Counter intuitive experience

[falaz]

I picked up a new Handi in .308 varmint w/synthetic camo stock a month ago. Using a Stoney point OAL gage and Sierra 168g match kings, I find that I have .226 of jump to the lands I decided to try loading five rounds each starting at 2.775 OAL to 2.890 OAL with 42g of Ramshot Tac. Well the interesting part is that the 2.775 OAL shot a .750 group. The rest went from 1.25 group with 2.800 OAL at 3" low-2" left all the way to 1.80 groups 6"low 4" left with the 2.890 OAL. This was the total reverse or experience of results I've had with my other rifles. My 30year old Savage 110S has half the throat and loves .015 off of the lands with 168g SMK and will produce .500 or less groups. Has any of you encountered this or have any idea why it works in this instance? I thought maybe it was me, the rifle or the scope. So I reproduced the loads and got the same results. Mmmmm???

[quickdtoo]

No surprise there, most H&Rs have lots of freebore, so if the lands can't be reach, load to recommended COL, the standard practice here. 

Tim

[falaz]

Recommended is 2.800. I figured .025 under that wouldn't raise the pressure to dangerous levels so I tried that load which turned out to be the best. It just amazed me that .250 of free bore didn't decrease accuracy. It seems to fly in the face of what I had experienced and learned all of these years. Live and learn Now on to try some A-Max bullets and maybe some heavier stuff 

[Troyboy]

Wetherbys have lots of freebore. Maybye Roy new a thing or two. It's such an amazing thing that two identical rifles will need different loads to get the most accuracy.