Experience with .308 in long action

[TK 1985]

As the title says, does anybody here have experience with .308 sized cartridges in a long action? I know the US Army's M24 uses a long action because at some point they wanted the option to rebarrel to .300 Win. Also a consideration was longer OAL I believe. With the military looking at 6.5 Creedmoor in their semis, I got a bug to build a M24/M40 style rifle in that cartridge. With 6.5 the longer OAL is def more attractive, I also saw the feeding angle is a factor too.

Just asking here because I'm sure some of you have already built a short cartridge on a long action or have spent trigger time behind the M24 courtesy of Uncle Sam.

 

[codyadams]

I personally haven't, but I know of some guys that were throating .308's for the 215 Berger, OAL around 3.150-3.200 if I recall, and out of 28" tubes getting them up to 2750 fps with powders like RL17, quite impressive. Most of them were single loading short actions, but same concept for a long or medium action would work. I know a .260AI throated long for a 156 would be quite impressive as well, I'm getting 2940 with the 156 from a 29" tube running 2.950, properly throated would be about 3.110".

 

[TK 1985]

Yeah wouldn't be a single shot, loading from the internal box or fit it with an AICS detachable mag system. I guess when I say long action I mean standard like .30-06 length, I'm not sure what a medium action is.

 

[codyadams]

Yeah wouldn't be a single shot, loading from the internal box or fit it with an AICS detachable mag system. I guess when I say long action I mean standard like .30-06 length, I'm not sure what a medium action is.

There are a few companies making custom medium actions, mag length around 3.2"-3.3", specifically for what your saying. A ruger long action is closer to a medium as well, OAL in the box is 3.430". They make good donor actions for what your saying if you know how to properly bed them.