308 for Benchrest?

[chevytruck_83]

i just read the 30br page on here and couldn’t help but think, in 5 years will we see the 308 being revisited using the bullets that the 30br does for Benchrest? Great factory offered brass, good barrel life and way more case capacity. Is recoil that much more that it’s not worth considering?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Too much case capacity is not always a good thing. Its why they shortened the 308 to make the br a generation ago and why more dashers win than a 6x47 or 6x284. You can push a bullet too fast

 

[Bart B.]

Tool and die maker Ferris Pindell used his unlimited bench gun chambered for the 308 soon after he made the bullet forming dies at Sierra for their first 30 caliber hollow point match bullet, the 168 grain International. That was back in the late 1950's. Some of their test lots shot in the one's and two's. He won a lot of matches.

His buddy, Dr. Lou Palmisano, was highly impressed. But agreed with him that 308 chambered regular bench rifles recoiled too much during barrel time fo best results in other classes.

Sierra later started selling their best lots of 30 caliber HPMK's in 1000 count plain brown boxes. They tested in the 2's extreme spread, or better. Unpolished with the sizing lanolin lube still on them.

Edited to add "hollow point."

 

[ebb]

I thought that the idea of the smaller case was so there was less muzzle blast to upset the bullet exiting the barrel????

 

[chevytruck_83]

Tool and die maker Ferris Pindell used his unlimited bench gun chambered for the 308 soon after he made the bullet forming dies at Sierra for their first 30 caliber match bullet, the 168 grain International. That was back in the late 1950's. Some of their test lots shot in the one's and two's. He won a lot of matches.

His buddy, Dr. Lou Palmisano, was highly impressed. But agreed with him that 308 chambered regular bench rifles recoiled too much during barrel time fo best results in other classes.

Sierra later started selling their best lots of 30 caliber HPMK's in 1000 count plain brown boxes. They tested in the 2's extreme spread, or better. Unpolished with the sizing lanolin lube still on them.

 

[chevytruck_83]

Is that the same Palmisano that helped develop the 6ppc? I never thought about recoil while in the barrel versus after it’s exited the barrel. That’s why I love this site.

 

[spclark]

Is that the same Palmisano that helped develop the 6ppc?

Yep, same fellow.

He and Ferris Pindel (Palmisano Pindel Cartridge) worked it out together.

Keep in mind too the good Mr. Palmisano was also an accomplished MD.

 

[riflewoman]

A 308x1.5 was put forth years before the BR line and something like that might comeback.

 

[GSPV]

These days, there are much easier ways to get to what the 308x1.5” was developed for.

30 Major, 30 BR, 30x47 Lapua. Etc.

The 30x47 Lapua is a bigger 30 BR. I’ve thought a lot about building one to shoot 135-ish grain bullets in UBR unlimited.

 

[Bart B.]

I thought that the idea of the smaller case was so there was less muzzle blast to upset the bullet exiting the barrel????

Smaller cases produce less recoil before a given weight bullet leaves the barrel

 

[alinwa]

Smaller cases produce less recoil before a given weight bullet leaves the barrel

well..... no......less acceleration of the same mass produces less recoil. Regardless of size of case.

 

[tmwinds]

A 308x1.5 was put forth years before the BR line and something like that might comeback.

It is back, it's called a .30 BR.

 

[DennisH]

Tool and die maker Ferris Pindell used his unlimited bench gun chambered for the 308 soon after he made the bullet forming dies at Sierra for their first 30 caliber match bullet, the 168 grain International. That was back in the late 1950's. Some of their test lots shot in the one's and two's. He won a lot of matches.

His buddy, Dr. Lou Palmisano, was highly impressed. But agreed with him that 308 chambered regular bench rifles recoiled too much during barrel time fo best results in other classes.

Sierra later started selling their best lots of 30 caliber HPMK's in 1000 count plain brown boxes. They tested in the 2's extreme spread, or better. Unpolished with the sizing lanolin lube still on them.

I have always understood the 168 grain bullet was centered around the 308's! This was and is the preferred pill for 308's.

 

[GSPV]

I have always understood the 168 grain bullet was centered around the 308's! This was and is the preferred pill for 308's.

Not in a 13.5 pound score benchrest rifle. Recoil and torque would make consistent tracking difficult.

 

[Bart B.]

I have always understood the 168 grain bullet was centered around the 308's! This was and is the preferred pill for 308's.

It was designed at the request of the US Army international rifle team for their 300 meter free rifles chambered for 308 Win.

It was a favorite for NRA highpower matches through 300 yards. Heavier HPMK bullets up to 240 grains did better at longer ranges.

 

[JFrank]

Gents
I have a friend that shoots at the Tacoma Sportsman club
with a Palma chambered BR rifle, I've personally seen this set up blow out the center of the x ring at 600 yards more than once.

Very Impressive "

 

[JFrank]

A 308x1.5 was put forth years before the BR line and something like that might comeback.

RW
Forgive my Novice ignorance,

What is a 308x1.5 ?

 

[DennisH]

Not in a 13.5 pound score benchrest rifle. Recoil and torque would make consistent tracking difficult.

Understood, I was going back 50 years plus referring to "all" rifles in general.

My F/TR 308 almost weights 18 lbs and loves 185 grain bullets, my go to load mostly.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

RW
Forgive my Novice ignorance,

What is a 308x1.5 ?

30br

 

[riflewoman]

RW
Forgive my Novice ignorance,

What is a 308x1.5 ?

It isn’t quite the 30 BR which is an equivalent cartridge but not identical.

The 308X1.5 was a wildcat made in 1961 by shortening the 308 to a case length of 1.5 inches. The shoulder is 20 degrees where the BR line is 30 IIRC. Before the BR line emerged the 308x1.5 had a small presence in Benchrest particularly for score shooting.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/.308×1.5-inch_Barnes