Freebore?

[Texas Solo]

Going to be getting a new barrel for my 308 Savage F/TR rifle. It will be a 28" Stainless Bull, 1/10.
I have options on the free bore. NSS told me the following:
308 W = .090 freebore
308 M118 = .117 freebore
308 F/TR = .168 freebore

Planning on shooting 175 - 185 gr bullets. The M118 at .117 seems best, but there's a 20 week wait for that.
The other 2 options are in stock.
I think the F/TR at .168" will be too long. So the question is, will the std 308 W at .090" freebore shoot 175 - 185 OK?
I have a ton of 168's, but I know they are not the best choice to hopefully go out to 1000yds.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[three percent]

Shoot 200.20x's or 200 hybrids with .168 freebore would be my pick with 30in barrel

 

[Ned Ludd]

Going to be getting a new barrel for my 308 Savage F/TR rifle. It will be a 28" Stainless Bull, 1/10.
I have options on the free bore. NSS told me the following:
308 W = .090 freebore
308 M118 = .117 freebore
308 F/TR = .168 freebore

Planning on shooting 175 - 185 gr bullets. The M118 at .117 seems best, but there's a 20 week wait for that.
The other 2 options are in stock.
I think the F/TR at .168" will be too long. So the question is, will the std 308 W at .090" freebore shoot 175 - 185 OK?
I have a ton of 168's, but I know they are not the best choice to hopefully go out to 1000yds.

Any help is appreciated.

My first precision rifle was a GAP Crusader. At the time, GAP chambered their .308s using .085" freebore, and they were supposedly set up for bullets in the ~175 gr weight range. That chamber worked just fine with 175s. I also loaded for it using Berger Juggernauts and 168 Hybrids. The Jugs were seated a little deeper in the case than would be optimal, but they shot just fine. The 168 Hybrids were seated perfectly in that chamber. You might be surprised how well the 168 Hybrid would do; it has a very high BC for it's weight class. Likewise, Sierra's new 169 gr Matchking is a whole different animal from the 168s of old and would also be worth trying. I went through at least a couple barrels throated with .085" fb on that rifle and another rifle that was set up almost identically by GAP before I eventually went with .180" fb chambers for 200s. The .090" fb will probably do everything you want. As noted by @three percent above, a better combination for F-TR at 1000 yd would be something like .170" to .180" freebore for 200s out of a 30" barrel. However, sometimes we have to go with what we have.

 

[Sandstorm]

something like .170" to .180" freebore for 200s out of a 30" barrel.

This is my Pic.

 

[avidflyer]

Going to be getting a new barrel for my 308 Savage F/TR rifle. It will be a 28" Stainless Bull, 1/10.
I have options on the free bore. NSS told me the following:
308 W = .090 freebore
308 M118 = .117 freebore
308 F/TR = .168 freebore

Planning on shooting 175 - 185 gr bullets. The M118 at .117 seems best, but there's a 20 week wait for that.
The other 2 options are in stock.
I think the F/TR at .168" will be too long. So the question is, will the std 308 W at .090" freebore shoot 175 - 185 OK?
I have a ton of 168's, but I know they are not the best choice to hopefully go out to 1000yds.

Any help is appreciated.

20 weeks for what??? the reamer, plenty of options to pick up that reamer without a 20 week wait. Pick what you need then work on getting the reamer.

 

[Texas Solo]

20 weeks for what??? the reamer, plenty of options to pick up that reamer without a 20 week wait. Pick what you need then work on getting the reamer.

I need a prefit.

 

[Lone Hunter]

I need a prefit.

Contact @urbanrifleman on here and see what he has for you.

 

[urbanrifleman]

I have a 308 match reamer and 8 and 10 twist blanks. I can make a prefit for you.

 

[Texas Solo]

Ordered a 30" 1/10 with the .168 freebore from NSS. Will shoot 185 & 200gr.

 

[mperry]

I know you said you already ordered a barrel but FYI, I chambered my barrel with the Manson 2013 FTR reamer which is supposed to have .170 freebore. With the 185 Jugg's, I only have .085 of bearing surface of the bullet in the case neck when touching the lands. I have .116 with the 200.20X. If my reamer does have .170 freebore, I wish I would have got one with less. I am making it work but its not ideal.

 

[Texas Solo]

I know you said you already ordered a barrel but FYI, I chambered my barrel with the Manson 2013 FTR reamer which is supposed to have .170 freebore. With the 185 Jugg's, I only have .085 of bearing surface of the bullet in the case neck when touching the lands. I have .116 with the 200.20X. If my reamer does have .170 freebore, I wish I would have got one with less. I am making it work but its not ideal.

Appreciate the info. My only other option was a .090 freebore, so it is what it is. I can make it work.

 

[Walt Krafft]

The 0.090 would work fine with your 168 gr bullets.

 

[dcali]

Anything from .165 to .180 works great. People settled on .168 as the "standard" for some reason, but it'doesn't really matter as long as you're in that ballpark.

 

[acbrunton55]

I went with the Manson 2013 FTR reamer as well. Using Berger 185 Juggs while waiting on the 200s to some available. I am jumping the Juggs with a COAL of 3.017, 0.020 off the lands. 30" 1/10 Bartlein.
So far, good results.