Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles New rifle doesn't like ballistic tips???

I recently purchased a new .270 and have been trying out different bullets to see what she likes. She doesn't seem to shoot any ballistic tips worth a darn. I'm not a hand loader but have puchased some same loads with different bullets from Superior Ammo. Nosler BT's gave me 2"+ groups, so did the hornady interbond. Siroccos gave me a 1.12" group. I know the rifle is capable of shooting incredible groups because I've shot a .37" group with Sierra Gamekings from superior ammo. I really was hoping for one of the bonded ballistic tips to work out so I've since tried numerous factory loads to see what would happen. Still nothing worth a darn but I bought a box of cheap remington express core lokts and shot about a .5" group. All groups were at 100 yds.

What gives here? Do some rifles just not like ballistic tips?

I've tried some hand loaded TSX and shot a 1.25" group at 100 yds.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" />

Would not categorically rule out polymer tipped bullets unless you try handloads. Too many other variables in the mix to say that your rifle doesn't like BTs. At this point all you can say is that it doesn't like factory loads with BTs.
Most accurate loads for me involve powder type and weight. It is my experience that you can usually work up fair loads with almost any bullet type.

A1.12" or even a 1.25" group is nothing to shake a stick at. That's pretty good. Unless you just don't like core lokts, I'd use those.

My newest centerfire is a M70 Winny in 300 wby mag. I did some asking around before buying my first ammo & found some opinions that convinced me that I needed to buy the Fed premium nosler partition 180 grain for my trip (colorado elk)
I was just pi$$ed when I couldn't shoot a group with them at 100 yds & chrono'd about 2900 fps with a 26" barrel! Ahhhh! test barrel listed in the fed book was a 24" & they wrote that they made 3200 fps & I couldn't make 3000 with a 26"!
Well, I talked to a buddy that has been shooting a weatherby lazermark in 300 wby for many years & asked him what he shoots for ammo. He said that as silly as it sounds he shoots rem core lokt. he said it was his first choice, second choice was weatherby ammo & he said that for that gun he'd shoot the fed stuff only as a last resort. I picked up a box of rem core lokt 180 grain & tore a 3 shot hole I could cover with a dime at 100 yds. Big smile, happy hunter.
I've been shooting federal in pretty much everything else I've got for pointed centerfire for a long time, never tried the cheap rem stuff till last year. I took the green box with to Colorado & everything worked out perfectly. I think I'll maybe try em in my 30-06, might switch to them for deer if they shoot good for me.

Crowrifle, the loads I've purchased from Superior ammo are hand loads. I've tried different bullets with differnt load combo's and the ballistics tips give the worst groups across the board. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

If gamekings weren't so fragile, I'd be set. They shot awesome out of this gun.

They may be handloads but are not tailored to fit your rifle. There are too many powder / primer / bullet combinations to rule them out just yet. I generally start with a powder choice that will fill 90 percent plus of case volume without venturing into max loads. I use that as a starting point, and work up in 0.5 grain increments until I begin to see groups that I like. After that I start experimenting with bullet seating depth.

Skinnyme, there are basically two different ways to get accuracy from the rifle. You can either change the loads, or you can change the rifle. Since you don't handload yourself, changing the loads is pretty much out. Therefore, I'd suggest changing the rifle.

One of the simplest things you can do to change the rifle, is to put a little shim into the barrel channel near the forend. Plastic or vinyl works pretty good, usually, since it's pretty stable and won't deteriorate from moisture. cut a piece about 1/2" wide and 1" or so long, and experiment to see what thickness will put just a bit of pressure against the barrel. Shoot that. If that doesn't work, try something a little thicker or thinner, but don't get extreme with the thickness. Just enough to put a LITTLE pressure on the barrel should do it.

Sometimes (not always but sometimes) that will make a given gun shoot a given load when it won't do it with the barrel full floated.

A more permanent option is to have it glass bedded by someone who knows how. Basically, all that does is make the action fit into the stock like a glove. There should be no contact below, on either side or in front of the recoil lug, but other than that, there are no really hard and fast "rules" about how it should fit. Different folks get good results with different methods.

If you've ever stuck a piece of spring or wire into a crack in a table, you know that the sound it'll produce is more uniform and "musical" (no dissonance, or variation in vibration frequency) if it's stuck in the wood solidly. That's essentially all you're doing when you glass bed a rifle - fitting it so that the barrel vibrates uniformly and consistently. The more uniformly and consistently it vibrates, the more likely it is to be accurate with a given load. Simple, really.

Oh yes, I am guessing you've already checked to make sure the barrel is free floated sufficiently ahead of the receiver?

If you want a rifle to shoot a given load, there's really not an option OTHER than to change the rifle in some way, and just experiment until you find what works. Hope this helps???

What about having a gunsmith put a BOSS CR on the rifle so he can tune the barrel to be accurate ? I have seen these for sale for $20.

Conrad

bought a new win 270 last spring; loaded a friends 130,140,150 nosler bal tips. wouldnt shoot worth a darn. tried sierra 140 game kings and 5 shot gps shrank to 1.0 inch at 100 yds. tried nos bal tip in my ruger 338 & got terrible gps; switched to 200 gr sierra & gps shrank to 1 1/4 in at 100 yds. results sound similar to yours.

Interesting thread. I am going through load workup for a new Browning A-Bolt .30-06. Ballistic Tips have given me the best groups in my .222, .243. and 7mm-08, so they were the first choice in the .30-06. The first 20 shots out of the rifle were 150gr. Winchester Silvertips. I shot two groups around 1 1/4". Using a variety of charges with IMR-4350, the best group I got with 150 Ballistic Tips was 3.5"!!
Will

What is the big deal with shooting BT's? It likes Corelokt's so use Corelokts.

I had a 7mm-08 that looked like I'd shot the target with 12ga 00 buck using 140gr BT's, swithed to 140gr Win PP and it dropped to 10 shot <3" groups. So, I used PP's. Those old standards still work.

Exactly.A simple change of powder might result in groups being cut in half.It is the combination of bullet ,primer and powder that makes an accurate load in a given rifle and you just need to find the right combination.

If I understand correctly the boss equipped bolt action rifles have a special bedding that better allows the boss system to work.

I had a model 70 with a BOSS from ~ 1997, and it had nothing special for bedding. Same old blob of hot glue under the front action screw. I think all the model 70's that came with the BOSS had free-floated barrels, though - apparently that is important for the BOSS to function as it is intended. I had it re-bedded with acraglas, and it shot much better. I have no idea what the Brownings use/used.
As far as ballistic tips go, I have never loaded any, so I don't have anything to add there.

good shooting!

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