Spend a small fortune in developing a hunting load for the .308 Bergara ridge 14 rifle or factory load that will feed from the clip.
No luck sofar. The best I can from the clip ( seized for SAAMI MOAL) is 3-4 inches, A Bergara with the medium heavy barrel should do better.
I do have an excellent target load with 168 grain Sierra SMK and Varget @ 2700 fps that needs to be single fed as it is too long to fit in the provided magazine clip. It does 1-1.5 “ 5shot groups at 200yards.
I have read very contradictory comments on hunting with SMK bullets, actively discouraged by Sierra.
Any shooters with Bergara rifles out there that can suggest a load or factory fodder that consistently will print within 2-3 inches at 200 yards fired from the clip magazine?
Any hunters out there that have used SMK bullets successfully for hunting?
After spending a small fortune loading and trying different factory loads without much luck, I can use some helpful suggestions, specially in these days of high prices and scarcity of components.
If I am reading it right, he is loading too long for the mag on the COAL, and that is an issue that can only be solved by seating deeper, or changing bullets or powder. People do kill deer with SMK's, but, avoiding bone other than a rib or neck or spine is a really good idea.
What all have you tried so far, more than one bullet? more than one powder? What is the jam length related to the mag length on that gun?
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I would make sure that your removing the swivels on your rifle to ensure that nothing is catching under recoil
I've used the Berger test and surprised myself when the .050 and .150 off-the-lands loads printed the best. Had very similar results with Barnes. OP should definitely try this method.
If it was my money, new custom barrel. That’s complete garbage for a newish 308. There is no good reason to be crap-polishing when everything is so expensive.
With that out of the way…Ive had good luck with Barnes factory loads in all my rifles. You can also try Barnes ttsx at .050 as that’s reportedly a consistent performer, I’ve seen it mentioned many times on many platforms.
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“Nothing is more persistent than a liberal with a dumb idea” - Ebrand
Have the exact same rifle and first load I worked up shot around 1/2”. I’m shooting 165 accubonds on Remington 9-1/2 primers and brass. I believe I’m at 44.5gr of imr4064 which I believe is around 2700fps but haven’t got to chrono it yet. Big issue is that magazine does not allow you to load long. I started long and then realized that is why I couldn’t get more than 2 rounds in the rifle without causing a cluster in the magazine. So I measured some factory ammo and started there going longer until I got to around 3/8” and said that was good enough for me. Only thing different for me that you can’t do if your in Canada is that I’m running it suppressed. Fantastic elk and deer rifle.
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I feel I was denied, critical, need to know Information!
Bergara 14 Ridge in .308 Win
Linear Mode
