Tuning up a new Ruger American Predator in .308

[WebMonkey]

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I've been doing ok with the mosin the past couple deer seasons but it's just a pain.

bought a new ruger American predator for the sole purpose of shooting cast.
pulled a bore snake with turtle wax chrome polish rust remover through 80 times.
shot a box of final finish bullets through.

lee c309-170-f checked and tumble lubed from c0ww water dropped (only because I like them to cool off quicker)

I've settled on 18.0 grn of 2400 (for the time being) and next outing will work on the oal.
all the rounds I shot today were seated too deep (crimp groove).

I learned quite a few things today though.
I really need good glass.
my eyes are nowhere near what they were 40 years ago.
my bench was nowhere near stable enough to do the rifle justice.
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the below pic has 2 groups.
3 round group at 100 (table and bipod) and the 2 rounds at 50 on a shooting stick. (so I could guestimate the velocity)
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3x32 simmons scope and my weaving like a tipsy tightrope walker are contributing factors.
not to mention the xtra deep seating of the cb.

very happy with the 'feel' of the rifle with the loads today, just gotta get into a groove, so to speak.

'monkey

[pietro]

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Thanks for the range report !

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[WebMonkey]

my goal is to use this as my everyday deer rifle, replacing the mosin.
my 'nest' looks over a draw that ends in a 1/4 acre pond.
distance to deer is from 25 to 75 yards.

i'm attempting a 100 yard zero since, on paper, the flight path works out the best for my intended velocity of 1700~1800 fps.
i doubt i'll ever see an opportunity at 100 yards but it would appear the rifle is certainly capable. it's really on me.

going out to the property again tomorrow with shallower seated projectiles.
we shall see :)

'monkey

[WebMonkey]

169961
my wife is at a beth moore conference with her sister and mother this weekend.

so, I took two daughters and a father in law out to the rec/hunt/getaway property today.

we had .22s all over the place and an m1 carbine, a couple .410 bore and my ruger American predator in .308.

the above are recovered projectiles 11" deep into fairly wet newsprint.
even found a check in there.

I'm thinking my projectiles are a little too hard and a little too small in the diameter.
they were sized in a lee push though that had been honed to .3095

I know that design is a bore ride but the grooves in the lube area don't look real deep.
'mushrooms' are .3445 but only 160gn out of 178 (check+lube weight)
groups were about 1.25 inches @ 100 yards with the projectiles seated at the first lube groove instead of the crimp groove.
oal was 2.601.
really enjoy shooting this rifle with the cast loads.

this'll wrap up this thread.
i'll start a new one when I get some real glass for the rifle.
a different projectile maybe?
http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=30_325&products_id=1756&osCsid=a6d7me79n7p0b42bkoqtbnrk40
maybe that will magically appear under my pillow :)

later all,
'monkey

[robg]

I use the Lee 180g boolit over 18g 2400 seat it to base of case neck (Lee tumble lubed) in my savage sub inch if I'm on form.nice gentle load drops about 18 inches at 200 yards.

[Geezer in NH]

What did it do before you played with the bore??