Range Report Henry Long Ranger .308 Factory Ammo or hand load help!

[jeffwhale7@gmail.com]

Hello All
I just got back from the range with my new Long Ranger in .308 Win. It's topped with a good 3x9 variable optic. I just tried 5 different types of ammo. However, the best group I managed was 1.65" and 1.6" both with Hornady Interlocks 150 grainers. The 165 grain Nosler Partitions shot about 2.2". The Hornady SST Superformance in 150 grain shot 1.9". 180 Federal Fusion about 2". And the Federal Trophy Copper about 3".

Those of you that have a Long Ranger in .308, what factory hunting ammo have you found most accurate? How about handloads? Do any of you have a powder and bullet combination that has shot well? If I could manage 1"-1.25" I'd be confident keeping my shots within an 8" kill zone at 300. Currently I only feel confident to 200 yards with the Hornady Interlock Factory ammo.

Anyone? Thanks in advance.

Jeff

[BigAl52]

Your long ranger will be limited with magazine length. If you reload Id try IMR 4895. If you can find a box of Barnes TTSX for 308 try some. Ive had good luck with those in my 338. They aren’t cheap but they are accurate.

[jeffwhale7@gmail.com]

Thanks Big Al!

[cpaspr]

I don't have a Long Ranger, but my Ruger American liked 44.5gr to 45.5gr of W748 behind that bullet. Pretty tight groupings. At 50 yards the 44.5gr load was .522" x .347" center to center, and the 45.5gr load was about half that at .148" x .234" CTC.

[rickhem]

Can't help you with factory ammo, but I've been loading for .308 for quite a while. I hunt with mine and load the 165SST over 44.0 of Varget. It's easily sub moa in my rifle. I've also loaded that same bullet over 32.8 grains of Varget, and also got sub MOA groups, but have only loaded 20 rounds of that, so not as much experience with it. It has much less felt recoil if that is a concern.
For powder, Varget, IMR4895, or IMR4064 are all great powders. The Speer 125TNT is a good practice/plinking/target bullet, and there are a plethora of 165-168 grain hunting bullets to choose from.

[Hatchdog]

I concur on using Varget but I have only loaded .308 match ammo not hunting loads. But Varget is a powder that creates very accurate loads and is known to be very temperature tolerant.

[rusticbob]

[/img]This is not a bolt action rifle with a one piece bedded stock. 1 1/2” to 2” groups at 100 yards are probably what you can expect out of a new rifle. Hand loading and some break in time should help you if you seriously require better groups.
At the Shot Shot one of the reps for a major bolt action rifle manufacturer told my that “yes” they guarantee 1” mos at 100 yards, but “most” of the people who buy there rifles never take the time to work up loads, or have the talent to shoot those types of groups. He tells the truth from my experience.

[rfd]

There are many factors to consider when attempting to get the best accuracy out of any firearm. Some firearms are accuracy limited due to their inherent build specs and component materials.

Two items will typically stand out about the firearm itself - the type of action (how cartridges are loaded/unloaded) and everything about the bbl, from it's metallurgy to rifling twist rate to chamber drilling and free bore.

An example would the the .45-70 cartridge. If the rifle is a single shot (falling block, rolling block, break open, etc), cartridge length will be dictated by projectile OOAL (ogive overall length). If the rifle is to be loaded with BP PPB (black powder paper patched bullets) then all projectiles will be bore riders and OOAL and COAL (cartridge over all length) have no bearing in a single feed firearm. If the rifle is a lever action, then cartridge length is critical, as it will be for any magazine type firearm.

All of the above is just a precursor for what it takes to build accurate cartridges and cartridge build with load development is generally the next concern once the firearm criteria is well understood, and that can be a long, lengthy, and costly end of the accuracy journey.

[rfd]

Hello All
I just got back from the range with my new Long Ranger in .308 Win. It's topped with a good 3x9 variable optic. I just tried 5 different types of ammo. However, the best group I managed was 1.65" and 1.6" both with Hornady Interlocks 150 grainers. The 165 grain Nosler Partitions shot about 2.2". The Hornady SST Superformance in 150 grain shot 1.9". 180 Federal Fusion about 2". And the Federal Trophy Copper about 3".

Those of you that have a Long Ranger in .308, what factory hunting ammo have you found most accurate? How about handloads? Do any of you have a powder and bullet combination that has shot well? If I could manage 1"-1.25" I'd be confident keeping my shots within an 8" kill zone at 300. Currently I only feel confident to 200 yards with the Hornady Interlock Factory ammo.

Anyone? Thanks in advance.

Jeff

Jeff, I can only relate how I approach cartridge load development for any centerfire rifle. No matter what action or whether single shot or magazine fed I'll first decide on what kind of cartridge I need for whatever the prime use of the firearm I'll need.

If it's chambered for .308Win I'll first decide on a bullet and purchase a box of 100 along with a Hornady Comparator gauge and a .308 Comparator case. Using these tools I'll determine the max OAL (ogive cartridge length), where the bullet will go past the free bore and kiss the rifling lands. Will that max cartridge length fit the firearm's magazine? If not, then making rounds that'll fit the mag will produce cartridges that will need to jump into the lands. How far of a jump? Easy - subtract the max cartridge length that'll fit in the mag from the OOAL max cartridge length.

Build a cartridge to the max mag length and do some simple powder load tests.

Build a few cartridges that are at max ogive length, and a few that are .010" to .020" less than max ogive length. Single feed and test their accuracy. Compare the accuracy of all cartridges. What are the results?

Do load tests at reasonable distances (100yds for me) and on as windless a day as possible. How's the firearm's sight system? How's the firearm's trigger? How's your shooting abilities?

There's usually LOTS more to having as accurate a firearm a possible than just running through some varied brand ammo boxes and seeing which will deliver the best groups. It's also very typical that hand load development with either single fed or mag fed cartridges will produce tighter groups.

Best of luck with your LR .308!

[The Wiz]

Wow! You guys really know a lot about loading. Seriously, I am impressed.