Hi. I’m new to this forum and new to my SOCOM CQB. I’m trying to find out what this thing likes to eat and what level of accuracy to expect. I would really like to hand-load for this rifle but I have tried several brands of factory ammo. Rifle is to be mated to a lighted-reticle scope using an airborne mount as a dedicated hog gun (off the ATV and out of a stand).
I’ve tried Mil-Surp NATO ammo, PMC Bronze, Winchester Hog Special, Herter’s SP, and even Federal Match. No Bueno nada. For hand-loads I’ve used Hornady 155 A-Max, Hornady 165 BTSP Interlock, Sierra 165 Game King, Sierra 165 Pro Hunter, and Sierra 180 RN. For powder I’ve used H322, IMR 4895, IMR 3031, RL15, IMR 4350, and IMR 4064. All in all, 35 different loads. I’m using Lake City 82 brass. The brass has been FL sized in a small-base RCBS die. Primer pockets have been swaged. Brass has been trimmed to 2.005. Powder charges have been adjusted for use in thicker military surplus brass. I only use CCI large rifle primers. Each different bullet has been loaded to COL according to manufacturer’s spec.
I’ve been shooting through a PACT chronograph and there have been no signs of spikes or dips in velocity within a load group. For load development purposes, I’ve put a Leupold 6.5-20 Long Range scope on so I’m shooting at 100 yards at 20x. All in all, my groups look like patterns. The best I’ve been able to do is about 1 ½†with the A-Max but couldn’t duplicate it and that’s not a hunting bullet anyway. Just using it because I had so many of them and this is my only .308. Today I was able to get about 1¾“ with the 180 RN. It was max load and the very last load of the day. Have to load more and try them.
Does anyone have any suggestions or comments? At this point, I need all the help I can get. I’m not exactly new at hand-loading (40+ years) but this is the hardest I have ever worked to get a rifle to shoot. In the past, I have given up way before this point and gotten rid of the rifle. Just something about this rifle that I like and want to keep it. Thanks in advance for any help, comments, and/or suggestions.
