Savage 308 F/TR ?

[diego-ted]

I am looking a buying one that is 4 years old with a very low round count. The seller thinks it's a 1/10 twist, but all the research shows these are 1/12 twist? Does anyone know if they once came with a 1/10 twist?

thx Diego

 

[memilanuk]

As far as I know, the factory might have made some w/ 1:10tw for special orders, etc. I know of a couple people with OEM 1:10" tw barrels that they got that way, but the default stock configuration with 1:12".

 

[NBly]

Call Savage and ask. They are nice people to talk with if can get ahold of them.

 

[Masked]

Call Savage and ask. They are nice people to talk with if can get ahold of them.

In my experience, while they are nice IF you can get a hold of them, I'd take it at the seller's word.

I have a 110ba LE that came "stock" even though I had requested a custom barrel. My barrel came at the twist I requested but, it's no-where on my paperwork. In fact, when I did my warranty I had to get the CS dept to speak with the barrel guy and verify that it was a custom...Which they did and it's STILL not noted in their system...

 

[AMMOWASTER]

If the twist matters to you then ask the seller if you can run a patch through it and check the twist yourself

 

[JWV]

Pretty sure they are 12 twist. I would assume the twist would be stamped on the barrel. Its funny how things change. IE. Four years ago everybody was shooting 150gr class bullets in FTR and now guys are shooting 200 class bullets. Anyway, if the price is good and the round count is low. Get it, sell the barrel off of it for a couple hundred and pick up a 30 inch CBI with a 10 twist.

 

[diego-ted]

It's no big deal, I want to shoot the 185gr Berger Juggernaught. Berger says a 1/12 is fine. Hopefully the rifle will like that round. If worse comes to worse I will just pick up a new Kriger 1/10 for it. But this is kind of a impulse buy and with the scope, I will be in the hole a icouple of grand, so I hope it likes the Juggernaught?


Diego

 

[memilanuk]

FWIW... the US FTR team is using B185s w/ a 1:12" tw this year... and so far the results look pretty good.

The factory chamber in a 12 F/TR is typically a little on the short side for 185s with Varget - its tough to get enough in there to get up to useful speeds. If you can get someone local to throat the barrel a little longer, that might be helpful. Otherwise... I'd say look very closely @ 2000MR - its dense enough that you can get good speed out of a B185 even from the factory chamber.

 

[diego-ted]

Well, I hope this one has a little deeper changer, sure would like to keep using Varget.

Diego

 

[memilanuk]

The default factory chamber on those guns uses an Obermeyer reamer with approx. 0.085" freebore. Last time I tried running Varget behind a 185 in a relatively fresh factory throat, I think I maxed out around 42.5gn Varget and about 2640-2650fps.

By way of contrast, the '2013 US FTR' chamber has 0.170" freebore, which allows seating out considerably further - I'm running 44.5gn Varget with *no* pressure signs @ approx. 2750fps... and thats actually not near as fast as it *could* go, we just have a velocity band that our team ammo needs to run in for wind coaching and logistics reasons. Individuals have pushed it up into the mid 2800s with somewhere north of 46gn of Varget and minimal pressure signs.

I don't recall exactly how much I was using - either 47 or 48gn - of 2000MR, but with the factory throat it was running ~2780fps with zero pressure signs even in August (90-95F here).

HTH,

Monte

 

[diego-ted]

Monte, so what bullet would you recommend as the best for shooting out to 1K with this rifle, taking in to consideration wind and accuracy?

Ted

 

[Quickoz]

Ted,

Im not monte but if you cant get the juggernauts fast enough, I'd look at one of the higher BC 155gr bullets. Hybrid, etc. You should have better luck with them with that shorter chamber if the 185gr dont fly well for you.

 

[memilanuk]

^^^ what he said.

Run the ballistics for a B155.5BT or Hybrid @ 3000fps - which is very doable - against what you can get a B185OTM up to, and decide accordingly.

 

[diego-ted]

My biggest problem with the juggernaut is finding the 2ooo mr?

 

[el gordo2]

My F/TR 308 Win is twisted 1:10 that I purchased a few years ago. A buddy of mine has the same rifle and his is a 1:12. I was talking with Darrell Buell awhile back about this and he told me that Savage did make a few with the faster twist. He also recommended using the regular Berger 185gr VLD in my 1:10 and it has done well for me. You probably will do well with either twist.

 

[memilanuk]

My biggest problem with the juggernaut is finding the 2ooo mr?

Yep... for whatever reason Alliant doesn't seem to have promoted any of these new powers (2000/3000/4000) hardly at all. I know I couldn't find any locally (checked 4 or 5 stores) and finally had to take a leap of faith and order an 8lb jug thru Powder Valley - the hazmat was simply not worth it otherwise.

Perhaps you could get a local dealer that stocks other Alliant powders to get you a bottle or two with their next shipment?

 

[diego-ted]

My F/TR 308 Win is twisted 1:10 that I purchased a few years ago. A buddy of mine has the same rifle and his is a 1:12. I was talking with Darrell Buell awhile back about this and he told me that Savage did make a few with the faster twist. He also recommended using the regular Berger 185gr VLD in my 1:10 and it has done well for me. You probably will do well with either twist.

Gordo, on the chance the rifle I bought does have the 1/10 twist, could you share some of you load data with the 185 VLD, have you tried the Juggernaught? Now I am torn as too which I hope I get, not that it matters, I will have to deal with it when it gets here?

 

[gstaylorg]

Ted,
Regardless of the twist rate, which you can easily figure out with a cleaning rod once you have the rifle in hand, there will be several choices open to you that should work well out to 1000 yd. As mentioned, the Berger 155s, but I also wouldn't rule out Berger 168s, or the 175 gr Tactical bullet. Both of those have a higher G7 BC than the 155 Hybrid. Each of my GAP .308 rifles have .085 freebore, which is identical to the Obermeyer default chamber FB as Monte mentioned above. As you have seen, those rifles absolutely love the Berger 175 Tactical bullet. They also shoot extremely well with JLK 180s, which are loaded for me to just a tick under 2850 fps (out of a 28" barrel) by Andrew McCourt. The JLK 180s are fairly close in dimensions to the 185 Juggernauts, so with a little luck, you may well be able to get the 185s to work. Either way, you'll have several options that should be suitable for your chamber/barrel and ought to get you good results at 1000 yd. If you're going to be at Pendleton for the MR match in a couple weeks, we can talk some more about it.

 

[schmi015]

Buy it, I bought one back in 2009. Couldn't be happier with it in .308, it shoots half inch for me at 200yards with 168 and 175 grainers. If the barrel isnt a shooter its an easy swap.

 

[diego-ted]

Sounds good Greg I will be there for sure! I got a million questions, there is alot about this stuff I just don't understand. Like which is better, a heaver bullet that will buck the wind or a lighter bullet with a better bc and MV? Do I work up a load from 100 yards or 300? I have always worked up a load from 100, first by amount of powder then seating depth, is there a better way? LOL

thx Diego