Can't find a good load w/165 Rems w/my 03A3

[223Shooter]

I need your help. I have tried, unsuccessfully, appx 24 different loads for my Springfield and I am NOT able to come up with a good, accurate load with this rifle using the 165 Rems.  I was able to find a great load using 165 gr. Sierras. I can shoot a 3/8" group at 60 yds in my backyard with the Sierras.  I am currently using IMR 4064, WLR and Win brass. Getting back to the problems with the 165 Rems.....I have loaded everywhere from 48-53 grs. of Imr 4064. Have tried various OAL's form 3.140 to 3.300+.  No luck.  Maybe...just maybe the 165 Rems will never shoot well in my Springfield. Does anybody shoot the 165 Rems in their Springfield? ANY input is appreciated. Thanks....wjw.....

[Mikey]

Interesting note on that - my old M17 never really liked 150 grainers but shot the snot out of the 180s.  You may want to check the twist on your barrel - I don't think it was set up for the 150-165 gn slugs - the barrel on my M17 wasn't.  And didn't that 03A3 come with a left hand twist?  I think my M17 had one of those and I believe that favors the heavy bullet.  My M17 was under MOA at 100m however, if you can shoot 3/8" at 60 yds, that would give you about 3/4" at 100m.  Too big fer ya???

Tellya what - send that old 03A3 over here to me and send all your ammo with it and I will wring that baby out fer ya, yes I will.  Mikey.

[223Shooter]

Mikey...I have owned my Springfield since 1964, mostly stock except for a Timney trigger and a new 3-9x40 Bushnell scope. It looks like a A4 sniper rifle. My Springfield is a 4 groove RH twist barrel.  I like the results that I got with the Sierras, but I ran out of them and all I had left was a fresh box of 165 Rems. Sooooo, I thought that I would try to work up an accurate load with these Rems. I have some further testing to do and will hopefully come up with a decent load for these bullets. I would send my 03A3 to you for your testing BUT, I need it for a planned pig hunt this weekend in western Wisconsin.
Sorry...... ...BUT thanks for your input..........wjw

[Mikey]

LOLOLOL.  Good luck on your hunt this weekend.  But something else similar to yourproblem is one I had with my 8mm Husquavarna - for some odd reason this rifle simply did not like the S&B 196 gn Cutted Edge Soft Points they sell.  It loved the 196 gn ball, which was a spitzer (not Elliot - NY joke) but not the other bullet of the same weight - the cutted edge soft point appearred to have a very long bearing surface and just would not group for me.  But when I loaded both Nosler Accubonds (200gn) and Hornaday 195 gn she shot both of those to one hole groups. 

It might be that your 03A3 just does not like that particular bullet as my 8mm doesn't like that one S&B bullet.  I know the 03A3s are supposed to be tack drivers but I had thought that possibly, as with my M17, it would prefer the heavier bullets.  Maybe another bullet?  Mikey.

[COLT45]

Perhaps a change of powder would work. Try IMR4895. On the other hand. Why not toss the 165 REMs and not waste more time and effort on them.  There is a cost in terms of time and effort. You have a winner in the other 165s

[1911crazy]

I believe the IMR 4895 is the orginal powder(burnrate) used by the goverment on the surplus rounds.  On the other hand my old mossberg '06 was very inaccurate until i went to speer 180gr magnum mag-tips and using IMR4350 powder.  For some reason the 180gr bullets seem to be a sweet spot for the 06's.  I was loading a 180 load out of the speer book that was recomended for moose and elk and we took black bear with it with no problem.  It also put my old mossy 06 in the nickle shot sized  groups too.  Before it was shooting 1 1/2 to 2"+ groups with over the counter new ammo.  I did everything i could do like bedding the stock, checking the scopemounts, checking the scope(trying a different scope).  Then i started reloading and trying different loads.  We were benchresting it at 100yds and setting the zero @ 100yds. this way the bullet drops when it first leaves the barrel, then it rises and then it starts dropping again @ 100yds. you may not be giving the round its just do by shooting it at the shorter ranges.  I would shoot it at 100yds and set the zero there.

[223Shooter]

I get very good accuracy with the 165 Sierras with IMR 4064 BUT not the 165 Rems. Colt45 may be right..."toss the Rems". I will buy some IMR 4350 tonight and play with it with the Rems...BUT not for long. I also need to buy more bullets, probably more Sierras. The nearest range is about 20 miles from my home. I usually site all my rifles in my backyard at 60 yards. This has always worked before without any problems. It's great because if i need to tweek a load, all I need to do is go downstairs to my loading bench and make up a few more rounds. I want to stay away from the heavier bullets as the 180's. I prefer the 165's and the 150's. More than enough for the game that I hunt at the present time. Thanks for your input...wjw

[223Shooter]

Update....Spent most of the day loading and shooting more loads for my 03A3 Springfield with 165 Rems and IMR 4064.....No decent groups. If I did get good groups, I could not duplicate them a 2nd time. I GIVE UP....!! I guess my 06 just does NOT like the 165 Rems. Moving on, I will buy some 165 Horns and work with that. ....