What grain bullet for 1:12 twist 20" barrel. .308

[Bayourambler]

Just picked up a nice Rem 700 .308 with 20" heavy barrel . Going to reload some low recoil loads for my 8 yr. old son to hunt and shoot targets. Where should I start on bullet weight?
Barrel is 1:12 . I know he is going to want to shoot some targets at long range so I was hoping use some 175 smk. Will this work with this barrel?

 

[horsey300]

Just picked up a nice Rem 700 .308 with 20" heavy barrel . Going to reload some low recoil loads for my 8 yr. old son to hunt and shoot targets. Where should I start on bullet weight?
Barrel is 1:12 . I know he is going to want to shoot some targets at long range so I was hoping use some 175 smk. Will this work with this barrel?

Low recoil, followed by long range 175.... what do you call long range?

 

[Bayourambler]

Well for him, I know he will want to try some targets to 300-400 yds.

 

[Orcon]

Get your hands on some 125gr SMKs and load it with 45gr of A-2495, 4320, or 4060

 

[Bayourambler]

I do have some 4060. So 1:12 barrel is better for lighter bulllets?

 

[horsey300]

Well for him, I know he will want to try some targets to 300-400 yds.

Sierra prohunter will suffice, they make a lightweight 125 gr prohunter that works for reduced loads that you can whip up with h4895. For 300-400 yds, bcs are highly overrated and there's no reason why he can't throw the lightweights out there, even with a full charge, they'll recoil closer to the 6.5 cm 125 load than your 175 weights that might be a little TOO heavy for him for now. If he can handle it, great, but when I was 8, I'm not sure I'd have been a fan of a heavy .308 load..... you can move up little by little and see how he fares but I doubt he'll need more than a 150 Pro Hunter or gameking for even his target work at 400 yds, and the Pro Hunter will fly straighter anyway

 

[horsey300]

I do have some 4060. So 1:12 barrel is better for lighter bulllets?

http://www.jbmballistics.com/ballistics/lengths/lengths.shtml#Nosler

http://www.jbmballistics.com/cgi-bin/jbmstab-5.1.cgi

That will help with your twist rate question, your 1:12 SHOULD handle 168s but can your BOY?

 

[Orcon]

I do have some 4060. So 1:12 barrel is better for lighter bulllets?

Depends on the bullet. You want a light recoiling 308 load that will do work out to 400yards? 125s will get you that far with minimal recoil.

 

[Bayourambler]

Yes I guess I will break him in as well as the new barrel with some 125's. He shoots a Ruger mini 30 now very well and killed his first deer last year with it. I'm just nervous shooting that 7.62 past 100 yards! This 308 is heavy so I believe he will be fine.

 

[horsey300]

Yes I guess I will break him in as well as the new barrel with some 125's. He shoots a Ruger mini 30 now very well and killed his first deer last year with it. I'm just nervous shooting that 7.62 past 100 yards! This 308 is heavy so I believe he will be fine.

X39 fodder can get him out to 200 yds on deer, for an 8 yr old to jump from that mild of a cartridge straight to full house .308 loads COULD send him running right back to the x39. The Grendel, .308 spawn-alikes, quarter bores, 6.5&7Mauser cartridges can all be youth loaded. That being said, see if he can shoot the 6.5 cm that you're loading for your dad, then try him on a full house .308, if he grabs grandpa's gun after that, then you'll both know he's gonna need softer ammo.

 

[Bayourambler]

He shoots that 6.5 fine. I really wanted to go buy a 6.5 c&m for him , then I came across a deal I couldn't pass up. A friend had a young guy he works with who had this 308 , never even shot it and needed cash in a hurry. I got the rifle with DNz 1 piece rings for $275! I figured you can never go wrong with a 308.

 

[horsey300]

He shoots that 6.5 fine. I really wanted to go buy a 6.5 c&m for him , then I came across a deal I couldn't pass up. A friend had a young guy he works with who had this 308 , never even shot it and needed cash in a hurry. I got the rifle with DNz 1 piece rings for $275! I figured you can never go wrong with a 308.

That's an awesome price! I don't blame you one bit! Let us know how this works out! Mine are running .223s and .243s but don't exactly fight for the .243 hot 100 gr loads, 85s at 2700-2800fps is about their limit for shooting enjoyably, once the rest of my stuff gets moved down here, we're gonna play with light loaded .260s. The oldest girl is about as stout as a cattail stalk so the challenges have been fun , good luck to you sir!

 

[ants]

Horsey is right about the Hodgdon Reduced Recoil section for youth loads on their web site. Go to the Hodgdon home page (not the reloading data page, but the Home page) and click on Resources. There is a section for reduced loads using H4895 and Trail Boss powders. Both work extremely well. I've used their reduced recoil formula for 30-06, 270, and 300 Win Mag. All were amazingly accurate, just be aware of bullet drop past 100 yards due to reduced velocity.

Conventional wisdom says 1:12 twist is best for bullets up to 170 grain, but that's just a guideline. Since the SMK is boat tail with a long nose, the bearing surface is shorter. You may get lucky and be happy with 175 grain bullets in that barrel. Definitely worth a try. Yes, 175 SMK is a good long range bullet and they use it for military sniper loads, but there are many 168 grain match-grade accuracy bullets on the market. 300 to 400 yards doesn't require a 175 grain bullet.

 

[Bayourambler]

That's an awesome price! I don't blame you one bit! Let us know how this works out! Mine are running .223s and .243s but don't exactly fight for the .243 hot 100 gr loads, 85s at 2700-2800fps is about their limit for shooting enjoyably, once the rest of my stuff gets moved down here, we're gonna play with light loaded .260s. The oldest girl is about as stout as a cattail stalk so the challenges have been fun , good luck to you sir!

I tell you, I'm sure enjoying shooting with these kids! My 8 year old shoots pretty good, but my lil 6 year old is gonna pass me up before long! He hits a bottle cap with a .22 more times than not at 35 yds.! All those years of hearing crying babies in the house is finally paying off, I have some lil buddies now! Good luck to you also!