I was trying to get my brother-in-law to see the value of reloading. Beside the cost, and knowing exact components in each round. I was trying to tell him about the accuracy that can be gained by reloading. The question that came back to me was, "so do all snipers and competition shooters reload?" I didn't know how to answer this one.
Competition and Sniper reloading question?
- Thread starter rockjd79
- Start date
- Status
USSR
Member
Snipers I am sure shoot what they are issued. Competition shooters most definitely reload.
Don
Issued yes...but let's not blur the line here.
The way I understand it, they are issued specialized stuff, not the same stuff the infantry guys get.
Of course, I was a lowly USAF intel guy, not an army grunt, so you get what you paid for this....
To answer your question, military snipers shoot M118LR in .308, which has a 175gr bullet. Don't try to buy any -- I tested the closest I could find and found Federal Gold Medal Match to be better.
Competitors reload, because that's how you get the most accurate ammunition that your gun likes. I don't think it's a far stretch to say that a careful reloader should be able to get ammunition that's got less than 30% of the variability in velocity from round to round than the premium stuff you can buy, and it costs less to boot.
It's just another learning curve. Which I'm currently going up, so listen to the other responses more than mine.
Competitors reload, because that's how you get the most accurate ammunition that your gun likes. I don't think it's a far stretch to say that a careful reloader should be able to get ammunition that's got less than 30% of the variability in velocity from round to round than the premium stuff you can buy, and it costs less to boot.
It's just another learning curve. Which I'm currently going up, so listen to the other responses more than mine.
billybob44
Contributing Member
Police Snipers.. 
While I can not add any info on Military Snipers, I do have some info on police snipers.
Years ago, I was tight with a Class III gun dealer that had a local LEO as his partner in the gun shop.
This Officer was also on the SWAT team of a large city (750,000) PD. He also happened to be one of the several snipers that were on the team.
I got the chance to see his Duty Rifle, a Ruger MKII HB that was glass bedded, and all tricked out...BEAUTIFUL weapon, in .308 Win. Now this was YEARS ago-it was in WOOD.
When this Ruger was brand new (before the PD even got it) it was sent to Hornady Mfg. in Grand Island, NE. to have the chamber completely miked, measured+checked out. Hornady loaded the specs for THAT rifle into their data base for future loading supplies.
To order ammo for THAT rifle, they just contact Hornady, and tell them to send ammo for *PD #3. Hornady will assemble the ammo that is tailor fitted for THAT gun.
I also saw some of his practice targets-Bad Guy with a hostage in front of him.
In the first target the "Bad Guy' had FIVE holes in the center of his forehead that a Quarter would cover.
On the second target (shot within 2 minutes of a full gear 5 mile run), those groups opened up--A half dollar coin would cover up!!
So, from what I have seen, YES LEO Snipers DO use special loads for THEIR rifles...Bill.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
That must be a "special" sniper.
Most shoot Black Hills match or Hornady TAP off the shelf ammo.
Any police "sniper rifle" will shoot rat-hole groups you can cover with a dime with factory match ammo if they are worthy of the "sniper rifle" name.
And that without special tuning, or a trip to hornady to have the chamber "completely miked, measured+checked out". Whatever that is.
PS: Hornady doesn't even offer that service to anyone as far as I ever heard of.
They are not in the perfect rifle chamber business, and never have been.
rc
Most shoot Black Hills match or Hornady TAP off the shelf ammo.
Any police "sniper rifle" will shoot rat-hole groups you can cover with a dime with factory match ammo if they are worthy of the "sniper rifle" name.
And that without special tuning, or a trip to hornady to have the chamber "completely miked, measured+checked out". Whatever that is.
PS: Hornady doesn't even offer that service to anyone as far as I ever heard of.
They are not in the perfect rifle chamber business, and never have been.
rc
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Welcome to the forum but please stop using the word "sniper". That word and others like it usually give the anti-gun groups ammo to use against us as shooters. "Long distance shooters' and "competition shooters" will get your meaning across without scaring the sheep.
- Status
