Federal Factory Ammo

I was at my range today trying out some 2217 in the 7-300wsm. In between times I shot a group with my Rem 788 .308 with factory Federal 150gn SP Ammo.

After a three shot group I could barely keep my hand on the barrel, normally I can shoot a couple or three mags before it is anywhere near this temp.
Also the groups were 80mm higher at 100m than my zero.

It was quite warm today, 27 according to my watch. And measured 35 degrees where the ammo was sitting in the sun.

Has anyone else found Federal factory ammo to be this temp sensitive?

As an aside the the main post I found pressure with my 2225 load at 66.5 grains. And never got any signs with the 2217 loadings, still further to go there.

Kyle

I've seen Federal factory ammo fired from 2 rifles in damp conditions/in the rain have extractor marks on the cases.
So def pressure sensitive.

Thanks
@dogmatrix

Ok well....I suppose I will keep that in mind. I was only going to use it to get the brass for the 308

Interesting. From all the fed ammo I have shot and chronoed I have found them loaded very conservatively.
At least 100 to 200fps slower than I can load the rifle.
Greg

I found Fed to head stamp in 308 unless you have a very oversize chamber.
It's just the brass at the head is soft, I have reloaded Fed 308 brass many times with many head stamps all around the case with no problems.

Just glancing at my first post I may not have been clear enough on the fact my rifle was zeroed for this ammo at 100mm. For it to throw them 80mm high was quite concerning.
As you say cam, the head is stamped but that's nothing different.

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Interesting.

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Originally Posted by puku

Just glancing at my first post I may not have been clear enough on the fact my rifle was zeroed for this ammo at 100mm. For it to throw them 80mm high was quite concerning.
As you say cam, the head is stamped but that's nothing different.

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Interesting, can you tell us more about the rifle? is it at all possible a different hold/bipodload/flexystock/parallax issue/level of fouling has contributed?

80mm is no doubt a significant shift... had the rifle sat fouled for some time or had a number of rounds threw since last on paper without cleaning?

I don't think the barrel temp is really an indicator of anything other than the ambient temperature and rounds fired.

Ok. The rifle is a Remington 788. It has the original stock which is pretty solid.
It was shot off a day bag with left hand holding forestock down. I've never had a bipod on it so have always shot it like this.
The rifle was cleaned after the last time it was shot at paper, 18/11/14. However I have shot a handful of goats (maybe a dozen) since then.
I don't recall any knocks to the rifle to upset the scope since last range time either.

The barrel is quite old and tired but in the past hasn't fouled badly.

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Ok just interested as I used it for years with no problems but the rifle I was using it in was sheet of A4 paper at 100y accurate so may not have noticed in that rifle but I have also used it in Sakos and tikkas with no issues other than the head stamping.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by puku

Just glancing at my first post I may not have been clear enough on the fact my rifle was zeroed for this ammo at 100mm. For it to throw them 80mm high was quite concerning.
As you say cam, the head is stamped but that's nothing different.

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You should try sighting in further than 100mm :-)

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Originally Posted by robh500

You should try sighting in further than 100mm :-)

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Right. That's where I've got it wrong then

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Did you zero on a cold and low light (overcast day?). Sounds like your latest shoot was in bright hot day with far less air density. That might explain at least some of the problem

Zeroing at 100m is std target LR practice. If you noticed it there then you have found an issue. My bet is on your setup day. I've seen enormous changes in setting up scopes on my FT airguns. The trick is to do it at about 10am on a day with 1013 hpa (barametric pressure. Pick a day that's not too hot or cold. That and make sure your parallax error is completely dialed away or you're introducing phantom errors right there.

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Originally Posted by Dead is better

Did you zero on a cold and low light (overcast day?). Sounds like your latest shoot was in bright hot day with far less air density. That might explain at least some of the problem

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Yes I believe the day was about 16 degrees according to my range book. I don't note down weather conditions unless there's a breeze.

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Originally Posted by puku

It was quite warm today, 27 according to my watch. And measured 35 degrees where the ammo was sitting in the sun.

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dude you shouldn't have your ammo sitting in the sun, that will definetly raise your pressures a lot, the same with having a live round in a hot chamber

the only good thing about federal if it doesn't shoot in your rifle is the plastic ammo holders :pacman:

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Originally Posted by scoped

dude you shouldn't have your ammo sitting in the sun, that will definetly raise your pressures a lot, the same with having a live round in a hot chamber

the only good thing about federal if it doesn't shoot in your rifle is the plastic ammo holders [emoji14]acman:

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Because we had a month of 32 or more degrees I wanted to see what the measurable difference would be.
And there it is 80mm high