Wringing out the 308 clan.

[RBHarter]

With the 7-08 discussion on going I thought it might carry some interest to muddle around in the 30+ cast game slayers while holding it to the under qualified 308 family .
For the sake of comparison 308 , 358 and 45 Raptor are in the photo with a 150 , 228 and 350 .
I've been able to get to 2200 fps with the 308 but with inconsistent results.
I haven't found a bullet that with little care and a slow for bore powders with 158 - 250 gr of most shapes don't shoot well inspite of my skills .
The Raptor I'm just getting started with . I have a scratch rifle and a rough bore sight to go with the last of some Extreme 45-200 RN . The brass all fits properly now all 30 . The 452-255 RNFP seems like it will work also . I have a custom 454-350 RNFP ,in spite of my skills on the trigger and as a bullet designer it shows promise also .

I used to day dream about a Federal 338 , any owners ?

 

[Ian]

Please tell me more about the big Raptor bullet......

 

[35 shooter]

I played with the 30xcb bullet over the summer in my .308 win. with a 12 twist.
I came up with a good load @ 2447 fps. chronoed with imr 4350 powder.
There are 3 days left to deer hunt in the area i hunt, so i'm going to try to find one to cooperate and see what it will do on a whitetail.

 

[RBHarter]

The big bullet .
It's a Mountain Moulds custom .
Length .915
Nose. .446
Bands .454
Base to bands .458
Base .100
Front band .100
Grooves .065
Groove dia .410
Meplat. .258
No crimp groove .
Weight as cast 75/25 WW/1-20
They will run plain based comfortably up to 30kpsi which should get well into the modern lever gun level of the 45-70 from the stubby 16" bbl on the 95' Mauser . The few I shot over 40.0 H322 is enough for me . I'm guessing 1800 fps . Rumor has it that a 20" bbl with 460 data will run a 250 gr jacket something like 2800. 2200 with anything 250 and up ought to handle everything that isn't steel plated on this half of the planet .

 

[Tony]

I have a .338-.308 which is the wildcat that led to the .338 Federal. Mine is the .308 Winchester case necked up to .338 with no other changes. My chamber was cut with a .308 reamer and the chamber neck was opened as well in a separate operation. My rifle is a MG Arms Ultra Light and weighs 6 lb. 4 oz. with 3x9 AV Swarovski. The stock has a round, narrow fore end and shooting it from the bench is challenging. However, my load with Nosler 200 grain BT's will repeatedly do 1/2" 100 yd. 3 shot groups and 5/8" with the 210 grain Partition. I have taken a nice Kudu (54") as well as impala and wart hog for camp meat. All were 1 shot kills. The Kudu was shot at about 270 yards and made it less than 20 yards before piling up and sliding down the mountain. If you're interested I'll try and find my load data and chrono results.

 

[RBHarter]

That sounds great !

I think I'm over the 338 having a 358 in hand .

 

[35 shooter]

RBHarter,

How is that 228 gr. xcb bullet doing in your .358?
I haven't had good results so far in my whelen with that one, but intend to try again this spring, summer.

 

[freebullet]

Did you make the raptor brass? I'm all ears if you care to elaborate on that process.

I happen to enjoy 308 immensely as is with cast & jacketed in their respective happy zones. I look forward to working with them more.

With cast big & heavy is a winner for hunting.

"2200 with inconsistent results" I can best that. I'll bet I could get to 4k with super inconsistent results, lol, where's the little chain pulling doodad? At what point would they vaporize/come apart at the muzzle?

I'm torn between a 45-70 lever & an autoloader 45 raptor. The clear choice is both but......

 

[RBHarter]

The reamer that was used for my 358 was cut for the XCB . I had a good work up string with IMR4350 , 2200fps in a 1-14 23" Shilen on a Santa Barbara 98'. I got derailed on that project.

 

[RBHarter]

The brass is pretty straight forward . 1x neck up to 358 Win , handy for me , anneal trim to 1.8 then I used the expander I made for 410 from from 303B which I stepped up 32,35,40,45. Chamfer and load with 12gr of Unique under whatever you have available in your stash for a bolt gun .

 

[35 shooter]

Thanks, glad you had it working for you.
I may have to revisit the seating depth on that one as i did have a lot of contact right out of the neck area. I got kind of side tracked on my testing with it as well.