Berger 230gr Match Hybirds 308 Reloading Data

Frabeb · Post by **Frabeb** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 7:13 am

Hi everybody,

I'm after some reload data on Berger 230gr Match Hybrids.

I am currently building a 308 Savage 12 into a purpose built FT/R and plan on using 230gr match Hybrids.
I'm having a lot of trouble trying to find a safe starting load.
I've emailed Berger with no response, has anybody got some data for this set up or a safe starting point?

Thanks

Steve N · Post by **Steve N** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 7:25 am

Wow that is a big bullet for a 308. Does anyone use them in FTR? Maybe some of the crazy old bugger's in Match Rifle have tried them..
Steve

Post by **AlanF** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 7:43 am

I know Daryl Barlow used them successfully at Raton in 2012, but at the pressures needed his brass would've been hammered. I'm fairly sure he dropped back to lighter projectiles subsequently.

bsouthernau · Post by **bsouthernau** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 9:46 am

Footsore wrote: Maybe some of the crazy old bugger's in Match Rifle have tried them..
Steve

Not to my knowledge. Bullets in the 200 - 210gr range are the norm there. My next avenue of investigation is with 215 hybrids but I've GOT some 230s so if you have any joy I'd be very interested to know what you found.

Barry

bsouthernau · Post by **bsouthernau** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 3:00 pm

Don't know why I didn't think of this earlier. If you can't get any hard data have a look at http://kwk.us/powley.html

You're going to need a pretty long throat to shoot these and it might spoil things if you want to shoot lighter bullets at a later stage. Good luck and be careful. Please report back.

Barry

macguru · Post by **macguru** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 6:55 pm

I have definitely seen a 308 match rifle guy shooting them at Coonabarabran. He had a special long throated 9 twist barrel for his 308 and a duplex powder load (VVpowder). They had about half the wind deflection of a normal 308 f std load, perhaps a little better than that, he was just lobbing them into the 6 ring at 1200 yards....

bsouthernau · Post by **bsouthernau** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 8:02 pm

macguru wrote:I have definitely seen a 308 match rifle guy shooting them at Coonabarabran. He had a special long throated 9 twist barrel for his 308 and a duplex powder load (VVpowder).

Do you mean a duplex powder load or a double base powder? I just sold my supply of N550 a couple of months ago!! Who was it - I'd like to pick his brains?

Norm · Post by **Norm** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 8:23 am

I have seen them used at Coona too. Impressive results for a .308 but from memory the loads were very hot.

As a matter of interest and a rough guide.

A 155gn pill at 3000fps gives 3112ft/lbs of energy at the muzzle.
So given a similar ME with a 230gn pill you would be looking at a MV of 2460fps with the 230gn pill.
At these speeds, 1000 yard drift, in a 10mph cross wind at sea level would be 6.5 MOA for the 230gn pill and about 8.6 MOA for a 155gn Berger.
A 180gn VLD .284 pill at a MV of 2800fps gives about 6 MOA drift. So the old .308 is not too far behind and is under the ME limit.

mike H · Post by **mike H** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 7:23 pm

Frabeb wrote:Hi everybody,

I'm after some reload data on Berger 230gr Match Hybrids.

I am currently building a 308 Savage 12 into a purpose built FT/R and plan on using 230gr match Hybrids.
I'm having a lot of trouble trying to find a safe starting load.
I've emailed Berger with no response, has anybody got some data for this set up or a safe starting point?

Thanks

I haven't used 230grain bullets in FTR or Match Rifle,I do use 208 grain A Max's in my Match Rifle with 2209 powder,if I was to try 230 grain projectiles,I would start with a lesser amount of 2209 powder.My barrel is 34"" long.Actually I have a barrel throated for 225 grain Hornady's,but so far I haven't tested them.
I am not against 230 or heavier bullets in a .308,however they have been promoted by one person for a long time and for whatever reason,they haven't caught on.

ShaneG · Post by **ShaneG** » Thu Mar 12, 2015 6:52 pm

Hi Mike
Thinking of Lower Light next month - u going? Match rifle beforehand as well!

Back on track a little - Litz uses 215 Hybrid himself in F/TR so I reckon that says it all with regards to any thought of 230gr in .308! He has the choice of any projectile, any barrel and any twist rate?

Cheers
Shane

mike H · Post by **mike H** » Thu Mar 12, 2015 7:45 pm

Unfortunately SA now clashes with the NSW Match Rifle Championships on the 2nd and 3rd of May,I won't be going to South Australia this year,
Mike.

Southcape · Post by **Southcape** » Sat Mar 14, 2015 7:37 pm

230's!

One case where bigger is not necessarily better!

Please consider the very real impact of recoil fatigue. Shooting 20 rounds on a Saturday may feel good. Shooting them in competition...you will be paying for it, right when you need to be holding things together at the end of a match.

Berger 230gr Match Hybirds 308 Reloading Data

Berger 230gr Match Hybirds 308 Reloading Data

Re: Berger 230gr Match Hybirds 308 Reloading Data

Re: Berger 230gr Match Hybirds 308 Reloading Data

Re: Berger 230gr Match Hybirds 308 Reloading Data

Re: Berger 230gr Match Hybirds 308 Reloading Data

Re: Berger 230gr Match Hybirds 308 Reloading Data

Re: Berger 230gr Match Hybirds 308 Reloading Data

Re: Berger 230gr Match Hybirds 308 Reloading Data

Re: Berger 230gr Match Hybirds 308 Reloading Data

Re: Berger 230gr Match Hybirds 308 Reloading Data

Re: Berger 230gr Match Hybirds 308 Reloading Data

Re: Berger 230gr Match Hybirds 308 Reloading Data