Hornady 208gr for LR FTR?

[mao0720]

Does anyone have any first hand experience shooting any of the Hornady 208gr Bullets, either the HPBT or the A-max/ ELD, in a 308 win for FTR. The litz tested BC of all three is equal too or slightly higher than the 200gr hybrid so Im thinking they could make good LR FTR bullets and they are about $10 per box cheaper than the Bergers. I bought a box of the ELDs but Im just wondering if someone can help steer me with load development, preferably with Varget. For the record I have a .177 Freebore. Thanks Guys!
Mason

 

[Berger.Fan222]

Velocity will be the challenge. One thing folks forget is that the high arched trajectories for slow bullets experience a lot more wind than lower trajectories. The wind usually gets stronger the further the bullet is from the ground.

 

[Keith Glasscock]

I shot the 208 Amax through a 26" barrel for one season. I was using large primer Winchester brass and had a .120 freebore.

I was able to drive them ~2550 with Varget, but the pressures were right on the ragged edge.

Accuracy was good until my brain shook loose. I had a massive advantage in wind drift over the (common back then) 155.5 fullbore out of 30" barrels.

The biggest challenge to running any of the super heavy bullets (200+) is making sure you have enough elevation available to get on paper at 1K.

 

[mao0720]

I shot the 208 Amax through a 26" barrel for one season. I was using large primer Winchester brass and had a .120 freebore.

I was able to drive them ~2550 with Varget, but the pressures were right on the ragged edge.

Accuracy was good until my brain shook loose. I had a massive advantage in wind drift over the (common back then) 155.5 fullbore out of 30" barrels.

The biggest challenge to running any of the super heavy bullets (200+) is making sure you have enough elevation available to get on paper at 1K.

With a 4" longer barrel and a .05 longer freebore than what you used, it seems I should be able to get them up to about 2600 fps without smashing brass too bad. If I can get to 2550- 2600 I'll be pretty content. Kieth what charge weight did you start at and end up at?

 

[Keith Glasscock]

With a 4" longer barrel and a .05 longer freebore than what you used, it seems I should be able to get them up to about 2600 fps without smashing brass too bad. If I can get to 2550- 2600 I'll be pretty content. Kieth what charge weight did you start at and end up at?

I ended up at 43.1. I started really, really low - ~39 IIRC. I would suggest the same approach. I've run 210 JLK's through a 30" barrel. I could get 2600, but the accuracy was down around 2550-2560.

 

[MrMajestic]

Just an FYI, I played with them in a long throated 20" 10tw tube. Using Palma cases my highest velocity was 2450 fps using H414. Don't remember if I tried any RL17 but it seems that would certainly produce some high #'s also. A 30" should alleviate velocity concerns, JMHO

 

[r bose]

I shoot 208 AMAX with RL-17. 46.0g sightly jumping them, OAL 2.985. 2630 FPS out of a 26" 10 TW barrel

 

[mao0720]

I wont touch RL17 with a 10 foot pole. I have seen it give good velocities, but I have never seen it give consistent accuracy, and I have heard too many people say the same thing. Plus the temp sensitivity of it is outstanding.

 

[r bose]

I wont touch RL17 with a 10 foot pole. I have seen it give good velocities, but I have never seen it give consistent accuracy, and I have heard too many people say the same thing. Plus the temp sensitivity of it is outstanding.

To each his own. Accuracy is 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inch groups at 300 yards. Where I live we rarely shoot in temps below 55 degrees and not much above 85 degrees. I use RL-17 in 6XC also with outstanding results.

 

[Keith Glasscock]

I tried RE-17. Good velocity, not good in other ways - 1/2 MOA groups weren't good enough for me.

Still have 8/10 of the one pound I bought. I keep thinking I'm going to try it with this cartridge or that, but I find a good load with my other powders first.