Question on bullet weight in a Scout rifle

22 April 2018, 08:12

Hello all,
Getting ready to load some ammunition for my 19" barreled Steyr Scout rifle. My normal, "go to" load for that rifle has been a 165-grain Partition or Accubond over 45-grains of Varget. I am training my wife and youngest daughter to shoot some. I will start them out with 150 grain Speers over 4759 for reduced recoil, and was thinking of going to a 150-grain Partition over 44-grains of Varget, or BL-C2 as the go to round. Does that make sense?

22 April 2018, 08:33

Lamar

it does.
I used steps of 4895 in the 308 when teaching the kids to shoot.
I started with cast then some plated to keep the costs down and to get them large amounts of trigger time.
I then moved them over to light weight jacketed bullets and then to 150gr lower speed rounds and increased the velocity until I got to an accuracy node the rifle liked.

22 April 2018, 16:01

p dog shooter

I shoot 220s in my 06 scout rifle for bears and hogs.

I shoot 168s out of my 16 inch 308.

I shoot 139s in my 7x57 scout.

The 150gr partitions well just be fine.

22 April 2018, 22:06

ar corey

Second vote for 150 Partitions.

23 April 2018, 00:36

bartsche

What cartridge are we looking at??

roger

23 April 2018, 02:41

ar corey

I assumed it was 308 Winchester. Out of a Scout barrel, the 150's would be wise.

24 April 2018, 17:03

A.J. Hydell

quote:
Originally posted by ar corey:
I assumed it was 308 Winchester. Out of a Scout barrel, the 150's would be wise.

That depends on whether you're talking about paper targets, or live ones.

In .308, Cooper specified that the cartridge needed to be "capable of striking a single decisive blow" on a "live target of up to 400 kilograms in weight," which is about 1,000-lbs.

While that weight range obviously covers defensive use of the Scout Rifle on 2-legged targets, it was meant to include large and dangerous species too - or, as Cooper put it, anything from "prairie dogs to Alaskan moose."

So for use on larger species of game, heavier bullets in the 180gn range are certainly called for.

That's one reason why I'd prefer a SR built off the 1903 or 03A3 platform, as both are chambered in 30-06. I can do most shooting with 150gn M2 '06 ball ammo but have the option of easily "loading-up" with the 200gn and 220gn bullets for the Big Stuff, ... Whereas with the .308, Cooper's preferred chambering, you're ballistically topping out with 180gns bullets.

24 April 2018, 18:59

ar corey

I'd gladly hunt moose with a 150 gr. monometal out of a 308.

25 April 2018, 02:00

bartsche

I think your selection of the 165 partition for the scout is just fine . About 22gr. of 4759 will yield reduced recoil and the energy level of the 30-30. Not all bad ,I'd say.

roger

26 April 2018, 03:30

crbutler

Personally, I would use whatever is more accurate. I don’t notice much recoil difference between 150’s and 165’s in either .308 or .30-06.

If you are not going for elk or bigger, a cup and core will serve as well out of a short barrel .308.

26 April 2018, 07:04

f224

quote:
Originally posted by lawndart:
Hello all,
Getting ready to load some ammunition for my 19" barreled Steyr Scout rifle. My normal, "go to" load for that rifle has been a 165-grain Partition or Accubond over 45-grains of Varget. I am training my wife and youngest daughter to shoot some. I will start them out with 150 grain Speers over 4759 for reduced recoil, and was thinking of going to a 150-grain Partition over 44-grains of Varget, or BL-C2 as the go to round. Does that make sense?

Absolutely, for training with smaller stature shooters it would be perfect. I run 165gr ammo for hunting in my 19.7" Blaser R93 Tracker, I can tell the difference in recoil when shooting 147gr NATO ball ammo.

27 April 2018, 12:06

lawndart

quote:
That depends on whether you're talking about paper targets, or live ones.

In .308, Cooper specified that the cartridge needed to be "capable of striking a single decisive blow" on a "live target of up to 400 kilograms in weight," which is about 1,000-lbs.

While that weight range obviously covers defensive use of the Scout Rifle on 2-legged targets, it was meant to include large and dangerous species too - or, as Cooper put it, anything from "prairie dogs to Alaskan moose."

So for use on larger species of game, heavier bullets in the 180gn range are certainly called for.

That's one reason why I'd prefer a SR built off the 1903 or 03A3 platform, as both are chambered in 30-06. I can do most shooting with 150gn M2 '06 ball ammo but have the option of easily "loading-up" with the 200gn and 220gn bullets for the Big Stuff, ... Whereas with the .308, Cooper's preferred chambering, you're ballistically topping out with 180gns bullets.

All The Best ...

Thank you for the feed back. I have to dance with the rifle I own. I have to make it less intimidating for the girls I love.

This rifle is dead nuts accurate with either the 150 or 165 Partition, Accubond, and even the Partition. I have a heavier .308 that will be pushing 165-grain pills, and a caddy of eight pounds of 4759 inbound.

27 April 2018, 12:13

lawndart

quote:
it does.
I used steps of 4895 in the 308 when teaching the kids to shoot.
I started with cast then some plated to keep the costs down and to get them large amounts of trigger time.
I then moved them over to light weight jacketed bullets and then to 150gr lower speed rounds and increased the velocity until I got to an accuracy node the rifle liked.

I like your systems engineering concepts. I need to order some 150-grain Ballistic Tips on sail at SPS ($15.00/50), and start them on a 4759 reduced loading, then gradually increase the charge of BL-C2 (meters like a champ). 2,650 should be plenty of velocity. May go to a 1.75-6 Leupold over my 1.5-5.

27 April 2018, 12:16

lawndart

quote:
I think your selection of the 165 partition for the scout is just fine . About 22gr. of 4759 will yield reduced recoil and the energy level of the 30-30. Not all bad ,I'd say. roger

I think your selection of the 165 partition for the scout is just fine . About 22gr. of 4759 will yield reduced recoil and the energy level of the 30-30. Not all bad ,I'd say. claproger beer

Not bad at all. I will get the 4759, some 5744, and Trail Boss this summer the girls will be wearing pearls, and farting through silk.

27 April 2018, 21:50

ar corey

quote:
Originally posted by lawndart:
Hello all,
Getting ready to load some ammunition for my 19" barreled Steyr Scout rifle. My normal, "go to" load for that rifle has been a 165-grain Partition or Accubond over 45-grains of Varget. I am training my wife and youngest daughter to shoot some. I will start them out with 150 grain Speers over 4759 for reduced recoil, and was thinking of going to a 150-grain Partition over 44-grains of Varget, or BL-C2 as the go to round. Does that make sense?

150 grain Partition over Varget.

28 April 2018, 04:06

A.J. Hydell

quote:
Originally posted by ar corey:
quote:
Originally posted by lawndart:
Hello all,
Getting ready to load some ammunition for my 19" barreled Steyr Scout rifle. My normal, "go to" load for that rifle has been a 165-grain Partition or Accubond over 45-grains of Varget. I am training my wife and youngest daughter to shoot some. I will start them out with 150 grain Speers over 4759 for reduced recoil, and was thinking of going to a 150-grain Partition over 44-grains of Varget, or BL-C2 as the go to round. Does that make sense?

150 grain Partition over Varget.

Depends on the game. 150gn .308 loads should work fine on deer.

For moose, elk, and black or brown bear, you need to be gunning-up to the 180gn range in .308.

In 30-06, those critters are easily taken with 200gn or 220gn loads.

15 May 2018, 21:16

packrattusnongratus

I would buy the 150 gr factory seconds from Midway to train in low velocity and slowly work up as you proposed. For hunting medium game,deer, use the Barnes ttx in 130 gr. Then go up in bullet size if the game goes up in size. You have it planned right Lawndart.

23 May 2018, 18:27

the jigger

I shoot light-for-weight in my 308, Nosler's 125 Accubond has done me well. The recoil is much lighter.

31 May 2018, 04:16

Atkinson

I like the 125 gr.Noslers for deer..keep the range to under 300 yards is probably good advise.

I like the .308 Sav. mod. 99F when Im hunting horse back for deer or elk..Its flat and handy and with a 165 gr. Nosler its a good enough killer of elk at any reasonable distance, again under 300 yards under most conditions. I also like the 180 gr. partition at 2600 FPS

If Im walking I pack my .338 win. and 250 gr. Noslers..sometimes 225 gr. Accubonds or partitons.

31 May 2018, 17:46

A.J. Hydell

quote:
Originally posted by lawndart:
* * * I will start them out with 150 grain Speers over 4759 for reduced recoil, and was thinking of going to a 150-grain Partition over 44-grains of Varget, or BL-C2 as the go to round. Does that make sense?

Varget powder is an excellent choice.

Service Rifle competitors use it extensively in their handloaded Match ammo because it's just about imperious to swings in temperature under range conditions, and your dope (known zero for a given distance) is unaffected.