11-28-2011, 10:16 PM
salm0trutta Wrote:Should I keep it, or not. (I thought I could do a poll, but now I can't find it)
Just got back from the range today, the details..
Shooter- me, pretty average I think, no indication I am a 1/2 MOA shooter, but I am probably better than 1 MOA.
Range conditions, very good, slight breeze, 35 deg.
Gun- Sabre Defence 20" SS MED. contour, full flutes, Gill brake, 6.5 G. Zeiss Conquest 4.5-14
Ammo- AA Berger 115g HPBT, 2465fps on chrono at 6 ft.
Group 1: 3-shot .9"
Group 2: 3-shot .9"
Group 3: 5-shot 1.1" (first 4 shots went .5")
I have no idea the capability of the ammo I am using, and my only expectations for the gun is that it is at least sub MOA, for as far as 600 yds. I plan on reloading
for it as soon as I shoot up the shells I have. What do you think? Is this about as good as I can expect in a light 6.5 G setup? (I don't want a heavy bench type setup) Or should I send it back and hope the next one is better? Thanks for your opinion....
SAL:
What is your 'gut' instinct? You are probably right.
I have never owned a barrel that was defective yet performed well past about 100 yards. You may get it to group relatively well at 100 but I bet it will never group as well as it could. And when you get to 200 with any load, you will find that things won't get better with distance even if you use the best components for the ammunition.
You see, since you already know the lands and grooves show damage, you will never know if poor performance was the result of the barrel or your loads and marksmanship ability. It is always a good idea to eliminate any confounding variable when you are messing with a precision instrument.
LR1955