Need .308 F-TR Build Advice

[yukonal]

I'm starting to order parts. I have the action and stock.

Assuming the action and stock are factory weight, and not heavy:

1) what contour and finish length should I be looking at for the barrel?
2) what bullets should I be considering?
3) what twist for 155-180's? I would not shoot anything heavier.

This will be for [mostly] 600 yard F-TR, and occasionally 1,000 matches. Anything I'm missing?

 

[BCoates]

It depends on which bipod and scope you plan on running. I chose a MTU contour finished at 28". I could've went with more length or a little heavier contour, but I didn't know which bipod I was going to use when I had the rifle built. One of my good friends runs a HV contour finished at 28", but he uses a 14oz bipod.

 

[yukonal]

So, is 28" the standard length most guys are running?

I've heard HVY Palma, or HV like you said.

If anyone can give me an actual weight for their finished barrel, it'll give me something to go by. I have the stock and action here, so I can weigh them.

Haven't chosen a bipod yet, scope will be a NF 12-42 BR.

 

[savageshooter86]

Weigh the action and stock with the scope and bipod. That will tell you how much weight you have left over to stay under the 18# limit. Then decide on barrel contour after that. Seems most are running 30" barrel at minimum. Bullet choice is preference. A lot of good choices. I chose the 185 Berger 185 LRBT and it shoots lights out. Very consistent bullet made by Berger and very easy to tune with a good barrel. Also their 168 hybrids would be great choice. They did well for me. I learned to go with Berger with the quality they have and less time spent sorting bullets. You could do an 11 twist and be fine I think. The 168 hybrids will shoot to 1000.

I have been there done that with this same question and spent a lot of time/bullets/powder etc..... fighting to get loads. Conclusion= bite the bullet once on quality components(barrel,bullets, brass,powder). Time spent chasing loads with crappy factory barrel and "cheap" components ended up costing me more $$$ in the long run and a lot of frustration. But did learn something through all this

Powder choices would be Varget, IMR 4064, N140, RL15 to name a few

 

[Down South]

So, is 28" the standard length most guys are running?

I've heard HVY Palma, or HV like you said.

If anyone can give me an actual weight for their finished barrel, it'll give me something to go by. I have the stock and action here, so I can weigh them.

Haven't chosen a bipod yet, scope will be a NF 12-42 BR.

Figure out what bipod you are gonna use (weight varies a lot between bipods) and then get the heaviest contour barrel you can afford weight wise.......I'd go 30 inch on the barrel rather than 28 inch........As for twist rates, i'd go 11 to 12 twist if you aren't gonna shoot anything over 180-185 gr.......JMO.......The 185 juggernauts shoot well in a 12 twist but if you might ever think about shooting 185 hybrids i'd opt for the 11 twist........What action & stock are you using?

 

[jsthntn247]

Here is an example: My stock weighs 5 lbs, 30" heavy Palma contour, 27oz scope, 11oz rings and bases, Stiller action, and a heavy sinclair bipod and I'm 4 oz under weight. If you go with an aluminum action and a 4lb stock I believe you could hang a 30" straight contour off the front and still make weight with a flex or joy pod.

 

[yukonal]

o.K., I'm on board with the 11 twist. And the possibility of 168 Hybrids.

30" will probably work for me. I'll be using a modified Tikka action, along with the factory Varmint stock, if I can get the barrel to fit in it. Otherwise...McMillan.

The modification to the action, and the addition of my custom Rem style lug, will dictate that the barrel diameter will be about 1.190" straight.

I need to find a chart or calculator that will tell me how much a straight 1.190" will weigh at both 28" and 30". I'm guessing a 30" will make it easily.

Is there such a thing as a barrel weight calculator, or chart somewhere?

 

[yukonal]

Weigh the action and stock with the scope and bipod. That will tell you how much weight you have left over to stay under the 18# limit. Then decide on barrel contour after that. Seems most are running 30" barrel at minimum. Also their 168 hybrids would be great choice.

Good advice here. Thanks.

I guess I better buy another bipod first.

 

[GLZ]

I need to find a chart or calculator that will tell me how much a straight 1.190" will weigh at both 28" and 30". I'm guessing a 30" will make it easily.

Is there such a thing as a barrel weight calculator, or chart somewhere?

http://pac-nor.com/cgi-bin/bweight.cgi

 

[yukonal]

GLZ-thank you for the link. Exactly what I was looking for!

 

[Keith Glasscock]

If it helps, a medium palma, 30" weighs 87 ounces chambered and threaded for a Savage action with a shoulder. A heavy palma (same length) is 10 ounces heavier (97 ounces) with a shoulder. A Savage factory F/TR barrel weighs 107 ounces with the barrel nut.

We just did the research a couple of days ago.

 

[mattt]

5lb stock way to heavy.

 

[Taildrag15X]

I run a 32", Broughton Heavy Palma, Rem. 700, Harris Bi Pod w/Pod Paws & Lok, Sightron SIII 10-50, 1 piece Weaver rail, Warne rings, and a H. S. Precision PST-035 stock and it makes weight at 18 lbs.

 

[fm1947]

This will give you contour length and weight

http://www.shilen.com/contours.html

 

[gsg5pk]

For running heavy contour and longer barrel, do anyone have problem of stress between barrel tenon and action thread.

Most 700 footprint run 1.0625" x 16 TPI with .700" length.

Benrest action run 1.0625" x 18 TPI with 1.115" length.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Al, my FTR rifle is on the heavy side, just under weight. I have a 30" Bull barrel 1-11 twist and shoot 185 Jugg with the same scope you are going to use. My bipod is a Werk's that is light and has a footprint about 14" wide. If I was to build it again and when I do get another barrel it will be a 30"-32" Heavy Palma 1-11, 10-50 Sightron or NF Competition scope. I am looking hard at buying a Flex-Pod .

 

[TonyR]

For running heavy contour and longer barrel, do anyone have problem of stress between barrel tenon and action thread.

Most 700 footprint run 1.0625" x 16 TPI with .700" length.

Benrest action run 1.0625" x 18 TPI with 1.115" length.

Good question but not a problem, at least in my own experience, with 308 boltface cartridges. I ran a 284 Shehane with a 31 inch straight 1.25 barrel on a standard Remington 700SA. Shot just as good as an identical stock, barrel cartridge on a Nesika K action. The problem you are thinking about did arise when I put a 7RSAUM barrel on the Remington. The larger case head and higher pressures did limit the tunable MV to the low 2900s. The problem went away when I put the RSAUM on a BAT M with the big barrel tenon and large diameter receiver. I doubt any 308 Win would cause that problem on a 700 action properly set up.