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30 cal varminter ideas

Ok so the the idea of a 300WSM varminter shooting 125gr BT's at 4,000fps is very, very appealing for the red mist factor. However a short barrel life doesn't appeal - so I'm trying to get a ballance between splat & barrel life. A mates 32" 1-14" twist Barnard actioned rifle shoots the 125gr BT's at an easy 3,500fps which got me thinking. Build a 32" barrelled 308 with the minimum twist required to stabilise the 125grgr BT (1-16, 1-17" twist) with maybe a 3 groove barrel also to help in the quest for speed. An accurate 3,600fps might be achievable from the 308 combination. Stupid idea?
 
A 30BR with either TNT or Vmax bullets will give excellent barrel life. A 308 with lighter bullets is a overbore combination. Powder to velocity ratio is very high in the 308.
 
125 gr Nosler BT with a max Compressed load of 50 gr of H-4895 out of my 308w 1in11 26" barrel gives me 3200fps i seriously doubt you will pick up an extra 300 fps with a 1-16, 1-17" twist and a 32 barrel... my best guess would be 3350 fps & that would be with max loads.
 
One of my p-dog shooting buddies has been shooting his .308 for the last seven years on our annual 4 day shot. I reload for him and most years he goes through close to 500rds per season. His barrel is still driving tacks, I witnessed him make five kills in row between 500 to 575 yards this year. His barrel has to have at least 3200 rounds down it as my records show this year was the 7th loading on his original 500 cases and he only fired just a little over 200rds this years as we didn't have as many long range targets of opportunity this year.

Here's my pet load which has worked well in every 308 I've tried it in. Surprisingly it explodes on p-dogs and yet will drop a 250 lb plus hog with no problem. Will chrono well in excess of 3200 fps out of most 26" barrels, yet is mild enough to provide excellent barrel life.
125 gr NBT
51.0 grs - W748

RJ
 
Yes the 308 is a superb performing cartridge. A mates full on ftr 308 build launches the 155.5gr Bergers right on 3,100fps... The same rig 125gr bt 3,500fps. I wonder how much increase in speed would be gained going from a 1-14" twist to a 1-16 or 17" twist for the light projectiles. A 32" barrel coupled with tight chamber, lapua Palma SPP brass & IMR xbr8208 powder really hammers with bullet weights under 155grains.
 
I will tell you that I have a Richard Franklin 300WSM Varminter and I have launched and exploded many prairie dogs with that rifle.

It's a BAT action, Krieger barrel, 1-16 twist. I reload with about 74 grains of N550. This launches 110 grain Hornady ballistic tips at 4050 fps.

I only go once a year but I shoot over 300 of the 300WSM rounds in a 3 day trip. I also shoot about 1500 .223 (AR-15) and a few hundred 6mmBR on the same trip.

The 300WSM is absolutely awesome to shoot. It does have a bit more recoil than the other rifles, but nailing a pasture poodle at 500+ yards is fun like nothing else.

Several dogs have flown over 30 feet straight in the air. Videos of this rifle in action are unbelievable. It looks like you shot a stick of dynamite in these rodents.

I'm not concerned about barrel life though, so this may be a concern for you. The guy I bought it from said the barrel should be good for about 1200-1500 rounds. That's about five years for the volume I shoot.

I recently bought another used 300WSM built by Richard Franklin so I have two for the trip. Can't wait for next season!
 
Fordnutter said:
Ok so the the idea of a 300WSM varminter shooting 125gr BT's at 4,000fps is very, very appealing for the red mist factor. However a short barrel life doesn't appeal - so I'm trying to get a ballance between splat & barrel life. A mates 32" 1-14" twist Barnard actioned rifle shoots the 125gr BT's at an easy 3,500fps which got me thinking. Build a 32" barrelled 308 with the minimum twist required to stabilise the 125grgr BT (1-16, 1-17" twist) with maybe a 3 groove barrel also to help in the quest for speed. An accurate 3,600fps might be achievable from the 308 combination. Stupid idea?

I built a 300 Win Mag pd gun, long before they came out with the WSM. 30"X 2" Krieger, 13 twist. It is built on a Winchester M17 action. I have shot a lot of the 110 Vmax and 125 BT. And yes I have run them up to insane speeds, but only to see what it would do.

My opinion is go with a larger case than the .308 and load it down. Mine is "loafing" at 3600, with relatively good barrel life. You are going to have to have a pretty hefty load using the 308 case to get your 3600. It can be argued that will take out a throat faster than a larger case with slower powder.

Consider going with a little faster twist, when the throat is gone for the 125s, you can still reach and stabilize the 150s.

If your gonna' play with these "big guys" on the pd towns, your gonna' pay. There is no way around it. Unless you have free chambering service, try to get the most out of the barrel before it needs setting back.

Jim
 
A fellow in VA used to use a 30/284 in varmint hunting as well as competition. He did very well at the VHA Jamboree and the Hickory Egg Shoot with them when he used to compete there. They shoot very well, barrel life is good, and it uses a .473 boltface.
 
I traded for a in great looking in new condition complete Kelbly built Kodiak hunter class VFS rifle a couple of years back which had a 23" Kreiger LV, tight neck @ .330, 17tw chambered in .308ai, it came with 100 fireformed fully prepped Lapua brass. The young man I purchased it from stated that it was very accurate and was a competitive barrel with under 300rds fired through it. I never fired that 308ai barrel, not being particularly fond of recoil in high volume shooting I elected to screw the barrel off and installed a new Kreiger 12tw, chambered in 6mmBR and away we went to the p-dog towns. I've wondered for some time if that .308ai barrel wouldn't make a excellent long range barrel shooting lighter bullets. In fact I think I'll go load up some 110 Vmax's and 125 NBT's, screw that barrel on and go see how she groups. This tread has piqued my curiosity.

RJ
 
The neat thing about the ackley is you can load down a bit and never get case growth as that is why alot of us like the ackley chamber.
 
"A 30-06 case with around 54 Gr. of IMR 3031 and a 125 Gr. bullet works....."

It's a far cry from a 110 Gr. bullet at 4050fps. Thats what the 300 WSM Varminter brings to the table.
 
DocEd said:
"A 30-06 case with around 54 Gr. of IMR 3031 and a 125 Gr. bullet works....."

It's a far cry from a 110 Gr. bullet at 4050fps. Thats what the 300 WSM Varminter brings to the table.

Partner, you're suffering from the "my car is faster that your car" syndrome so back at you "my car will go further than your car" and win the race.
 
I'm not your partner and I'm not suffering from any ego-deficient syndrome. I could care less how fast your car goes. I simply stated that you, with your reply, obviously missed the original poster's point. He asked about the 300 WSM Varminter. You replied about a 30-06. Maybe you should read up on the 300 WSM Varminter.
 
DocEd said:
I'm not your partner and I'm not suffering from any ego-deficient syndrome. I could care less how fast your car goes. I simply stated that you, with your reply, obviously missed the original poster's point. He asked about the 300 WSM Varminter. You replied about a 30-06. Maybe you should read up on the 300 WSM Varminter.

My apologies to you sir, my comments were in jest and should have been stated as such. You obviously know the point of discussion by your statement; this also said in jest.
 
DocEd said:
I like a man with a good sense of humor. Maybe there should be a Humor section on this site.

Since you have called me to the rail please explain how my statement about the 30-06 load is not a point of discussion or worthly of consideration when the OP stated that the 300 WSM was not a cartridge he wished to use for his purpose. The discussion turned to various cartridges and I have had success with the cartridge and load I stated and posted my message for no purpose other than consideration. To me your opinion had nothing to do with the question the OP stated and I replied in jest, my mistake, but please explain to me what was the reason for your post when the OP discounted the 300 WSM.
 
I've called you to no rail. I simply stated that your load with a 125, in a 30-06 was not in the same realm as the WSM Varminter.
I, for one, am tired of the banter. When you posted that you were funnin' I tried to smooth it over with the comment about a sense of humor. I see I was wrong. Good bye!
 
I haven't completely ruled out the idea of the 300 WSM varminter - for the volume of shooting I do that would probably mean a new barrel every year ::) still it's an extremely cheap hobby when you look at it compared to that bottomless pit called motor racing. A varminter using the 30-06 could be a good compromise of splat versus barrel life.
 
Its sounds like in the back of your mind you really want a 300WSM but your hesitating because of barrel life? I say if your impressed by the 300 get one....... You only live once in this world.

You will see the best of a 300WSM barrel in those 1000+ rounds. But that doesn’t mean it wont shoot good enough to still make hits at long range.. You don’t need a barrel with under 1000 rounds through it to take out varmint…. although it is better.

Im guessing a 300WSM barrel that is keep clean of copper and carbon fouling will still hold a 1" group at 100 yards after 1000+ rounds

My 22-250 AI would still hit a crow at 200 yards with 1500 rounds down the pipe and it shot right around a 1-inch group at 100 yards mind you i replaced the barrel not long after that.

I have a number of high density numbers in my safe including 257WYB 220 Ackley 300 Win Mag 22-250AI. I have always though about barrel life but you cant worry about it. If you want kick ass performance get one, you love it..... life to short worrying about little things like that.
 

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