Barrel length consideration in reloading

[sammass]

Hi. Have a new bolt rifle, a Ruger Gunsite Scout. It has a 16.5" 308 Win barrel with a 1-10" RH twist.

Does the relatively short barrel cause a reloader to modify the recipe of components? If so, how? Since I only get 1.65 revolutions in the barrel, does that limit the bullet stability and effective accuracy distance?

Would appreciate any suggestions or reference direction ya'll would care to share. Thanks much.

 

[noylj]

No, every year one magazine or another does the barrel length vs load test and every year it is the same. The powder that gives the best velocity at 24" will still give the best velocity at 18".
It doesn't take much length to impart the twist, so the same bullet weights work.
If you are really interested, why not contact Ruger for their recommendations for their rifle?

 

[41 Mag]

I have been working with a Ruger Compact, same barrel length, just about since they put it out. Like mentioned most any of the standard powders have worked well for handloads when I was testing. Your not going to get any blistering velocity so just set that in your mind and work on accuracy.

To be honest, I worked on loads off and on for about the first year I had mine. Then I simply went with the factory Remington 150gr CL as a primary load. In my rifle it shoots within 1.5" on average all the time and for the price I WAS getting them for I simply couldn't justify the components. That said in the past 5-7 years since things have jumped up in price, I settled on the 150gr CL bulk bullets, and H4895 for the powder. I use Wolf and Winchester LR primers and they shoot just as good if not a touch better than the factory stuff.

I have reached out to 400+ yards with it to drop big feral hogs, and take a couple of deer with it, and had no issues what so ever with any of them. When you put the CL' where it needs to go, it will work for you.

THere are plenty of bullets that probably work as good or better, but we shoot hogs when ever we see them. We might shoot one round a month, or 20 in a day, just depends on how we're hunting. I just didn't need anything of a premium nature and price, just to bust the hogs with.

 

[fatcpa]

I've been reloading for my Gunsite Scout for about 6 months now, so I just learning. So far, my rifles likes Sierra Matchking 150 gr BTHP's best, seated around ten thousandth off the lands. 46.5-47 grains of Reloader 15 shoots inside 1" at 100 yds if I do my part.

 

[jstein650]

41 Mag: "..I simply went with the factory Remington 150gr CL as a primary load. In my rifle it shoots within 1.5" on average..."

The CoreLokt is an underrated bullet IMO. When I had my Ruger M77, the best accuracy I ever got was with them. After I tried just about every exotic 30'06 bullet out there, it finally dawned on me, that those first CL bullets were not only the cheapest, but I couldn't beat the accuracy! And I very much doubt most North American critters will notice the difference between them and the fancy, coated, bonded, plastic tipped, partitioned whiz bang bullets out there.

 

[balderclev]

The velocity you get will be quite a bit less than posted velocities since they normally test with around 26" barrels.

 

[ranger335v]

"Does the relatively short barrel cause a reloader to modify the recipe of components? "

No. Contrary to a lot web guru/expert "conventional wisdom" about faster powders for short barrels, NO.

 

[engineermike]

You would think that friction would have to come into play with a longer barrel?

 

[jerkface11]

Friction would come into play with a longer barrel. However centerfire rifle cartridges produce enough gas that the barrel would have to be exceptionally long before friction slowed the bullet down.

 

[sammass]

Folks...

Thanks much for your information. Going to look into the Remmy CoreLokt; sounds like a reasonable option for most occasions. Too bad we don't have a hog problem in our area. Will test out reasonable weights and powers for building max range.

Be Well.

Sam

 

[BruceB]

I agree 100% with 41 Mag.

We have four .308 rifles here, ranging from a 28"-barreled match rifle down to the Ruger Gunsite. Rather than load separate recipes for each of the rifles, I identified the best load for the 150 Core-Lokt in the match rifle, and made it my standard load in ,308.

The cases are sized full-length and the cartridge length allows function in all the rifles.

The powder charge is safe in all of them, and is at a level that gives proper functioning in the M1A and FAL.

In using this routine, I KNOW that any jacketed-bullet .308 rounds on hand will work in any of my .308 rifles. This eliminates a whole mess of potential problems, and gives me considerable peace of mind. The same type of program is used for our five .223s and four irifles n .30'06, as well as multiple 9mm and .45ACP handguns.

Having auto-loading rifles in the "herd" complicates the situation a little bit, but it's not serious.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Sam,
- 150gr bullets work well in the .308.
- I think IMR4064 is great powder for the .308.
- IMR4895 and H4895 are also good powders for the .308. (and many more like BL-C(2), Varget, RL-15 and so on)
- A well constructed round is a well constructed round.
- If your 308 ammo is good in a 22" barrel it will also be good in a shorter barrel too.
- Enjoy! -

 

[Arkansas Paul]

If you are really interested, why not contact Ruger for their recommendations for their rifle?

Because they would tell you not to shoot handloads in it. Most of the manuals say that. It will void the warranty. They're not gonna give you any advice on what component combination to use.

 

[moxie]

One of the fun things about reloading is the ability to try different loads and find the answer to your question in your rifle shot by you. The advice given is certainly sound, but you can modify it and see what happens in your specific situation.

 

[243winxb]

Bullet Selection-It's the length of the bullet thats important, not the weight.

Does the relatively short barrel cause a reloader to modify the recipe of components? If so, how?

The Sierra 30 caliber/7.62mm (.308) 210 gr. HPBT Match bullet is listed to work with a 1-10 twist. The RPM are reduced with less velocity with a short barrel. So a bullet shorter in length may be needed so it stabilizes well for best accuracy.