AZ Jim
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2006
- Messages
- 835
- Reaction score
- 13
From previous post -
"Recently I picked up a Winchester .308 model 100 for my daughter's bull elk hunt. It has a 22-inch barrel with a 1 in 12 RH twist. Due to the terrain we will be hunting, I estimate average shooting opportunities in the 50 to 200 yard range, with 300 yards on the outside extreme. I want to have the best accuracy, penetration, energy transfer, and terminal performance I can get.
I was wondering if anyone out there has a recommendation / opinion based on experience as to the best cartridge manufacturer, bullet type / weight combination to use. The reps. at the different gun shop / sporting goods stores out there all have so many different opinions. I am hearing "use only 150 grn. Winchester XP3's" to "use the 180 grn. Federal Premium Trophy Bonded Tip" and everything in between. I know the gun will prefer / shoot some rounds better than others, just looking for some advice where to start considering 30 to 45 dollars a box for ammo.
I did try some 165 Hornaday GMX bullets and the gun was shooting 1.5 to 2-inch groups at 100 yards."
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
UPDATE:
OK, So I broke the bank and loaded up on some ammo of different manufacturers, types and bullet weights. Here are the test results.
- I used the same shooter throughout the test, my son, he shoots better than me now.......
- Same gun, a Winchester model 100 semi auto, 22-inch barrel, 1 in 12 RH twist
- Nikon Buckmaster 3x9x40 BDC scope
- Shooter was seated at a solid concrete bench using sand bags. Limb support was the same throughout to provide stability
- Barrel and action were cleaned between each type of ammo
- Four shots were fired of each ammo type, 1 fouling shot and the following 3 that were measured for the official group (fouling shot not counted)
- Shooter was allowed plenty of breaks to rule out fatigue
- Barrel was allowed to cool between different ammo types (some times slightly warm, but never hot)
- Shot groups were measured, photographed, and recorded before changing to the next ammo type
- Shot groups were covered after recorded to ensure they were not mixed up with the previous group
- Outside temperature started at 70 degrees and rose to 82 degrees by the time the test shooting ended
- Wind was gusting intermittently throughout the day, - care was taken as much as possible to shoot when the winds were the most calm
- Shooting distance was 100 yards
- If the shooter felt the shot was not clean, that shot was counted / measured, but also noted as a possible error
1) - Remington Core Lokt Express - 180 grn. Core Lokt PSP bullet - 3-inch group (1 possible error - .50 inches without error shot)
2) - Nosler Custom - 165 grn. Nosler Accubond bullet 2.25-inch group
3) - Federal Premium - 180 grn Trophy Bonded Tip bullet 2.75- inch group (1 possible error - 1.25 inches without error shot)
4) - Hornaday - 165 grn. GMX bullet - 2 1/2-inch group
5) - Federal Premium - 180 grn. Nosler Partition bullet 4.25-inch group ( 1 possible error - 1.5 inches without error shot)
6) - Barnes Vortex - 168 grn. Barnes Tipped TSX bullet - 3.25 inch group ( 1 possible error - 2.5 inches without error shot)
7) Federal Premium - 180 grn. Barnes MRX bullet - .75 inch group - (best consistent group after fouling shot):smiley-mouse:
More work to do:
I need to finish zeroing the rifle / scope to shoot 2-inches above the bulls-eye at 100 yards and pick the 2nd best grouping ammo type that comes closest to impact point as the Federal Premium with Barnes MRX bullet. I will use this stuff as the back up ammo to bring along on the hunt. The MRX stuff was $60.00 dollars a box. Anyone know where I can find the MRX stuff cheaper ?, I heard they don't make it anymore.
AZ Jim
"Recently I picked up a Winchester .308 model 100 for my daughter's bull elk hunt. It has a 22-inch barrel with a 1 in 12 RH twist. Due to the terrain we will be hunting, I estimate average shooting opportunities in the 50 to 200 yard range, with 300 yards on the outside extreme. I want to have the best accuracy, penetration, energy transfer, and terminal performance I can get.
I was wondering if anyone out there has a recommendation / opinion based on experience as to the best cartridge manufacturer, bullet type / weight combination to use. The reps. at the different gun shop / sporting goods stores out there all have so many different opinions. I am hearing "use only 150 grn. Winchester XP3's" to "use the 180 grn. Federal Premium Trophy Bonded Tip" and everything in between. I know the gun will prefer / shoot some rounds better than others, just looking for some advice where to start considering 30 to 45 dollars a box for ammo.
I did try some 165 Hornaday GMX bullets and the gun was shooting 1.5 to 2-inch groups at 100 yards."
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
UPDATE:
OK, So I broke the bank and loaded up on some ammo of different manufacturers, types and bullet weights. Here are the test results.
- I used the same shooter throughout the test, my son, he shoots better than me now.......
- Same gun, a Winchester model 100 semi auto, 22-inch barrel, 1 in 12 RH twist
- Nikon Buckmaster 3x9x40 BDC scope
- Shooter was seated at a solid concrete bench using sand bags. Limb support was the same throughout to provide stability
- Barrel and action were cleaned between each type of ammo
- Four shots were fired of each ammo type, 1 fouling shot and the following 3 that were measured for the official group (fouling shot not counted)
- Shooter was allowed plenty of breaks to rule out fatigue
- Barrel was allowed to cool between different ammo types (some times slightly warm, but never hot)
- Shot groups were measured, photographed, and recorded before changing to the next ammo type
- Shot groups were covered after recorded to ensure they were not mixed up with the previous group
- Outside temperature started at 70 degrees and rose to 82 degrees by the time the test shooting ended
- Wind was gusting intermittently throughout the day, - care was taken as much as possible to shoot when the winds were the most calm
- Shooting distance was 100 yards
- If the shooter felt the shot was not clean, that shot was counted / measured, but also noted as a possible error
1) - Remington Core Lokt Express - 180 grn. Core Lokt PSP bullet - 3-inch group (1 possible error - .50 inches without error shot)
2) - Nosler Custom - 165 grn. Nosler Accubond bullet 2.25-inch group
3) - Federal Premium - 180 grn Trophy Bonded Tip bullet 2.75- inch group (1 possible error - 1.25 inches without error shot)
4) - Hornaday - 165 grn. GMX bullet - 2 1/2-inch group
5) - Federal Premium - 180 grn. Nosler Partition bullet 4.25-inch group ( 1 possible error - 1.5 inches without error shot)
6) - Barnes Vortex - 168 grn. Barnes Tipped TSX bullet - 3.25 inch group ( 1 possible error - 2.5 inches without error shot)
7) Federal Premium - 180 grn. Barnes MRX bullet - .75 inch group - (best consistent group after fouling shot):smiley-mouse:
More work to do:
I need to finish zeroing the rifle / scope to shoot 2-inches above the bulls-eye at 100 yards and pick the 2nd best grouping ammo type that comes closest to impact point as the Federal Premium with Barnes MRX bullet. I will use this stuff as the back up ammo to bring along on the hunt. The MRX stuff was $60.00 dollars a box
. Anyone know where I can find the MRX stuff cheaper ?, I heard they don't make it anymore.AZ Jim
