So... if you were going to get a fresh new barrel chambered up in .308 Win, say 20-22" length with the intention of using it with 175s and a can... what wold be your chamber reamer of choice, and why?
.308 Win chamber choice
- Thread starter memilanuk
- Start date
Just use a .308 Win Match and call it good. Don't overthink it. The 308 Win Match should give you the right amount of freebore for that round, somewhere around 0.09". You could also probably get away with a 95 Palma, but might not be ideal.
I did exactly that and Matt Stewart chambered mine with Robert Gradous’ reamer print, 21.75” Heavy Palma Bartlein 10 twist. The first 10 shot my brother put through the barrel, no break in or anything, was 2/3moa with called fliers. The first 10 shot I put down it was just over 1/2moa, with FGMM.
I would recommend it and will do the same thing when I shoot this one out.
From what I remember, it’s essentially a Bisley Palma print with a little more freebore, I am not positive though. The lead angles are the same from what I remember. I told him I wanted a chamber that’d shoot 155’s thru 185 Juggs, and potentially some 200’s, and mag feed.
Here’s a picture of a 10 shot, off the bench with a bipod and small rear bag.
I would recommend it and will do the same thing when I shoot this one out.
From what I remember, it’s essentially a Bisley Palma print with a little more freebore, I am not positive though. The lead angles are the same from what I remember. I told him I wanted a chamber that’d shoot 155’s thru 185 Juggs, and potentially some 200’s, and mag feed.
Here’s a picture of a 10 shot, off the bench with a bipod and small rear bag.
Well... I was thinking more in terms of "if I were to *buy* my own reamer, what would I order?"
I've got my own 2013 US FTR team reamer (one of the first few, actually), and quite a bit of time behind 155s out of the '95 Palma and Obermeyer chambers as well as the 185s and 200s from the 2013 chamber.
What I *don't* have a lot of experience with is the various mag-length permutations - ".308 Win 'Match'", "M118LR", etc. - what the different reasons for them are, whether there is a RCH worth of difference in actual performance for mag-length 175 (and maybe 185) loads, etc. I've shot a few 'regular' mag-length .308s over the years, but I couldn't tell you what chamber any of them had.
I've got my own 2013 US FTR team reamer (one of the first few, actually), and quite a bit of time behind 155s out of the '95 Palma and Obermeyer chambers as well as the 185s and 200s from the 2013 chamber.
What I *don't* have a lot of experience with is the various mag-length permutations - ".308 Win 'Match'", "M118LR", etc. - what the different reasons for them are, whether there is a RCH worth of difference in actual performance for mag-length 175 (and maybe 185) loads, etc. I've shot a few 'regular' mag-length .308s over the years, but I couldn't tell you what chamber any of them had.
I’d call Robert and ask him, and buy one from where he gets his made. All I know is I’ve shot a lot of .308’s, and his reamer spec is spot on and shoots consistently with everything I’ve shot through it.
Also, for the mag length thing, I’m 100% mag feeding with SA AX AICS mags.
Also, for the mag length thing, I’m 100% mag feeding with SA AX AICS mags.
Winchester Match is what I’ve used on most to include the current build. All others are factory except one. The Winchester Match and factory (Remington, Savage, Springfield) all shoot 175 SMK, 155 SMK, and the Warner Flatline 160s. They have also always mag feed. Barrels I’ve used are from most every major manufacturer.
The one custom chamber was for the 168 SMK. I could load the 168 upside down and shoot in the opposite direction and it would still hit. Only my 6BR is that consistency accurate.
Shooting anything else takes a bit of work in that chamber, but will shoot sub MOA. Just won’t stack them.
I do own my own reamers for my barrel burners. But not for the 308s, and I’ve got more of them than anything.
My suggestion, it’s a 308. Don’t over thing it and try and reinvent the wheel. 308 Forever!!
The one custom chamber was for the 168 SMK. I could load the 168 upside down and shoot in the opposite direction and it would still hit. Only my 6BR is that consistency accurate.
Shooting anything else takes a bit of work in that chamber, but will shoot sub MOA. Just won’t stack them.
I do own my own reamers for my barrel burners. But not for the 308s, and I’ve got more of them than anything.
My suggestion, it’s a 308. Don’t over thing it and try and reinvent the wheel. 308 Forever!!
