Couldn't beat factory ammo with handloads

[Long walker]

This is definitely a first for me. I picked up a new Savage Axis II Overwatch in 280 AI for a song to use as a lighter weight woods gun (20" barrel and just over 7 lbs scoped). Broke in the barrel with the rest of a box of Nosler factory 160gr Partition that I used for my semi custom Savage 110 for hunting out west. I also bought box of Federal 168gr Berger Hybrid Hunter as that was the projectile I'd hope to use for handloads.

Fired a three shot group at a 100 yards and it measured .668". I thought great it likes the bullet. I proceeded to work up and OCW with the 168 Berger, Peterson brass and RL-23. Found a velocity node about 110 fps faster than the factory ammo that shot pretty well. I checked the node and loaded a seating depth test from .020 to .050 off the lands with .050 basically the seating depth for the Federal load which I shot today.

Barrel was clean and cold so I fired one factory round to see POI for a clean and cold bore shot. It was on center about an inch low. Fired the second shot and it was almost touching. Again I think great I will really be able to tighten that up. Well I didn't. One group was .897 and the rest were a little over an inch. I had one factory round left and fired it last and low and behold it was a tad low which made the group .701.

Two good groups from a very inexpensive rifle where my longest shot will be maybe 200 yards why mess with it. I load for two 6.5 Creedmoors (hunting and target), a target .308 and the other 280 AI and have always been able to tune well below factory ammo and all sub-moa including out to 1000 with the target 6.5 Creed.

Guess I'll have a little extra time this weekend I thought I'd spend at my loading bench.

 

[MUP]

Yep. Unless you're planning to reach out to longer distances you'll likely never notice the difference shooting tight like that with factory ammo. I have a Tikka 7-08 like that, that will shoot a factory round, cold bore, dead center of the bull at 100 yds, so far every time I've shot it. I haven't even begun to start trying to load for it yet. :D

 

[DaveB]

We have a T/C Venture in 280 that shoots very tight groups, similar to your Axis. The load is a Nosler book max IMR4350 charge behind 140 gr Accubonds and 210M primers in R-P brass. The entire .284 family seems to have great accuracy.

I guess the point is factory ammo can be like a virgins kiss, gone real quick.

Myself, I'd be thankful for the factory results and see if I can strtetch my own loads COL a hair or two to tighten things up. Our Axis rifles can only go about .010 MAX over SAAMI, pretty tight throat & chambers.

 

[backyardtndeer]

Nice to find a factory load that will be tight. Never really compared my handloads to any factory, but would be interesting.

Think in the current rifle I am carrying to hunt with it would be tough to find a factory load that would group better. Loading eld x for 6.5 creedmoor over 42 grains imr4350. If I do my part will get holes tearing inside each other or at the very least touching. Barrel is a 20 inch ballistic advantage, been very impressed with it. That said would be curious how the hornady eld x factory rounds match up. My 308 bolt gun with the eld x handloads are almost as tight, cannot run those in my semi auto 308, chamber is fine but the mag won't allow proper feeding.

 

[sgtwebb1]

I had a Model 70 in .270WIN that shot right at 0.6" 100yds (caliper measured) with the Ballistic Silvertip factory stuff.
I loaded for it because those were so freaking expensive, but it never really matched the factory stuff, 0.8" at best.
I loaded or it until I sold it several years ago.
I really, really wish I hadn't sold that rifle.....

 

[wsm]

I have two 6.5 creedmoor rifles and Sierra gamechanger 130 grain will shoot MOA in both,Howa 1500 and Mauser m18 .

 

[Safari Hunt]

There are so many variables that would take a lot of time and text to cover it all. Each firearm will have its own "comfort zone" at to ammunition, primer, powder, amount of powder, etc., or factory load. Even the ambient temperature can have an effect. I have read of guys who will buy a rifle and spend lots of time and money to find "just the right load." If you have a rifle that shoots tight groups with factory ammo, good for you. However, the real test is to try another lot of the same ammo or another brand of ammo with the same bullet style and weight.