.308 Shilen target accuracy build completed

I finally got my barrel a few weeks ago from Shilen after a 7 month wait. Components used in this build are as follows.

SS .308 S8 Select Match at 26"
L/A BVSS stock
110 Long Action
Heavy Duty precision ground lug from Darkeagle
Bolt lift kit from Dean
Bolt handle from Gary
Rifle basics at 4 oz.
EGW rail
4-16X Centerpoint scope

I only shot 5 shots so far, 2 to zero the rifle at 25 yards and then 3 at 100 yards, I'm going to clean it and consider it broken in, and proceed with load development.


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First 2 shots at 25 yards


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3 shot group at 100 yards, 2 in 1 hole.

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Very nice!

Nice looking rig.

Shoots pretty good, too.

But, I have to ask....
What's all that white stuff on the ground you have there?

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Originally Posted by fgw_in_fla

Nice looking rig.

Shoots pretty good, too.

But, I have to ask....
What's all that white stuff on the ground you have there?

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Frank, That white stuff is the dandruff from hell....lol The older I get the more I hate it....

Dan...Nice looking set up..The stock is the same that my son has...Will be anxious to shoot against you
this summer,,ha ha...We got new benchs and I do not like them...They were made with the seat too far
back....oh well...Don't shoot your eye out....John

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fgw_in_fla

Nice looking rig.

Shoots pretty good, too.

But, I have to ask....
What's all that white stuff on the ground you have there?

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It is snow! and I really like it personally, good for tracking animals for hunting, snowmobiling and the best is skiing. I've got 2 ski slopes in my local area Swain 10 minutes away and Bristol Mountain about 40 min. After a couple a months of old man winter up here I'm ready for summer. I'll get some pic.s of the ski slopes Frank you'll be amazed, did I mention I like to post a lot of photos? LOL

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Originally Posted by acemisser

Frank, That white stuff is the dandruff from hell....lol The older I get the more I hate it....

Dan...Nice looking set up..The stock is the same that my son has...Will be anxious to shoot against you
this summer,,ha ha...We got new benchs and I do not like them...They were made with the seat too far
back....oh well...Don't shoot your eye out....John

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acemisser, thanks as well Hotolds442, the rifle was incredible to shoot with that light of a trigger and having such a heavy barrel basically let the gun shoot itself.

I will finish the load test this weekend in one session five shots at each charge on the same target that I started.
I'm using IMR 4064, Win primer, Lapua brass, and 168 SMK.
The rifle will be wearing the 8-32 NXS Nightforce as soon as I get the right rings picked out. My current 30mm rings are too high for the EGW rail but there just right on the Weaver rail on my 10FP the scope is currently on.

I will work on my photography
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Forgot to mention I had to re bed the area where the lug sets in the stock. I had to grind out the previous bedding material I used to mak room for the large recoil lug, basically the sides are more parallel on the new lug. It was an easy job since I could just tighten down the regular action screws while the bedding cured. It turned out really good and one other thing I did was basically square the action face and the barrel nut by hand turning on a flat file until surface had 100% contact area with file. Just in doing that I could notice a big difference when tightening the barrel nut. It gave that feeling of tightening up action screws on a properly bedded rifle,, no stress.

sounds like your on your way to kicking some butt this summer in the F class..I am anxious to get started already..lol.

Forgot to tell you acemisser that the range is less than a mile from my house it's the Dansville Rod and Gun Club. Max range is about 175 yards, the benches are solid but the seats are too low, I just bring something to sit me up higher. This is my friend Andy shooting his .243 Axis at the 100 yard bench. It's neat, I can hear people's shots from my house easily. Haven;t been able to confirm a .22 shot though.

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our new benchs have the seat too far back on them and there is no adjustment either.....how does that axis shoot-hows the trigger..?

The Axis shoots the 58 grain Amax really accurately, the trigger seemed pretty good for a factory one. I finished the initial load testing, well sort of LOL I'll post up the target soon. One five shot group is just over an inch, I shot this morning, it was low 20's wind around 2-3 mph..Got an ejector mark at 43.5,so I didn't shoot anymore of those. I will try 41.5 with the fireformed brass.

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I'm making more rounds at 41.5 and some at 42.2 and a seating depth test. At 43.5 I got a slight ejector mark, so I didn't fire any more at that charge. I'm not surprised of the early pressure do to the shorter throat and pretty tight chamber along with head spacing the barrel just for this Lapua brass.

looking good Dan....It is surprising what a tenth grain will do.....I increased my load by 2 tenths a grain and it all
came together for me..Sometimes I think it is best to go up only .3 instead of .5


looks like you gonna be a tough one to beat this summer....

been thinking about getting an axis for deer hunting....after the holiday of course......

Got out this morning, it was near 60 F calm and very overcast. I shot my best 100 yard 5 shot group with the 41.5 charge. Things opened up at 41.6 but it was a lot warmer today than when I did the previous test. I think to keep it in this node during the summer match season I may have to drop down to 41.3.

This is with cold clean bore, almost benchrest accuracy LOL. I shot 2 more of the 41.5's at another target and they measured .2" .

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I'm absolutely impressed with this setup right now

I'm using Varget 44gr + 175SMK 26" 1:10 Shilen barrel. This also shot a 0.25" group at 100 yards. No pressure signs at all, but the powder is slightly compressed.

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Originally Posted by Westcliffe01

I'm using Varget 44gr + 175SMK 26" 1:10 Shilen barrel. This also shot a 0.25" group at 100 yards. No pressure signs at all, but the powder is slightly compressed.

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That is my favorite load Westcliffe01, it shoots just under .5" in my factory 10FP barrel that's on the shelf. I run it at 2.780 in Winchester brass and it is slightly compressed, the barrel is 24" and shoots 2650 fps.
I mainly shoot the 168 bullets in the .308 because of availability, and all my shooting will be within 600 yards.

Man... thats looking sharp!!

Thanks Squirrel, The rig is wearing the Nightforce now and seems to like the 178 A-max and IMR 4064.

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The 40 grain load was actually 40.5, a minor screw up as usual, I shot up the 40 grain loads sighting in the Nightforce.

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Here is a comparison of the .308 bullets that I shoot. You can see that the 175 SMK has the least bearing surface, (pictured in the middle).

Left to right, 168 SMK, 168 Hornady BTHP, 175 SMK, 178 A Max, and 178 Hornady BTHP.

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