308 and heavy bullets

[whiter02]

I recently got a rifle that is set up for heavy bullets. It has a 200 fb. I am use to shooting the 185's and like them very much. I am trying the 215 hybrids out in the new rifle. I have started load devolpment already. I have noticed that the rifle is finicky on how it wants to be held. I have searched and have not been able to find much info on the heavy bullets. I was wondering if anyone could give me some info and thoughts on these. I have heard that vertical is an issue when going with the heavy bullets.I am looking for some load and velocity comparison and some tips on how to keep the vertical under control.

Thanks

 

[broncman]

I had no luck in my longthroated rifle I built for 215 hybrids...

The 185's are awesome in this rifle though. Seated way out and extra powder to compensate and they are extremely accurate

 

[Steve Blair]

The problem with heavy bullets in .308 F-TR rifles is not the bullet or inherent accuracy. It is the shooter's ability to manage rifle dynamics on the bipod. I cannot reliably shoot 230 Hybrids in my Borden/Manners F-TR rifle off the bipod. It hops, skips and jumps, producing vertical (all up) and flyers, up and right. When I put a sled on the forend and shoot it from a rest, it is very accurate and reliable, no vertical issues. 185 grain bullets are a nice balance between B.C. and manageability. Some folks have success with 200 Hybrids and a few with 215's. I don't know of anyone who can consistently shoot 230's in F-TR. The ballistics are all on the side of the big Hybrids. You should experiment and find where your limit is and shoot the one that performs best for you. Your .200" freebore should handle up through 215. My freebore for 230's is .280". [br]
Conversely, 230's are all that I shoot in my almost 22 pound, .300 WSM F-Open rifle. Still not easy but doable.

 

[whiter02]

Thanks for the reply's. So far they have not been too bad, but I have shot it very little and only out to 300 yards. I would like to give the 200's a try also if I can find them. I dont have any plans to try the 230's. I was wondering what kind of powder is being used and the velocity people are getting with the 200 and 215's also. I have found a pretty good node, but I am thinking of dropping it back down because it seems that it is going to be hard on the brass.

Thanks

 

[nashlaw]

If you llike, go to Snipershide and do some research. Member "montanamarine" has done some extensive work with .308 and 30-06 loads- he is the resident expert on the '06 in my esteem


He had been playing with 208g bullets in .308.

 

[stgw77]

My barrel LOVES 185 Berger Juggernauts, very forgiving bullet in my rifle. Good BC, not seathing depth sensitive. My chamber has .168" FB and I get .140"-.150" of bullet in the neck when touching lands. I think it will work in your chamber also, worth to try it.

 

[Steveb]

I have been playing with the heavies in both the 308 and 300 short mag. The heaviest I can get to shoot consistently is the 210 VLD. The 200 Hybrid's shoot great and the 215 and 230 will give good groups but not consistently in my experience. I get decent groups with the 230's but I can bughole with the 200's. To me accuracy trumps BC.

 

[r bose]

Whiter02, I've shot 308 with heavy bullets for some time. I've used the 210 molyed berger and the 208 a-max. Out of a 26" hart barrel, I get 2630 FPS with either bullet. My load data is, "Molyed" 210g berger, with Winchester brass (light brass) and win primer, 48g of R-17. With the 208 a-max I use 46g R-17.

Now, this is in MY RIFLE. Please work up. Also I live in an area where I rarely shoot in temps below 65 degrees or above 90 degrees. I've heard of R-17 being temp sensitive in bigger swings.

Accuracy is outstanding. Once shot a 10 shot group at 600 yds, 2 1/2 inches. But, both loads are 1/2 minute any day.

 

[r bose]

FORGOT to mention.....the 208 A-max ARE NOT MOLYED!!, I.E. NAKED.

 

[mysticplayer]

The problem with heavy bullets in .308 F-TR rifles is not the bullet or inherent accuracy. It is the shooter's ability to manage rifle dynamics on the bipod. I cannot reliably shoot 230 Hybrids in my Borden/Manners F-TR rifle off the bipod. It hops, skips and jumps, producing vertical (all up) and flyers, up and right. When I put a sled on the forend and shoot it from a rest, it is very accurate and reliable, no vertical issues. 185 grain bullets are a nice balance between B.C. and manageability. Some folks have success with 200 Hybrids and a few with 215's. I don't know of anyone who can consistently shoot 230's in F-TR. The ballistics are all on the side of the big Hybrids. You should experiment and find where your limit is and shoot the one that performs best for you. Your .200" freebore should handle up through 215. My freebore for 230's is .280". [br]
Conversely, 230's are all that I shoot in my almost 22 pound, .300 WSM F-Open rifle. Still not easy but doable.

Early days but got a new stock design going. I am testing 230's out of a 30" barrel. With the MPOD, new geometry and layout, tracking is excellent. No hop or bounce, with very little lateral movement.

If my position is good, I can spot my own hits at 600m and 1000yds. Still working on load tuning (now out of bullets) but vertical at 600m has been acceptable. I am hoping for much better.

I am hoping to see more 230's so I can complete my testing but it looks like my loads are creeping on 2500fps so there is nothing whimpy about these loads.

I typically shoot 200's but had a small amount of 230's arrive so decided to test them for S&G's. Now I am very hopeful that I can use the 230's as my match bullet.

Time will tell...

Jerry

 

[Steve Blair]

I hope it works well, Jerry. My H4350 loads were ~2460 fps from 30".

 

[mysticplayer]

SB, I do too but early days, so lots to confirm

If it all works as planned, I hope to shoot the rig at the US Nats this Oct.

Hopefully, it will help me with the left and rights

Jerry

 

[Down South]

I shot the 230s last summer in a 1000 yard match (FTR) and had vertical issues but i will say this, they are awesome at bucking the wind left and right compared to the light bullets......If you can hold tight vertical with them its definately an advantage over the 185s etc.

 

[whiter02]

Im glad to see some more input on this. I did get to shoot a match over the weekend with the 215 hybrids. I did lose a few points to vertical but I dont believe it was the load or the bullet. It was probably me not having my hold right. I was also using new brass. I dont believe they group as well as the 185 juggernauts but they did shoot well. I am using varget at the moment and getting 2530 fps. I am thinking about giving H4350 a try and seeing if it will tighten up a little more. I am still wanting to try the 200 hybrids if I cwn ever find any.

 

[jsthntn247]

I didn't notice any difference in recoil with the 215's at 2550 compared to the 185's at 2750. Recoil seemed to push more with the bigger bullets and not be as sharp. I plan on taking them to 1k this weekend so I will know more about it after the match.

 

[Down South]

I didn't notice any difference in recoil with the 215's at 2550 compared to the 185's at 2750. Recoil seemed to push more with the bigger bullets and not be as sharp. I plan on taking them to 1k this weekend so I will know more about it after the match.

You shooting in Pascagoula MS. Saturday?

 

[jsthntn247]

I didn't notice any difference in recoil with the 215's at 2550 compared to the 185's at 2750. Recoil seemed to push more with the bigger bullets and not be as sharp. I plan on taking them to 1k this weekend so I will know more about it after the match.

You shooting in Pascagoula MS. Saturday?

Yes, get someone to ride with you and make the trip over. A few more tr shooters would make for a fun match.

 

[Down South]

I didn't notice any difference in recoil with the 215's at 2550 compared to the 185's at 2750. Recoil seemed to push more with the bigger bullets and not be as sharp. I plan on taking them to 1k this weekend so I will know more about it after the match.

You shooting in Pascagoula MS. Saturday?

Yes, get someone to ride with you and make the trip over. A few more tr shooters would make for a fun match.

Im going, already loaded up ready to go.....Chris may be coming as well......John wanted to come but had prior obligations.......See you there.

 

[mysticplayer]

Stock 2.0 - more tweaks. Tracking continues to improve

7 bullets - all I had left.

250yds... load repeated into a nice tight group

Hopefully, more bullet will arrive in the coming weeks to do a large scale test.

Jerry

 

[paulT]

Is H4350 as temp stable as Varget with 215g hybrids for 308, also would H4350 yield higher VL at lower pressures than Varget.