Well I got around to finishing up the second half of my break-in on the Mark V Accumark in 300WM today. I do all of my break-in at 25 yds to get it on paper (not a fan of laser bore sighters) and make the sight-in process that much easier. Twenty rounds later and a lot of dirty bore patches and oil on the table and I was ready to stretch it out to 100 yds and get this thing sighted in.
I bought factory loaded Barnes TTSX 165 gr for hunting pretty much anything I'd ever come into contact with here in Texas and that's what I decided to use to sight it in. The first three rounds out of the rifle at 100 yds were only 5-6" low and grouped quite well at .725", well below the 1 moa grouping I was hoping for.
I fiddled around with a few more groups slowly walking it up and over until I was satisfied and ready to shoot for a final three round group at 100 yds. Winds were right to left at 7 mph and gusting to 10 mph, the early onset of the cold front that will be blowing in later tonight. I took my time and focused on my breathing and trigger discipline and squeezed off each round as consistently as I possibly could. I couldn't be more ecstatic about the results, especially when you consider that this is a low round count rifle that's still breaking in and the fact that I was shooting factory loaded ammunition. Now don't get me wrong, this is quality stuff but it's not a worked-up hand load either. The final group measured .383" which is in my opinion astounding for a factory rifle, firing factory ammo, from a rest and a bag. Im sure I could have faired slightly better had I put the rifle in a braced rest or lead sled but I am not a fan of using a crutch to sight-in a rifle that won't be used in such a manner, it makes for bad habits when that crutch isn't there to assist you.
I plan to get 180's or 200's for my Elk hunt but if these groups continue to hold close to these results I am not so sure I should go messing with a good thing. Color me impressed with the Mark V Accumark, I do believe this rifle is a life long keeper.
I bought factory loaded Barnes TTSX 165 gr for hunting pretty much anything I'd ever come into contact with here in Texas and that's what I decided to use to sight it in. The first three rounds out of the rifle at 100 yds were only 5-6" low and grouped quite well at .725", well below the 1 moa grouping I was hoping for.
I fiddled around with a few more groups slowly walking it up and over until I was satisfied and ready to shoot for a final three round group at 100 yds. Winds were right to left at 7 mph and gusting to 10 mph, the early onset of the cold front that will be blowing in later tonight. I took my time and focused on my breathing and trigger discipline and squeezed off each round as consistently as I possibly could. I couldn't be more ecstatic about the results, especially when you consider that this is a low round count rifle that's still breaking in and the fact that I was shooting factory loaded ammunition. Now don't get me wrong, this is quality stuff but it's not a worked-up hand load either. The final group measured .383" which is in my opinion astounding for a factory rifle, firing factory ammo, from a rest and a bag. Im sure I could have faired slightly better had I put the rifle in a braced rest or lead sled but I am not a fan of using a crutch to sight-in a rifle that won't be used in such a manner, it makes for bad habits when that crutch isn't there to assist you.
I plan to get 180's or 200's for my Elk hunt but if these groups continue to hold close to these results I am not so sure I should go messing with a good thing. Color me impressed with the Mark V Accumark, I do believe this rifle is a life long keeper.
