Ha I go away for couple days and the thread blows up. Good stuff tho.
I posted for couple reasons.
First, for all the old timers to come out and reminisce about when the 308/300/223 kicked all the names (check haha)
Two as Sand has been saying, to get better ballistically and lighter 30 cal bullets. I would love a 160 gr bullet with a BC in the .5+ range. If I had my choice, of the bullets ive shot in comps (not only PRS) I would choose the new 200.20x Berger or the 155's screamin fast (both illegal in the prs). Its insanely accurate and the recoil is almost negligible. Going 3k the wind is very similar to a dasher pushing the 115 at 2750.
Three to let people know the Tac Class in PRS isn't just some crappy sandbagger shooters never cracking the top 50. This year there have been 308 shooters in the top 20 nearly 10 times with one top 10/5...which I think is phenominal.
Four, going into the PRS finale at the end of the month, there are 7 of us tied with 300's. I love how, similar to NASCAR, the best finisher at that match will determine the season champion. Not going to lie, im not a top 5 or prob even top 20 shooter in the country (even though I have been ranked there and consistently place there) but I wont ever have a chance at the Open champion. I don't shoot enough matches and I just don't have the time to dedicate to the sport with a small family and a full time construction job. The Tac class offers me the opportunity. Yes I am further down the todem pole for the prize table with the ballistic crutch, but it sure is fun seeing peoples faces when they find out Im shooting a 308 and its just plain fun shooting.
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Like you said earlier, though, finding a balance in weight vs. usable speed is the trick. I use a long barreled 7mm-08 with a 1-8" twist. Just like the .308, finding the tight twist was like finding a tree that a unicorn pissed on so you could scrape the bark. ...
Bullet stability is the key. Anything can get there accurately if you can keep the bullet stable through the transonic range. Obviously, how the barrels and bullets are made are the biggest factors. We need to change how they are done, so we can increase their capability.
I have a friend shooting 168's with a 8 or 9 twist (cant remember) and he mentions the incredible long range accuracy going to the faster twist. He has hit milk jugs at 1 mile which I think is insane. Maybe over stabilizing is a good thing...would be cool to see a bullet maker come up with a light bullet recommending faster twists...
Please note that through the thread, I've shown what new bullets in .308 dia. can do. They just need to be massaged right and if possible a tighter twist can be used to shoot them. That puts them on a more level playing field with the 6's, 6.5's and 7mm's.
Do note also, that that is what D_tros is saying. He used better bullets that didn't require a tighter twist than 1-10". But, if he had the .308 can do even better. Many of us in the past have thought the .308 was done with. Not so when the right factors are applied. Thus why I showed Franks video shooting the Flat-Line bullets.
Yeah, there is a bit of seriousness. We are serious shooters after all. If Big Green (and the rest of the military and target shooting community is never going away from the .308, we might as well make it better. It's not just heavier rounds, it's better shaped bullets and tighter twists.
Everybody over getting butt hurt yet?
Def on a "more level playing field" but there is still ground to be made up. Berger Hybrids/Sierra Tipped bullets have come along way. Custom bullet makers have great ideas, but charge too much for us recreational shooters to really afford them. Cool to see the progress in the last couple years let alone the last 10.
I can remember when everybody was shooting the 308, 223, and 300WM. And that was with no brakes. Everybody shitting on the overbores because they burn out too quick. Now people waste all their time TALKING about reloading and shooting them. We know who they are. Never see a word from them about replacing barrels. Just ladder, OCW, glass, and blah blah blah. Asking where their gunsmith be up at.
I remember that as well...until you realize to be in the top 10 or even 20 you needed to be there with the hot rod calibers. My first flat rifle was a 260 (prob like most in 2008-2012) then it was 6x47 loaded hot. 2K rnds then toss is the regimine now. Was sacrilegious until someone mentioned the price of match fees and travel and motel for one match exceeds $1k so if you use a barrel for 4 matches and toss, its not that big of an expense...Crazy $$$ to try to be competitive. Then in 2014 ish people were doing the 6 CM (comp match) with long barrels and slow powder to save barrels...
All the while they could have invented a light high BC easy to load for 30 cal and saved all the heartburn! (not really but sounds fun to talk about ha)
haha I asked my wife if I could buy an old Chevelle or Nova...she said sure sell your rifles...I DONT EVEN LIKE CARS!! hahhahah stoopid shooting sports
Regards,
DT
