Rem 788 308 win question.

Chopaka81

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Oct 9, 2007
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I have 308 that does not like 165 gr bullets.
165's are grouping at 2.5+ inches at 100 yds. 150gr Sierra SP bullets are grouping at 1 inch. I have not tried 180 gr loads. Wondering what the factory barrel twist rate is. Is it a 10 twist?
Thanks
 
I have 308 that does not like 165 gr bullets.
165's are grouping at 2.5+ inches at 100 yds. 150gr Sierra SP bullets are grouping at 1 inch. I have not tried 180 gr loads. Wondering what the factory barrel twist rate is. Is it a 10 twist?
Thanks
Pretty sure they were 1:10
It should shoot even a 215 Berger just fine.
 
788 is my favorite action. My one in 308 shoots 165s just fine. Shoots the 130 ttsx Barnes better. Awesome bullet for 308.
Shep
 
Thank you guys, 2 days ago I began working on this 788 rifle, it was a mess. It did 25 shots into 10 inch group.
I took the barreled action out of the stock and found the front sling swivel stud was making contact with the barrel, there was a wear mark on the barrel.
I ground down the stud and nut and free floated the barrel channel. Also I glass bedded the front recoil lug.
I did install a Timney trigger too.
Back to the range yesterday and shot some handloads with Varget and 150gr Sierra SP. The came down to 1.5 inch at 100yds.
Today at the recommendation of friend I tried some 165 gr loads, he gave his specific load info, I measured and copied the ogive of his match loads. The 788 did not like them. As a reference I brought along some of the best 150grs loads. They shot the best in the rifle.
The 165 gr bullets were:
Nosler 165gr AB
Hornady 168gr ELDM (my buddies match load)
Hornady 165 gr SPBT Interlock
For this 308, I only have 3 cans of powder to work with, Varget, H-4895, and IMR-4320. I have only tried Varget at this point.
My primers are limited to Federal 215 Magnum Match and CCI-250. I wish I could find some standard lg rifle primers.
The brass is Hornady, they have trimmed to length, primer flash holes are deburred, and the outside neck diameters have been recut uniformly.
 
How good have you cleaned the barrel. Carbon ring in neck. Never know how bad a barrel is till you start stripping out the copper.
Shep
 
Last weekend I scoped it. It was in pretty good shape for a 40 yr old carbon steel barrel. I will scope it again, I have been cleaning after getting home from the range.
 
Love the 788 as well. My dad has an old 308 with a custom wood stock. It has a trash barrel but still shoots. Local gun store has one right now for sale and they want 650 for a bone stock 243. Crazy!
 
I have some 243s and 222s and the 308. One of the 243s is going to turn into a 6.5 Creed here soon. I'd like to get one in 6mm and 7mm 08. I'm building a 1000 yard rig on a 788 action too. Not many actions are as stiff and have as long a barrel tennon as the 788.
Shep
 
Not dishing the M788. I once had one in 6mm Rem, I regretted letting it go. That is why I jumped on this 308 when I was offered to me for $350.
I am going to continue to work on the load for it. I should be able to get it well below 1.5" groups.
 
Not dishing the M788. I once had one in 6mm Rem, I regretted letting it go. That is why I jumped on this 308 when I was offered to me for $350.
I am going to continue to work on the load for it. I should be able to get it well below 1.5" groups.
I would try the same charge of 4895 as you did varget and play with seating depth.
 
Those 788's! I worked over one for my daughter and one for a friend....put a few changes on the stock, checker, duracoat the metal.
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