Range time, ammo test...

I was contacted by Steven Otterbacher at Bulk Ammo.Com quite some time ago and asked if I'd be willing to try some of his ammo and write a review about it.  After some difficulty (all on my end) getting in contact with each other and making the arrangements, I agreed to try a box of ammo in .308 Winchester.  Steven sent me 20 rounds of Fiocchi Extrema  loaded with Sierra Gameking bullets.  These are a 168 gr. HPBT round.

I have to apologize to Steven for the amount of time that it took to get this review done.   I think he originally contacted me over 2 months ago.  My bad.

Anyway, I was finally able to get a bench at the range today and was able to fire the Fioccchi ammo alongside the Federal American Eagle 150 gr. FMJBT ammo that I usually shoot at the range.

What I discovered is that there is quite a bit of difference between the 2 rounds.  Quite noticable to an old shaky guy like me :)

First, today's weather:

43* F
Wind was calm
Sky was overcast

The rifle:

Remington 700 SPS Varmint
Choate Tactical stock
SWFA 10 X 42 Super Sniper scope
Millet 30mm rings and Millet one piece 0 MOA base
Harris 1A2 Bipod
13 pounds 7 ounces total weight

I started at the 50 yard range firing the American Eagle to make sure my zero was good.  A couple of small adjustments had the rounds in the center of the target, got my breathing a bit more under control, and warmed the barrel up.

 First 10 rounds in the 10 ring, small adjustment to get in the "X"...

 A couple of passes through the barrel with the BoreSnake...

 Then over to the 100 yard range and the test...

 168 gr. HPBT Sierra Gameking bullets...

 Well packaged in one plastic holder...

 Business end of the HPBT round...

 Ready to rock...

 The scope says about 105 yds...

 This ammo was a pleasure to shoot...

 3 rounds in the zero target, 16 in the body, one just to make sure...

 Much tighter group...

 Yes, I have a bit of a breathing control problem...

 100 yards...

 10 rounds of the Federal to the head of the right target at 100 yds.  Not quite as tight as they were at 50 yards.  Could've just been me.

20 rounds of the Fiocchi sent downrange to the left target.  3 to the zero target. 16 to the body, one to the head.

 You can see that the American Eagle to the head spread out a bit at 100 yards compared to the rounds to the "X" ring at 50 yards.  It's still good ammo and I will continue to use it at the range.

 20 rounds...

30 rounds...

The rifle I used today is heavy by anyone's standards so recoil is always managable.  The felt recoil of the Fiocchi test rounds seemed a bit less than the lighter Federal rounds.  My imagination?  I don't know.

The ammo seemed to burn clean and the bullets looked very neat and consistant.  Overall length of each round was consistant.  The brass is reloadable.

I was impressed with the Fiocchi ammo.  I wish I had slipped over to the 200 yard range to fire a few rounds there.  I suppose I would have just embarrassed myself :)  Like I said, I have a bit of a breathing problem and a trigger anticipation problem.  I don't take this rifle to the range as often as I should.  Even with those personal shortcomings, this ammo did a nice consistant job of punching paper.

I have no doubt that it would work very well at much longer distances than I shot at.

At $26 per box it would make excellent hunting ammo, which is obviously it's intended purpose.  A bit pricey for range ammo, but such a pleasure to shoot!

Thanks to Steven Otterbacher for providing the ammunition and for his patience.  Dealing with Steven and bulkammo.com was a pleasure.

Check out their website if you're in the market for ammo.  They have a very large selection of all calibers and brands.  Good people to deal with.

Disclaimer:  I was compensated for this review by the box of ammo and the cost of shipping it to me.  There was no further compensation.

Stay safe.