FTR bullets

[JDBraddy]

Considering a new barrel in .308 to use for FTR, and need to decide what bullet to set it up for. I know everyone wants highest possible BC, but how heavy? Can the .308 win push the 200+ grain bullets fast enough? At what point does it begin to become diminishing returns? What selection of bullets are most top competitors currently using?

 

[T-shooter]

You need stability out to the maximum range you will be shooting. With a factory chambered Savage .308, I get the best accuracy with Berger 200.20's at 2,320 to 2,340 fps out of a 22" barrel using 43.1 to 43.3 grains of Varget with a .005" jump. With Hornady 208g ELD's I use 42.5g of Varget for a average velocity of 2,430 fps with a .025" jump. Either of these should be fine for 1,000 yards and the Bergers should make it past 1,200 yards before losing enough velocity to become unstable. A heavier bullet with fight the wind a lot better. I like Varget because it is less sensitive to temperature changes.

 

[Ned Ludd]

The Berger 200.20X bullet, with a 30" 10-twist barrel, chambered with ~0.170" to 0.180" freebore, is what many top F-TR competitors are currently using. Commonly-used powders include Varget, H4895, and N150, and a popular accuracy node with a 30" pipe falls in the ~2640-2650 fps velocity range (Lapua Palma SRP brass).

 

[MikeMcCasland]

I'll echo the other comments. .170-.190 (high end) freebore.

For LR:
Berger 200.20x - You can start and end your search right there.

For MR:
Berger 200.20x
204 Vapor Trails
Berger 185 Jugs

 

[dcali]

200 is what people are currently settling on. The Berger 200.20x is the current king of the hill. You will see a lot of them on the line - it’s a very well designed bullet.

You can go higher than 200, but it’s a risky undertaking. Lots of guys (myself included) have tried and gone back to a 200. The longer/heavier the bullet, the tougher it is to shoot well. 185ish bullets also work, but you pay a bit of a BC price to use them. But the (slightly) lower recoil and relative forgiveness of the lighter bullets can make up for it, especially at mid range or for new shooters.

 

[JDBraddy]

I've been shooting 155 Scenars in a 26 inch 1:13 twist, that's nearing the end of it's useful barrell life. Was hoping to set up something more appropriate for the game.

 

[MikeMcCasland]

I've been shooting 155 Scenars in a 26 inch 1:13 twist, that's nearing the end of it's useful barrell life. Was hoping to set up something more appropriate for the game.

28"-30" 1:10-twist heavy varmint or even slightly heavier contour. Chamber it with a .170-.190 freebore, .340-.342 neck reamer. 1deg30. A setup like this will let you run most 200gr class bullets out of Lapua Palma brass.

Shoot Berger 200.20x bullets as everyone has said. If you don't have luck with the 20x (you will), you can try the 200 Hybrid out; either is an outstanding bullet.

Your profile says you're in San Antonio; you ever shoot matches (or plan to shoot) out at CTSA? If so, this is pretty much exactly what you'll be shooting against in TR there.

 

[JDBraddy]

Your profile says you're in San Antonio; you ever shoot matches (or plan to shoot) out at CTSA? If so, this is pretty much exactly what you'll be shooting against in TR there.

Yes, am one of the RSO's for the CTSA, normally shoot F-Open with 6-Dasher or .284, was considering dipping a toe in FTR. Work full time weekends, so that makes it hard to make it to as many of the matches as I would like.

 

[KT]

I'm using Berger 200 grain 20x in a 30 inch Bartlein 5R Heavy Varmit barrel. I run around 2630. I have seen people run anywhere between 2600 and 2700 with them.

KT

 

[JDBraddy]

Will probably go with the suggested setup and 20X, am thinking instead of re-barreling my current Rem-700 in .308, will probably just sell it and use the money to have Speedy thread the new barrel for my BRMXD or Bat-B.

 

[KT]

Will probably go with the suggested setup and 20X, am thinking instead of re-barreling my current Rem-700 in .308, will probably just sell it and use the money to have Speedy thread the new barrel for my BRMXD or Bat-B.

The BRMXD is a little big for FTR. I think you will find a lot of people run Borden BRM, Pierce FTR, BAT B, or Kelby.

KT

 

[JDBraddy]

The BRMXD is a little big for FTR. I think you will find a lot of people run Borden BRM, Pierce FTR, BAT B, or Kelby

KT

BRMXD is my current F-Open gun in .284, the Bat-B is set up as a short range BR gun in 6PPC, and glued into a McMillan Edge stock, and might be a little muzzle heavy with a 30" tube. Both have 3" fore-ends, so will have to figure out how to attach a bipod and still be able to use them on my Farley Coaxial

 

[Ned Ludd]

BRMXD is my current F-Open gun in .284, the Bat-B is set up as a short range BR gun in 6PPC, and glued into a McMillan Edge stock, and might be a little muzzle heavy with a 30" tube. Both have 3" fore-ends, so will have to figure out how to attach a bipod and still be able to use them on my Farley Coaxial

I have a BRMXD on my latest F-TR rifle with a 30" HV pipe. It shoots very well, but I really had to jump through some hoops to make weight with that action/barrel combo (i.e. carbon fiber McMillan A5 BR stock, IOR-Valdada fixed 36X scope). If you have a short Picatinny or Anschutz rail section installed on the fore-grip to attach the bipod, there a are couple outfits that make tracking plates that can be directly attached to the rail (https://www.sinclairintl.com/shooti...accessories/benchrest-adapters-prod45123.aspx, https://www.whiddengunworks.com/product/track-plate-2/). Although it might not be as desirable as having a stock purpose-built to fit directly into the front rest, it is one way to have a readily convertible "double-duty" F-TR/F-Open stock.

 

[1911mag]

I have a BRMXD on my latest F-TR rifle with a 30" HV pipe. It shoots very well, but I really had to jump through some hoops to make weight with that action/barrel combo (i.e. carbon fiber McMillan A5 BR stock, IOR-Valdada fixed 36X scope). If you have a short Picatinny or Anschutz rail section installed on the fore-grip to attach the bipod, there a are couple outfits that make tracking plates that can be directly attached to the rail (https://www.sinclairintl.com/shooti...accessories/benchrest-adapters-prod45123.aspx, https://www.whiddengunworks.com/product/track-plate-2/). Although it might not be as desirable as having a stock purpose-built to fit directly into the front rest, it is one way to have a readily convertible "double-duty" F-TR/F-Open stock.

So I was thinking BRMXD but thought weight may be an issue. Do you have action and barrel weigh less the stock?

 

[dcali]

A BRMXD is a little heavy for TR. You’ll have a lot more freedom to work with components if you go with the BRM action. Call Jim Borden and he’ll talk you through what works or doesn’t, or at least can give you a good weight on a barreled action.

 

[Ned Ludd]

So I was thinking BRMXD but thought weight may be an issue. Do you have action and barrel weigh less the stock?

I'm know I have those figures written down somewhere, but I'm not exactly sure where they are at the moment. Suffice it to say that with the BRMXD action and the 1.35" shank 30" HV barrel, I had to lighten the stock by nearly one pound by using a carbon fiber stock, and still had to go with a 22 oz optic in order to barely make weight. It certainly can be made to work and shoots well, but I would probably not go the BRMXD route for an F-TR rifle again. As Damon noted, there really isn't a good reason to go with an action that large for a .308 or .223 F-TR build. Having said that, I wanted a big beefy action and barrel for this particular build, and I got exactly what I wanted, but it didn't come without special considerations.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

BRMXD is my current F-Open gun in .284, the Bat-B is set up as a short range BR gun in 6PPC, and glued into a McMillan Edge stock, and might be a little muzzle heavy with a 30" tube. Both have 3" fore-ends, so will have to figure out how to attach a bipod and still be able to use them on my Farley Coaxial

Anschutz rail section inlet into the front end will be ideal for a bipod. I have an Evolution Gun Works short, maybe 4 inches, on mine.

 

[furrybean]

Hi.
Have you ever fallen foul of the rules running a tight neck? I think you have to be within SAAMI chamber specs?

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

The NRA rule is as follows:
3.4 F-Class Rifle-
(b) F-Class Target Rifle (F-TR) - A rifle limited to .223 Remington or
.308 Winchester or their commercial and/or metrification equivalents. Chamber dimensions must not exceed the maximum SAAMI or CIP
specifications. Bore, groove, and throat dimensions may be selected to suit bullets used. There is no restriction on bullet weight.

You can't exceed the SAAMI or CIP specs, but there's nothing in there about a tight neck. They just don't want you to have a 308 Improved or some such.

 

[BP1]

The NRA rule is as follows:
3.4 F-Class Rifle-
(b) F-Class Target Rifle (F-TR) - A rifle limited to .223 Remington or
.308 Winchester or their commercial and/or metrification equivalents. Chamber dimensions must not exceed the maximum SAAMI or CIP
specifications. Bore, groove, and throat dimensions may be selected to suit bullets used. There is no restriction on bullet weight.

You can't exceed the SAAMI or CIP specs, but there's nothing in there about a tight neck. They just don't want you to have a 308 Improved or some such.

Denys does this apply to international rules I’m talking world’s and match’s like that.The reason I ask is I was told that a .340 nk would be illegal there.