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Range Report 308 Win, 208 AMax, RL17

Nice shooting and testing. I'm still playing with the 208's. Before Az gets hot enough to fry eggs on a rock I plan on a 1500 yard test.
 
Hey Montana I was reading through, another guy mentioned that IMR 8208 was off with QL just as the RL-17 was, I heard that the 8208 was recently reformulated a short time ago. Would love to see you're results with that and maybe some AR-COMP which is reformulated RL-15 (that's temp insensitive & burns closer to Varget). Many thanks to the BRO that turned the .308 into a 300WIN MAG!

S~FI
 
PS I GOOGLED 12 pages deep and bought all the Winchester.308 brass I could find! 600 1x and 550 new, is LC still the next best for case capacity @ -1.5gr or have you found something else? Norma, Hornady? Any foreign brass?
 
8208 is at 100 FPS under CFE223's listed max

39.2 43.7

2,373 2,474

59,300 PSI 57,500 PSI
 
I've not tried 8208, but Quickload predicts it hitting 60K psi at 2430 fps from a 22" bbl. That's with moly, and a 3.0" OAL

One of the newer powders that I do want to give a try is 2000-MR. I have a feeling it will come very close to RL17 velocity, while not being as compressed as RL17.
 
Sweet, I have one bottle of that, AR-COMP gives the same velocity as the 2000MR with less powder, have you ever used it?

308 Winchester
•Sierra 175 gr HPBT

Federal 2.8 24 Fed 210 2000-MR 47.7 2,720
Federal 2.8 24 Fed 210 AR-Comp 41.4 2,719



My .308 Tikka Tactical is still a few weeks away :(
 
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Montana,

First of all, thanks for posting all your findings on the 208+308+Re17. I've learnt a lot.
Just wondering though, is the 208 now your goto for all hunting and target ranges with the 308 or just for the longs?
 
hammerhead,

The 208 AMax is my do everything load in the 308.

I'm primarily a long range target shooter, but have no reservations using the 208 for hunting. It's a softer bullet, but with plenty of mass, and modest 308 muzzle velocity, I believe it is viable.
 
Montana do you moly coat you're barrel also? Or just let the moly rounds do it for you?
 
I've got a fellow brother that was a CSO Corpsman and a sniper, he was just sponsored by Beretta and commissioned to design their new Tikka sniper rifle, he's telling me that they are shooting .308 with 200gr-210gr at just over 3000fps, (VERY HOT) he also shot some Black Hills 110gr 5.56, some of the new "goodies" coming out.
 
USMC-FURY said:
Black Hills 110gr 5.56

Really-e1315936978376.jpg
 
"....they are shooting .308 with 200gr-210gr at just over 3000fps, (VERY HOT)...."



No kidding. I wonder if they are using some newer bullet technology like lathe-turned bullets with narrow driving bands.
 
Don't know if they are Tungsten but he told me they would not let anyone off the firing line with any ~secret squirrel~ He did get to keep some of the 85gr 5.56. Probably because Barnes has theirs out now commercially.
 
hammerhead,

The 208 AMax is my do everything load in the 308.

I'm primarily a long range target shooter, but have no reservations using the 208 for hunting. It's a softer bullet, but with plenty of mass, and modest 308 muzzle velocity, I believe it is viable.

Thanks MM. No surprises there really, considering a 20" with the 208 can hold its own in the wind against a 28" running 155s or 185s. (on my numbers, anyway)

Certainly is a softer bullet. I've never used an Amax with a compressed load before and was quite surprised to find all my 208/RE17 pressure testing loads had the bullet deformed by the seater stem. (According to QL, the compression range was 103% up to 105.6%.) I once had a seater stem (Redding) bell out on a compressed load with a different bullet with no damage to the bullet, but never have I seen such deformation. Lesson learnt, out with the uni-throater.
 
i shoot 168 at 2800 flatter than the 208 a max loaded to 2600 in a 308. both equally hot i beleive. i use the 208 a max in my 300 wm. 178s are flatter to 1000 then the 208s pass them
 
Here's a direct comparison calc'd at 4300ft, 25.50 Hg, 40F, 100yd zero,


168 AMax, 2800 fps

1K drop - 30.90 moa
1K drift - 80.6"
1K velo - 1392 fps
1K ft-lbs - 723

.............................

208 AMax,2600 fps

1K drop - 30.97 moa
1K drift - 60.4"
1K velo - 1557 fps
1K ft-lbs - 1120
 
The data says it all....heard a guy say once that friends don't let friends shoot 168's.
 
Hey MM what's you're best recipe for a 162gr steel core powder/velocity wise?
 
Rem 700P 26" 308 Win
Sierra 175 gr HPBT
LC 87
IMR 4895 45grs
CCI-BR2
2.228 OG
2.805 COAL
2831 FPS

my barrel's bore is moly coated with smooth kote and bp2000 !!!!!!
Sentry Solutions
 
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I've got a fellow brother that was a CSO Corpsman and a sniper, he was just sponsored by Beretta and commissioned to design their new Tikka sniper rifle, he's telling me that they are shooting .308 with 200gr-210gr at just over 3000fps, (VERY HOT) he also shot some Black Hills 110gr 5.56, some of the new "goodies" coming out.
I need some of that 308 powder!!! Do you happen to know how long the 308 barrel was?
 
No, but he is usually shooting his tactical (short barrel) SAKO, he stopped by n stole all my .308 ammo boxes for some Black Hills n WIN 1x brass, Ill ask him tomorrow, he is also sponsored by Spikes Tactical here in Apopka/Orlando, he's grabbing me a .308 Spikes DYnacomp for my 300 blackout build, IMMA try some crazy sheet when that new BOOMFAB titanium 3.8oz BCG comes out in the next couple a weeks, I'm going to try to get it to cycle with VV N105 powder. 3.8oz BCG & my upper coated with this:Mad Custom Coating » Micro Slick and a Syrac adjustable gas block, JP buffer spring, and the dynacomp! Say bye bye to recoil!
 
Has anyone used NATO or magnum primers to try n squeeze some extra velocity out of these?
 
I use the Lyman (bore cream version) for barrel and the powder for my bullets (both micron), I was getting 150 FPS over Accurate's load data with a 150gr HPBT FMJ out of a 16 inch SIG 556R 7.62x39, I emailed Sentry and Lyman to ask them for their "sub"/"micron" count to see which is smaller.
 
So I'm working on this 208 over rl 17 ,just starting to ladder up.
Question is I'm at about 2.90 oal and just touching the lands ,would it be better to shorten the oal by 5 or 10 thou to reduce pressure, or should I keep it long . I'm not sure if touching the lands or compressing the load creates more pressure.

Thanks
 
Are you using Winchester brass, Moly 208's and RL-17 through a powder dropper?
 
.AGBM He just dropped me off some Black Hills match .308 brass and a couple secret squirrel Black Hills 85gr 5.56 rounds, He said the .308 barrels were 16 & 18 inches!
 
I've got a fellow brother that was a CSO Corpsman and a sniper, he was just sponsored by Beretta and commissioned to design their new Tikka sniper rifle, he's telling me that they are shooting .308 with 200gr-210gr at just over 3000fps, (VERY HOT) he also shot some Black Hills 110gr 5.56, some of the new "goodies" coming out.

I need that type of speed, what ever powder they are using i would love to have!!!! That speed is great, but maybe not as hot as you think. Maybe just a special blend, because i did not think you can get that much powder in a 308 case.

3000 fps out out a 16 and 18 inch barrels, it's got to be the powder. Special blend or something

If i were using some GSC copper bullets .308 197gr at 3000 fps BC .827, it would be supersonic out to about 1900 yards. That powder they are using would change shooting forever. Maybe one day I can get some of that powder!!!!!!!
 
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ANyone have a good load to try and work up (For a new loader) for a rem 700 with 20" stock barrel? I have RL15, 4064, and some 168 and 175 SMK's. Can get any AMAX bullets though....

Thanks for any information to start off
 
I need that type of speed, what ever powder they are using i would love to have!!!! That speed is great, but maybe not as hot as you think. Maybe just a special blend, because i did not think you can get that much powder in a 308 case.

3000 fps out out a 16 and 18 inch barrels, it's got to be the powder. Special blend or something

If i were using some GSC copper bullets .308 197gr at 3000 fps BC .827, it would be supersonic out to about 1900 yards. That powder they are using would change shooting forever. Maybe one day I can get some of that powder!!!!!!!

I know the military has special powders that are not available to the civilian market, but a 200+gr bullet out of a 308 going 3000fps is almost beyond belief. I shoot 208's out of my 300WM and have to fill the case up to the very brim (82gr) with Retumbo to get them up to 3000fps out of my AIAW.
 
My doubt factor is way up.........................................About 68000 feet and climbing
 
He told me to hold off on optics too I believe he said Zeiss is doing something remarkable with Burris that's going to change optics. He is sponsored by Leupold, Burris, Spikes & Beretta.

Ran into a guy (friend of a friend) today setting up his own powder brand/importation, he gave me a .308 210 gr FMJ HP with a soft lead core that expands at subsonic velocities and a 115gr Tungston core 5.56 subsonic penetrator. He also gave me a 40gr synthetic bullet with a tungsten core. He asked me to keep synthetic jacket material hush hush for now. Ill try n post pics later.
 
Assuming your friend exists and what he's saying is true I'm sure he is bound by a non disclosure agreement and even hinting things to you would be against it much less what he seems to be feeding you, once again assuming it's true. If you know what's good for your friend you should stop blabbing on here what is going on, it could easily get him shitcanned when people start calling beretta, Burris, or Zeiss and asking questions.
 
ANyone have a good load to try and work up (For a new loader) for a rem 700 with 20" stock barrel? I have RL15, 4064, and some 168 and 175 SMK's. Can get any AMAX bullets though....

Thanks for any information to start off


42 grains of imr4064 seems to be the "it'll shoot or it won't " charge with 175's
 
LOL, I always ask if I need to keep a lid on anything, the train has left the station, I have not disclosed anything I was told not to ; ) Like the new synthetic jacket material that's light weight and can withstand DA H E A T!

My GF just made the Tampa Bay NFL cheerleader squad during draft day, so I been BUSY! Will try n get to those 5.56 85gr black tips soon n post pics.