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Scott Wagner

I finally decided to "pull the trigger" and try this long range game. I read and re-read all of Nathan's books and most of the articles on the website. I bought a Rem 700 varmint model in .308. I put a Timney trigger on it, and stabilized and glass bedded the plastic stock with the Match-grade compounds. I also bought a steel trigger guard, because wher I started torquing the screws to 55 inch-pounds, the screw started to go through the stock plastic guard. I went to the range today to try it out. I am using Lapua palma brass. I went ahead and loaded up .5gr incremental loads from book min to book max using Varget. I used 168 gr A-max, and 178 gr Eld-M bullets. I also coated the bullets with HBN. I got a sub-0.400" group with the A-Max at 2870 fps at 100 yards. I couldn't measure it because the wind took the target away. I got a .297 and a .397 with the Eld-M at 2590 and 2615 fps. All bullets were loaded 0.150" off the lands, which is the same as the factory A-Max loads. I used a military sling off sandbags, and "held the forend." Three of the other groups were also well under moa, but over 1/2". I have hunted for years, and used to shoot some small-bore silhouette with rifles and handguns, but I have never shot groups like this with any centerfire rifle. I still have a lot of load development to do to fine tune things. Then I can start to practice at longer ranges. I have to say, if you do it like Nathan says, it will work. Thanks Nathan!!! :)