Lightweight rifle accuracy

[scotch_egg]

Get some Hornady TAP through it.

My proof research barrel shot well with all te loads I put through it. I’m not buying the hood the forend ethos. Just make sure what you are doing it consistent.

Out of interest what make is the Titanium action? What scope have you thought there might be an issue there? Even the best scopes fail sometimes.

 

[Selous]

Take the mod off. If it has been bumped it may have deformed. I had this with a F&D moderator that caused my rifle to vertically string shots over 2 MOA. I swapped mods and straight back to all shots touching

 

[jthyttin]

I’m not buying the hood the forend ethos. Just make sure what you are doing it consistent.

If you're shooting different positions, say sticks, prone and bench, holding the forend usually means least POI dispersion between positions.

 

[HonestJohn]

Get some Hornady TAP through it.

My proof research barrel shot well with all te loads I put through it. I’m not buying the hood the forend ethos. Just make sure what you are doing it consistent.

Out of interest what make is the Titanium action? What scope have you thought there might be an issue there? Even the best scopes fail sometimes.

What do you mean you’re not buying the hold the forend ethos? It’s a 100% proven issue with light rifles in non-mild recoiling calibres.

Are you saying everyone is wrong?

The reason people shoot ok off a bipod is usually because it’s ‘not’ a featherweight barrel. Take a 30-06 in a 18” featherweight barrel and a 165g load, put on a bipod and shoot without holding on to the beast, see how it groups…then do the same with a good front daypack or sandbag rest,
Nipping the forend with a slightly firm hold, and watch the groups shrink before your eyes.

 

[nun_hunter]

What factory ammo have you used?

I've got a couple of old boxes of GGG 308 target ammo saved for situations like this. I've shot this through numerous rifles and it's always been very accurate so it's my go to round for initial set up and testing and then use it if I think there could be an issue later on as I'm 99% sure it'll still shoot very well.

 

[hendrix's rifle]

What do you mean you’re not buying the hold the forend ethos? It’s a 100% proven issue with light rifles in non-mild recoiling calibres.

Are you saying everyone is wrong?

The reason people shoot ok off a bipod is usually because it’s ‘not’ a featherweight barrel. Take a 30-06 in a 18” featherweight barrel and a 165g load, put on a bipod and shoot without holding on to the beast, see how it groups…then do the same with a good front daypack or sandbag rest,
Nipping the forend with a slightly firm hold, and watch the groups shrink before your eyes.

I'm going to disagree, as someone with a lightweight 7rem mag, it doesn't really make much difference (on the rifle I shoot) and I have tried. It doesn't matter if I hold the forend or not, it still shoots but with a different point of impact. Consistency is key as always. If you're doing it one way, stick with it and don't change it

 

[tim@tcs]

It may be pertinent to have someone else shoot the weapon and check all fixings before doing so

As part of military training the final resort for a recruit unable to group was for the instructor to fire a test group in front of the recruit. If that didn’t work off to the workshop it went!

 

[tim@tcs]

What factory ammo have you used?

I've got a couple of old boxes of GGG 308 target ammo saved for situations like this. I've shot this through numerous rifles and it's always been very accurate so it's my go to round for initial set up and testing and then use it if I think there could be an issue later on as I'm 99% sure it'll still shoot very well.

This, I have found it always prints a group in a different place to the other ammo but it’s always a good group

 

[scotch_egg]

What do you mean you’re not buying the hold the forend ethos? It’s a 100% proven issue with light rifles in non-mild recoiling calibres.

Are you saying everyone is wrong?

The reason people shoot ok off a bipod is usually because it’s ‘not’ a featherweight barrel. Take a 30-06 in a 18” featherweight barrel and a 165g load, put on a bipod and shoot without holding on to the beast, see how it groups…then do the same with a good front daypack or sandbag rest,
Nipping the forend with a slightly firm hold, and watch the groups shrink before your eyes.

Slightly firm hold. So which is it firm or slight? Correct body position even off a bipod a light rifle can be shot of a bipod to manage the recoil impulse without it jumping. But then it’s what works for the individual. Try everything once. If it works it works.

With a mod on recoil impulse will be different to unmoderated as well. I shoot a light .308 with 165g Sierra match kings and a 16” barrel. The rifle weighs 6.1lbs in its own. I’m used to a light rifle. Maybe not a 30-06 but still a kicker.

 

[User00040]

Again...

 

[Smellydog]

Again...

View attachment 345295

The dude saying it's a snake....his fly is undone!

 

[HandB]

I find that light rifles with relatively beefy cartridges do require a bit more care when shooting in order to deliver tightish groups. For example I own a BSA 7x57 that weighs about 7lbs. It could be classed as a lightweight rifle as it has BSA's featherweight Schnabel stock which is skinny in shape and mostly hollowed out (rather than their much superior American classic stock which I adore). The stock is too noodly to shoot with a bipod so to shoot it accurately I shoot off a knapsack or bag and make sure I am really locked into the stock by pulling it firmly into my shoulder pocket and also holding the forend firmly. If I do that it shoots about 2MOA with iron sights and about 1 MOA with scope. For example here is a four shoot group shot with a scope at 200yds from a November 2023 Bisley trip. If I don't shoot it with the above technique, it sprays bullets all over the place.

 

[Mungo]

I spent years fighting with a .308 that wouldn’t group consistently.

I tried absolutely everything, and convinced myself it was me, even though I could shoot everything else perfectly well.

It was the rifle - specifically the bedding.

As others have pointed out, we really have too little information to make a sensible diagnosis, but with a moderated .308, if it’s unable to group less than 2 MOA, I think it’s extremely likely there’s a problem with the gun.

 

[enfieldspares]

I’m not getting anything better than 2 MOA. Shooting strings of 3 leaving 10 mins between strings.

Not long enough. My advice? Fire two shots only (as a first shot and a second "follow up" shot BUT ON A SECOND TARGET ALONGSIDE THAT USED FOR THE FIRST SHOT) as you would with a missed first shot) then go and do something for half an hour. Then repeat again and take another half and hour an repeat. You've now two three shot groups. One a cold zero and the other a "follow up" shot zero. That's as good as it will be IMHO. Lightweight rifles are one, maybe two, shot tools.

 

[enfieldspares]

Lightweight rifles are a joy to hunt with. They are not high volume shooting range rifles.

This. Which is what my post immediately previous suggests for a true test of its worth.

 

[hw101]

I have just purchased a very lightweight rifle, in .308

The new rifle is a custom with 22 inch Proof barrel, titanium action and carbon fibre stock. Moderator is a Atec H2.

I am not recoil sensitive, and find the .308 a pleasure to shoot.

My issue with the new rifle is accuracy. I’m 120 rounds into load development using 2 different bullet weights and 3 different powders. I’m not getting anything better than 2 MOA. Shooting strings of 3 leaving 10 mins between strings. For reference my other heavier rifles are all sub .5 MOA after load development, but they were showing promise within 50 rounds. I have also tried some factory ammo. Am shooting prone and have tried bipod and front bag both with rear bag.

Have checked all the usuals, stock screw torque, picatinny screw torque, scope ring torque etc. The scope is brand new. I’ve lined up on target and dry fired with no flinch.

My thoughts are that the problem is with me, my technique/hold/support not the kit.

Any suggestions gratefully received

It’s not you if you can shoot 0.5 MOA with your other rifles. It’s either the bullet you’re shooting …or the rifle.
.308 is generally regarded as being easy to reload for. Have you tried factory ammo? Is the twist suitable for your bullet length?
Who made the rifle?

 

[Mungo]

Who made the rifle?

I wonder if the ‘titanium action’ part of this story provides most of the information we need.

It won’t be the first of these that I’ve heard of giving unfixable grief…

 

[Rutland lad]

Can you enlighten us as to the maker of this rifle please

 

[75]

Can you enlighten us as to the maker of this rifle please

Nah, it's Stalking Directory where folk post half the info, don't follow up on questions others ask, don't like the suggestions that are made, then have a flounce and it ends in a row...

 

[dropmdead]

Rule out the simple stuff -
Try various factory ammo
Try a different stock
Try a different scope
Try different rings
Try different moderator
Try a different shooter.

If non of the above can't get a combination that works to sub moa, contact the person who did the rifle to have a look over it


I would suggest to initially keep away from home loads to help diagnose until you have a baseline of consistency and accuracy to work from and fine tune