Freedom Munitions Match 308 and the new rifle

[C-grunt]

I bought a few boxes of the Freedom Munitions Match 308 175 grain SMK to break in and sight in my new APR Ranger. Match ammo is kinda scarce or crazy expensive right now as you know so I was excited to find this "match" ammo at 1.10 dollars each. First the caveats:

1. This is a new rifle with only 75 rounds through it
2. Maybe my rifle doesnt like this ammo
3. Im not a pro shooter. Though I can regularly shoot 1/2 MOA groups or better with my AI.

I used a MagneetoSpeed chrono and did most of my group shooting off a sturdy bench. I used a heavy front sand bag to push against my bipod and rear bags.

I chrono'd two sets of 5 rounds. I didnt write down the individual shot velocities but here is the info.

Average velocity: 2630 FPS
ES: 51
SD: 18

Average velocity: 2640 FPS
ES: 48
SD: 19

Just for reference I ran 5 rounds of Winchester M80 ball over the chrono.

Average velocity: 2811 FPS
ES: 60
SD: 23

5 shot groups measured with calipers, listed smallest to largest

0.61"
0.85"
1.12"
1.17"
1.25"
1.30"
1.45"

M80 ball measured 3.1 inches with 4 rounds in a 2 inch cluster and 1 flyer. With the Freedom Munitions I had several groups that had a cluster going and then one or two flyers away from the group. A couple groups were just a pattern. All shots felt good at the time. I had one group with a called pulled shot that wasnt measured but it was around 2 inches.

On a previous range session I shot some old handloads I made for a Remington 700 build I had about 10 years ago. Only thing I remember about the load was that it used FGMM brass and 178 AMAX bullets. I didnt measure those groups but they were around 0.75 inch groups. Because of the previous groupings and the high SD and ES of this ammo, Im thinking (hoping, haha) that todays poor performance is ammo related and not an indication of the rifle's overall performance.

20211129_121624 by chase, on Flickr

Best group of the day. Notice the cluster and the single flyer.

20211129_121246 by chase, on Flickr

20211129_115330 by chase, on Flickr

20211129_113222 by chase, on Flickr

At least I got some good pictures of the rifle today.

20211129_131530 by chase, on Flickr

20211129_131445 by chase, on Flickr

20211028_150553 by chase, on Flickr

 

[Walkalong]

Great place to shoot that beautiful rifle.

 

[Peakbagger46]

Load up some 178g eldx behind Varget and I bet you’ll cut that in half and have a much better BC on top of it.

 

[edwardware]

Sounds like good success, in light of. . .

Freedom Munitions

Seating a good bullet on top of a turd helps but it'll still smell a bit, and printing MATCH on the box doesn't make it so.

 

[sequins]

Freedom Munitions is known as one of the lowest quality remanufacturers out there. "Match ammo" indeed.

 

[gotboostvr]

I've had pretty poor results with S&B "Match" components.

Specifically their 168gr 30cal "Match" bullets.

Dosen't look like you were shooting too far away from where I was last Friday, also with a 308 bolt gun.

 

[Orcon]

Don't sweat it, most factory branded match ammo is garbage. If you hand load a 175/178gr HPBT or ELD/AMax with 42-45gr of Varget it ought to do you right.

Lovely rifle.