Lightweight rifle accuracy

[Bowland blades]

First thing speak to the guy that built it ! If they are proud of their work and reputation they should be keen to find out if there is anything they got wrong- that includes you of course ( though i cast no aspersions. ) The man who never made anything wrong frankly never made much at all.
2 moa at 100 yds i assume ? because if its 2 moa at 1000 it aint to bad for a light 308 rifle on a less than perfect day and unproven ammo

 

[VSS]

2 moa at 100 yds i assume ? because if its 2 moa at 1000 it aint to bad for a light 308 rifle on a less than perfect day and unproven ammo

2 moa is 2 moa, regardless of distance.
1.0472 inches is 1 minute of angle at 100 yards. So, at 1000 yards, 2 moa = 20.94 inches (if my maths is correct).

(If I could put bullets into a 20" circle at 1000 yards I'd be over the moon!)

 

[Utectok]

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...

Don’t u just love it

 

[User00040]

Delete thread before its too late, put ad on Guntrader or Klassifieds a few months down the line

 

[hw101]

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...

To be fair, I don’t blame the OP for not naming the ‘gunsmith’.
If the gunsmith is who I suspect it is, they can be very difficult if you question the quality of their work.

 

[hendrix's rifle]

To be fair, I don’t blame the OP for not naming the ‘gunsmith’.
If the gunsmith is who I suspect it is, they can be very difficult if you question the quality of their work.

And if that's the case, don't use them...

 

[HonestJohn]

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

Take it back to your smith and request they demonstrate acceptable accuracy on paper. If they can’t, they need to fix the barrel fitting or bedding

 

[Rutland lad]

To be fair, I don’t blame the OP for not naming the ‘gunsmith’.
If the gunsmith is who I suspect it is, they can be very difficult if you question the quality of their work.

Yes - hence my question. There are few that work in titanium, and I did wonder if I had dealt with the provider of this weapon in the past.

 

[HonestJohn]

If brought back, could well be the reply will be along the lines of “I did say an ultra light 30 cal was a bad idea”

 

[dropmdead]

Yes - hence my question. There are few that work in titanium, and I did wonder if I had dealt with the provider of this weapon in the past.

I've never seen a Ti action (in the metal), only heard of the Remington from years ago and know of the custom from the USA.
Is there a list of the gun plumbers who supply and build such rifles in the UK (feel free to PM me)

I've always strived for light weight and accuracy with lighter cartridges to keep everything in balance - the ultimate in stalking?

 

[Mungo]

I've never seen a Ti action (in the metal), only heard of the Remington from years ago and know of the custom from the USA.
Is there a list of the gun plumbers who supply and build such rifles in the UK (feel free to PM me)

I've always strived for light weight and accuracy with lighter cartridges to keep everything in balance - the ultimate in stalking?

There is a UK producer, with something of a reputation for creating problematic guns and being challenging to deal with…

 

[Scuffy]

As I mentioned in the original post……. It’s not the rifle, it grouped at 0.3 MOA prior to me collecting.
Those who presume and have asked by P.M if the rifle was made by Lawrence Precision…. It wasn’t. I will add that the sound moderators I do made by Simon are by far the best moderators I have.
Thanks everyone for the advice on managing the recoil a little better. I have also been advised to use bags for load development instead of a bipod.
I have had a long chat with the maker and now have the recipe for the ammo used for pre collection testing and he has given me some further tips on shooting a lightweight rifle.

 

[geoffw]

One that worked for me, whether prone or off sticks, is to have my left hand consistently bearing down on the scope with the weight of my arm hanging down.
This significantly reduced muzzle flip on a light .308 for me, I believe it was something a NZ long range shot recommended. I find it’s more naturally consistent than my fore end grip.
good luck

 

[tim@tcs]

There is a UK producer, with something of a reputation for creating problematic guns and being challenging to deal with…

Just the one?

 

[75]

Just the one?

Well the one mentioned a couple of posts up certainly wasn't the one I was thinking of so at least 2

 

[75]

As I mentioned in the original post……. It’s not the rifle, it grouped at 0.3 MOA prior to me collecting.

Sorry, I didn't see that in the OP (and still can't). Had you made this clear then I think you could have avoided 3 pages of speculation and very quickly got comments back to speak to the 'smith and find the load he used to shoot 0.3MOA.

Which you have now done so I hope you get on back on track with this load.

 

[HonestJohn]

and therein lies the issue with lightweight rifles. Few can shoot them well, and those who do, have to work hard it getting it right.

I foresee another lightweight custom rifle coming up for sale soon, that, again, nobody wants apart from bits and pieces off the build.

I do hope for the OP it doesnt come to that.

As a PS. Why the F*** did the smith who demonstrated 0.3” Moa not tell you the recipe or ammo used? Or, possibly, they were utterly bulshjiting - even a test target can be taken from any other rifle unless you observed it

 

[Mungo]

As I mentioned in the original post……. It’s not the rifle, it grouped at 0.3 MOA prior to me collecting.

I would be very suspicious indeed of that claim, and would ask to see it being done. You might have done - if so all well and good. If you haven’t, I think that would be my next request, and if there are ‘reasons’ why this can’t happen, walk away.

 

[ejg]

I have had four 300WM custom rifles up to now. The most accurate is the lightest one of the lot. Lighter by up to 1.5kg.
This light 300wm has a stock weighing 680 grams, a proof carbon barrel and Hausken 224 mod shooting 208gr at 2800fps. Even absolute beginners can shoot that rifle accurately. I blame it on the way the rifle is set up. If a rifle is difficult to shoot then the set up is wrong. Set up gets more important the lighter the rifle is.
edi

 

[tim@tcs]

Stock design used to be critical and I often look at the old Rigby 275 design as a masterpiece of recoil management (not that the cartridge is severe) in the days when form followed function. Nowadays a brief look at modern stock designs shows that the reverse is true and that form is more important but sadly function is left behind and everyone is expected to adapt to modern designs regardless!
You can make modern stocks with modern materials and technology that follow function and will work as well as an expensive piece of walnut!
Stocks can be designed for shooting and we should consider the primary purpose over the latest must haves!