A Tip 230 grain for FTR

[paulT]

Anyone share load data for the A tip 230g for Shooting in .308 for FTR, would think a 9 twist needed to fully stablize this bullet and Long throat to help increase case powder capacity and reduce pressures has anyone shot thease in matches and willing to share load data etc Thanks.

 

[MikeMcCasland]

I'll preface this by saying I haven't run them. That said, people have a hard enough time with the 215s as is. I don't think many are playing with the 230s in TR.

If you really wanted to try I suspect it would take a 9 twist and somewhere around a .3 freebore reamer.

I think Hornady designed those bullets with the 300 PRC and WSM etc in mind.

 

[paulT]

I'll preface this by saying I haven't run them. That said, people have a hard enough time with the 215s as is. I don't think many are playing with the 230s in TR.

If you really wanted to try I suspect it would take a 9 twist and somewhere around a .3 freebore reamer.

I think Hornady designed those bullets with the 300 PRC and WSM etc in mind.

Thanks for info Mike.

 

[Steve Blair]

Anyone share load data for the A tip 230g for Shooting in .308 for FTR, would think a 9 twist needed to fully stablize this bullet and Long throat to help increase case powder capacity and reduce pressures has anyone shot thease in matches and willing to share load data etc Thanks.

I never shot the Hornady but a load of 46.0 H4350 behind a Berger 230 Target Hybrid produced ~2470 from 30", seated 3.185" OAL. That barrel used a .280" freebore. It was an excellent load, low ES and very precise. I was not able to master gun disturbance from recoil in an F-TR rifle. Had no problem with Berger 210 LRBT, but the 230 was a bridge too far.

 

[Ned Ludd]

I just noticed that according to their webpage, Hornady is even making a 250 gr .308 A-tip bullet. I'm not sure a .308 Win case has enough boiler room to even drive a 250 gr bullet at optimal velocities for F-TR, but it wouldn't surprise me if some adventurous souls give them a try for that purpose.

 

[Jdne5b]

@Turbulent Turtle was shooting them at Nationals this week.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

@Turbulent Turtle was shooting them at Nationals this week.

Yeah, but I wasn't shooting well at all. And it was not the A-tips's fault; it was all me.

Heck, they even lost one of my scorecards but they did promise to fix that.

 

[paulT]

Yeah, but I wasn't shooting well at all. And it was not the A-tips's fault; it was all me.

Heck, they even lost one of my scorecards but they did promise to fix that.

Hi Turbulent Turtle could you share your findings with this bullet e.g neck tension and if bullet prefers jump or slight jam to lands also what size were verticals at 1k yards thanks.

 

[XTR]

Since about 2012 I know of at least three or four people who have attempted to run 230 grain bullets in FTR, none them have done so with success. The recoil is more than anyone has been able to manage successfully for 20 shot strings.

When you look at what’s on the field today almost no one is running the 215 and it can be run at speeds to make it a superior ballistic option to the 200s.

As I recall the mid upper 2400s are the place where the people who have tried them have run them.

 

[memilanuk]

Wade,

Just for the sake of argument... didn't Darrell Buell take a gold medal @ 1k in the 2013 FCWC? Pretty sure he was running 230s for his individual ammo...

That said, I do agree with you that by and large, the heavier bullets have proven to be more than most people can successfully manage over a whole match or tournament.

 

[paulT]

Since about 2012 I know of at least three or four people who have attempted to run 230 grain bullets in FTR, none them have done so with success. The recoil is more than anyone has been able to manage successfully for 20 shot strings.

When you look at what’s on the field today almost no one is running the 215 and it can be run at speeds to make it a superior ballistic option to the 200s.

As I recall the mid upper 2400s are the place where the people who have tried them have run them.

I ran 215g hybrids in a 34in heavy palma 10 twist barrel they shot great at 600y out to 900y however verticals and the ocassional flyer used to happen at 1000y + distances due to slower 10 twist at @ sea level I used to run the 215g at 2640fps did try them at 2740fps however load was hard on brass with increased torque generated with the long barrel at faster node, Thinking a Heavy 1 in 9 28-29in barrel would help cut down on bullet induced torque with 215g'230gn bullets a tad question then would a faster burn rate powder or slower burn e.g re 17 offer best results.

 

[XTR]

Monte, I’ve never talked with Darrell about loads. He may have run them, but the requirements for precision in 2012 and 2019 are light yrs apart.

I realize that there is a lot of monkey see monkey do in shooting and I encourage anyone to try something different, I certainly have, but I think that there is a reason that 90% of the FTR line is shooting the 200 class bullets (the USFTR requirement notwithstanding).

 

[Down South]

I shot the 215s and 230s (Berger Hybrids) back a few years ago at 600 & 1000 yard matches in FTR. The common theme with both bullets was 10s/Xs with great vertical for 7 or 8 shots then drop a 9 (low or high) outta nowhere with a perfect wind call while the shooters on both sides are hammering away with tight vertical. I did extensive load work with both bullets but just could not get them consistently shooting tight for 20 shot record strings. I know of a few guys (Bryan Litz in particular) that had the 215s shooting well but for the most part most folks are wasting their time. If you wanna run heavies with FTR guns stick with 200s or 210s. The points dropped to bad vertical shots with the ultra heavies (215s & 230s) nullifies any wind advantage over the lighter bullets. Just my .02

 

[BP1]

I shot the 215s and 230s (Berger Hybrids) back a few years ago at 600 & 1000 yard matches in FTR. The common theme with both bullets was 10s/Xs with great vertical for 7 or 8 shots then drop a 9 (low or high) outta nowhere with a perfect wind call while the shooters on both sides are hammering away with tight vertical. I did extensive load work with both bullets but just could not get them consistently shooting tight for 20 shot record strings. I know of a few guys (Bryan Litz in particular) that had the 215s shooting well but for the most part most folks are wasting their time. If you wanna run heavies with FTR guns stick with 200s or 210s. The points dropped to bad vertical shots with the ultra heavies (215s & 230s) nullifies any wind advantage over the lighter bullets. Just my .02

With that said have you finished up load development with the A Tips yet?..

 

[Down South]

With that said have you finished up load development with the A Tips yet?..

How'd I know you were gonna ask that?.......

 

[XTR]

Considering Jade’s recent performance history I think he definitely needs to start working out a new load.