Unconventional 30 BR

[GeorgeSpringer]

There was a thread some time back regarding using a 30BR for F Class. The consensus was that it would not work and I won't argue the point at this time. I thought a lot about why the 30BR would not work and decided to experiment a bit. I first looked a bullets. The traditional 30 caliber bullet for this case is a flat based bullet in a 15-17 twist barrel and that combination would not do well in the wind. I started looking at boat tails and found the Sierra 135 SMK. I had a new box of Lapua 6mm BR cases and more importantly I had a 34" Benchmark barrel blank in 30 caliber, 1:10 twist. I had the barrel fitted to a RPA quadlock rifle I had in the safe, had the barrel cut to 32" finished length and chambered in 30BR with a "Robinette" 330 neck reamer. The guys at S&S Precision Rifles thought I was crazy to do this but they also didn't mind doing what I asked. While they were working on the barrel I was expanding and neck turning the brass.

When the rifle was finished I worked up a load starting at 34 grains of H322 ending at 37 grains in half grain increments. I used a 24" drop tube to get the powder in the case and found two nodes, one at 35.5 grains and one at 36.5 grains with the 35.5 grain load being the best. I moved to 200 yards and shot the following group. More testing at longer ranges to follow but so far I believe this one will shoot.

 

[CB11WYO]

...so far I believe this one will shoot.

Whew... understatement! he he yes time will tell, looks like an awesome start though. No experience with the 30 BR... some with a 20BR though... What velocity you think you're running?

 

[joshb]

Dang Broncos keep busting down the coral and runnin off, willy nilly..........Wow! Lookin good, so far!😄😄😄😀

 

[MrMajestic]

Pretty sure I could make that one work... :

 

[memilanuk]

I'm thinking you're still going to get beat up in any kind of wind @ 5-600yds with that S135MK, as compared to something like a S155MK (2156) or B155.5BT from a .308 Win. Pick your match days very carefully...

 

[liltank]

Very interested in seeing how this turns out! 8)

 

[GeorgeSpringer]

My primary purpose was to satisfy my curiosity but I will continue to experiment with the cartridge. The 135's are running about 2925 f/s. I have some 155 SMK palma bullets coming to test. They will run about 75-100 f/s slower than the 135's so it will be interesting to see how they shoot. I hope to get to longer ranges in the next couple of weeks and report back.

BTW since I'm in Texas shooting in the wind is a fact of life and 20 years of BPCR silhouette has taught me how to read the wind and shoot in mirage. Again this is primarily a curiosity pursuit.

 

[liltank]

I have some 135's that I played with in .308. Ballistics aren't too shabby. Interested to see how it does farther out.

 

[dogdude]

There is a gent named Hal Drake who used to shoot 600 yrds with his 30BR @ Bridgeville Del. Think he did well with it, Hope the best with yours

 

[Eddie Harren]

30x47 Lapua may be a better bet!

 

[FilippoMo]

Could you please provide us with your loading data especially with the heavier bullets.
Sincerely
Filippo

 

[Steve Blair]

600 yard, 10 mph full value wind deflection for your .30 BR load is ~6.25 MOA. A .284 Win with 180 Hybrids at 2830 fps is ~3.10 MOA, about half. Your .30 BR is in F-Open and, since you are in Texas, would compete against some very good F-Open shooters. I hope you have fun with this project but winning on any substantial level is unlikely. 3 MOA is way too much to concede before the match starts.

 

[Hombre0321]

George interesting to see you post on this subject, never thought I would see the day when you were shooting anything but Black Powder.

When I first started shooting or at least playing around with F-Class shooting I bought a rifle just for the action to build a long range f-class rifle out of. This rifle came with a 30BR barrel as well as a couple of other chambering's. I had this rifle stocked with a Shehane long range stock, and while I was waiting on a new barrel decided to shoot it in some club match's at 500 yds with the 30BR barrel. I was shooting the flat based .308 bullets of 115 grns. The first few times I shot it in a match it did OK but the bullets were just not up to the task. Then I got some very nice shooting winds on match day and did very well. I found that no matter your wind reading skills the 30BR is just challenged at the longer distances. I won a few match's with it, but it took a very good day to get that job done.

George if you remember correctly I have spotted for you a couple of times in Mexia,TX at the Old Cypher shoots that were held there. You spotted for me as well on some of those days. As a matter of fact I think I spotted you to your best ever score at that range "at the time". Your idea of shooting a little heavier bullet and a much faster twist may be not such a bad idea. Your are still going to need to be on the top of your game at wind reading ( I know that can be hard for you George ;>) ) but keep us informed of your progress. It is an interesting idea.

Gunny

 

[X-Caveman]

Stop load developing and start taking everyone's $ at the Denton 20yd poker chip match! The 1/32" extra bullet radius vs the 6mm, plus that accuracy could be tough to beat.

 

[GeorgeSpringer]

Gunny, I think the reason you spotted for me was access to that bag of chocolate chip cookies! Good to see you are still on the top side of the grass. As you recall from the black powder silhouette days I would rather experiment than compete and this version of a 30BR is exactly that. Now that doesn't mean I won't shoot at those poker chips at 200 yards or 90mm clays at 400 yards but experimenting is what it is about for me. I have two other rifles that shoot about as good as this one does; 6BR and 6.5x47 Lapua as well as a 6.5x284 barrel that I can screw on if I feel the need for horsepower. Got keep that experimenting spirit of Dan T going you know.

George