The guns on sale were Model 12 Impacts, not Extreme. Supposedly made for long distance. I'm not sure what makes them quantify for "long-distance" other than a rail.
[OFF TOPIC WARNING!] Man that's for sure! Flashlight - the most inherently non-subdued item in our gear. For things that are on my "exterior" when I am in the field, I don't mind if they're camo, or just some other solid dark subdued color (my home state of Arizona doesn't have blaze orange requirement so you can actually get some good out of camo - when I hunt Montana, wearing a blaze vest, what difference does it make?). My Badlands bino harness, for instance, is a dark grey, and it cost half as much as their camo model. And I have yet to have un unfilled tag since I bought it three years ago, so that must be OK. But for years now, stuff that rides in my pack that I only use AFTER the game is down (or the day's hunting is over), is as bright as I can find it, blaze orange preferably. Knives, saws, rope, firestarter/lighters, first aid pack, etc. I hate having to look for "lost" items when I am finished field dressing and ready to start the drag/pack (or just hiking out after dark). Hijack concluded - going to go load up some .308s with the 168 ABLR, Varget, and CCI 200, and will try them out tomorrow.
Let's hear some more range reports on the M12s! Re
The guns on sale were Model 12 Impacts, not Extreme. Supposedly made for long distance. I'm not sure what makes them quantify for "long-distance" other than a rail.
Oops, I must have had a real senior moment - gotta go check my records. Thanks, Rex
I had to go take a look at the tags on the box mine came in just to get a check on my apparent dementia. I think we're OK here. Devnull, we're gonna have to call it a draw (at least).
Cheers, Rex
P.S. Seafire's gonna be even more upset now that it's not just "Extreme", it's "Extreme Impact Black"
The guns on sale were Model 12 Impacts, not Extreme. Supposedly made for long distance. I'm not sure what makes them quantify for "long-distance" other than a rail.
For conventional 308 loads with 150s I like 47.0 grs of imr4320. This would be a top end aka max load. For something more mild 40.5grs of imr-4895 is great for everything except long range.
For an unconventional load my all time favorite is 37.0 grs of imr-4895 powering the cast Gaschekt Lee 309-170 bullet lubed with my homemade beewax formula. Finished gas-checked bullets weight 180grs. Just fired 5 of these into a .91" group at 100yds. Velocity is around 2400fps and leaves a shiny waxed barrel after shooting. This load will make a barrel last forever and the bullets cost me nothing
I had to go take a look at the tags on the box mine came in just to get a check on my apparent dementia. I think we're OK here. Devnull, we're gonna have to call it a draw (at least).
Cheers, Rex
P.S. Seafire's gonna be even more upset now that it's not just "Extreme", it's "Extreme Impact Black"
I stand corrected. I was basing it on Mauser's site in that they differentiated between the Impact and the Extreme. I laugh on the Seafire comment as we have a double whammy now, "Extreme Impact". :-) I wish their accuracy warranted the title.
I stand corrected. I was basing it on Mauser's site in that they differentiated between the Impact and the Extreme. I laugh on the Seafire comment as we have a double whammy now, "Extreme Impact". :-) I wish their accuracy warranted the title.
Don't forget the "Black" part, as in Black Ops, and all such tacticoolness. Kidding aside, Seafire's right about the names that get tossed around by marketing these days. That said, these are nice rifles. Mine is telling me it really wants to shoot but I'm just not finding the magic recipe. My Varget loads are very consistent velocity-wise, but I'm too often getting 1.5-2.0 MOA. I'm going to try moving the ABLRs even further off the lands, as I get good accuracy from Creedmoor Sports factory Scenar loads, and they are WAY off the lands.
I've posted my 10 shot group in the past, maybe here. First loads, no development. This with the 168 gr ELD-Match. Note that the first three of that group were just under a half inch. Two opened it to 3/4" and the remaining five took the group to about 1". For $500 I am thinking it will head out for pronghorn this year.
My M12 is now shooting excellent. It turns out the front action screw was loose. After speaking with Mauser and torquing to 53 in-lbs, the gun is cutting holes at 200 yards. My load was:
My M12 is now shooting excellent. It turns out the front action screw was loose. After speaking with Mauser and torquing to 53 in-lbs, the gun is cutting holes at 200 yards. My load was:
I have some 155 Scenars on the way, and just scored three boxes of the 168 grain Ballistic Tips that shot so well for SU-35. Will report.
Rex
My rifle liked 45.5 grains of Varget with the 168 NBT today. The target on the left is .040 off the lands - the one on the right is .020 off. Will have to see if this is repeatable and fire 5 shot groups. [EDITED to add: I also shot 46 grains with both of those OALs and that charge was not as accurate.]
Greetings. Today I reshot the group with the 168 NBT and 45.5/Varget that grouped so tight last week, and I tried the 155 Scenars for the first time using (what I believe to be) Pat "Scenarshooter"'s load - also 45.5/Varget. I seated the 168 BT .020 off the lands and tried the first 3 Scenars at .020 off, and .005 off for the second 3 (which is what I think Pat uses). You can compare the 168 photo to the one above from last week. The first shot landed right in the middle of the sub 1/2 MOA group from last week, but I pulled the second shot right, and called it real time. When shot #3 also landed right on POI from last week I figured I was good to go, and decided to shoot the second three rounds into the same target. But those three opened up to 1.38. These final 3 shoots were the fifth group I'd fired today, if that means anything. [EDIT: I fired the second Scenar group in between the two 168 BT groups] My hold felt just fine for those shots. Velocity was consistent with last week 2716 vs. 2722. See the pic.
The Scenars showed promise, both seating depths were sub-MOA, and supports what I had read that Scenars are not fussy about OAL. Velocities were about 2765, and extreme spread/SD were good. See pics.
Anybody else have any updates on their loading for these rifles?
Who's planning to hunt their M-12 Extreme this fall? I still haven't decided.
