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200smk with rl-17 for .308win?

J

Jericho941

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Dec 16, 2009
161
0
Springfield, MO.
#1
Has anyone used this combo in this caliber?

How does it perform?

Can anyone recommend a load?

208amax is my preferred bullet, but since these are nowhere to be found, I'm up to experiment with something new.

I am shooting a stock Remington 700 vsf .308win.
 
#2
Re: 200smk with rl-17 for .308win?

I just ordered some 210gr SMK's because I couldn't find any 208 amax. I did a little research on the 200 and 210 SMK's and the 210 has a much better BC listed. Sierra lists the 210 having a BC of .645 and the 208 AMAX is .648 so I'm hoping it will have similar performance to the 208, at least until I can get some 208's.
 
#4
Re: 200smk with rl-17 for .308win?

I see what you are saying, but the reason I decided to go with the 200smk is because it is $10+ cheaper per box of 100 than Berger the 210vld. This will more than likely only be used as a stop gap until 208amax are back in stock.

So the question still remains.
 
#5
Re: 200smk with rl-17 for .308win?

I loaded some 200gr Sierra Gamekings in my 308, over RL-17.

Should be similar results for the SMK. Start low, work up.

308 Win
Factory 700 VS barrel/chamber/throat
1/12 twist
20.5" BBL

200gr Sierra Game King BTSP
WW brass
CCI 200
2.81" OAL
RL-17
50 gr – 2620 fps
51 gr 2670 fps
51.5 gr – 2700 fps
52 gr – 2730 fps
 
#6
Re: 200smk with rl-17 for .308win?

I'm not sure what'll happen at .308 velocities, but my shooting partner is shooting 200 smk's at 2975-3000 fps from his 300WM. I shoot 208's at 2870. The 208's take a LOT less wind hold from 1000-1500 yds. than the 200's leaving faster.

Just something else to think about.

John
 
#7
Re: 200smk with rl-17 for .308win?

12 twist won't stabilize your bullet choice. 185 VLDs are gonna be your roof for good stability at long range. use RL17 with them and short barrel, maybe even Varget. 155 scenars with RL17 would be a meal ticket. you should be able to get 2950 +/-
 
#8
Re: 200smk with rl-17 for .308win?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Shooter21</div><div class="ubbcode-body">12 twist won't stabilize your bullet choice. 185 VLDs are gonna be your roof for good stability at long range. use RL17 with them and short barrel, maybe even Varget. 155 scenars with RL17 would be a meal ticket. you should be able to get 2950 +/- </div></div>

Until recently I would have agreed with you. Then I read the thread started by MontanaMarine about the .208 Amax in the .308. He is pushing them out of a factory 12 twist Remington with great results as are numerous people that have posted in that thread. All 12 twist barrels may not stabalize that heavy of a bullet but apparently there are some out there that definitely will!
 
#10
Re: 200smk with rl-17 for .308win?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MontanaMarine</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My 1/12 308 stabilizes everything I've tried in the 200+ gr range. That would include:

200gr Sierra Gameking
200gr Nosler Accubond
208gr AMax
210gr Berger
220gr Sierra Matchking

</div></div>

Yeah,

But only to 1900-2000 yds. What good is that?
grin.gif


John
 
#13
Re: 200smk with rl-17 for .308win?

I have been working with the 200 SGK and am happy. My 24 inch 1 in 12 Kimber barrel stabilizes it well.
Win brass
WLR
49.9 rl-17
2770 fps.
2.82 COL
My last bench rest session, with shifting winds ( nearby severe thunderstorm), yielded a 2.7 inch wide group at 300 yards with less than 1 inch verticle dispersion, 5 shots. I think the load challenges my skill.
I started at 45 grains yielding 2532 fps, worked up to 51 grains compressed with no problems. 49.9 seemed like an effective, conservative load.
I am also playing with 200 grain Nosler partition, with more work to do, but I am optimistic. Bill
 
#15
Re: 200smk with rl-17 for .308win?


One thing to consider - Altitude:

What is the altitude that Mt. Marine is shooting at? I'll bet that it is a wee-bit higher than where Shooter 21 is shooting.

Heavy bullets in a particular load that stabilize in the thinner air at 5,000 ft MSL may not stabilize at SL not to mention the pressure signs that tend to "magically" appear near sea level on loads developed in the mountains ...
 
#18
Re: 200smk with rl-17 for .308win?

Montana Marine, that is the same elevation I shoot at. 208 amax' give me a 1/4 moa results at 200 meters. My rifle seems to like heavier bullets, I am looking for an affordable alternative to the 208 amax.
 
#19
Re: 200smk with rl-17 for .308win?

Afordable alternative ... hmmm ... let me know if you find one .. LOL . I have found nothing for the cost that shoots like the amax . I want to try some in my 308 , I use the 178 amax with great results but I bet that 208 would do great out to 1000 . Thanks for the info , using the 208 in the 300WM , still in he developing stage .
 
#20
Re: 200smk with rl-17 for .308win?

I did not mean that the 208 amax wasn't affordable to shoot, quite the contrary. I just meant that since there are no 208 amax bullets to be found anywhere, I am looking for an affordable alternative until they are back in stock.
 
#21
Re: 200smk with rl-17 for .308win?

Are many people over estimating the amount of twist needed? There are many, many reports of 12" twist stabilizing 200+ gr. bullets. There is also this discussion, amongst Palma shooters, with references to what twist Bryan Litz uses. It caught my attention because they showed 13.5" twist would stabilize 185 gr and mentioned specifically selecting 12" and 13" twist for 185's.

155.5 gr Bergers or 185 gr BT Bergers?

It seems to me the general opinion every where is you need a 10" twist for anything 200 and up, 11.25" twist for anything over 175 and 12" for 175 and below. Yet most actual load testing seems to show 12" will handle almost everything except cold weather/sea level shots with 200+ grain bullets. Have people been playing it too safe by choosing barrels with faster twists to the extent of losing velocity? Especially with large number of 10" twist barrels out there?

 
#23
Re: 200smk with rl-17 for .308win?

Running the Miller Stability Formula courtesy of JBM, a 210 Berger VLD is in the marginally stable (in the yellow) area from a 1-12" twist barrel in the 2600-2700 FPS range.

However, a 1-11" twist barrel shows green (stable) all the way down to 2500 FPS.

A 1-12" twist 30 cal barrel might work with heavy 30 cal bullets, depending on velocity, altitude and temperature, but a 1-11" twist barrel appears to always work.

Interesting.....

Bob
 
#24
Re: 200smk with rl-17 for .308win?

I'm shooting 200 SMK out of my Savage 308. It has a tighter chamber & shorter neck than some, apparently, because I'm down around 48gr. (IIRC, I don't have my books here now.) Win brass, BR4 primers, .010" off the lands. I'm getting ~2640 FPS & ~.75" aggs at 100.

I tried the 190s first and they didn't perform as well. I wanted to try the 208 but they are vaporware. At this point I'll stick with the 200 SMK becasue I can get them locally. Not interested in the 210 SMK or the Bergers solely based on cost. I'd love to try the Bergers, but come on.. With tax they're almost $50 a box!
 
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