.308 Match Loads

[ROGER4314]

I know a retired Marine, "KM" who shot for the Marines in competition. He earned Distinguished Marksman awards and is still a damned fine competitive shooter! Anyway, he gave me his Marine Corps .308 and 30-06 loads. I'd post them but they're pretty warm and that's a bad idea. When I used them, I cut them back a bit.

The summer loads use IMR 4895 with 168gr MK's. I hate to contradict Austex but they don't use 4895 in the winter. Instead, they use 748.

Flash

 

[Texas1911]

168s just aren't going to work for me, they aren't a good 1000 yard bullet. I need something situated around a 175 or 155 Palma.

 

[dee]

My FN likes the 155 Palma's (2156) as well but it's a 1:12twist your 1:11.5 may not stabilize them as well.

 

[AusTex]

you are not going to be able to notice a difference between those twist rates at all... I would rather shoot a 155 with a 1:10 to be honest.. I think what is important to find out is if your rifle prefers the bullets jammed into the lands.. kissing the lands.. or if it likes the jump.

Ditch the .308 and goto 300 wsm.. I just shot 208 amax this weekend... I bet you my .308 collects dust now.. I am Flipping shocked. 12 moa to 700 yards 22 to 1000k!! we were shooting skeet in 5-10 mile variable wind at 500 yards. .648 b.c. pushes right through it.

Pictures and videos to be up soon in the rifle section.

 

[Texas1911]

Jesus, 22 MOA? LOL.

I originally wanted a .260 AI, but the .308 just kinda fell into my lap. It'll be a good progression gun.

 

[dee]

If you want high BC and flat shooting go 7wsm or .284 win seems to be a good choice too. Only problem is to shoot the high BC 180's you'll need a long action and tube as well.

 

[AusTex]

Yeah the .308 is a better platform to get started with I agree. I thought the Chrono was broken.... my guess with our load was going to be about 2950 fps... I take the first shot it says 3142... I am like did the gun just blow up or whats going on? 2nd: 3128, and 3rd 3132. I say to my buddy this cannot be right. So we pull out a factory load and rip it through the chrono its within 20fps of what is stated on the box. So don't ask me how but apparently a 24" fn spr 300 wsm barrel can throw a 208grn bullet as fast as a .223 with 69grns of reloader 19, cci 250 mag primer. I am going to back off a little and try to get down to an average of 3100. But even still to push something that heavy that fast... the 208 at 1000 yards still has the knock down power of a 30-30 at 1000.

I am also going to develope a 155 palma load for none windy days also that will really be a laser beam... head shots only.

jeremy

 

[Texas1911]

If you want high BC and flat shooting go 7wsm or .284 win seems to be a good choice too. Only problem is to shoot the high BC 180's you'll need a long action and tube as well.

6.5-284 is probably one of my favorite calibers, but this gun will be eventually rechambered in .260 Ackley Improved, so I can keep the same bolt face diameter and just re-tube the gun. That is unless I fall into a cheap SA Remington, which I really doubt. I spent 3 months worth of gun shows looking for one. In fact, I came across a .284 Win that I almost snagged, guy wanted $400 for it.

I'd much prefer a MacMillen A5 with a AICS Mag Conversion, but I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon. I'll stick with my HS Precision stock.

 

[Texas1911]

Yeah the .308 is a better platform to get started with I agree. I thought the Chrono was broken.... my guess with our load was going to be about 2950 fps... I take the first shot it says 3142... I am like did the gun just blow up or whats going on? 2nd: 3128, and 3rd 3132. I say to my buddy this cannot be right. So we pull out a factory load and rip it through the chrono its within 20fps of what is stated on the box. So don't ask me how but apparently a 24" fn spr 300 wsm barrel can throw a 208grn bullet as fast as a .223 with 69grns of reloader 19, cci 250 mag primer. I am going to back off a little and try to get down to an average of 3100. But even still to push something that heavy that fast... the 208 at 1000 yards still has the knock down power of a 30-30 at 1000.

I am also going to develope a 155 palma load for none windy days also that will really be a laser beam... head shots only.

I don't think I'll ever own a .223 Remington bolt rifle. The round just doesn't do what I want it to do, I'd rather own a 6mm Remington Improved, or a .243 Improved if I'm going to shoot heavy varmint bullets anyways. At least those will get to 1K sonic without thermonuclear ambient temps and 42 miles of wind drift.

I'm still keen on a .223 Rem 'Mk12' 18" AR build. I'll put one together sometime, but I'm more of a bolt-rifle guy.

 

[dee]

6.5-284 is a flat shooter for sure but if you don't watch it they'll eat a barrel faster than a fat kid eats cupcakes.

 

[dee]

Why .260AI? Why not 6.5 Creedmore very similar to the .260 improved.

 

[dee]

Just remember the 6.5-284 and .284 for that matter is better run in a long action, that way you can seat those slick high bc bullets way out there. The Lapua is a neat round and they say can be pushed as hard as the .260 or creedmore because the brass can easier handle the higher preassure, but Lapua also annouced at SHOT this year that they will release .260 brass this year. Hopefully it'll be easy to get a hold of so I can aquire some for my 7mm-08AI

 

[Texas1911]

Why .260AI? Why not 6.5 Creedmore very similar to the .260 improved.

It's slower, has more drop, and more wind drift than standard .260 Rem. The .260 is based off of .308 Win which will always be available, as well as the option of bumping .243 Win brass up. The improving pushes another 100 FPS than the standard .260, with a larger case volume than 6.5 Creedmore, 6.5x47, etc. will ever have.

It's also exactly the same bolt face diameter as my .308, with the same OAL, etc.

 

[dee]

6.5x47 is behind the other 2 from the get go but I for some reason thought the creedmoor had more case capacity than it does. The only thing bad about going AI on some calibers is the price of the dies can be extremely high.

 

[Texas1911]

6.5x47 is behind the other 2 from the get go but I for some reason thought the creedmoor had more case capacity than it does. The only thing bad about going AI on some calibers is the price of the dies can be extremely high.

I don't mind if dies cost $100 - 200, I prefer to only use quality if I can afford it.

 

[Texas1911]

6.5-06 or a 300 wsm necked down to 6.5 would be a good large powder case

nevermind, you want short action cases... and existing bolt face

The WSM is a short magnum action, it'd be a good candidate for a long range gun in anything from a .308" to .264" bullet.

 

[Texas1911]

i was meaning the 6.5-06, long action.

Right, it'd be a good caliber, but it'd be alot of work to form.

A buddy of mine just built his own caliber, 6mm Death Ray. It's a .280 necked to 6mm and semi-improved. The result is more case capacity than a normal 6-06, because the .280 shoulder is further forward.

 

[dee]

6.5-06 hass almost identical case capacity to the 6.5-284. The death ray sounds interesting but I bet the throat doesn't last real long.

 

[AusTex]

yup.. this is what drew me to 300wsm out of an FN spr.. chrome lined barrel that is claimed by FN to be good up to 4000 rounds. Recoil is not great but add a break or a can and it is like a .308win. I have shot a few groups under .75 from the prone position without a rear rest.. I am going to bench rest it and try .208, 175, 168, and 155 palma.

6.5 necked down to 300wsm would be verrrry interesting.

 

[Texas1911]

6.5-06 hass almost identical case capacity to the 6.5-284. The death ray sounds interesting but I bet the throat doesn't last real long.

I'm here to party ... .308 is boring, but it's a good platform.