Hello All, I've been steadily learning the long range game and wanting to take it to the next level. right now i'm running a .308 with a barrel built by Jim (apache) and I love it. I also have a precision AR in 5.56 and it does a fine job out to the 600yd line so that leaves me with the .308 working well out to 800 then the wind starts to take over. currently 952yds is the furthest i've gone with it(not very consistant yet, have alot to learn about the wind game). This last weekend we found a spot thats good out to a little over a Mile (we are going to build some elevated shooting platforms to get over some brush) so I'm seriously considering re-chambering it into a 300 win mag. I already own, brass, dies, and even have some 208 a-max's, H1000, Re22, and cci250 sitting on the shelf. what i'm looking for is if anyone has loaded a 300win down to .308 levels with 155-178gr bullets and still maintained good accuracy. this barrel has already shown good promise 3/4moa without load workup with a 168gr tap clone (44.4 varget, wlr, 2.810", hornady match brass) If you have what powder/bullets worked for you?
I know the simple answer is get another barrel and long term that is the plan I want to replaced the .308 with a 6.5 creed or .260 but for at least the next year the gun funds are tapped (stockpiled reloading componets and uncle sam took some for some expensive stamps!) If I can find a mild mannered load for those days we play around 400-800 (our new hobby has been shooting my dueling tree at 400 and 600yds with the rifles talk about some serious fun!) then I think i'll go for it.
There is no real answer for you.
Due to different lots of powder, and individual barrel harmonics; you gotta find what your particular barrel likes with your components.
My loading with the WM is limited, but don't think you could slow it down quite that far. Someone like Lee's manual, or perhaps Lyman would have that data?
I'm a firm believer in the theory that if it bleeds, I can kill it.
minimum loads for 55 grains of H4895 or Varget for 155 and 165 Sierra HPBT
The Dunning-Kruger effect is alive and well.
300winmag
3.500" coal
240gr SMK
80gr Retumbo
2,840 fps from 26" bbl.
Very accurate and recoil feels like a ***** cat is cuddling to my shoulder.
Makes more sense to stay with the 308win instead of shooting reduced 300winmag loads.
I've never tried to reduce loads on a magnum, not on a pistol or rifle. If I want to shoot reduced loads, I'll pick up a non-magnum cartridge. Magnums, in my experience, do not like to have reduced loads. If I want to shoot reduced loads for my 44 magnum, I load 44 special. I do not reduce my loads for magnums.
They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.
Id also be advising to just stick with the 308 until your resourses allow for a second gun.
As for the wind, no other subject has had more experts writing books about how to deal with it
for so many years. Its apparently much easier to develop a way to land men on the moon and
bring them back. But the expert advise continues, lol
I looked at the Nolser data and some powders are more accurate at starting loads in their test data. Your results would be different, but a place to start. Yet - even those loads are 200 to 300 fps faster than 308 loads. You have an Apache 308 barrel - lenjoy it and wear it out . .
Having problems dealing with wind shooting 308win ??? try a high BC bullet like the 208 eld-m,
You'll have to single feed it if using AICS mags. Factory savage mag will hold up to 2.98" coal so if you're at the lands and withing 3" coal you'll be ok.
208amax or eld-m with varget.
Even 185gr Bergers work great in 308win and slip through the wind nicely.
I did load some 208 a-max's .015" off the lands (2.960") with PP 2000mr 2460ft/sec. they did almost cut my wind hold's in half at 600 but still not quite enough to stretch much past 1100.
Guess I'll have to wait till I can afford a new rig....bummer
LoL must be one big kitty.Originally Posted by Zero333
300winmag
3.500" coal
240gr SMK
80gr Retumbo
2,840 fps from 26" bbl.
Very accurate and recoil feels like a ***** cat is cuddling to my shoulder.
Makes more sense to stay with the 308win instead of shooting reduced 300winmag loads.
300WM needs a long action, if your 308 is short action, that answers the rechambering question for you.
Not sure if you can single load a short action with magnum brass. I think I can 06 and will try it one of these days.
Not into 300 wm, but if it will take H4895 that is approved for down to 60%. My brother did it with a 300 wm and did ok at it, it was not a target barrel either.
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