New barrel input for .308 and 208gr Amax

3

308garand

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Sep 5, 2007
213
0
43
Mesquite, TX
#1
I have decided to rebarrel my Savage 10fp McMillan and had some questions about a new barrel. I have been doing a lot of reading about loading the .308 with the Hornady 208 Amax and would like to have some input on what I should be looking for in a barrel. Let me also say that the I am not looking to compete, I just enjoy shooting at distance. Would it be worth it to go with a 28" barrel vs a 26"? If so what kind of gain might I see with the 28"? I am thinking 1x10 would be the best twist rate, but am open to thoughts on this. If there is any thing I should consider or do I would really appreciate the input.

Thanks,
.308
 
#3
Re: New barrel input for .308 and 208gr Amax

Shoot what you have. The 208 a-max is not the holy grail. I've seen everything from 155gr to 190gr make it out to 1k. Just find a load your gun loves and shoot the hell out of it.
 
#5
Re: New barrel input for .308 and 208gr Amax

In that case I've had pretty good luck with shilen select match drop-in barrels. I'd say a 1-10 finished at 24" will give you a little more play than what you have and stabilize the 208
 
#6
Re: New barrel input for .308 and 208gr Amax

I haven't decided what manufacturer I am going to go with yet, just trying to get an idea of what I am looking for. Would there really be no benefit with a 28" or 26" over a 24"?

308
 
#8
Re: New barrel input for .308 and 208gr Amax

You could stand to gain a little velocity going longer but since you won't be competing it wouldn't be crucial. If you need something that's short enough to carry around and not be hitting everything in sight then 24" would be fine. If your not worried about it then go 26" or even 28". I would split the difference and do 26". It will net you a few fps, and still be usable in most situations.
 
#9
Re: New barrel input for .308 and 208gr Amax

1/10" twist btw. I like the 208 AMAX idea in the 308. At distances over 500 yd it has a huge advantage over the 155 and 175's most guys shoot.
 
#10
Re: New barrel input for .308 and 208gr Amax

Jborei,

26" 10 twist is the closest choice to optimum for most anything in an efficient .308. Getting a reamer for the 210 AMAX which still allows you to stuff as much powder in it as possible is a harder call.

HTH,
DocB
 
#11
Re: New barrel input for .308 and 208gr Amax

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 308garand</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I haven't decided what manufacturer I am going to go with yet, just trying to get an idea of what I am looking for. Would there really be no benefit with a 28" or 26" over a 24"?</div></div>

The 308 burns powder efficiently, so a couple inches of barrel either way doesn't make a big difference. With the 208 A-Max, a small difference at the muzzle is an even smaller difference a few hundred yards out.

21" is a good barrel length in my opinion for a heavy barrel like your Savage. If you want better ballistics, a longer barrel on a 308 is going to be a weight intensive way to try to accomplish that goal. 50fps doesn't means a lot considering the cost of the extra weight.

The better way to better ballistics is a 300 Mag.

TC
 
#12
Re: New barrel input for .308 and 208gr Amax

TC, I understand that the 300WM has better ballistics than the .308 and I can't make the .308 into a 300. I don't have a 300 and just want to make the most out of what I have. I do want to thank everyone for their input and I think I have decided to go with a 26" barrel with a med. palma contour.

Thanks again,
308
 
#13
Re: New barrel input for .308 and 208gr Amax

don't do it and expect miracles...with the 308 powder charge, using a 208gr bullet weight, I'd be looking at subsonic more than the long range side..that boolit in that short a barrel would be crap against the 155's long range, I don't care what the 'sperts say. You figure out how to pump it up to 3000fps muzzle velocity, in the same length action, maybe a different sized boltface, then you're on a better track...

JR
 
#14
Re: New barrel input for .308 and 208gr Amax

"don't do it and expect miracles...with the 308 powder charge, using a 208gr bullet weight, I'd be looking at subsonic more than the long range side"

This makes no sense to me...you're going to lose velocity with the lighter bullet weights as well, the 208 will do just fine in a shorter barrel and get you to 1k easily.
 
#15
Re: New barrel input for .308 and 208gr Amax

not to sidetrack this thread , but have you tried lapua 155s ? if they were accurate in your rifle seems like it might be the ticket .
i personaly would go no longerr than 24 for a 308 , if i wanted flatter trajectory i would rebarrel to 7-08 /260 /243
 
#16
Re: New barrel input for .308 and 208gr Amax

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tyler Kemp</div><div class="ubbcode-body">"don't do it and expect miracles...with the 308 powder charge, using a 208gr bullet weight, I'd be looking at subsonic more than the long range side"

This makes no sense to me...you're going to lose velocity with the lighter bullet weights as well, the 208 will do just fine in a shorter barrel and get you to 1k easily. </div></div>

Well let's make sense to you. Reason a higher weight bullet/higher bc/faster verlocity bullet won't work for long range is due to the fact you can't fling it fast enough to make a discernable difference due to the cartridge. Bullet don't care, would fly flatter if prodded harder. 308 is enough short case to bump down enough powder charge to 'pop' it out...meaning keep it subsonic...the higher bc bullet will fly more accurately short range than it would long range, relatively, as it never enters that twiddly transonic zone.........

The slower the velocity, the less rate it will slow..speed of sound is king, once you hit it so does the shit. So there is a certain speed limit for various projectiles.
 
#17
Re: New barrel input for .308 and 208gr Amax

you only have x amount of powder charge and y amount of barrel...the guys shooting 1K accurately are using longer barrels to start, up to 34". They do shoot 210's for the 1.2K comps but its like watching well aimed artillery...shorter barrels, I wouldn't delve as much into heavier bullets b/c you can't push them fast enough ....don't expect miracles with less than a rig made for the position
 
#19
Re: New barrel input for .308 and 208gr Amax

JR,

I can push a 210 JLK to 2700f/s out of a factory 26" Remington barrel. The cartridge is loaded to 3.25", which gives about 0.020" into the lands. Normally, I load them to around 2650-2675 to give some room for temperature changes without killing the brass. Wind plays havoc with me and the 155 guys, but my groups are smaller and vertical is less. The 208 AMAXs aren't long enough keep the bullet in the case and get anywhere near the lands.

DocB
 
#20
Re: New barrel input for .308 and 208gr Amax

My workup got me to 2600+fps with the 208 Amax in a 20" AI barrel.

No pressure signs, but I couldn't pack any more powder in the case since I don't have a drop tube. This was with RE17.

If I have a choice of a 208 at 2600 or a 175 at 2600 the better choice is clear.

Of course it does sound like a hand grenade going off when I pull the trigger.
wink.gif


If I was building a rifle to throw the 208's I wouldn't go shorter than 26". It's a pretty big powder charge, might as well get the most out of it.
 
#21
Re: New barrel input for .308 and 208gr Amax

I loaded 208AMAX's with 46.0grs H414 (2.900" OAL)2550fps from 26" 1/12tw barrel. Shot very well.... but lately 208AMAX's have been hard to come by. This is a compressed load.
 
#22
Re: New barrel input for .308 and 208gr Amax

I just got a Douglas XX air gauged 308 barrel for my custom mauser build. It is a straight taper 1.200 to 1.000. It took 1 week from order to door! The barrel was completely finished ready to go. I looked at shilen, but, they had a 6+ week turn around.

Barrel1.jpg


barrel2.jpg
 
#23
Re: New barrel input for .308 and 208gr Amax

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: __JR__</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tyler Kemp</div><div class="ubbcode-body">"don't do it and expect miracles...with the 308 powder charge, using a 208gr bullet weight, I'd be looking at subsonic more than the long range side"

This makes no sense to me...you're going to lose velocity with the lighter bullet weights as well, the 208 will do just fine in a shorter barrel and get you to 1k easily. </div></div>

Well let's make sense to you. Reason a higher weight bullet/higher bc/faster verlocity bullet won't work for long range is due to the fact you can't fling it fast enough to make a discernable difference due to the cartridge. Bullet don't care, would fly flatter if prodded harder. 308 is enough short case to bump down enough powder charge to 'pop' it out...meaning keep it subsonic...the higher bc bullet will fly more accurately short range than it would long range, relatively, as it never enters that twiddly transonic zone.........

The slower the velocity, the less rate it will slow..speed of sound is king, once you hit it so does the shit. So there is a certain speed limit for various projectiles.

</div></div>

The 208 at just 2500 fps will stay supersonic longer than the 175's at 2700 fps. Not to mention how much better the wind drift is.

Here ya go:
208 AMAX
2500 fps
10 mph wind
7.25 MOA windage at 1000 yd
36.75 MOA Elevation at 1000 yd
It will stay supersonic just past 1500 yd

175 Berger VLD
2700 fps
10 mph wind
8.50 MOA Windage at 1000 yd
34.75 MOA at 1000 yd
Supersonic to around 1250 yd

These numbers were calculated using EXBAL in the conditions I shoot. While the 208 may have more drop at 1000 yd, it has significantly less wind drift and that is what we strive the most for. I do not currently shoot 308, but when I get one again, this will be the first bullet I start load development with.
 
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