Fulton Armory .308 Barrel Results

[firestorm1284]

Hey all, I posted awhile back asking for advice on barrel selection for an LR-308 style rifle built on POF receivers. I got a lot of responses, and ended up selecting a 20" heavy barrel from Fulton Armory. I sent them my bolt ahead of time, and they headspaced the barrel to the bolt at no extra charge.

Here are the first four groups shot from the rifle (all at 100 yards) - with no cherry picking for best groups. I'll let you decide if the barrel was a good choice or not. For me, $300 for consistent 0.5" groups is a bargain.

 

[mtrmn]

Re: Fulton Armory .308 Barrel Results

Fulton looks GTG IMO

Congrats on the build success!

 

[Pusher591]

Re: Fulton Armory .308 Barrel Results

I think the barrel is GTG and those groups will tighten up too the more you get comfortable with it.

 

[Tx_Flyboy]

Re: Fulton Armory .308 Barrel Results

Firestorm,

Can you provide more details on what loads produced those groups?

Also, have you taken the load combos further than 100yards?

I thought about picking up a barrel to build a M110 for service rifle competitions, but the 1:12 twist gives me pause...I would like to shoot 208AMAX or 225gr HPBT bullets but I'm afraid the barrel wont stabilize these bullets.

 

[firestorm1284]

Re: Fulton Armory .308 Barrel Results

Tx - these were extremely early phase loads. Those 4 groups were shot DURING barrel break in. They were simply 168grain Nosler Custom Competition bullets with 43 grains of Varget, OAL of 2.81"

Unfortunately, you can't experiment too much with a semi-auto in terms of bullet seating depth due to magazine length. However, I plan to mess around with different powders, weights, and bullets to work up a load.

I don't know if a 225 grain bullet is going to fit very well in a magazine - have you considered that? Also, why do you want to shoot such a heavy bullet? Are you planning on going subsonic?

 

[AZIROC]

Re: Fulton Armory .308 Barrel Results

looks GREAT!! I cant wait to get my barrel out and shoot it with quality ammo.

 

[Tx_Flyboy]

Re: Fulton Armory .308 Barrel Results

Firestorm,

Thanks for the information. Please let us know how the barrel shoots with heavier bullets...168s + 43gr Varget is about starting load for that bullet per Hogdon, be interesting to see how the bullet performs with stiffer powder charges.

My main application for the heavy bullets will be for 600yard slow fire in highpower competitions & for palma shooting (800yards, 900yards & 1,000yards). I intend to primarily load these bullets long and single feed them. I will also load these bullets at mag length to see if what if any penalty i incur with the reduced powder capacity.

These bullets have such high BCs (.711 for 225s vs .475 for 168s) that you won't drop too many points if you miss a wind call...at least that's what the ballistic app tell me.

 

[firestorm1284]

Re: Fulton Armory .308 Barrel Results

No problem TX - I doubt I will ever shoot anything heavier than 175 grain bullets in it though. And yes, the 43 grain load is just a starting load, but this was my first outing with the rifle, so that's where I started. I expect to be able to achieve consistent 0.4 MOA with it once I've worked up a load and have settled into the rifle.

 

[Alien61]

Re: Fulton Armory .308 Barrel Results

As I said before, Criterion is just perfect and always in stock.) GTG barrel and fine grouping. Good luck!