Moment of Truth.. .308/303 british test

WhelanLad

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Well had a first day back out in the bush in the new Vehicle with the Young Lad and a Ruger No1, we went out for a BBQ up to a hut I know off up in the hills a short trek from home.
IMG_1853hut.jpg~original


IMG_1847Ruger1.jpg~original


I took the Reloads from last night, which consisted of .308 170gr FN Hornady projectiles and 40gr of Varget in PPU brass, After lunch we set up a target and stood back at about 40m to make sure things would be on the Straight an narrow..
IMG_1832bbqhut.jpg~original


I fired 3 shots from this distance an ended up with a reasonable group for starters.. So moved back to around 75m and shot 3 more rounds, The last 2 are circled in Black an the first was down a little but this is how I shot to give you an idea that its not benchrest accuracy to begin with

IMG_1856shootn.jpg~original


I had the little Laddy with me and he was Number 1 target inspecter.
IMG_1851targetry.jpg~original


The Target, with explination of Green circles meaning Corelokts I fired the other day at 100m, the short distance shots and the longer range shots with new handloads an the .30 cal bullets. Black circled 2 shots were final 2 which were on the money, the 1st was not so good on my behalf. (almost certain I could shrink the grouping if it meant that much, to me it is moot.
IMG_1849edittarget.jpg~original


As that's the first 6 shots off the back of the ute, using the gun bag as a 'rest' im very happy with those results... Your opinions may vary but factory irons an a unconventional rest leaning toward a field position is what I use this rifle for.

Thanks for viewing, we had a Ball and seen 3 fallow deer in our travels!

WL
 
Yep, Downunder theres a reasonable shortage of 311-312 projectiles and if you can find them the freight brings the price of the bullets up really high, so I used 308 projies.

WL
 
couldnt that damage the rifling in the barrel?

I don't believe so? there is .005 difference which is really not here nor there in my opinion.. like it is a reeaally small difference
I could be wrong, went boom hit tree with enough force to penetrate the hide of an animal an disrupt vitals
WL
 
AN acquaintance used a rest like that. Mind you he had a scope on the rifle and the first shot went through the box rail on the opposite side.
 
Man I love that ground down under. You have a great helper to boot. Soon with the lack of supplys we have here we will be melting lead at the camp fire for the next days shoot.
Enjoy a VB/4X depending on your liking mate.
Elky....
 
WhelenLad,

I've tried .308 dia 180 grain Winchester bulk power points in two of my 303's, one a full wood Savage No 4 Mk 1* and one a scoped, sporterized No4 Mk 1, both over the same load of IMR 4895 I shoot 180 grain .311 dia Pro Hunters. Out of both rifles I could not see any difference whatsoever, between 180 grain .308's or 180 grain .311's at 100 yards. The full wood rifle, with it's tight two-groove bore, shot them into 1.5" at 100 yards. The sporter with an obviously more worn bore (and a five groove) shot slightly larger, but right around 2". I has having a good day shooting mind you, but that's what you want when trying this sort of thing out.
 
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Man I love that ground down under. You have a great helper to boot. Soon with the lack of supplys we have here we will be melting lead at the camp fire for the next days shoot.
Enjoy a VB/4X depending on your liking mate.
Elky....

haha, Yeah its a nice part of the world, the Aussie gum tree scene is nice and makes for good hunting! I grab a handful of gumleaves, crunch them up and rub on my camo.. eucalitpus smell takes over.
haha VB country down south, ###X up top... I personally am a Scotch lad.


Edit- We have a few Aussie bullet makers popping up which is helping us out although not mass produced, so prices are at Premium level for Cup n cores.. ahwell
WhelenLad,

I've tried .308 dia 180 grain Winchester bulk power points in two of my 303's, one a full wood Savage No 4 Mk 1* and one a scoped, sporterized No4 Mk 1, both over the same load of IMR 4895 I shoot 180 grain .311 dia Pro Hunters. Out of both rifles I could not see any difference whatsoever, between 180 grain .308's or 180 grain .311's at 100 yards. The full wood rifle, with it's tight two-groove bore, shot them into 1.5" at 100 yards. The sporter with an obviously more worn bore (and a five groove) shot slightly larger, but right around 2". I has having a good day shooting mind you, but that's what you want when trying this sort of thing out.

Well, that's good news! i'll do a better set of groups in near future just to confirm if things are better than results show for now. 2 inch at 100m is GOOD!! good day or not, mostly only takes one bullet to take an animal ;)
as long as that one goes close enough to aim point, its happy days imo.

thanks for the info

WL
 
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I'd like to see the same test with a scope and sand bags on a bench.


There will be another Test, nxt week, on my home range with a solid rest bagged, Without a scope though..



Looky, Ive never worn eye protection? and in RE to shooting the Box rail'n , I know these things happen..... just quietly i put a 22hornet through my Bonnet on my old Ute shootin at a rabbit on a downhill angle... FMD!! FML!! I was spewwwwin.. that's guna hurt the resale LOL

that photo was a bit of a mock up, was actually shootin toward back of it becoz the above mentioned story always rings in the back of my mind now :(

WL
 
Yep, Downunder theres a reasonable shortage of 311-312 projectiles and if you can find them the freight brings the price of the bullets up really high, so I used 308 projies.

WL

What's going on with Woodleigh, are they exporting so many bullets that there's none left for the locals? Their website lists 130 gr, 174 gr, and 215 gr in .312" diameter.
 
I cannot remember if I posted this a few years ago or not on a previous #1 303 thread, but when I had one I tried some 220 gr. 308 bullets in mine with amazing results.
I must dust the cobwebs off my old load notes...
 
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