308 freebore for 200, 215 and 230 hybrids

[APGE]

Howdy Folks,

I'm putting together my first dedicated ftr gun. I'm from Australia and the discipline does not have a big following here and I usually shoot f open (300wsm, 6 brx and 284AI).

Projectiles are in very short supply here. I have some 215 and 230 hybrids from and the dealers have a small supply of 200 hybrids available. I want a chamber where I can shoot any of the three projectiles.

I know the 230s are on the heavy side, but I have had good success with them in a previous 308, even though they were going a leisurely 2400fps

Can anyone suggest a freebore figure that will allow the use of all three bullets?

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Nope, not going to happen. The 215s work well around .220" the 230s around .280" and the 200s are closer to .170". You had better decide what bullet you want to shoot.

 

[XTR]

Someone may disagree, but the reality is that there really isn't anything that will work well with all three. If you push your FB out to .200 or .210 you will be about as long as you want to go with the 200H and it will be a little short for the 215H but it will work. The 215s are pretty close to ideal at about a 225 I think. The 230 on the other hand is a whole lot longer. Probably on the order of a 250 to 270 I'd guess for an ideal FB. I do know another shooter that has a barrel cut with a .270 FB that will barely hold the .215s so .250 should be fine for them.

You really need to decide if you want a 200/215 barrel with a freebore around .205 to .210, or a 215/230 with a freebore that I'd guess will be in the range of .250. I have never shot the 230s but I'd guess that would be the compromise position for both the 215/230 bullets.

Personally I'd suggest the 200/215 option. Some people have tried the 230s but nobody I know has stuck with them in a 308, and a whole lot of people are having great success with the 200s.

editAlex posted while I was typing)

 

[Quickoz]

APGE,

Where in Australia are you from?

I would recommend a chamber to suit the 200s most of all. supply is best for them it seems and they work really well.

 

[Down South]

Like Wade and Alex said, hard to get the perfect freebore for all three bullets. The only way it could work in my opinion would be about .250 to .270 freebore which would seat the 230s a little deeper in the case than what i like but doable, 215s would be seated long and give plenty powder capacity (i ran them in .270 chamber for a while but not much holding the bullet) and 200s would be jumping a lot more than normal. Not saying it won't work, there may be a spot jumping a long way that shoots really well with 200s. I personally wouldn't try running all three bullets in this setup but you may get it working, only one way to find out i guess.........

 

[ImBIllT]

I realize that throating for the 200’s and using a 230 would eat up case capacity, but is there a reason that seating the 230’s .110 deep would render it unusable?

 

[APGE]

APGE,

Where in Australia are you from?

I would recommend a chamber to suit the 200s most of all. supply is best for them it seems and they work really well.

NSW, Quick. I think I may have just bought a NF rail from you if you use the same name on ozfclass

As anyone from Australia will know, my problem is primarily a projectile availability one, rather than the desire to shoot whatever projectiles I feel like at the time.


From the numbers Alex posted, I should be able to throat it to shoot 2 of the three projectiles, with the lighter of the two not having a huge bearing surface in the neck.

If I throat for 230s, I should be able to shoot 215s and just cross my fingers that 230s or 215s are back in stock before I run out of the damn things!

I had considered the 225eld m as a possible candidate, but have not heard any reports on them to date.

Keep the advice coming, gentlemen - it's much appreciated

 

[ImBIllT]

The 215 Hybrid has the best form factor. I’d just throat it exactly for that.

 

[sdnerf]

Its do-able, the 200 will ride at the top of the neck. Obviously, the longer the case neck affords greater flexibility. Just did it for a 300 wsm. Set the optimal bearing surface for the 230 hyb, boat tail junction is 2/3 down the neck. the 215 hyb is mid way and the 200-20x has .090 +/- of bearing surface. Don't listen to everything you read.

 

[Quickoz]

Hey Alex, yep its me.

I'd throat for 200s and maybe look into running the 208 ELDM or 200SMK aswell as the 200s. I dont know of anyone running the 215 or above here in australia.

 

[APGE]

Hey Alex, yep its me.

I'd throat for 200s and maybe look into running the 208 ELDM or 200SMK aswell as the 200s. I dont know of anyone running the 215 or above here in australia.

Cheers Shaun.

I had every intention of using the new 200smk for this build until I priced them - nearly $1.50 a projectile!

208 eld is probably the only reasonably priced option with dependable availability.

I'm leaning towards throating for 200s, maybe just a smidgen longer so I can shoot 215s if BRT ever gets another shipment

Alex

 

[Quickoz]

Alex,

I run a 170fb for normal 200H. Works a treat.

Im going to try some 208ELDM after nationals in 2 weeks. They look to be a decent alternative. I'm also on the waiting list for the Copperhead 208 VLDs. I personally won't go heavier as I think much over that is going to be harder to shoot and tune.

Have fun with it. I changed to F/TR from FO and loving it.

 

[Down South]

Alex,

I run a 170fb for normal 200H. Works a treat.

Im going to try some 208ELDM after nationals in 2 weeks. They look to be a decent alternative. I'm also on the waiting list for the Copperhead 208 VLDs. I personally won't go heavier as I think much over that is going to be harder to shoot and tune.

Have fun with it. I changed to F/TR from FO and loving it.

The 208 ELD-M will be seated deeper in the case with .170 freebore (right at neck/shoulder junction where boat tail starts). I tested the old 208 Amax (only at 300 yards) in my .170 chamber barrel. Seated deeper than what I like but it did shoot well with Varget. It was shooting 5-10 shots about 1 inch group @ 300 yards running 2620 ish with that setup (32 inch 11 twist barrel). Good luck in your testing.

 

[JayBeeYou]

I am running a .170 fb on a 30" Krieger. Started off shooting 200 hybrids jammed .008 at 2640, shot great. Switched to 200 20x with a .012 jump at 2660 and shot better, without worrying about pulling a bullet in a match. For poops and grins tried 215 hybrids at low node 2470 without touching seating die (same front end as 20x) and shot an unbelievable for me score at 500 yards. Pair of 200/14x's with a 198 in the middle to remind me I'm not that good. A .170 fb will handle the Berger 200's and 215 very well.

Can't speak to the 230's, no experience or interest in trying them.

 

[Down South]

I am running a .170 fb on a 30" Krieger. Started off shooting 200 hybrids jammed .008 at 2640, shot great. Switched to 200 20x with a .012 jump at 2660 and shot better, without worrying about pulling a bullet in a match. For poops and grins tried 215 hybrids at low node 2470 without touching seating die (same front end as 20x) and shot an unbelievable for me score at 500 yards. Pair of 200/14x's with a 198 in the middle to remind me I'm not that good. A .170 fb will handle the Berger 200's and 215 very well.

Can't speak to the 230's, no experience or interest in trying them.

The 215s shot great for me when I shot them in midrange matches (600 yards) but would seem to always drop a few points to vertical per string at 1000. That's why I quit shooting them. I was running them a lot harder than you were though (2620 ftps). Hopefully you can get em going at long range consistently because they definitely buck the wind really well compared to the lighter lower BC bullets.

 

[JayBeeYou]

The 215s shot great for me when I shot them in midrange matches (600 yards) but would seem to always drop a few points to vertical per string at 1000. That's why I quit shooting them. I was running them a lot harder than you were though (2620 ftps). Hopefully you can get em going at long range consistently because they definitely buck the wind really well compared to the lighter lower BC bullets.

Jade,
I went back to the 20x because according to Berger calculator the wind was the same as the 215 at low node, without concerns of vertical. I do think slowing down the 215 helps prevent some of the vertical but others may disagree. The 215 at low node actually seemed to recoil easier ( less snappy ) than the 20x at 2650ish, especially off the bipod I bought off you.

 

[Down South]

Jade,
I went back to the 20x because according to Berger calculator the wind was the same as the 215 at low node, without concerns of vertical. I do think slowing down the 215 helps prevent some of the vertical but others may disagree. The 215 at low node actually seemed to recoil easier ( less snappy ) than the 20x at 2650ish, especially off the bipod I bought off you.

Yeah, that lower 215 node is not bad recoil wise with the lower pressures. The higher node will get your attention when you pull the trigger though............Peter shot that lower node really well when he was running it........