Ruger .308 Target rifle

[1000yardstare]

Am thinking of a Ruger .308 Target rifle as an F Class backup. Is the 10 twist in the Ruger barrel too steep for the Sierra 155 Palma which seems to prefer a 13 twist? Is the Ruger throated for heavy bullets? Will there be enough neck retention for a 155? Would it be satisfactory as a 1000 yard rifle? Burris Ruger to Weaver bases and Z-rings with .020 inserts may give enough elevation. Would appreciate hearing opinions/experience from users of the Ruger .308 Target rifle.

 

[Travelor]

I have had some bad experiences with Ruger centerfire barrels and would not buy another for any reason. Also the action screw at the front is angled and makes bedding rather interesting. I bought an early 243 varmint Ruger that would never shoot well - bad barrel.

The older guns are really beautiful,I have a 30-06 with a beautiful walnut stock and super blue factory finish, but after 5 shots the barrel is so fouled the accuracy goes away. Nice hunting gun, 1 or 2 shots) that has taken some nice deer, but NO WAY will it hold up past 5 rounds on paper)and would be a great looking gun wiht an aftermarket barrel, but there are much better gun designs to use for F-Class.

Just my experiences,

George

 

[Hammerhead]

I have a Ruger Mark 2 VLE. I have had a difficult time getting it to shoot Palma's. I have tried everything form primers to seating depth's and a number of powders.
I have gotten it to shoot 168 gr SMK's just fine.
Go figure.

Tim

 

[groundhogsniper23]

i have a factory mark 2 in 22-250 that i glassed and freefloated my barrel and i got no problem gettin 40 grn v-max's cutting holes at 100 and have killed groundhogs out past 500.

 

[watercam]

I had a MKII Target in .308 that shot great w/ factory 168s. Wasn't reloading at that point and eventually it became a .243 Long Range trainer for me. There are those using 10' twists for the 155 so it can be done. I actually cryo'd the barrel which seemed to shrink groups by 25% or so. Cryo seem to work with the hammer forged barrels. The throat can be cut by hand while still on the rifle for the load requirements. The two stage trigger can get down to 1.5 Ibs. and there is one outfit,Rifle Basix?) that can get it down below a pound if you need it. Brownell's has pillars that go in easily and I have bedded three or four Rugers with no problem. Just don't tighten the front screw too much as I split a stock by over torquing. Have someone turn the muzzle end down for a barrel band and install a forearm rail and you are in business.

 

[1000yardstare]

Thanks for your reply, guys. Very useful info. Just got back from the Ontario Fullbore Champs on a Canadian Army base, 120 TR and F shooters. A .308 MacLennon barrel, Rem action, shooting in F,R) beat all the big boys in F,O) with their 6.5/284s, 6x47s, 6BRs and even a .257/243 Imp. I was shooting a 6AI. Was runnerup in the Friday Agg,300, 500, 900, 1000) but went brain dead in the Saturday 300 which torpedoed me.

So those who think the .308 is finished, think again. It is all in the hands of the shooter reading the wind. This makes me all the more interested in the Ruger .308 TR which is $600? cheaper than the new price on a Savage FTR.

 

[RJinTexas]

1000yardstare, one of my P-dog shooting buddies dislikes all small bores calls them pee shooter. We talked him in to buying a new Savage BVSS .223 when they came out and he quickly sold it stating 'what good is a rifle if it incapable of shooting dogs at 500 to 1000yds'. His only PD rifle is a stock out of the box factory Ruger .308 77 Target model. The one with the two stage trigger, laminated stock and has the metal coated gray. He never shoots at anything inside of 300yds, I once witnessed him kill eight in a row between 475 and 500yds, and you wouldn't want to try and out shoot him when the wind is blowing and the dogs are out somewhere between 750 to 1000yds. You'll never convince him he needs anything other then his Ruger.308

Regards
RJ

 

[1000yardstare]

RJ: you made my day. A retailer in Toronto has one of those Ruger .308 2-stage trigger stainless laminated jobs in stock. On my way to Ottawa for the Canadian Fullbore Champs I am going to pick up that puppy along with Burris Ruger to Weaver bases, Z-rings and .020 inserts which he has all in stock.

You guys have been really helpful in my quest. Next question: will the .020 inserts give enough elevation to get a Bushnell 4200 6-24 Tactical on target at 1000 yards?

I will shoot my 6AI in F,O) at the Canadians and wring out the Ruger at the Ontario Fall matches in F,R) which allows any bullet weight in a .308.

 

[fc2a]

1000yardstare

I just took delivery of my new M77 hawkeye in 6.5 creedmoor.

I hope it is a $600.00 sub-moa deer rifle.

We will see...

I will post the results as soon as I have some time to get to the range.

Did you pick up the .308?

 

[1000yardstare]

fc2a: Yep. Got my .308 Ruger Target. Starting to work with it. The .020 Burris inserts in the Z-Rings is way too much for 1000 yard elevation. Going with .010. The Burris Ruger to Weaver bases make life a lot easier on eye relief. But my long neck and arms still require a Pachmayr boot on the butt to get enough prone eye relief for F,R).

Initial work with the Sierra 155 Palmas seems to show that the 10 twist is too much for them but am basically just sighted in so it is too soon to be sure. Best accuracy early on seems to be with the 178 AMax. You can use any bullet weight in F,R).

Nice thing about living in the boonies - I have a 300 metre range 20 minutes from my house and will be there tomorrow testing more loads. I am so far out in the sticks that the local donut shop is a Five Star restaurant.

Aiming for the Fall ORA Match in Kingston, Ontario. Will shoot F,R) there with the Ruger.

 

[1000yardstare]

Initial impressions of my new .308 Ruger Target rifle:

Received a lot of compliments at the range on the 'looks' of the rifle. Very light two stage trigger.

Ruger may have used a corn auger to crown the muzzle. Will recrown as soon as possible. A sad fact for today`s mass produced barrels.

Very little copper fouling in the barrel during break-in.
If carbon fouling is allowed to build, accuracy goes downhill fast but this may be part of the break-in process.

Sierra 155 Palmas are sprayed. Ten twist too fast? Crown problems? Just plain doesn`t like the bullet?

Best groups so far with 178 AMax. 5/8 at 100 metres, 1 3/8 at 200 metres.

Am ordering 208 AMax. Suspect this rifle likes heavy bullets.

 

[fdshuster]

1000yardstare: I also tried and had poor reults with the 155 Sierra Palma bullets, in my Tikka barreled 308, 1-10. Quickly gave up on them, and favorite bullet in the 155 weight is the Sierra 155 hpbt #2155. I find them to be excellent, and consistant, something I could not get with the Palma. The 168 hpbt #2200 is another favorite if wanting a little more weight.

 

[1000yardstare]

Thanks FD. The 155 Palma has a short bearing surface which may be part of the problem. I am working my way up through the weight spectrum: 168, 175, 178, 180, 190, 200, 208 and will compare results.

 

[1000yardstare]

Finally am getting results that make the Ruger .308 Target rifle a possible candidate for a backup F Class rifle. Had to really play with the loads. Thought heavier bullets would be the route to go but no luck. You really have to hang in there with this rifle but given enough patience it will start to produce. It has shown very little fouling from the getgo.

So back to the Sierra 155 Palma. Originally used RX15 then went faster to H4895. Played with seating depths. Touching the rifling gave the 5 shot 9/16 group shown below at 100 metres in a gusty wind, no wind flags. Was raining so the group centre tore out of the wet paper. Load chronos at 2895 fps.

The 168 AMax Moly is also showing promise with RX15, .02' off the lands, 2790 fps. Five shots in 3/4 at 100 metres, same windy day.

Got a calm day and shot the 1 3/4 five shot group at 300 metres,330 yds) shown below with the 155 Sierra Palma touching the lands, H4895.