Long range on the cheap...

[Wannashootit]

Wanted to try something different...have a Savage .308 and a Rem. .223, so why not?

Couple of flyers, but first group is the five at top right corner of the diamond. Dialed down and left, and nine of the next eleven went right into the diamond. Cheap azz milsurp ammo...dies and MatchKings on the way. Timney trigger is next.

Bet I can get her close to MOA...

Will update after she eats some filet mignon handloads...

 

[saltwater]

Re: Long range on the cheap...

Not bad for cheap ammo. Gonna have to give it a try. What brand, grain, where you get?

 

[saltwater]

Re: Long range on the cheap...

How do you like your vortex scope compared to others like nikon monach and leopold? Ive got there binos and spotting scope and love them but wondering if the scopes worth the money.

 

[nobearsyet]

Re: Long range on the cheap...

You d orealize thta 7.62x54r actually takes a .311 diameteer bullet, not a .308 right?

 

[Wannashootit]

Re: Long range on the cheap...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: nobearsyet</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You d orealize thta 7.62x54r actually takes a .311 diameteer bullet, not a .308 right? </div></div>

Yeah...slugged the barrel to be sure.
Even made sure to oder the RCBS die with the .311 expander

The <span style="font-weight: bold">problem</span> is that the load data is all designed around .308 bullets- even though very few (Fins, from what I understand) have bores suitable for them.

Guess I'll just work from load data for a similar weight .308 bullet. I ordered the 174 gr. SMK's... guess I'll just start low, and work up per usual practice.

If anyone has any proven load data to share...

 

[AMG50]

Re: Long range on the cheap...

cool lookin rifle, what kind of stock did you start with? Im currently building one from aluminum, kinda started from scratch, free floating the barrel, home-made muzzle brake, etc.

 

[GorbashUK]

Re: Long range on the cheap...

Not sure if this helps but this works great out of my 7.62x54r Mosin Nagant PU

174gr SMK (.303/311)head
44.8 gr of Vit 140
Lapua Brass

Accurate load and no pressure sign. Good Luck

 

[samnev]

Re: Long range on the cheap...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Wannashootit</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: nobearsyet</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You d orealize thta 7.62x54r actually takes a .311 diameteer bullet, not a .308 right? </div></div>

Yeah...slugged the barrel to be sure.
Even made sure to oder the RCBS die with the .311 expander

The <span style="font-weight: bold">problem</span> is that the load data is all designed around .308 bullets- even though very few (Fins, from what I understand) have bores suitable for them.
Guess I'll just work from load data for a similar weight .308 bullet. I ordered the 174 gr. SMK's... guess I'll just start low, and work up per usual practice.

If anyone has any proven load data to share... </div></div>

When I first got my first PU many years ago there was little published data for it with .311 bullets. I started by looking at data for similar bullets for 30-06 since they are close in performance. Started low and worked up. Using 174 SMK's Varget or 4895 should work out well.

 

[Wannashootit]

Re: Long range on the cheap...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: AMG50</div><div class="ubbcode-body">cool lookin rifle, what kind of stock did you start with? Im currently building one from aluminum, kinda started from scratch, free floating the barrel, home-made muzzle brake, etc.
</div></div>

It's a Boyds Ria...

I might PM ya on the barrel work, there's brake made by KA that looks effective, they have a neat system whereby you use a jig to drill grooves top and bottom of the end of the barrel to pin it in place. Unlike other "pin-ons"- it can't come off...

Did you keep the original barrel length?

Thanks very much for the reloading info, guys.

 

[AMG50]

Re: Long range on the cheap...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Wannashootit</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: AMG50</div><div class="ubbcode-body">cool lookin rifle, what kind of stock did you start with? Im currently building one from aluminum, kinda started from scratch, free floating the barrel, home-made muzzle brake, etc.
</div></div>

It's a Boyds Ria...

I might PM ya on the barrel work, there's brake made by KA that looks effective, they have a neat system whereby you use a jig to drill grooves top and bottom of the end of the barrel to pin it in place. Unlike other "pin-ons"- it can't come off...

Did you keep the original barrel length?

Thanks very much for the reloading info, guys. </div></div>

I actually cut the last inch off, just behind the front sight, put it in the lathe and threaded it to 1/2-28, and recrowned it 11 degrees. I will be making my own muzzle break, but with that thread size, i could use most anything made for most ar-15's and many others. I will be posting pics when its all done, hopefully this spring.

 

[Wannashootit]

Re: Long range on the cheap...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: AMG50</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Wannashootit</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: AMG50</div><div class="ubbcode-body">cool lookin rifle, what kind of stock did you start with? Im currently building one from aluminum, kinda started from scratch, free floating the barrel, home-made muzzle brake, etc.
</div></div>

It's a Boyds Ria...

I might PM ya on the barrel work, there's brake made by KA that looks effective, they have a neat system whereby you use a jig to drill grooves top and bottom of the end of the barrel to pin it in place. Unlike other "pin-ons"- it can't come off...

Did you keep the original barrel length?

Thanks very much for the reloading info, guys. </div></div>

I actually cut the last inch off, just behind the front sight, put it in the lathe and threaded it to 1/2-28, and recrowned it 11 degrees. I will be making my own muzzle break, but with that thread size, i could use most anything made for most ar-15's and many others. I will be posting pics when its all done, hopefully this spring. </div></div>

I had considered sending mine to the smith to cut/recrown and thread- but I've read horror stories of how the MN barrels are next to impossible to get off....
I don't have a lathe, so I was considering DIY with some crowning tools from Brownells or PTG (even Manson if I can spare the $$) figuring just getting the barrel off was gonna cost me a small fortune for the smith.

Did you have any issues with getting the barrel off? Also, because the barrel is tapered, does it need to be turned to a consistent dia anyway? Guess what I'm asking is- with the proper crowning/threading hand tools- can this be a DIY for a guy without a lathe?

 

[Pat M]

Re: Long range on the cheap...

Why take the barrel off, center it in a lathe and thread it (you don't have to spin it fast)

 

[AMG50]

Re: Long range on the cheap...

^^^what he said^^^ I did not remove the barrel, just stripped the parts from the reciever and ran it through the head on the lathe,.. spun the reciever and all, if you clamp it out towards the end of the barrel there's almost no taper, it clamped in pretty good. Im not a proffesional, i only do this as a hobby, so im sure its not perfect, but i think it came out ok, considering it's a $79.00 gun haha.
- as soon as i can figure out how to post pics i will.