scope each time according to what ammo I use? Is that part of learning a rifle system and how it responds to different bullets?

its too expensive to shoot hog hammer all the time at $2 a bullet. I like to shoot plenty when I go so I am forced to shoot the cheap stuff

the 180 gr wasnt lower but then again it is Federal and not from remington like the other 2 are and I assume they could be using different powder

Thanks JG I always respect your opinion and appreciate the help you have given to a lot of us on this site.

Just out of curiosity, but why are you wanting to shoot multiple different kinds of ammo? Why not just pick one that your rifle likes, zero your rifle with it, and just continue to use that

THIS. I only mix up ammo when I'm trying out a new rifle or the rifle is a plinker. Once I figure out a good factory round or handload I stick with it so I know what to expect everytime I shoot it.

I really cant tell which one it does like best. Since I have only had this gun 1 year I am trying to figure out what it does like that is why I have a few different brands.

Hog Hammer 168 Gr was on sale at Academy for $22 a box and I bought about 12 boxes and now I am down to 8 boxes or 160 rounds. In my opinion that is the best hunting bullet but once I run out of those 8 boxes then they cost $38 a box which is too much. I will typically shoot at least 20 -25 rounds at the range and would like to shoot more but it costs too much. SO I buy Core loct which is about $18 a box and that is what I use to practice and plink with so I dont shoot up all of the good stuff.

Yes, take notes. Learn where each ammo zeroes from another. You may want to note what ammo the rifle is zeroed for, then dial in the proper correction for the change in ammo.

FYI, you will see groups opening up when switching back and forth between all copper ammo and standard lead bullets. I hate scrubbing barrels, so I don't use the all copper bullets anymore. No need for them, especially for Texas game.....unless using the 30-06 on Nilgai and even then, I'd try 200 gr Nosler Partition first. Did I say how much I hate scrubbing barrels?????

I'm proud of you for posting REAL life groups of your guns.

Zero and hunt with the high dollar ammo, practice with corelokt (cheap ammo). Also practice with a snap cap, sighting on objects out of your windows, learn your trigger, its the key to real accuracy.

I'd say your GTG

Oh yes, save your brass. You will load your own someday

Fwiw, my 06 prefers 165gr core lokt over any other factory ammo. I tried 5 or 6 different boxes of shells a while back and found what it likes the best. There isn't anything in Texas that cheap core lokt won't put on the ground in a single shot.

I am happy with these groupings since this is not a sand bag or stabilized position. I can tell my dry firing practice at home has helped all summer

Should I be concerned about the barrel and stock touching and not being a free float system like it is supposed to be? Or just be happy with these groups and Im good to go like Buzzsaw says.

You're not really shooting a precision gun, ammo, scope so I wouldn't worry about it. In a couple weeks when everyone is re-zeroing their deer rifles you'll see that you're not doing all that bad.

For best accuracy, I don't like to mix bullets and powders in one range session. I will clean between different lots of ammo and/or bullets. But for hunting purposes getting 1-2 moa groups, it won't matter much.

Point of impact (POI) is what you are seeing between the different bullets. Different bullets will leave the barrel differently with different speeds, so always zero your rifle to the bullet you plan to hunt with.

If you want to shoot more for less, look at my 308 Win ammo. For the money, it's the best I can make for the lowest cost.

168 A-max at $82 per 100 rounds

http://dallasreloads.com/product/168-a-max/

Thank you gentlemen. I feel more confident now that I am on the right track. On my next range session I will reset my scope to zero out on my hunting bullet and hit both the 100 and 200 also

Sorry Chad she is a 30-06 and not a 308

true dat

X2

The worst mistake many hunters make is to check their shooting skills by shoring up EVERY practice shot they make with sand bags, rather than practicing as they will be shooting in the field. The bench is more to verify the accuracy of the rifle, rather than the shooter.

I make it a point to include shooting my 30-30 with open sights in my practice regimen because it challenges both my shooting and eye sight capabilities. It's like swinging a leaded bat and makes shooting with a scoped rifle much more effective.

If you're going to reach out to 200 on your next trip......I'd switch out that wedge for a 4 iron, +/-. P_102

Good eye P102 That is a 57-11 MP-T5

this