Improving accuracy

[alderchokedhellhole]

Hi folks,

Looking to tighten up my groups out to 500 yards - I know that’s not long range for most but it’s my personal kill limit on my 30-06 with factory loads - however I’m starting to plink steel a bit further.

My question is….

Besides plenty of practice and discipline, would adding a muzzle brake or getting the rifle properly bedded help tighten up my groups out 300yds that much?

At this moment in time, I can range, dial and shoot - keeping that group in a 14” round plate.

The rifle in question is a Sako 85 Finnlight 30-06 and it definitely has a sporty muzzle jump.

Looking forward to hearing your opinions!

Cheers

PFA

 

[alderchokedhellhole]

I should add - I am shooting 168 grn Barnes TTSX

 

[rookieforever33]

Os your muzzle threaded? Hard to tell from the photo.
A muzzle brake helps with recoil, but adds a lot of noise. It can be counterproductive as the reation to the bang can cause a flinch. My 300 has a muzzle brake which tames the recoil greatly. I can shoot it well but it takes concentration. No way I would take a shot without ear protection either. I would rather miss a shot opportunity. I wish I could get a suppressor where I live.
Other than that I'm not sure what you can uograde on that rifle. Tgey have a great action and trigger from what I've heard.
Maybe try some reduced recoil ammo. If anything it will make trigger time more pleasant so you can practice more.
Good luck

 

[alderchokedhellhole]

Os your muzzle threaded? Hard to tell from the photo.
A muzzle brake helps with recoil, but adds a lot of noise. It can be counterproductive as the reation to the bang can cause a flinch. My 300 has a muzzle brake which tames the recoil greatly. I can shoot it well but it takes concentration. No way I would take a shot without ear protection either. I would rather miss a shot opportunity. I wish I could get a suppressor where I live.
Other than that I'm not sure what you can uograde on that rifle. Tgey have a great action and trigger from what I've heard.
Maybe try some reduced recoil ammo. If anything it will make trigger time more pleasant so you can practice more.
Good luck

It’s not threaded currently but I’m considering it as we can’t have suppressors here in Canada either. Honestly the recoil doesn’t bother me too much since adding the limbsaver but the muzzle jumps is annoying and I’d like to track my shots better.

I’m fine the with noise as I always run earplugs, even during hunts.

Was thinking of lightening up the trigger as well.

Lighter loads makes sense for spending lots of trigger time, probably less expensive as well, a box of Barnes is $90 before tax!

 

[Fetty Wapiti]

With that bullet you are limited to 400-500 yards dependent on mv and elevation, to maintain the speed needed for expansion. What are your groups like at 100?
If you are sub MOA there is little additional work to the rifle that will yield any considerable improvement.
Start with the trigger, then work on form. Preload the bipod and don’t anticipate the shot.

 

[alderchokedhellhole]

With that bullet you are limited to 400-500 yards dependent on mv and elevation, to maintain the speed needed for expansion. What are your groups like at 100?
If you are sub MOA there is little additional work to the rifle that will yield any considerable improvement.

Yeah, I’ve been debating switch to the accubonds, see how they shoot.

I’m about 1.5” moa at 100yds shooting off a bipod and using my pack lid as a rear rest. So I could definitely improve there.

 

[Fetty Wapiti]

That should get you to minute of deer at 500 no problem. I would find a load that gets you sub 1” and then start to practice.

 

[alderchokedhellhole]

That should get you to minute of deer at 500 no problem. I would find a load that gets you sub 1” and then start to practice.

Haha minute of deer, love it.

I’ll definitely play with some different loads!

 

[RWT]

If you want to remove some noise and recoil consider a SME. If you believe that will tighten your groups. $100 US and add value for that they are. You may want to determine if they are legal in Canada

Deer Creek Arms

Redirect the sound and concussive forces from your rifle downrange. Explore solutions now. Stealthblast sound mitigation device

deercreekarms.com

 

[wind gypsy]

Ouch on the ammo cost. I imagine accubonds wouldn’t be cheap either. Your ‘06 will kill well with less expensive and stoutly constructed bullets too.

 

[alderchokedhellhole]

Ouch on the ammo cost. I imagine accubonds wouldn’t be cheap either. Your ‘06 will kill well with less expensive and stoutly constructed bullets too.

Yeah it’s getting stupid up here and accubonds are the same.

A cheap box nowadays is 50 bucks.

 

[Castle Rock]

Load up some 155 grain scenars, guaranteed that gun will shoot under moa and kill anything in Canada.
If you are dialing that scope is a real problem.

 

[alderchokedhellhole]

Load up some 155 grain scenars, guaranteed that gun will shoot under moa and kill anything in Canada.
If you are dialing that scope is a real problem.

Yeah it’s not my ideal scope, I’ll be slapping on a Leica Amplus at some point or an rs1.2

 

[Castle Rock]

The first bit was more important, you will be hitting a 4 inch plate, not a 14 inch one

 

[ztc92]

Another option to consider if your goal is better ability to spot shots would be an upgraded stock with improved ergonomics. I was amazed how much easier spotting my impacts was with a KRG bravo or a rokstok compared to the factory tikka stock.

 

[HandgunHTR]

Lots of good advice here, but the main thing that will help is practice.

It sounds like you are limited to factory ammo, so I recommend finding a cheap, but decent, practice ammo and buying a case (or more) of it. Not sure what your availability is up there, but PPU, Sellier&Bellot, and Hornady all offer economical choices for the 30-06 that are pretty consistent. Trigger time will improve your shooting more than anything.

As for being able to "track your shots", unless you get a different stock and a decent muzzle brake, that isn't going to be a possibility when shooting 150-170 grain bullets with a 30-06.

 

[alderchokedhellhole]

Lots of good advice here, but the main thing that will help is practice.

It sounds like you are limited to factory ammo, so I recommend finding a cheap, but decent, practice ammo and buying a case (or more) of it. Not sure what your availability is up there, but PPU, Sellier&Bellot, and Hornady all offer economical choices for the 30-06 that are pretty consistent. Trigger time will improve your shooting more than anything.

As for being able to "track your shots", unless you get a different stock and a decent muzzle brake, that isn't going to be a possibility when shooting 150-170 grain bullets with a 30-06.

I definitely agree, more trigger time and proper practice is 99% of it.

Ammo selection definitely sucks, but I’ll keep an eye out for practice loads. I have a buddy that reloads so might see if he has any recipes.

 

[SloppyJ]

Have you considered going to a lighter recoiling round? Anything you can do to mitigate recoil will help. We can't give you specifics that if you bed the rifle it will tighten it up X% because who knows what the problem is. It could be with the rifle or it could, and likely has more to do with, the shooter. Personally, I wouldn't enjoy practicing all day at distance with an -06.

A simple switch in ammo could help tremendously but my first instinct would be to suppress it. A thumper is still gonna thump though.

 

[Ramem7mm]

Lots of good advice already mentioned on here but just curious too if you have a secondary rifle that is capable to your desired range that doesn't kick as much that you can practice with and get more efficient then transition what you learned to the 06'? Even a smaller rifle at 100 yards practicing getting your groups smaller might help.

Good luck.

 

[alderchokedhellhole]

Have you considered going to a lighter recoiling round? Anything you can do to mitigate recoil will help. We can't give you specifics that if you bed the rifle it will tighten it up X% because who knows what the problem is. It could be with the rifle or it could, and likely has more to do with, the shooter. Personally, I wouldn't enjoy practicing all day at distance with an -06.

A simple switch in ammo could help tremendously but my first instinct would be to suppress it. A thumper is still gonna thump though.

I haven’t yet tried a lighter load but it’s on my list.

I wish we could suppress up here! Unfortunately my only option is to get it threaded for a brake.