1st Group of the Day....................

[djpaintles]

Nice day out today so I went to the range. The first SCAR 17 group I shot ended up being the best group of the day for the SCAR 17.

5 Shots 100yds:







Groups at 200yds were sub-MOA and would have been better if I'd read the L-R mirage better.

My Scars just keep shooting better all the time.............................................. .......dj

[cetane]

Wow thats impressive! Nice work. Thats with your reloads, correct?

[djpaintles]

Yes Cetane, I rarely shoot factory ammo. I listed the load info on the target. I guess the only thing I forgot to list is that I used a taper crimp........................dj

[rx.tx]

Impressive, DJ! I'm going to have to start looking into reloading. Agh. Guess a good first step is to find a brass catcher for a 17...

[djpaintles]

Impressive, DJ! I'm going to have to start looking into reloading. Agh. Guess a good first step is to find a brass catcher for a 17...

Here's the one I use

Universal Brass Catcher


Several people at my range have bought the same one after seeing mine. You can even rig it up on a tripod to catch pistol brass if you want...........................dj

[Clyde]

Excellent shooting, DJ...! Very impressive!

I noticed you used the 178 grain Hornady bullets -- the SCAR seems to favor the heavier bullets, which makes sense because FN focused on the 175 grain M118LR cartridge during development.

A quick question about your reloading -- have you ever done a cost per round calculation for your .308 ammo? Curious, since I am considering reloading as an option.

Also, if you don't mind enlightening me some more, what brand of reloading press do you use -- RCBS?

[djpaintles]

Clyde I've been reloading for quite a while and have collected several reloading presses. The one I use the most is the Bonanza Co-ax, it's a little more expensive as are Forster dies but I think they are well worth it for a serious reloaded. I've run the numbers a couple of times over the years and it varies depending on what kinds of ammo you shoot but it usually takes 600-1000rds of reloaded ammo to recoup your equipment costs. For calibers like 338 Lapua it would only take a couple hundred!

But for me the biggest reason to reload isn't just lower cost, it's higher quality. I can load the best bullets in the best brass, tune seating depth, adjust runout and several other things that can make more accurate ammo. Factory ammo has vastly improved over the last number of years and has narrowed the gap but rare is a rifle that I can't load better ammo than I can buy.

...........and I guess reloading gives me something to do in my off season

............dj

[Lakeray]

You must have shot at the benchrest range. Last time I was there (2 weeks) with my 17 I was on the far right lane and "all" my cases bounced off the plastic trash barrell..

[djpaintles]

You must have shot at the benchrest range. Last time I was there (2 weeks) with my 17 I was on the far right lane and "all" my cases bounced off the plastic trash barrell..

Did you borrow a mag?

[Ferris2son]

Note to self: Don't piss-off DJ.

Remind me of your optic.