F-Class....FTR .308 Win Bullet Weight

[jwrowland77]

I was just kind of wondering what the average bullet weight being used was for a 1:10 twist barrel.

I'm getting a new barrel put on and I'm going from a 1:12 twist barrel to a 1:10 twist barrel. Also going from 26" barrel to 28" barrel.

Currently I'm using 178's with good success, but was thinking about going heavier.

Didn't know if there was a point where going heavier didn't have any returns for doing so (i.e. Going from a 190 to a 208).

Thanks in advance.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Jim Watson]

I was always happy with a 175 SMK... except when trying to blow a 155 Scenar out fast enough to matter.

A friend who is much more active and proficient is now loading 185 gr Bergers but has worked with 200+ grain bullets.

[jwrowland77]

See I'm half torn between staying with the 178's because I mean I'll have better stability, but also thinking of trying the 185's and 200's


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[tangolima]

It is the length of the bullet that matter. Bullets of the same weight can have different lengths due to different designs. Hollow point boat tail is most likely longer than round nose flat base.

1:10 is pretty tight twist for 0.308. It can stabilize bullet as long as 2.5". It would be quite some bullet weight for that length.

-TL

[bedlamite]

1:10 will stabilize even the 220gr SMK, but you pay a price with velocity from the 308. I would give the Berger 185 a try, It's not much heavier or longer than the Hornady 178 but has a much better BC.

[jwrowland77]

Guys, I understand that I can run up to a 230gr bullet in my 1:10 twist.

My question was and is, what's the avg weight being used in F-Class competitions (see paragraph 1 in original post)?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[TMD]

A long while back I stumbled on some 180gn blems dirt cheap and I don't even remember where. My intent was to use them for subsonic loads in my .300bo but then I tried them in my Savage model 10fcp-sr which had a 24" barrel and a 1/10 twist. With 43.5 grains of Varget they average 2700fps and group about .250moa. Yes one little ragged hole with a 5 shot group. From what I can tell and comparing them to some loaded ammo they appear to be Remington Core Lokes but not certain. Sadly I only snagged 400 of them at time and I'm down to about half that.

[Darn wind]

Jwrowland77;

I can give you some info. 185 berger juggernauts are probably the most popular(for good reasons), but People have been trying the berger 200's and 215's and are finding an advantage over the 185's even at the lower velocity, roughly 2650. This advantage comes with a downside though, more recoil. This makes it harder to shoot accurately consistently obviously (for some). The other thing to take into consideration if the freebore length required for the heavy's. Without the extra length the bullet gets pushed farther into the case and makes it harder to obtain the higher velocities without trashing brass.

[ocharry]

175 nosler custom comp work in my savage fp,,,,one ragged hole

scary and boring at the same time,,,,lol

ocharry

[Darn wind]

Ocharry:

Do you shoot F-class with those?

[jwrowland77]

BC on those Noslers aren't quite as good as other bullets.

That's why I've never tried them or ever plan to try them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Darn wind]

I agree jwrowland77, 175's have to low of BC. The lightest I would go would be the 185 bergers. You can't get enough velocity out of lighter bullets to make up for the BC difference. If a guy could manage the recoil I'd go wth the 200 something's.

[jwrowland77]

I don't know about that. I use the Hornady 178gr BTHP right now. I've pushed them out to 1260yd accurately (3 consecutive hits on a 12"x12" steel plate).

It's just when I first got to looking at bullets, the Nosler 175gr CC, didn't have as high a BC as the 178's I was looking at.

I may have to get some of those 185gr Juggs though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Darn wind]

Well since you don't know about that what velocity are you getting with the 178's?

The accuracy node for the 178's is going to be something around 2800 which is where the 185's shoot best also. So a .530bc vs .551bc my money is on the .551 especially at 1000 yds. Yes you can shoot the 175's/178's faster and even the 185's , but at the cost of brass and accuracy

I'm not saying that the 178's won't shoot accurately at whatever distance tire shooting. I'm just saying the wind drift advantage is going to go to the185's and that's the name of the game in F-TR. And that's why people are starting to go to the 215's.

[jwrowland77]

Originally Posted by Darn wind

Well since you some know about that what velocity are you getting with the 178's?

2780fps. 26" barrel.

[Darn wind]

Sorry, you posted before I finished editing my post.

How do you quote? I don't see the option.

[jwrowland77]

Originally Posted by Darn wind

Sorry, you posted before I finished editing my post.



How do you quote? I don't see the option.

The 185's definitely have an advantage to bucking the wind for sure.

I mentioned, "I don't know" about the 175's having too low of a BC.

185's though over the 175/178's for sure. Planning to try some. Just have to convince the wife that I NEED them. Lol


On quoting, there's a reply link on my post, or on my phone, I can simply tap on your post and it gives me the option to quote the post.

[Darn wind]

Oh sorry, I just ment too low for me to want to use against other shooters that are using 185's and heavier.

[jwrowland77]

Here's a pic of my new rifle put together.






Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Darn wind]

Very nice! What's that I spy behind the blue box?

[jwrowland77]

Probably my gunsmiths lathe. Lol

He sent me these pictures last night


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Slamfire]

I recently shot a 500 yard match and the bud on my relay is on the US shooting team. He told me that he is so satisfied with the 155's that is all he is going to use. He does have a longer barrel, like a 30" barrel. I have seen a lot of shooters using the 155's out to 1000 yards and the things shoot very flat when pushed faster than 3000 fps. But, you have to get the velocity up, and I don't think you are going to get there with a 26" barrel.

It's just when I first got to looking at bullets, the Nosler 175gr CC, didn't have as high a BC as the 178's I was looking at.

Over the decades I have seen how companies jigger ballistic coefficient's up to increase sales. You really have to be skeptical about differences in ballistic coefficients between similar bullets. Just shoot the things and see how they do, if they group well, ignore the advertising.

I have shot thousands of 190's in my 308 target bolt rifles, shot some good scores out to 1000 yards. But the darn things kick and you will flinch in time.