.308 Winchester

I am seeing a lot of talk about mid to upper 40's grain weights. A newish reloader and all the different books I have been looking into say that would be way over pressure???? I am shooting a 18" semi auto.
 
You are new. Yes? It depends on the rifle. Manuals are guides and don't use different size chambers, barrels, cases, primers, lots of powder and bullets. This is why you start low and work up to a load, watching for pressure signs.
 
I am seeing a lot of talk about mid to upper 40's grain weights. A newish reloader and all the different books I have been looking into say that would be way over pressure???? I am shooting a 18" semi auto.
generally a semiauto is not engineered to properly work,or tolerate, ALL the recipes available for a bolt action of the same caliber_
 
Projectile: Sierra 175 gr BTHP-M
Powder: 44.7 gr Varget
Brass: Win (2)
Primer: FGMM Large
OAL: 2.810"
Rifle: 18" OBR 7.62

7CC47C68-D5D7-4259-B391-24EF5F04847F-391-0000002951507EAB_zps5c3ad341.jpg
 
12 twist, 26" 700 SPSS:
TSudSm6.jpg



155AMAX
47grs RE15
Win brass sized with .331 bushing for .002" neck tension.
CCIBRs
With Lapua brass I use a .334 bushing and 45.5grs RE15

168AMAX
42grs RE15
Lapua brass, .334 bushing for .002" neck tension

168AMAX
47grs of either 2000MR or CFE223
Lapua brass
CCIBRs
This load(CFE) produced a 4.7" group at a 600yd BR match last year, about a 3" vertical.
 
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I use 43gr of BL-C(2) 24" barrel, 175 SMK. MV 2500 fps 500' ASL, 84 temp. I get about 12 reloads from the brass and get Ies wear and tear on the rifle.
For my hot loads BL-C(2) 45.8gr. MV 2675.

100 yds, 5 shots 2500 fps 175 SMK
 

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Projectile: Sierra 168 gr BTHP
Powder: 38.7 gr Varget
Brass: Lapua
Primer: F210 Large
OAL: 2.800
Rifle: 22" 1-10 twist Brux in a AI chassis built by AO


breakintarget.jpg


Nice group but from the charge weight it sounds like it's awfully "slow". Have you chronographed it?

I get similar groups from my 5-R with almost a full grain more Varget. Yes, different rifles, but I'm just curious what speed you're seeing. My loads go downrange at 2680 average and do well at the 300-500 yard ranges too.
 
Pics later of target.
Brought two different pieces of brass to the range yesterday. 100 yards off a bench and bags from a box stock 700 tactical in 308.

FC brass
CCI 200 primer
44 grains-R15
168 gr sierra HPBT

Win Brass
CCI 200 primer
44 grains-R15
168 gr Sierra HPBT

Only thing I have to say at this point,the FC brass is not that great. My groups closed up a considerable amount just by switching to WIN brass.
 
When I get tired of experimenting with loads for my Rem 5-R milspec 24" .308 I just go back to the one that's proven best over the years.

Lapua Brass
CCI BR-2
43.5 Gr Varget
175 gr Nosler Custom Comp BTHP
2.800"

Even after thousands of rounds down the barrel on this rifle this load still yields <.250" groups @100 yards.
 
Sierra 155 palma (2156)
Lapua Brass
46.6 Varget
CCI LR
2.290 COAL (Ogive)

2932 FPS out of a stock 26" Rem 700 in a AICS

will do under 1/2 MOA (5 shots) if i do my part.

Very similar to my rifle's favorite long range load. A Remmy LH 700VS, the old model w/ the HS Precision pillar-bedded composite stock.
shot like crap with everything I tried when I got it. Seems the throat was so long that most any bullet I wanted to use had over a 1/4" jump to the rifling.

A gunsmith buddy set the barrel back a half inch, squared up the receiver and lapped the lugs, recut the chamber with a shorter throat, and recrowned the barrel. Now it really likes quite a few loads, and shoots pretty good with nearly anything; even LC M-80 ball is under 2 MOA. Glass is a Leupold LRT VXIII 4.5-14x50 30mm on Warne rings and bases.

Here are a few favorites. All are loaded with Win comm. brass and WLR primer; I bought 1K new brass when I bought the rifle and still have most all of it. None has worn out yet, so far it hasn't needed a trimming. Fired brass is neck sized with a Hornady neck size only die.
I load everything for the .308 on a Dillon RL450, and all powder charges are measured, not weighed. All groups are 5 shots.

155 Sierra Palma Match, 48.0 Varget -> 2890fps
125 Sierra Pro Hunter SPT, 49.5 Varget -> 3110fps
110 Sierra Varminter HP, 49.5.0 Varget -> 3185fps

All three are around 0.5 MOA at 300 yards.
 
Has anyone here done load development for 155 Scenars + Power Pro 2000MR? I had incredible results last weekend, velocity wise. OCW test to come next weekend. I pushed them to 3010 FPS before I had even a slight pressure sign. 24in barrel, 1:10 twist. There isn't much data on this load out there, so here is some of mine...

Lapua 1x fired brass, shoulder bumped .002, lee collet neck sized
1.185 oal (using hornady comparator...my savage does not have a very long throat)
.015 jump
50.0gr 2000MR
Fed 210M
3010 FPS @ 70 degrees (you will see a .85 FPS per degree swing with 2000MR)
****WARNING**** This is definitely a hot load, I worked up to this very slowly (.3gr increments). Do the same in your rifle.

Same parameters as above...all loads fired 12 feet from chrono. 70 degrees outside.
44.0 - 2661
45.0 - 2701
46.0 - 2780
47.0 - 2836
47.5 - 2882
48.0 - 2916
48.5 - 2925
48.8 - 2945
49.1 - 2961
49.4 - 2973
49.7 - 2987
50.0 - 3010 (very, very slight primer flattening and a very, very slight ejector mark)

Despite me not even trying for a group, and firing all of the above charge weights at one target, between 48.0 - 50.0 I still had a 2 inch group @100yds despite the velocity/charge weight spread. Looks promising. Will post OCW results after my next range session.

I was also able to push the 175 SMK to 2770 before I saw any pressure signs, and they were extremely light even then. I'll post that load later. If I can get this powder to group as well as IMR 4064, I may have found my new favorite powder.
 
Any one shooting the 125's? I am looking for a speedy little load for coyotes, and I have a couple hundred of them. I have some info out of my various manuals and the Hogdon site, but was curious as to what first hand experience could be found here. I didnt notice much, so I thought that I would ask the peanut gallery. thanks in advance
 
Does anyone have load data for Berger 185 Juggernauts using H4895? I want to use this in my 700p

I requested the same info from Berger via e-mail. They replied:

H-4895 Start Load 36.5 2343 fps Max Load 40.5 2570 fps

I ended up using RL-17 so I don't know how the 4895 would work. Did like the RL-17 though. 43.5-44 gr was good in my 5-R.
 
Remington 700 AAC-SD 20" pillar bedded with Devcon in a McMillan A5, with SAS TOMB-mount Reaper suppressor.

Berger 168 Classic Hunter hybrids @ 2.210" base-ogive, 2.820" COAL
New Lapua brass
CCI 200 primer
42.4 grains IMR 8208 XBR
2600 FPS 12' from muzzle, ES 15/ SD 6

Never thought a factory barrel could shoot this well without even fireformed brass. Load developed using OCW method, never messed with seating depth.

5 shots at 100 yards below. Disregard the 3 stragglers, they were my attempt at shooting my 6.5x55 standing freehand.

wkbvs.jpg
 
skinnypitt said:
I looked back severral pages in this topic and couldnt find any loads for the berger 200 hybrid. I am thinking about loadig them for F-TR at 1k but would like to see if someone else has had luck with them before going through the work of building a load.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!




I'm the guy Aimsmall was talking about that shoots the 200s. It was the 185s i shot in the state match. I've shot them (200s) in two matches so far (Louisiana and Texas) and did really well with em. They shoot about the same as my 185 hybrid load at distance (300 yard and beyond) but the 185s group a tad better at 100 yard. At 300 yards in load developement they both shoot right at or under an inch group consistantly (5 shots) with not much vertical. If you can handle the recoil I would give em a whirl, they should do well at 1000 yard. With that being said i've only shot 600 yard FTR matches with them but feel confident that they would be fine at 1000. I did shoot the 185s at 1000 and they did very well. The 185 juggernauts shot well also with the same powder charge as the 185 hybrids but the rifle seems to like the hybrids a bit better for some reason and the BC is a hair higher so that doesn't hurt either.

The 200 gr load
46.3 gr Power Pro 2000MR
CCI BR2
2.240 base to ogive (jammed in lands in my rifle)
Lapua brass, unturned


The 185 hybrid load
47.6 gr Power Pro 2000MR
CCI BR2
2.210 Base to ogive
Lapua brass, unturned

The 200s are running about 2650 to 2675 depending on the weather/temps. The 185s are about 2800 to 2825.

28 inch Krieger with 11 twist barrel
Bat action
B & C Medalist A2 stock
Jewel trigger set at 8 oz
Nightforce 12 X 42 X 56mm NXS
Rifle weight 17.5 lb. with bipod attached


If anyone tries these loads please work up to it as all rifles are different and it may not be safe in yours. Its a pretty stiff but safe load in mine. The reamer used on this rifle has .123 freebore which is not really ideal for the 200s but I cant argue with the results so far.

Tag...........
 
110GR .308 HORNADY VMAX MOLY .290 BC

17" 1:10 SHORT BARREL
TRIM LENGTH 2.010
OAL 2.710 (some jump, for some reason my Savage barrel likes it since it was new)
FED 210 LR PRIMER
CHRONY 10FT FROM MUZZLE, 5 SHOT AVG.
75 Deg F. 80% hum.

IMR4064 (39.5 produced the best groups, though very slow and considerable drop throughout the charge) APPROX 170 ROUNDS PER LB.

39 GR 2090 FPS
39.5 GR 2110 FPS
41 GR 2270 FPS
41.5 GR 2320 FPS
42 GR 2360 FPS
42.5 GR 2380 FPS
43 GR 2410 FPS

Couldn't get much more FPS out of the short barrel with this powder. Where this left off, IMR 3031 & 4198 picked up.

Using 4064 44 gr while cutting back the barrel:
22" 2670
20" 2570
19" 2527
17" 2420

IMR3031

41 GR 2408 FPS
42 GR 2507 FPS
43 GR 2576 FPS
44 GR 2671 FPS
45 GR 2771 FPS
46 GR Compressed load / max load in several books, I usually don't entertain that idea.

41 GR & 45 GR produced the best results

IMR4198

37 GR 2735 FPS
38 GR 2801 FPS
39 GR 2930 FPS
39.5 GR Compressed load / max load in several books, I usually don't entertain that idea.

39 GR produced the best results.


Looking for 165 SST 17" barrel min / max IMR4198 data.
 
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.308 HORNADY 165GR SST MOLY .447 BC

17" 1:10 SHORT BARREL
TRIM LENGTH 2.010
OAL 2.760 (some jump, for some reason my Savage barrel likes it since it was new)
FED 210 LR PRIMER
CHRONY 10FT FROM MUZZLE, 5 SHOT AVG.
82 Deg F. 85% hum.

IMR4064 - From testing the 110 vmax, 4064 seems to be slow to use in the short barrel. Didn't bother to try and eat up heads, doubt if i'd even get 2200 FPS.


IMR3031

37.5 GR 2263 FPS
38.5 GR 2344 FPS
39.5 GR 2391 FPS
40.5 GR 2465 FPS
41.5 GR 2501 FPS
42 GR max load in several books, I usually don't entertain that idea.

40.5 GR & 41.5 GR produced the best results



Still looking for 165 gr 16", 17", 18" barrel min / max IMR4198 data.
 
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Ive finally worked thru the growing pains of perfecting my .308 loads, now its time to figure out what my rifle can handle.

I have a Remington 700 SS 5R MilSpec .308 Winchester. Stock, no modifications yet except for a fluted bolt and tac handle and HS Precision DBM 10rds.

My current load is this...

175gr SMK
43.0gr IMR4064
Winchester LR Primer
1X fired PPU, Hornady Match & new Lapua brass

My goal is to have an accurate reliable load to reach out to 1000yds at some point but currently I need to find out what my rifle likes first. So far this load is awesome at 100yds but doesnt mean anything until I stretch its legs out a bit more.

What do yall think about this load and is it safe to workup more or is this just fine?
 
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i have a rimington 700 with a 26" barrel.I shoot at camp perry last year 1000yd match but the guys in the bit said they didnt hear the round. I used lupua brass cci b/r primers and varget powder 44.5gn. 175 smk. Do i need to up powder.
 
i have a rimington 700 with a 26" barrel.I shoot at camp perry last year 1000yd match but the guys in the bit said they didnt hear the round. I used lupua brass cci b/r primers and varget powder 44.5gn. 175 smk. Do i need to up powder.

I'd go more on the basis of your score rather than whether the guys in the pit heard the round or not.

44.5 gr of Varget should do just fine with that bullet and a 26" bbl. Have you chronographed the round yet? Go with the speeds you measure and use JBM trajectory calculator to show what your speed should be at 1K.

I prefer the "absolutes" of target grouping and chrono speeds rather than the subjective observations based on "hearing".
 
Rem 700 Palma Rifle
95 Palma chamber on 30" Brux 1/11
SBS brass
155 Nos CC
3.075" on my Hornady comparator (jumping .050")
MR-2000 48.5gr (about all I can get in the case)
2980 fps Avg
St dev 8.2
Pretty mild load on the brass and primers but works out to 1-K easily.

Shot a 196-6 at 1-K Camp Robinson week before last, tricky-tricky winds/mirage there . . . .
 
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This load worked for 168 and 175 SMKs and gave me 1/2MOA or better.

40 grains XBR8208
Federal Brass cut to 2.003
210M primers
168/175 SMKs
2.800 OAL

Shot out of a Blaser Tac 2 and FNAR
 
I'm looking to work up a load using varget and 175smk for a gap hospitaller. Anyone hve experience with this gun and what works best? Templer v2 action, 11.25 24" bartlein barrel.
 
I see a couple posts on CFE, but is anyone using CFE223 on 175 SMK? I have 6lbs of the CFE left and I am looking to give it a whirl on the 175; anyone running that combo?
 
I see a couple posts on CFE, but is anyone using CFE223 on 175 SMK? I have 6lbs of the CFE left and I am looking to give it a whirl on the 175; anyone running that combo?

I do. Run a ladder test and find your rifle's "sweet spot" for that powder. My rifle did real well with 46gr at 2.810" OAL. Cloverleaf's at 300 yards.

Best part about this powder is the lack of copper fouling. After 200 rounds accuracy was still excellent and a single wet patch of Sweet's was barely touched with "blue" when cleaning. Second patch was clear. The powder will leave a fine soot like deposit in the bore but it doesn't cause any issues. A patch wetted with hoppe's followed by two or three dry patches was all I needed to clean my barrel.

On my SPS-Tactical I only use a bore snake between range sessions, giving the bore a scrub down only after 300 rounds or so.

The "Copper Fouling Eraser" description really doesn't mean the copper is "erased", it merely means that it doesn't adhere to the bore when the bullet travels down it. Works much like an "anti-seize" when assembling fasteners although I don't know about it's lube like qualities.

I find that I can get nice high speeds in my .308 without having to resort to extreme pressures or compressed loads. This powder meters like water in my Dillon XL650 which gives me hundreds of nice accurate .308 rounds in just a short period of time. Shot in side by side comparison tests with individually weighed loads there isn't enough difference to worry about when shooting at NORMAL .308 distances.
 
I do. Run a ladder test and find your rifle's "sweet spot" for that powder. My rifle did real well with 46gr at 2.810" OAL. Cloverleaf's at 300 yards.

Best part about this powder is the lack of copper fouling. After 200 rounds accuracy was still excellent and a single wet patch of Sweet's was barely touched with "blue" when cleaning. Second patch was clear. The powder will leave a fine soot like deposit in the bore but it doesn't cause any issues. A patch wetted with hoppe's followed by two or three dry patches was all I needed to clean my barrel.

On my SPS-Tactical I only use a bore snake between range sessions, giving the bore a scrub down only after 300 rounds or so.

The "Copper Fouling Eraser" description really doesn't mean the copper is "erased", it merely means that it doesn't adhere to the bore when the bullet travels down it. Works much like an "anti-seize" when assembling fasteners although I don't know about it's lube like qualities.

I find that I can get nice high speeds in my .308 without having to resort to extreme pressures or compressed loads. This powder meters like water in my Dillon XL650 which gives me hundreds of nice accurate .308 rounds in just a short period of time. Shot in side by side comparison tests with individually weighed loads there isn't enough difference to worry about when shooting at NORMAL .308 distances.

Nice, so you are using the Dillon powder measure? I been using a single for 308, but I have a 650 for the 45acp and a 550 for the 9mm. I am thinking about pulling the 9mm off the 550 and using that for the 308. As you know it has been tough find to 9mm components, so I haven't really been shooting any 9mm. Crazy to think I didn't own any 9mm to the beginning of this year. Everything was 45acp. Bought a CZ Shadow from CZ Custom for the wife to compete in USPSA and found it too difficult to find components so we stopped competing. But I have found what I need for the 308, but off course we shoot that a lot less (quantity wise).

I am using a stainless 5R Remington with a 20" barrel.
 
Nice, so you are using the Dillon powder measure? I been using a single for 308, but I have a 650 for the 45acp and a 550 for the 9mm. I am thinking about pulling the 9mm off the 550 and using that for the 308. As you know it has been tough find to 9mm components, so I haven't really been shooting any 9mm. Crazy to think I didn't own any 9mm to the beginning of this year. Everything was 45acp. Bought a CZ Shadow from CZ Custom for the wife to compete in USPSA and found it too difficult to find components so we stopped competing. But I have found what I need for the 308, but off course we shoot that a lot less (quantity wise).

I am using a stainless 5R Remington with a 20" barrel.


Yes, I use the Dillon Powder Measure on my 650. To insure more exacting ammo from it I do things a little different than most.

First, I installed the Unique-Tek kit that repaces the pins holding the toolhead in place with threaded inserts in the toolhead and small allen head screws. No more UP/Down movement of the tool head while loading.

Second, I prep and prime all brass before I load it on the progressive. All my rifle brass is de-primed/sized first and then cleaned in Stainless Steel Pin media. Clean inside, out, and primer pockets too. No lube left on the cases this way. I then trim to square up the case mouths and this removes any "dings" caused by the tumbling. I use an RCBS Trimmer with 3-Way cutter (carbide) so I can trim, chamfer, and de-burr with only one or two turns of the handle.

By pre-priming the rifle cases I can just leave the small primer feed assy installed which speeds changeover to pistol loading. It also gives me a chance to cull loose primer pockets.

Last, to make sure that the shell plate doesn't "tilt" at any part of operation I installed a powder die body in Station #1, leaving out the sizing die, and adjust it down so it's a positive stop at the top of the up-stroke. I use a "Dead Length" seating die in Station #4 which contacts the shell plate at the top of the stroke and it's adjusted just like the powder die body in Station one. Results in exactly the same case head to ogive measurement for every finished round. If I trim meplats then I also get the same OAL measurements on each case.

All this, coupled with the great metering of the CFE223 Powder gives me the kind of ammo I can produce in bulk yet have it shoot like "Single Stage Produced".
 
Yes, I use the Dillon Powder Measure on my 650. To insure more exacting ammo from it I do things a little different than most.

First, I installed the Unique-Tek kit that repaces the pins holding the toolhead in place with threaded inserts in the toolhead and small allen head screws. No more UP/Down movement of the tool head while loading.

Second, I prep and prime all brass before I load it on the progressive. All my rifle brass is de-primed/sized first and then cleaned in Stainless Steel Pin media. Clean inside, out, and primer pockets too. No lube left on the cases this way. I then trim to square up the case mouths and this removes any "dings" caused by the tumbling. I use an RCBS Trimmer with 3-Way cutter (carbide) so I can trim, chamfer, and de-burr with only one or two turns of the handle.

By pre-priming the rifle cases I can just leave the small primer feed assy installed which speeds changeover to pistol loading. It also gives me a chance to cull loose primer pockets.

Last, to make sure that the shell plate doesn't "tilt" at any part of operation I installed a powder die body in Station #1, leaving out the sizing die, and adjust it down so it's a positive stop at the top of the up-stroke. I use a "Dead Length" seating die in Station #4 which contacts the shell plate at the top of the stroke and it's adjusted just like the powder die body in Station one. Results in exactly the same case head to ogive measurement for every finished round. If I trim meplats then I also get the same OAL measurements on each case.

All this, coupled with the great metering of the CFE223 Powder gives me the kind of ammo I can produce in bulk yet have it shoot like "Single Stage Produced".

So you hand prime then, correct? Ever use Unique-Tek turbo bearing for the base?
 
So you hand prime then, correct? Ever use Unique-Tek turbo bearing for the base?

Haven't found the need. I keep my shell plate and base nice and clean with some dry lube on it. Careful adjustment of the center bolt does the rest.

On hand priming, this allows me to inspect each case for potential head separation "grooves" inside the case and since I have to handle the case anyway I just put a primer in it at the same time. As I said, no more need to change the primer feed assy on changeover to pistol and less forward pressure on the handle. Just a small thing but I found that it works great for me.

For pistol (9mm only for me) I go ahead and use the primer feed assy and only do minimal case prep, corncob only.
 
Started re-loading and this is my first load ladder in development.

Brass: Federal Gold Medal
Primer: CCI Large Rifle
Powder: VIHTAVUORI 550
Bullet: Sierra Match King 175 grain

Powder charges in my ladder test: 38.3, 41.9, 43.7, and 45.5

I'll be shooting it out of my AE MKIII

I'll post pics tomorrow. Has anybody used this powder? Didn't see it in the thread.
 
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Started re-loading and this is my first load ladder in development.

Brass: Federal Gold Medal
Primer: CCI Large Rifle
Powder: VIHTAVUORI 550
Bullet: Sierra Match King 175 grain

Powder charges in my ladder test: 38.3, 41.9, 43.7, and 45.5

I'll be shooting it out of my AE MKIII

I'll post pics tomorrow. Has anybody used this powder? Didn't see it in the thread.

A lot of Hi-Power competitors use VV 550.

My guess is that you'll see the best performance in the area of 43.5 to 44.5 gr range.
 
Sweet, I just bought 400 of these bullets for an AAC 308. Thx & tag for later.

Remington 700 AAC-SD 20" pillar bedded with Devcon in a McMillan A5, with SAS TOMB-mount Reaper suppressor.

Berger 168 Classic Hunter hybrids @ 2.210" base-ogive, 2.820" COAL
New Lapua brass
CCI 200 primer
42.4 grains IMR 8208 XBR
2600 FPS 12' from muzzle, ES 15/ SD 6

Never thought a factory barrel could shoot this well without even fireformed brass. Load developed using OCW method, never messed with seating depth.

5 shots at 100 yards below. Disregard the 3 stragglers, they were my attempt at shooting my 6.5x55 standing freehand.

wkbvs.jpg
 
Is there a difference between loading for a gas gun vs bolt gun? Or am I good with following the same load data out of the book?

Short answer, Yes, and No.

Gas guns are sensitive to port pressure and can beat up the system pretty bad if they peak too high. Several powder manufacturers will publish as separate section for the "gas operated" rifles like AR-15's and M-1A's, and Garands. Others just lump them all together.

My experience is that certain powders will do well in gas guns and others not so much. Whenever working up a load for one it's best to start at the lower end of the load map and work up until you have a round that will just cycle the action fully, without beating it to death, and give you the accuracy you desire. Both AR and M-1A's have aftermarket devices that will allow you to regulate the gas pressure so you can have both a fast round but minimal stress on the action.
 
Sorry I am not a computer junkie but what is all this, <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header"><div><div class="ubbcode=body"> <div><div> stuff ? I see a lot of it in postings on the hide. I understand that &quot means inch but I do not know the other. Thank You.
 
Sorry I am not a computer junkie but what is all this, <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header"><div><div class="ubbcode=body"> <div><div> stuff ? I see a lot of it in postings on the hide. I understand that " means inch but I do not know the other. Thank You.

the new forum software does that with the old quotes