Yes, or farther. And chances are that the bore prep process you mention is a complete waste of time.
Based on some of your posts, you march to the beat of a different drum, which is your prerogative.
Some of us use stocks that are already made and proven in competition, and some of us want something custom. Some of us buy hundreds and hundreds of dollars in bullets to work up loads (and later sell those which aren't the keepers), and some of us buy a couple hundred bucks worth, and others might buy a couple of boxes or a few bullets at a time.
That's what makes it a horse race.
Bill, other then the fact that many competitors singly feed each round into their AR chamber, but I don't because I'm not engaged in competition, (so I prefer to use the magazine as the semi-auto weapon it was was designed as) I'm surprised that I might be much different then other folks who shoot for accuracy. And, why shoot a new test load at a longer 100 yard distance.....the longer distance being a factor which tests your skill and leaves you more vulnerable to wind conditions, when all you're trying to do is check the potential accuracy of the hand load?
I have found (not surprisingly)that when testing hand loads for the first time at the 50 yard range which produced 1/2" tight clusters, this same hand load also produced tight clusters at the 100 yard range. At the same token, the other handload that produced 3/4" or 1" groups at the 50 yard range, did not suddenly get tighter at the 100 yard range so that it outshot the handload that gave me the 1/2" groups) I've never fired at longer ranges, so maybe 600-1000 yard shooting works differently.(?)....and this is perhaps why my 50 yard sight-in procedure isn't of any use to you. (?)
I really didn't think that my barrel prep regimen is so odd. It is recommended by the custom barrel makers too....even if directed in slightly different variations. (one particular manufacturer might recommend cleaning every 3rd shot after the frst 20, while I prefer to clean after every shot up to 30 shots) I believe this is escpecially suited for factory barrels like the DPMS 308 that don't have the ultra smooth bore and benefit of factory hand lapping.
I can't debate with you that some competitors will spend hundreds of dollars in bullets and other stuff seeking the ultimate winning formula. I draw the line at $150-$200 in bullets. Normaly, after studying dozens of threads, I can find a recommended winner. That is; if 3 guys say that Varget and 175SMK's work in their DPMS, it's a good gamble that some sought of variation with this powder and bullet will also work in my rifle. If not, then I try Varget and a 155 Lapua bullet. If that still doesn't work then I try still two more different bullets with 2 more differen't powders as mentioned by others. I would hope that I would find one bullet-powder combination out of the 5 which I bought, might produce satisfactory results. If not, I will try a different scope, or investigate other causes. Perhaps, I will buy a new custom barrel and dump the factory barrel.
I don't know where you are able to sell your open box of 91 bullets. Or do you know of some kind of web sight and clearing house to dump unwanted bullets? I'm not sure if you placed them on your bench during a match with a "for sale" sign, anybody would pay it much attention and you can actually get rid of it that way. I don't attend matches but know I've never witnessed that kind of activity at the public range. I know that if I paid $35 for it new, I would have to sell it for about $15-20 to keep anybody's interest.(....sought of garage sale priced.) Add shipping costs for web sales, and nobody would be interested. Is the time and trouble even worth it? I suppose it makes sense just to hold onto these excess boxes of bullets in case "I may be able to use it some day". I have rows of bullets in boxes stacked 4 and 5 boxes high on my shelf that I bought 30 years ago and up to yesterday which are still waiting for that "some day". I just prefer NOT to have to add more to this collection.
No debate here. It's more like you say....just a different "horse race" for ever individual. It's just that I am puzzled how different your sight-in procedure is, or your barrel prep regimen (or lack of it) can be. I assume that I am conversing with a serious match competitor and very experienced rifleman? Thus, it makes me scratch my head and wonder if I have it all wrong.
