The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - .30-06 reloading question.

T. O'Heir · December 21, 2008, 03:55 AM

Hi. Barnes bullets are an entity unto themselves due to their solid copper construction. However, a Vanguard is a hunting rifle, not a target rifle. Half inch groups are great, if they're consistent. Consistency is more important than group size in a hunting rifle. Mucking about with the OAL won't help if the groups aren't consistent.
Stringing, as the barrel heats, suggests the bedding isn't right. Likely a high spot in the barrel channel. If you're not getting consistent group sizes, bed the rifle and do a trigger job. Floating the barrel may or may not make any difference. The only way to find out is to try it. Sand the barrel channel until a piece of paper will go freely to the chamber area of a bedded rifle. Seal the wood with any wood sealer. Make sure all the screws are tight and go shoot. If floating doesn't help, put a pressure point back in with a bit of bedding material about 1.5" aft of the end of the forestock. Not al rifles like a floated barrel.
Barnes suggests an OAL of 3.218" for their 168 grain TSXBT too. That won't matter if the rifle is moving in the stock.

December 21, 2008, 03:55 AM	#2
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Hi. Barnes bullets are an entity unto themselves due to their solid copper construction. However, a Vanguard is a hunting rifle, not a target rifle. Half inch groups are great, if they're consistent. Consistency is more important than group size in a hunting rifle. Mucking about with the OAL won't help if the groups aren't consistent. Stringing, as the barrel heats, suggests the bedding isn't right. Likely a high spot in the barrel channel. If you're not getting consistent group sizes, bed the rifle and do a trigger job. Floating the barrel may or may not make any difference. The only way to find out is to try it. Sand the barrel channel until a piece of paper will go freely to the chamber area of a bedded rifle. Seal the wood with any wood sealer. Make sure all the screws are tight and go shoot. If floating doesn't help, put a pressure point back in with a bit of bedding material about 1.5" aft of the end of the forestock. Not al rifles like a floated barrel. Barnes suggests an OAL of 3.218" for their 168 grain TSXBT too. That won't matter if the rifle is moving in the stock. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!