I took my new rem 700 5r milspec to the range today to put the first rounds through it (100 yards). I took a load with me, fed brass, 210 primer, 43.0 varget, hornady 150 gr sp, and some factory fed gmm 168gr. Handload accuracy was garbage. I was just really there to break the barrel in, so It didn't bother me. I had about 20 of those through it, so I cleaned again, and put 4 of the gmm's in the mag. Not even on the paper. The highest impact with the handloads was 5 inches high, and I think the factory rounds were missing high. Light was not great, I couldn't tell for sure. Should there be that big of a difference in POI with these two loads? I would certainly expect the gmm to hit higher, but it had to be at least 6 inches higher.

A)43 grs of Varget and a 150 seems to be on the light end of the scale.
B)Fed GMM with a 168 is loaded with IMR4064,don't know off the top of my head what the difference in burn rate is.

I woudln't sweat the POI change at this point.Get the barrel broken in.Shoot three and clean the HELL out of it,repeat.Get 60-80 down the tube in this manner and then start worrying about accuracy and POI changes.
Also,make sure all the screws on the rings and bases are tight.If while breaking it in you see wild changes in accuracy or POI I'd look real hard at the scope itself?

I've been shooting 308s for 25 years or more.Never seen one that I couldn't get to shoot.Not real finicky as far as powder/bullet weight/case is concerned.
You need help I'm in the DFW area,lemme know.
Howard

The load was light just for break in. It was nasty, all over the paper. Kind of worried me. I loaded some 175smk's to shoot this weekend if I get a chance, hopefully that works better. Thanks for the help.

You going to the range in Garland?