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Author Topic: 308 as a varminter ?  (Read 734 times)

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Offline 1armoured

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308 as a varminter ?
« on: February 10, 2012, 02:29:09 PM »
I know it would be expensive, in comparison to say a .223,
but I guess there's times you've gotta shoot what ya got !


I've been experimenting with lighter bullets, to get a lighter load for less recoil, in the Sako 75,
but ended up with similar loads with the lightest I could get, which was 110gr V-Max,.....43 grs H4895 for 2,800fps .
I know they could go a lot faster, (over 3,000fps) but that wasn't the objective, just an accurate, light'ish load.
This one shoots under 1" at 200mtrs.




 Anyone shoot anything lighter,
and at little critters ?
The other alternative is a 'squirrel' load with cast bullets, which is my next project.
Got some 700x to use up and some 186grs (a bit heavier with gas check and lube !) to try.
A lot cheaper,...cost me $10 for 50, and the powder was free, gratis and for nothing !
I doubt whether they will be as accurate as the V-Max though.
I checked fit to lands, and they need to be under 2.70", which takes the bullet to almost below the shoulder.
Anyone got any advice for me ?
cheers,
SS
Bullet comparison, 186gr cast and 110gr V-Max.





The Setup.




 
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Offline Hooker

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Re: 308 as a varminter ?
« Reply #1 on: February 10, 2012, 05:33:45 PM »
Nice groups
I use 110gr Barnes X bullets over a load of BLC2 gives me a group under 1/2". It's rough on a coyote pelt at anything less than 200 yards.The little bullet starts to get unstable past the 300 yard marker. I runs these bullets a bit below max at around 3000 fps the recoil is mild and it's fun round to shoot.

Pat
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Offline BBF

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Re: 308 as a varminter ?
« Reply #2 on: February 10, 2012, 07:01:24 PM »
I've got some 110 gr Hdy SP's I'm going to try in my 308
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Offline woods

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Re: 308 as a varminter ?
« Reply #3 on: February 11, 2012, 04:56:41 AM »
    Speer makes a 130 hp varmit bulllet that I use to shoot regularly done a nic job out to 200 yrds, that was kind of my limit with a peep sight. Why a peep just? It was a learning curve I went though practicing for deer season. Anyway the 130 made a big mess of anything they hit, even spread 2 crows around with them. My rig isn't a varmit rig just one of the browning lever actions, so my acuracy isn't steller but the bullet did great.
 
     woods
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Offline RevJim

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Re: 308 as a varminter ?
« Reply #4 on: February 11, 2012, 05:00:19 AM »
 That is a fine load for that Vmax! You are good to go on that one, just be sure you don't heat the barrel up out shooting prairie dogs. I "thought" my friends teenager was shooting a custom 6mm Remington of mine slow enough, still ended up frying the throat. After that, I don't loan any teenager anything bigger than a .223, ha, and prefer they use a .17HMR or .22 mag. I went to a .204 and had no problems. A friend and I use 30.06's with the 125 NBT for coyotes/rock chucks, and they are a "nucler" on them as GW used to say, ha. I think you are fine for slow shooting and cleaning the barrel every 20rds or so with at least a bore snake. Seems like a fine barrel.
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Offline swifty22

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Re: 308 as a varminter ?
« Reply #5 on: February 11, 2012, 12:14:45 PM »
Used to have a old style Ruger 77 w/a 24" heavy barrel that I used to shot ground squirrels with. Had a 6.5x20 Luepold w/ factory mounts and was glass bedded. I used 168 gr match kings and could kill them easy out to 450 yds. or so and it shot great! I just used H4895, mil match cases and WW primers w/a load generating about 2550 fps ( same as mil. match 173 gr). The rig weighed about 10# or so and didn't kick mutch, but too mutch to see the bullet strike!. I put a 7x57 take off barrel on it and kept the 308 bbl. and sold the 7. I went to a .223 1x7 twist SS heavy barrel from Sharp Shooters Supply and use WW/LC cases, WW small rifle primers and  max book loads of H-4895 with 69-75gr match or A-Max bullets. I screwed the barrel on an old 110 savage sporter I bought for 150 clams and I think it shoots better than the 308. I shoots somewhat flatter, wind drift appears to be about the same and you can see the bullet strikes w/the Luepold 6.5x20, also cheaper to shoot. I do shoot off of a portable bench made from a B&D Workmate and a homemade bench top and a 5 gallon bucket w/a float cushion.  I sure don't kill that many at 450 yds cause the are only as big as a pop can, but they are sure fun to chase around way out there on a spring weekday afternoon.  Anyway did like the 308 though but for what I'm doing the 223 w/heavy bullets works better. Also loaded some LBT 170 spitzer cast for my Hva 308 last night w/ case full of H-870 It should work fine on those out to 200 or so- Muddy   
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