22in barrel 1in12 twist bullet weights ?

[cjmac]

Pulling the trigger tomorrow on this browning bar mk4 308 iv been wanting . I was going to get it few months ago but ended up in the hospital for a bit .. so , its a 22in 1in12 twist . Thats the only thing I dont like about it . Iv heard these autoloaders with the 12 twist like the 165gr but that was just from 2 people thay did not reload there own just shot factory ammo.
That said I like 150gr for whitetail , I just dont see the need for heavier bullets ? I plan on using the nosler Partition. Maby the 165 would push through little better id hit bone ? Even then I highly doubt 15gr gonna make a difference on killing power on a 120lb deer we have here.
I would assume the 150gr Partition would be capable of 1moa at 100 yards and 1.5 at 200 with a 1in12 twist?
I have always had my custom rifles built with 1in10 at 26in...
Also will standard winchester LR primers work with this being a autoloader ? This will be the first automatic I have ever loaded for
I have on order a small base die .
Have tons of varget.
Have plenty of winchester brass
Have lot of winchester LR primers

 

[JMRhino]

In my opinion, 1/12 will easily handle 150gn class "cup and core" and should marginally stabilize the 165s in your BAR. I agree that 150s are great for most whitetails in most hunting scenerios. You may want to consider loading 165s is if they just shoot better in your rifle and/or you are planning on shooting at greater ranges where a higher BC will be handy. You may have issues stabilizing 150gn or heavier monos. If your open to it, you may find great success with the 130 Barnes TTSX with TAC. I have a bolt gun with a 20" barrel delivering those at 3248 FPS near the muzzle with good accuracy (1 MOA).

I have two older Mark II Safaris in 243 Win and 270 Win and they are both capable of decent groups (1 MOAish) but they are very sensitive to torquing of the front sling stud which also attaches the for-end onto the barrel. Mine are not free-floated.

I don't recall ever seeing dimpled primers in my BARs. I am pretty sure that the BAR firing pin is NOT floating so I think you're good with the Winchesters. It would be wise to seek data from another source or perhaps others can validate my opinion.

I do recommend a light crimp since it's an auto loader. I have had good results with the Lee "Factory Die" crimp both in terms of reliability and accuracy.

 

[cjmac]

In my opinion, 1/12 will easily handle 150gn class "cup and core" and should marginally stabilize the 165s in your BAR. I agree that 150s are great for most whitetails in most hunting scenerios. You may want to consider loading 165s is if they just shoot better in your rifle and/or you are planning on shooting at greater ranges where a higher BC will be handy. You may have issues stabilizing 150gn or heavier monos. If your open to it, you may find great success with the 130 Barnes TTSX with TAC. I have a bolt gun with a 20" barrel delivering those at 3248 FPS near the muzzle with good accuracy (1 MOA).

I have two older Mark II Safaris in 243 Win and 270 Win and they are both capable of decent groups (1 MOAish) but they are very sensitive to torquing of the front sling stud which also attaches the for-end onto the barrel. Mine are not free-floated.

I don't recall ever seeing dimpled primers in my BARs. I am pretty sure that the BAR firing pin is NOT floating so I think you're good with the Winchesters. It would be wise to seek data from another source or perhaps others can validate my opinion.

I do recommend a light crimp since it's an auto loader. I have had good results with the Lee "Factory Die" crimp both in terms of reliability and accuracy.

The farthest shot we make here is about 165 yards . Its on 1 of the 2 plots I hunt , Its a long narrow cut with a feeder at the end . The other one is about 120 yards max .

What load data you using ? I cant find any for a automatic 308 . Only one iv seen was for service rifle and it was not much room for testing ! I have tons of varget , might try h4895 as I hear thats the closest proper burn rate for automatic 308 and 3006 ?

Thinking about the primers , id be willing to bet all the factory ammo doesn't have specific primers ? There probably all just a standard primers ? Only ones iv noticed in factory ammo where the 5.56 ammo had silver ones like the cci military primers

I do have a Lee factory crimp die . I use it on all my hunting rounds even tho there bolt guns its just extra security. Oddly enough it seemed to help the group size on one of my custom 700s same load crimped then not , group was better crimped . I think from consistent case pressure. Just guessing

The mk4 barrel is threaded to the receiver, not pined or " bolted " like the mk2 and 3 from what i understand

....

Shows varget and h4895 on here for 150 gr .. but only 2gr worth of testing ?

 

[wvbuckbuster]

Not a 308Win but I have loaded for a friend's BAR 30-06 using Sierra 180gr GameKing and H4895 without any problems of stability. Don't know the twist in that rifle nor if the same twist is used for 308 or 30-06. Used a full-length size die and each piece of brass fed and cycled perfectly. He wanted a load that didn't tear up much meat and his shots like yours are relatively close inside 175 yds give or take. So, 150-165gr bullets should meet your need and as stated if you want or need to use non-leaded try the Barnes 130gr or similar weight.

 

[cjmac]

Not a 308Win but I have loaded for a friend's BAR 30-06 using Sierra 180gr GameKing and H4895 without any problems of stability. Don't know the twist in that rifle nor if the same twist is used for 308 or 30-06. Used a full-length size die and each piece of brass fed and cycled perfectly. He wanted a load that didn't tear up much meat and his shots like yours are relatively close inside 175 yds give or take. So, 150-165gr bullets should meet your need and as stated if you want or need to use non-leaded try the Barnes 130gr or similar weight.

The new mk4 is not the same twist rate .. the 308 is 1in12 the 3006 is 1in10 , I wish thay where both 1in10.

I have a few different bullets id like to load for it . One nosler ballistic tip and other nosler Partition. Hope it domt deform the tip on Partition to much

As far as sizing , was it just a standard full length size die ? I've been told it's best to use a small base sizing die.

Iv yet to find charge weights for varget and a 150gr bullet for a automatic 308 . Never loaded for a automatic before so this will be challenging for sure

My thoughts was to stick with factory OAL in whatever info I can find and what fits in the magazine then just try different charge weights

 

[wvbuckbuster]

Yes, it was a standard RCBS FL size die. I have also loaded for a Rem 742 30-06 semi-auto using same die type without any problems. As for Varget in your BAR 308 just start low and work up. If you want to get a better c.o.l. get one of Hornady's curved gauges that will allow you to get a better idea of your length. Worse case is use a Sharpie pen, coat the bullet, seat a little long and keep chambering the round (dummy no powder or primer) until there is no mark where the rifling engages the bullet. Then measure from there. Your magazine length might decide what length to load

 

[cjmac]

Yes, it was a standard RCBS FL size die. I have also loaded for a Rem 742 30-06 semi-auto using same die type without any problems. As for Varget in your BAR 308 just start low and work up. If you want to get a better c.o.l. get one of Hornady's curved gauges that will allow you to get a better idea of your length. Worse case is use a Sharpie pen, coat the bullet, seat a little long and keep chambering the round (dummy no powder or primer) until there is no mark where the rifling engages the bullet. Then measure from there. Your magazine length might decide what length to load

I do have the gauge . But like u said the mag length will probably be where I end up for reliability.



I was going to get the small base die but you almost convinced me its not worth it as you loaded for 2 different guns without it . Ill be using winchester brass like I do for all my hunting guns

I have a a m40 style rifle i built off a sako action that takes the 5 rd Accuracy international mag . Surprisingly I have had extremely good groups with it when loading to mag length with the 150gr nosler ballistic tip.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

I do have the gauge . But like u said the mag length will probably be where I end up for reliability. I was going to get the small base die but you almost convinced me its not worth it as you loaded for 2 different guns without it . Ill be using winchester brass like I do for all my hunting guns

I have a a m40 style rifle i built off a sako action that takes the 5 rd Accuracy international mag . Surprisingly I have had extremely good groups with it when loading to mag length with the 150gr nosler ballistic tip.

Try the FL size die and if you are not satisfied then use the small base. We all have our favorites but personally I find that 150gr bullets work well in the 308 for deer and use them more often than 165gr in my 30-06 as well. Both good. Let the rifle show you which it groups best. Go from there. Let us know how it works out for you. Dan.

 

[cjmac]

Try the FL size die and if you are not satisfied then use the small base. We all have our favorites but personally I find that 150gr bullets work well in the 308 for deer and use them more often than 165gr in my 30-06 as well. Both good. Let the rifle show you which it groups best. Go from there. Let us know how it works out for you. Dan.

Will do .. im just nervous about the starting a load lol guess the worst that could happen is it wont cycle like it should ..

 

[JMRhino]

The farthest shot we make here is about 165 yards . Its on 1 of the 2 plots I hunt , Its a long narrow cut with a feeder at the end . The other one is about 120 yards max .

What load data you using ? I cant find any for a automatic 308 . Only one iv seen was for service rifle and it was not much room for testing ! I have tons of varget , might try h4895 as I hear thats the closest proper burn rate for automatic 308 and 3006 ?

Thinking about the primers , id be willing to bet all the factory ammo doesn't have specific primers ? There probably all just a standard primers ? Only ones iv noticed in factory ammo where the 5.56 ammo had silver ones like the cci military primers

I do have a Lee factory crimp die . I use it on all my hunting rounds even tho there bolt guns its just extra security. Oddly enough it seemed to help the group size on one of my custom 700s same load crimped then not , group was better crimped . I think from consistent case pressure. Just guessing

The mk4 barrel is threaded to the receiver, not pined or " bolted " like the mk2 and 3 from what i understand

....

Shows varget and h4895 on here for 150 gr .. but only 2gr worth of testing ?

If you are referring to the Barnes 130 TTSX data, I used the Barnes published data straight from their website. Generally speaking, I don't use specific load data that has been identified as "semi-auto" loads. I merely start low and work up. I estimate that I will find pressure signs before I start tearing up the actions in autoloaders. Admittedly, I have much less experience loading for semi-autos and pumps vs bolts.

Yes, I think 2 gns is worth testing as 308 isn't a very large case. I think that's enough variance to discover both accuracy and velocity nodes. I think that going up .4 tenths at time would be a good place to start.

https://barnesbullets.com/content/barnes-loaddata/rifle/308/308WinchesterForWeb.pdf

 

[JD338]

Try the FL size die and if you are not satisfied then use the small base. We all have our favorites but personally I find that 150gr bullets work well in the 308 for deer and use them more often than 165gr in my 30-06 as well. Both good. Let the rifle show you which it groups best. Go from there. Let us know how it works out for you. Dan.

Great advice. Start with the standard FL sizing die and trim to length.
A 150 gr PT is an excellent choice for WT deer as well as Antelope and Black Bear. I have personally used this bullet in a 30-06 and my daughter is also using it in her M660 308 Win.
The 150-165 gr PTs will shoot just fine in your 12t 308 Browning BAR.
Varget is a great choice in the 308. Go with the starting load and work up to mid range loads. I’d stay away from the upper end/max loads in a semi automatic rifle.

JD338