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.308 barnes 155 palma match burners

anthonylapoint

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Nov 8, 2011
651
16
40
central CT
Just started reloading these. Havent fired them yet, ill give a range report soon. I am loading varget, 44 grains with an OAL of 2.82. Im also loading 44.5 varget, same OAL and going to load 45 grains with same OAL. Going to try a ladder to see which fires the best. Anyone try barnes match burner 155 palma's? Their BC is lower, at .467. All the stupid store had for 155's. Being fired from a 30 year old remington long action and a low round count SPS barrel attached(20" 1-12 twist). Anyone have a better idea of how to load these, im all ears. Or any range reports, not just these match burners. Thanks
 
Re: .308 barnes 155 palma match burners

I tried the 175 gr Match Burners with up to 45 gr of Varget. They did alright. The 175s seem to do just as good with max load as anything else. I stopped using them because their wasn't really any advantage over Hornady. They were a little more expensive and not any better than the 178 BTHP. I'm getting the 178 AMAX for $26 a box and I can't find anything that shoots as good short of $43 a box Bergers. Maybe it's just my rifle, but I couldn't get the 175gr MB or the 178 BTHP to shoot anywhere near as good as the 178 AMAX. I know their BC is lower, but they just shoots too good. I'm using a 1/10 twist Savage.
 
Re: .308 barnes 155 palma match burners

Thanks for the tip. I only tried these cause the store only had these for 155's. Im going to go to cabelas and see if the have better 155's. I havent tried the 178's but if I do, ill try the AMAX. My remy barrel is a 1-12 so I figured it would like the lighter bullets. My Savage 10 loved Hornady TAP FPD 155, under 1/2 groups. The 155's have less drop then the 178 at 1000 at over 2850 fps and thats why I switched. Although, here in Ct, ill never shoot 1000 so I guess that doesnt matter.
 
Re: .308 barnes 155 palma match burners

Savage, I myself live in CT, Windsor Locks to be exact. I get most of my reloading supplies at Riverview Gun Sales in East Windsor. I go to Cabelas all of the time and their 155 selection is very scarce. I shoot Sierra BTHP Palma Match out of my Howa for F-Class and have great luck with them at 300 yards with 44 grains of IMR 4064 behind them. I dont know where you are located, but if you want to shoot at 1000 yards you could take a trip to Forbes in Colonie,NY by Albany.
 
Re: .308 barnes 155 palma match burners

Savage: I think you're right. The 178gr amax probably would work in a 1/12 twist, but not as good as a shorter bullet. If you want to go cheap I know the 168gr amax works great in 1/12 twist. If you don't mind spending the money I think the Berger 155 Hybrid is probably the most efficient bullet out there for that twist.
Just out of curiosity, have you tried 155 amax in your remy? If your Savage likes the Hornady TAP FPD 155 so much why don't you just get 155 amax for both since that's all the Hornady TAP FPD 155s are anyway. They seem a little short for a 1/10 twist, but if your Savage likes em than that's all that matters.

You guys don't think Cabelas are kinda expensive? Have you tried Powder Valley? Most people at my rifle club get supplies from them. http://powdervalleyinc.com/
Powder Valley is out of the 155 amax right now. I don't like these guys as much because they stick it to you on the shipping, but the bullets are so cheap it comes out to about the same cost total. http://www.bigsupplyshop.com/Hornady-30-Cal-308-155gr-A-Max-100-30312_p_2078.html
 
Re: .308 barnes 155 palma match burners

Once you factor in shipping and handling, I find Cabelas more or less the same price as others. I live 10 minutes away so its not an issue traveling there. The other gun stores seem to be priced the same and midway prices are almost identical.

My Savage actually is a 6x now, I sold that barrel off. My R700 LA got a SPS 1-10 twist barrel mounted on it and I have yet to test her out. My old Savage loved the Hornady 155, dont know if the same will hold true for my Remy. I was trying to find a 155 that I could buy in stores but it appears that I will have to order some once these run out. Sounds like ill have to try AMAX's or the Bergers. I dont care to spend $50 on the lapua's at this time as my reloading is still in the learning stage of things. CT308, have you tried those with Varget? Thats what I have at the moment as I can use that with my 6X.

Ill look up powdervalley for better pricing , thanks for the tip.

Tony
 
Re: .308 barnes 155 palma match burners

Its funny you ask that Savage. I just bought a pound of Varget to try out for this weeks competition. And the gun store up by me keep Sierra BTHP Match, and Sierra BTHP Palma Match in stock, and they are willing to order stuff too.
 
Re: .308 barnes 155 palma match burners

I have been meaning to get up to Riverview but havent found the time yet. Do they do gunsmithing? I heard they do. Im getting a barrel swap on two guns down here by Delta Aresenal and, well, its been 3 months and I dont have them back.

I guess if they can get Sierra 155's then it very well may be worth the trip. Let me know if youre getting them ordered in. The competitions up there I was going to attend but thats hard to do with imaginary guns. When is the next competition, maybe Ill be able to attend.

Tony
 
Re: .308 barnes 155 palma match burners

I am attending an F-Class shoot this Sunday at Westfield, and they are the first Sunday of every month from April till possibly November. I can tell you rightnow that Riverview has 155's in stock...I was there three days ago. As far as their gunsmithing, I asked them if they could do some work on my Howa and they told me they only work on gas guns.