.308 FTR Rifle build

[Ned Ludd]

Thanks everyone for your input and discussion. As suggested, I have sent an email to the NRA High Power Competition manager requesting clarification of rule 3.4.1, (b), (4) with the attached picture. I'll let folks here know their response. The folks at Long Shot Precision indicated the ABR is legal for F-Class competition, but didn't specifically state if that was for F-Open or F-TR.

Hopefully, their response will be positive. I don't see how that bag rider thumbwheel would be substantially different than the "mariner wheel" elevation adjustment found on some of the ski-type bipods. Shooters actually do adjust those during a string fire using an aluminum arrow body/tube, and the end result of using either would be similar. Nonetheless, you made the correct action by inquiring.

 

[Lucky6547]

Thanks everyone for your input and discussion. As suggested, I have sent an email to the NRA High Power Competition manager requesting clarification of rule 3.4.1, (b), (4) with the attached picture. I'll let folks here know their response. The folks at Long Shot Precision indicated the ABR is legal for F-Class competition, but didn't specifically state if that was for F-Open or F-TR.

Any word on this?

 

[Dos XX]

I hope they allow it. I like the idea.

I wonder what the ruling would be if you also put carpet between the ears on your bag? Someone might shit themselves.

 

[LVLAaron]

Thought I'd post my new (hasn't been to the range yet) .308 F-TR build see what folks think

MPA Hybrid Chassis - Blue Smoke w/ weight tuning kit
Bartlein Heavy Palma 30" 1:10 - 0.175" freebore
Terminus Zeus action w/ quick switch option
Trigger Tech Diamond
Nightforce Competition 15-55X52mm
Tier One Bipod
Current weight - 17lbs 11.6oz
Planned Load Components:
Berger 185 Juggernauts
Alpha LRP brass
Federal GM210M primers
Varget powder

I have that chassis and bipod, not for my FTR gun but though.

I'd move the bipod out to the spigot. Will help with stability and managing torque

 

[Lucky6547]

Nothing official yet. This has fallen into a grey area. Initial response from the NRA High Power Deputy Dir of Competition was it's not legal. Further conversations between the NRA, LSP, and myself, led him to take it back within the NRA for formal consideration, but it is low priority.

Anecdotally, the F-Class Competition Committee provided feedback upon initial submission that it was legal for F-Class based on the fact the ABR is part of the rifle and not part of the rest. The ABR plays no part in fixing the rifle to the rest or to the ground. It is not considered an "adjustable rest", not attached to the ground or firing point, and being adjustable. There are members of the NRA FCC on this forum, perhaps they could weigh in as well.

I was reluctant to provide feedback to this forum thread until I received something formal. But, given how slowly the wheels of the NRA turn, it will be awhile.

I have removed the ABR from my rifle until something formal comes down the pike.

Thanks for posting!

 

[Vmax97]

Hello, lookin for some suggestions. Do I re-barrel my Savage Mod 12 FT/R or look at a new build? The Savage has a 1:12 Twist and I am looking to reload heavier bullets like the Hornady 208s and 225s, any recommendations on the best twist for those bullets?

 

[Lucky6547]

I shoot against a few guys with savages, and they can shoot, but I recently got a Borden and it is so much nicer than anything I’ve ever bought before…if you can get a custom, you should.

 

[Warren Dean]

Hello, lookin for some suggestions. Do I re-barrel my Savage Mod 12 FT/R or look at a new build? The Savage has a 1:12 Twist and I am looking to reload heavier bullets like the Hornady 208s and 225s, any recommendations on the best twist for those bullets?

The US FTR Team used 12 twist barrels with 185s and won the world championship. I still do.

I would suggest putting the barreled action into a McMillan X-IT or any other stock better suited for F-T/R. The Savage F-T/R stock is not suitable for competition due to the high rake angle on the bottom of the stock.

 

[Ned Ludd]

Hello, lookin for some suggestions. Do I re-barrel my Savage Mod 12 FT/R or look at a new build? The Savage has a 1:12 Twist and I am looking to reload heavier bullets like the Hornady 208s and 225s, any recommendations on the best twist for those bullets?

Warren already addressed the stock issue, so I'll stick with the bullets. You'll want at least a 10-twist for the two you listed, possibly even a 9-twist for the 225s. If you have the actual bullet BC and OAL, you can run the numbers yourself here:

Twist Rate Stability Calculator

Our newly updated Twist Rate Stability Calculator not only tells you what your SG is, but it also lets you know if you are reaching your optimized BC.

bergerbullets.com

One thing to be aware of is that when you start getting to about the 210 gr bullet weight range or so, gun handling becomes noticeably more challenging and exacting with a .308 F-TR rifle. The increased BC of various 210+ gr bullet designs might seem desirable, but not if one gets nickeled and dimed to death with 9s during a match due to gun handling issues. Berger's 200.20X bullet is a very good combination of BC and precision without having to go too heavy. A number of F-TR shooters have even chosen to go back to using 185 Juggernauts or Hybrids for the same reason. If you want to go the "heavies" route, I would suggest figuring out what maximum bullet weight you can use and still maintain acceptable gun handling before buying any bullet in quantity.

The other issue to consider with really heavy .30 cal bullets is that you'll want the barrel throated a fairly long freebore/lead so that you can seat the bullets at a location that won't eat up so much effective case volume; i.e. bullets seated with the boattail/bearing surface junction above the neck/shoulder junction. That will require a custom reamer OR a throating reamer be used to chamber the barrel. Further, lighter weight [shorter] bullets may not shoot so well seated way out in the neck, and thus may need to be jumped a long way to shoot well in such a chamber. Having a long throat is not necessarily a deal-breaker if you ever want to use lighter/shorter bullets, but it can make tuning the load more challenging, with no guarantee that they will tune in as well as they might with more appropriate throat geometry. These are some of the things you might want to consider before settling on a particular twist rate and chambering.

 

[Fairchaser]

A lot of discussion here about bullet choice. Just to add a little bit of my own personal experience with the 200.20x bullets. They may not work in all 10 twist 28-30 inch barrels. I had used them with much success but when I changed barrels, they no longer worked. I tried. Really tried. Started from scratch and worked up a load by the book. Powder, primers, neck tension, seating depth and tuner. Nothing would work consistently to my standard. Finally and reluctantly I switched bullets to the 185 juggs and the light switch turned on. Before anyone asks, I used all the standard stuff from the FTR rifle team reamer, lapua Palma brass, Varget, Br4 primers. It’s a long bullet and just wouldn’t stabilize out of that barrel. Bottom line is that 20x bullet may not work and you should be willing to experiment if it doesn’t.

 

[Warren Dean]

A lot of discussion here about bullet choice. Just to add a little bit of my own personal experience with the 200.20x bullets. They may not work in all 10 twist 28-30 inch barrels. I had used them with much success but when I changed barrels, they no longer worked. I tried. Really tried. Started from scratch and worked up a load by the book. Powder, primers, neck tension, seating depth and tuner. Nothing would work consistently to my standard. Finally and reluctantly I switched bullets to the 185 juggs and the light switch turned on. Before anyone asks, I used all the standard stuff from the FTR rifle team reamer, lapua Palma brass, Varget, Br4 primers. It’s a long bullet and just wouldn’t stabilize out of that barrel. Bottom line is that 20x bullet may not work and you should be willing to experiment if it doesn’t.

I did the same thing. I have run 180 class bullets for 14 years except during the 2020 FTR team tryout time with 200s. Didn't make the cut, so I sold every 200 I had and went back to 185 Juggernauts and my scoring has improved. Some people can get them to shoot, some can't. I have guys on my team that shoot 200-20X and 208s and they hammer.

Go figure...