Load development in 9 shots

[Canhunter35]

Despite having a 11.25 twist barrel, after reading about several members success on this forum with 200gr bullets out of their 308s I wanted to try the 208eldm. They'll be single feed out of my mil-spec but offer a lot of wind bucking ability.
I loaded up 3 at 41gr at .015" off the lands and 3 at 42gr(varget) at .015" off the lands. They are the first two groups. Then I loaded 3 more at 41gr and .01" off the lands and shot the last group.

I dropped a 168 eldm beside the 208s to show the difference.

Excited to stretch it this load out in the next week and see how it performs. I'm guessing the velocity is around 2450fps but I'll find out with drops soon and enough

 

[Hand Skills]

Very interesting, those 208's sure are slippery. What's your OACL on the final load there?

Please let us know what your corrected BC comes out at with the slow twist/low velocity. I'm betting it'll still be a G7 > .3

KiwiNate has reported those particular ELD's will open up reliably at 1400fps too. Based on that and a G7 .333 it is a 900yd capable round.

Note the 1.4sec time of flight though... Still, legit 500yd performance at the very least.

 

[Canhunter35]

The coal with the 208 comes in at 3.057".
So doesn't really fit any kind of magazine unfortunately.
I tested some 200gr eldx and they touched the lands at 2.965" so at 2.95" they would work in a savage SA.
I'll post the bc I end up using once I get there

 

[Canhunter35]

This is one wicked load. Shot this at 400yards. Used 2450fps and .337 g7. Downside i believe it starts to destabilize around 500. The drops are far too much and the grouping goes to hell. At 600 it's worse and at 700 I cannot seem to find the the plate. So I have a deadly accurate load out to 400. Sure wish it was a 10 twist

 

[Pdvdh]

You'll just have to hunt @ 5K El. Might remain stable past 400yds up on the ridgelines.

 

[Canhunter35]

Lol, yeah I'm at 2500asl. I can get to 5000 but don't always hunt there.
Thought I would try it anyways.

 

[Hand Skills]

Fun project, thanks for following up - very much appreciate the 'real world' data!

That is a supernatural group right there...! I'm happy when mine look like that at 100!

 

[Canhunter35]

Lol, it feels supernatural when ur shooting it...inside of 400.

Gave me much more of an appreciation for how a particular barrel might like a certain bullet. I did thorough load development with 155 scenars and 168 eldm and they never grouped as well as the 208s. Might have something to do with being able to reach the lands, but not sure.