Thread: a newbie to reloading , sako 75 finnlight 270wsm with a vx5

I was thinking 6" at 500 yards is a very tidy group and a very dead deer out to maybe 700....... much further than I would contemplate trying.

Originally Posted by BRADS

Bang on Shane
This thread is in an example of that

Dunno about over thinking, he asked about getting tighter groups so the advice given has been directed at just this, being a sako 75 which come with a 5 shot moa garuntee I'd be very supprised if it wasn't capable of sub moa groups unless its completely trashed.
Have owned a few sako's now and all of them have been capable of sub moa groups with a bit of load development even my dirty old thrashed 270 finnbear.

Anyway hope the op can get some help and isn't bamboozled by all the info being flung at him

2870fps with 150gn SSTs?
It's going too slow, that's the problem.

Originally Posted by Shearer

2870fps with 150gn SSTs?
It's going too slow, that's the problem.

Definitely on the slow side, I'd be trying adi 2225 or retumbo which is the same powder under a different label.
Also I'd be trying pretty much anything but sst's
145gn eldx
150gn berger vldh
150gn lrabs
Would be at the top of my list

since when has 8" been considered a "big bit"?????????

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

who would I recommend?????? ...Nathan Foster....located just down the road in the naki...knows his shit....

Thank you mate. Thats what im after. cheers

Originally Posted by dannyb

Definitely on the slow side, I'd be trying adi 2225 or retumbo which is the same powder under a different label.
Also I'd be trying pretty much anything but sst's
145gn eldx
150gn berger vldh
150gn lrabs
Would be at the top of my list

Have some 2225 and the eldxs waiting to be used.
I only had 2217 and 150s when purchased

Originally Posted by vtkomene

Have some 2225 and the eldxs waiting to be used.
I only had 2217 and 150s when purchased

I had great success with the eldx in my 270wsm and they were pretty easy to develop a load with not too fussy on jump although with a 75 you should be able to seat them right out and get some great speed.
I found them to perform well with bang flops on everything from 40 yards out to 400 yards.
In the 270wsm you should be able to get 3100fps or better with the 145gn eldx I was getting 3153fps in my a7 which has a shorter magazine which limits how much powder you can stuff in the wsm case.

Danny I've owned more sakos than I care to remember mate.
My point was more some of advice is a bit over the top.
I could count the number of people on this forum on one hand who would no what look at in a borescope its not something you'd suggest for the average hunter to try.
As was suggested its a finnlight wsm not the easiest to shoot long range for a good group.
My suggestion to the op would be try some good factory ammo and see if it solves the issue.
If it doesn't send it @7mmsaum on the forum who's work would run circles around Nathan's.

so thats 30 posts and 2 suggestions /answers to original question....

Originally Posted by BRADS

Danny I've owned more sakos than I care to remember mate.
My point was more some of advice is a bit over the top.
I could count the number of people on this forum on one hand who would no what look at in a borescope its not something you'd suggest for the average hunter to try.
As was suggested its a finnlight wsm not the easiest to shoot long range for a good group.
My suggestion to the op would be try some good factory ammo and see if it solves the issue go.
If it doesn't send it 7mmsaum on the forum who's work would run circles around Nathan's.

Rest assured I'm not trying to compete with you on number of sakos owned
I wasn't suggesting he looked at the bore himself with a borescope I was questioning where he got his information about the barrel being "pretty good" and wether this was his assessment or if he had the barrel inspected by someone who knew what to look for and had the appropriate tools to make such an assessment maybe I wasn't clear on that.
I never had any issues shooting good groups with my wsm so didn't consider that as part of the equation to be honest.
Good on you for reccomending 7mmsaum had no idea he did load development, after all we are all trying to help the poor fella out.
Granted it's easy to go very deep into a rabbit hole....sometimes too deep.
I believe the op tried factory ammo with less than average results too.

Originally Posted by dannyb

Rest assured I'm not trying to compete with you on number of sakos owned
I wasn't suggesting he looked at the bore himself with a borescope I was questioning where he got his information about the barrel being "pretty good" and wether this was his assessment or if he had the barrel inspected by someone who knew what to look for and had the appropriate tools to make such an assessment maybe I wasn't clear on that.
I never had any issues shooting good groups with my wsm so didn't consider thst as part of the equation to be honest.
Good on you for reccomending 7mmsaum had no idea he did load development, after all we are all trying to help the poor fella out.
Granted it's easy to go very deep into a rabbit hole....sometimes too deep.
I believe the op tried factory ammo with less than average results too.

I here ya mate.
I hear you on factory ammo but we don't what/how many makes he tried.
If he's new to shooting the wsm wouldn't be making it easy for him, without knowing if its braked or suppressed.
Yes 7mmsaum does a fantastic job particularly on sakos and if this chap is time poor and in the Central North Island id recommend him.

My question is, what sort of groups do you normally shoot at 500?


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Originally Posted by mimms2

Unless you're really pushing the envelope then two shots of .270wsm shouldn't be heating a barrel to inaccuracy.
Cold-bore shots will generally place different. And if you really want to eliminate temperature then wet cloth over the barrel, leave bolt open and cool for 5 minutes between shots.
Most powders now are temperature-insensitive, so "warming" one in a fired chamber isn't generally going to show up on chrono. certaintly not enough to "fly"

Another thing OP, is where do they "fly"? do you both shoot high, low, left? or is it "random"?... in which case it probably isn't a flier but the rifles inherent accuracy. Again. Shoot 10.



Who said he was going hunting? He was asking after tighter groups.

Agree its unlikely that two shots would overheat it that much, and agree if using a temp stable powder then velocity increase will not be the mechanism. but, there are other mechanisms of accuracy loss from a hot barrel, for example stress relief, barrel expansion increasing contact area, changed harmonic response etc. i dont know much, but i know more than i used to, and that is one of the things i have learned.

For what else its worth, i have also learned that good shooting technique is extremely important for small groups and very difficult to master. i think there would be a small market for coaching if anybody was inclined to set something up. I am toying with setting up a slow-mo camera to try to self analyse my shooting, as I cam sure that all of my poor groups are just my poor shooting.

Your rifle is a fine rifle and I'm sure it's accurate to boot, the wsm is a bit of a beast to take in a light rifle though like a finn and there are guys that no matter how much load development is done, simply won't be able to shoot them well. You most likely just need trigger time before vomiting money out all over the show trying to chase tiny little groups.
The finn in 270wsm get pretty warm pretty quick. I know... Got carried away and shot about 40 odd rounds at a stupid deer target before someone finally told me you won't hear your hits.. Its made from plywood, not steel. She was glowing hot... Needed new barrel after that lol