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30BR versatility

I've been pondering rebarreling for a while now, and for a myriad of reasons I believe I'll end up going with a 30BR. Though I've read that the 30BR is capable of amazing accuracy it seems the range of projectiles people use with it is very limited. My point is that this rifle will ultimately be for my amusement, not competition, and I don't want to back myself into a corner in regards to what bullets I can shoot. Simply meaning that I would like to be able to dabble in the upper ends of the 30BR's range such as the 155 palma bullets.
The question here is what do you think would be the optimum set up to be able to play with projectiles up to and including the 155s?
I realize I'd probably be giving up some of the incredible accuracy the 30BR can offer with the 110-120gr FBs, and if you think this is a foolish idea, feel free to say so, I'm not totally set on doing it. I just feel that if I dedicate the rifle to the 110-120gr range by having a slow twist and potentially the no freebore option, then eventually the novelty would wear off, and then I'd have a rifle with near infinite barrel life, but no real desire to load and shoot it.
 
The 30BR works because we know its limits and we use it for its intended purpose. That being close range 100-300 score or group shooting, shooting 110-to 118gr short FB bullets. I personally dont think the 30Br has enough steam to push a 155gr bullet and even if it does you would have to use a 14 twist to stabilize them and i would have to think your close range accuracy with the short 118gr bullets wouldnt be optimal. If you want to shoot 155gr bullets them go with a good old 308. The 308 is very very accurate and i think you would be much happier. Good luck!

Another thought is finding a reamer that would allow you to use a 155gr bullet in the 30BR. Most 30BR reamers will have a zero or very short free bore. If you used a zero free bore reamer and then loaded a 155gr bullet the bullet wil be so far into the case you will have problems , not to mention there will be less room for powder.
 
There's an article on this homepage about a guy that just did some pretty good 600 yard shooting with an 18 twist 30br. I believe he shot a little over 2 in. group. If I were going to shoot 155's I would build a .308 win. or just build a 30br on a slow twist and shoot the short light bullets at long distance; it would probably make you a better conditions shooter.
 
For what you want, I'd suggest a 30X47 Lapua. This is simply the 6.5X47 Lapua case necked up to .30 cal. with no other changes. The 30X47L is used by Hunter Bench Rest class competitors with everything from the 112's to the 150's. Great brass, Harrells makes a nice f.l. bushing die for it, the reamer run into a Wilson 30BR standard seater makes a great seating die, and with a 14 or 15 twist barrel you'll have nearly all the accuracy capability of the 30BR but with more flexibility.

N133, Benchmark, 322, N135, 748, the new 8208...lots of powders work with the various bullet weights. To run the 1.150 or 1.080 long jackets the heavier bullets are built on, you'll need some freebore....so this will limit you somewhat with the lighter bullets from a 'jam' standpoint. But the 30X47L case capacity works best with the 118-125-ish weight and on up...which is still a reasonable bullet weight. If you get some custom BR 118-125's they can be built on either the 1.00 or 1.080 jackets. Specifying them on the 1.080 will help with the freebore you'll need to run the heavies.

Randy Robinett at BIB can help you with your custom bullet needs.

http://www.bibullets.com/
 
The reading I've done on the cartridge suggests the 30BR has a practical limit of 165gr bullets, as claimed by sierra. But I'm not worried about distance, the longest range to which I have access in close vicinity is only 500 yards which is within the BR's ability.
Having read all of that I suppose I'll just run a standard chamber set up to shoot 118-125gr region because it sounds like it requires a lot of specialization to shoot the 155s. Plus I haven't said it explicitly but part of the appeal of the 30BR over the 308 is that it's smaller and I get a kick out of the idea of using less to achieve more.
One more question: The more I reload the less I like brass prep. I'd really like to run a no-turn neck and I hear Lapua brass is good enough to do that. In your experience what would be the minimum neck to do so? And, does anyone do that anyway?
 
The so called 'no turn' necks aren't a good idea with the 30BR case. When you neck the BR case to .30, there's a 'lump' at the bottom of the neck...this used to be the shoulder of the Lapua 6BR case. To have a 'no turn' chamber, the neck area would need to be at least as large as the diameter of 'the lump'...which will give you excess neck diameter. Excessive neck diamter in a 30BR chamber is an accuracy killer as is excessive freebore diameter. The biggest chamber neck diameter you can probably get away with is .332. Be aware that the latest Lapua 6BR cases have a bit less case neck thickness. I'd opt the 'standard' .330 neck and turn for a minimum of .002 clearance to avoid any issues.

This picture shows 'the lump' (lt. side case):


unfiredpup.jpg
 
I'm familiar with the need to take out the donut formed by sizing it up, what I'm really getting at is the neck thickness of the lapua brass after sizing it up, because I see that with a .332 neck a neck thickness of less than 0.012 is required.
On a side note, the second case in that picture looks quite familiar, I'm sure I've seen it, or something like it before. I want to say it's called the .300 Grizzly?
Also totally off topic, while looking into wild cats, such as the 30x47, I saw that dies are more common than I thought, but few smiths, if any, seem to have the reamer for it. An alternative that I've spotted is the 30x44, but I have a couple of questions: Would this round, 30x44, be essentially the '6BR Long' necked up to 30? And if so, the description of how to form the brass is not terribly clear, what series of dies might be used?
Sorry to get off the topic, and thanks for putting up with a barrage of questions, but I don't want to create a whole new topic just to ask these questions.
 
HolyMeekrob said:
I get a kick out of the idea of using less to achieve more
You should never believe that anything is free..
All the cosmos stays in balance.

With this, there are a handful of factors FOR the 30br, so equal factors AGAINST it.

Bib, Light, Flat base bullets
Slow twist
Short, Heavy contour barrel
Low capacity case
Small primer
Fast powder

GAIN:
Bigger holes
Easy tune
Internal ballistic efficiency
Barrel life
Short barrel
Mid weight(10-12lbs)

LOSS:
Low BC
SINGLE PURPOSE

It's a result of weak score shooting rules to 300yds.
With any other use, or changing of factors above, it all falls apart.
So you cannot remove it's loss, without sacrificing the charactor -which draws your interest.
Full circle and balanced where it is.
 
That case that Al has pictured next to the 30BR is the 30 Wolfpup. You cant get 44mm out of a BR case, you need a bigger case to start with. I'm with Al's first post, go with the 30X47L. Many BR gunsmiths have this reamer.
 
I think you both misunderstand.
I'm well aware of the 30BRs disadvantages, but I welcome them. I suppose I'd be the guy to show up to a palma match shooting 155s, intentionally handicapping myself for the challenge.
I also know 30x44 couldn't be formed from the 38mm BR brass. The article I read was forming the 6x44 by sizing down .243 brass. I have tons of that on hand, so the question was, what would the steps be to do so?
 
Not my area of expertise. Just a few questions? How would the Sierra 135 Gr. MK work out to 600 yards in a .30 BR.? How about the 125 gr. Nosler ballistic tips? Twist rates?Greg
 
Re: O ye of little faith

I've shot 150-155's out of 30 br with great result. I've also kicked it up a notch and came up with 30 UAC. Which is 30BR ,no turn,+100 in the shoulder.... (3rd cartridge from L)
1xs copy.jpg


Getting well into 308 velocities with 155gr and the accuracy is very sub moa with a 15 twist barrel...using less powder.
The 20 and 6.5 versions are no slouches either! Remember when we thought a cartridge needed a nice long neck to be accurate?
 
Here's my 'big' 30BR. It's blown forward .100...effectively making it a 30BRX. By blowing the shoulder ahead, the 'lump' now becomes part of the new shoulder. This one is a .330 chamber neck.

Standard 30BR on the lt, 30BRX on the rt.

brx.jpg
 
I am also thinking of trying the 30br with the SMK 135 and similar HPBT bullets for use at 600 yard prone matches. Has anyone tried this combo?
 
AlNyhus said:
Here's my 'big' 30BR. It's blown forward .100...effectively making it a 30BRX. By blowing the shoulder ahead, the 'lump' now becomes part of the new shoulder. This one is a .330 chamber neck.

Standard 30BR on the lt, 30BRX on the rt.

Al,
What is the neck length on your X-version? Looks like it is almost one caliber.
What is the increase in powder charge to the start of the neck, or velocity increase with same weight bullet?
Greg
 
I am a FIRM believer of the 30BR. But I just do not understand why you would want to redo a cartridge for 155's. The .308 already does that. Adn there are a bazillon different .308 combinations to choose from.

If you want a superb 100-300 cartridge then go with a 30BR. People are not just using it for score, people are getting good groups from a 30BR also ( http://www.p1zk.com/Group_shooting.php ), but if you want to shoot 155 grain projectiles, go wit a .308
 
This picture shows 'the lump' (lt. side case):


unfiredpup.jpg




[/quote]

I kinda thought the lump was where the neck sizer stopped and the neck was fireformed to the ID. of the chamber neck?

As for that goofy looking thing with no neck, how does the bullet stay in concentrisity [sp]
:}

thanks

thanks
 
You guys would save alot of money and frustration if you would listen to Al. He knows what he is doing and I totally agree that a heavy bullet in a 30BR is a bad idea. A 30x47 is the best choice.
 

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