I am having a reloading issue and would like some guidance. I just got a 308 Win back from being rebarreled (Bergara 20” barrel) and I can’t get it to shoot good groups using the 168 gn ELD-M. It shot 1/2 MOA before being rebarreled, but now it is shooting from 3-7” groups. I have tried the following powders: Varget, H4895, CFE223, BL-C(2), VIHT N-140, AA2015, AA2460, & AA2520 with book velocity listed at 2550 fps. These are the powders that are available here on the island. Seating depth is 20 thousandth’s off of the lands/groves. Should I go up or down in projectile weight? What would you suggest that I try? I am at wits end!
This is most likely items you already know about or tried? I found my Bergara Divide has a long freebore and does not like shorter cartridges; ie longer jump. I am still experiments how deep to seat bullets; 6.5CM. Other is that the more I shoot it the better it seem to be getting. Did you chrono to see which powder had the best SD and ES? You could try some 150Gr but the 168gr ELD-M should perform. Might try .030 off lands and then .010 to see if any difference. Like I said after get around 60 rounds my rifle it kind became more consistent.
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What works well for me in my 20” 308 is seated to 2.22 BTO for 168 gr bullets. BL-C at 46.0 for just over 2700 with ablr. 8208xbr 42.6 gr=2700 fps. 44.5 varget behind 168 hornady bthp for bug holes and just below 2700fps. These are not hot loads in my chamber, but it’s also not a bergara barrel. All of these shoot sub 1/2” for me.
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Why was it rebarreled if it was shooting well before? It’s still a Bergara factory barrel?
I would not try a bunch of powders. I’d try different bullets. Really any bullet you wish, but if you’re currently getting 3-7” groups I doubt that’ll fix it to try another powder.
The previous barrel had worked itself loose and they wanted to test it to find out how it had.
Dang I was like, holy crap, 308 barrels last FOREVER, how did he shoot that thing out?
Agree with Jim, could try a different bullet or even a few rounds of factory ammo just to verify, but something sounds wrong with the new barrel. maybe they put on a smooth barrel or something silly.
Probably a bad barrel or chamber. I’d toss it and start over before burning the cost of a barrel or more in components trying things. 3-7” is definitely not a powder issue, and almost certainly not even a projectile issue.
Ok, so here is what I have done to fix the 308 rifle issue:
Retorqued the action screws to 45 flbs
Retorqued the scope base to 30 flbs
Checked that the barrel was tight and free floating
Replaced the Vortex scope with a Leupold Mark 4HD
What did i forget?
Just out of curiosity, why would you re-barrel if the current setup was shooting 1/2 MOA?
This is why…I thought that they were just going to retorque the barrel on and check headspace, but they put a new barrel on it.
Unintended consequences. I hate it when that happens!
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I’d send it back and have them retest it and probably replace the barrel again. I wouldn’t spend any more money on chasing accuracy, especially as it should still be under warranty.
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