I took my two .308's, a Tikka T3 Lite and a Remington 783, to the range yesterday. They each shot the same loads of 125 gr Nosler BT with IMR 4895. I expected to see the T3 outperform the 783 based on how well it shoots other bullets, especially 165 gr BT's. But I've been developing 125 gr loads for the 783 most of the summer and that gun really shoots the 125s well with IMR 4895.
The 783 fairly well trounced the T3. However, I don't think it was one of my better shooting days and several mental errors on my part after working all day messed up some of my targets (putting my targets too close together, having to move my sights after the first T3 shot, shooting the wrong target once). Both guns had a load that you could easily use for hunting. But what I learned about the T3 is that it doesn't shoot 125's as well as 165's, or at least not with IMR4895. The 783 absolutely loves 125 gr bullets from both Sierra and Nosler with IMR4895 powder.
My idea at the start of summer when I picked up the 783 was to develop one 125 gr load the kids could use equally well in both rifles. I should have known better, but that was the idea. Well, guns like what they like and these two guns don't like the same load at all. Such is life.
The 783 fairly well trounced the T3. However, I don't think it was one of my better shooting days and several mental errors on my part after working all day messed up some of my targets (putting my targets too close together, having to move my sights after the first T3 shot, shooting the wrong target once). Both guns had a load that you could easily use for hunting. But what I learned about the T3 is that it doesn't shoot 125's as well as 165's, or at least not with IMR4895. The 783 absolutely loves 125 gr bullets from both Sierra and Nosler with IMR4895 powder.
My idea at the start of summer when I picked up the 783 was to develop one 125 gr load the kids could use equally well in both rifles. I should have known better, but that was the idea. Well, guns like what they like and these two guns don't like the same load at all. Such is life.
