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Quickload question / help please

diriel

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Jul 5, 2005
219
2
CA
Hey all,

I need someone with Quick load to look at the load type below and the barrel lengths and tell me about what % of powder should be burned before the bullet exits the barrel. Any help will be really appreciated!

I am going to put together a 308 "trainer / hunter" sometime this year, so I am researching details ahead of time.

308 Win. // FC08 brass, Wolf LR primers, IMR8208XBR powder, 135gr SMK bullet.
-- 135gr SMK (.308)
-- Mil Surplus FC08 Brass
-- Wolf LR Primers
-- 47'ish gr. IMR8208XBR (Prefer to stay within sane pressure limits)

Rifle Barrel Length Considerations for above load: Shorter is better for the Handi-ness.
-- 16" Barrel - % powder burned
-- 17" Barrel - % powder burned
-- 18" Barrel - % powder burned

I am planning on using a Surefire Brake / Suppressor mount with this. I would really like to know about how long the barrel needs to be to burn Most / All of the powder. I am an avid reloader, have been for 20 years or so. One of these days I really need to spring for QL.

Barrel MFG and Twist: I am most strongly considering a 11.75" twist barrel which will slightly "Over Stabilize" the 135gr SMK, but will be nearly perfect for the 130gr Barnes TTSX. I will occasionally hunt in, (-40ish F. - interior Alaska), cold weather / teach my daughter to shoot / hunt with this setup. Then again, I may just go witha 12" Twist in a Lothar SS Ultra Lightweight barrel: http://www.lothar-walther.com/396.php

Stock will be a Manners MCS-T2A. I will be looking into an adjustable LOP system, as I Will be using it to train my daughter at some point.

Action, Likely to be a SS Howa 1500 SA. Keep it simple, relatively inexpensive, but of good MFG and quality, and with a nice extractor system. Then again, I am also considering the possibility of a new S.C. MFG Winchester SA too. That massive CRF Claw has always appealed to me in a hunting weapon.

This will be what I call a basic trainer centerfire. I am spec'n out a 308 to keep it simple, and the light bullet to keep recoil down to a nice but practical hunting minimum. The Surefire is actually there for the Future when I move to a "Free" state, and can then legally own a suppressor.

The yardage shot will be from 50 to 500ish yards with this setup. The other bullet I will use is the Barnes TTSX 130gr for hunting things like pig and deer. I figure I best get it built now, 5 years from now who knows what gun laws may be like, and reloading / ammo laws /shudder. Sorry for the political comment there ...

Thanks,
Gary
P.S. In planning this build an old adage came to mind: Son (Daughter), don't brag about how long the shot was, brag to me about how close you got!
 
Re: Quickload question / help please

Not located in Alaska, but a very good friend owns land in Alaska and I have a standing invite to go hunting up there.

The 135gr SMK was just a thought towards limiting base recoil and recoil impulse just in case I decided to not do the surefire / muzzle brake. At some point I will use this to teach my daughter center fire, and hunting.

Good point on the 155gr. The berger hunting VLD 155gr and the Barnes Tipped TSX 150 are very similar in bullet length and stated bc. The TTSX of course would be for the tougher stuff and/or CA hunting. The Bergers for dinkin around / hunting out of state ect. Man I need to get out of Kali.

So with a 155gr and IMR8208XBR even a 16" barrel is 99%? That will make for a nice fast handling rifle. The more I think about that fancy LW Ultra Light barrel, the more I think I will go with a more standard barrel config.

Thank you!
Gary