I recently built an all weather rifle in .308W. It was an very inexpensive build. I used a K98 action and Timney trigger I had from an old sported 8mm that shot terrible. I installed an Adams and Bennett 24 inch barrel on it and put it all in a Houge over molded stock. I knew going in that this was not going to be a tack driver. It was just supposed to be a rifle for hunting in the nasty weather as my other rifles are in nice wood stocks. I took the time to lap the barrel threads and face of the receiver and also the bolt lugs. The finish is a bake on paint gun finish. The rifle is not glass bed just set down on the pillars in the stock. The scope is a Nikon Buckmasters 4-14 with BDC reticule.


I am getting right at an inch three shot groups with the last load I tried at 100 yards, 150 grain Hornaday bullets and IMR4064. Sighted in at 100 yards it is right on hitting a groundhog shaped gong at 250 splitting the 200 and 300 yards marks. Personally I feel I have succeeded in building a very good bad weather deer and black bear rifle for the woods of PA. What do you all think?

Hey, works for me! There are many rifles out there that won't do an inch, and that's all the practical hunting accuracy you could ever use.

I use the same bullet in my .308 for PA whitetails and it works great. I found that IMR 4320 produced better accuracy than IMR 4064. You might want to give that a try.

Thanks Labman I will keep that in mind.

i am by no meeans an expert, but i am a lover of the .308w and it sounds like you've got some good stuff to me.

you might be able to play with the loads a bit using different powders, bullets and seating depths. you might also see if any improvement can be gained by bedding the stock. those are the two big suggestions taht come to mind, but i am sure that others will come along with some better information.

tasunkawitko,
Thanks, I have tried a few powders and bullets so far. Will continue to try different loads from time to time. I just got some Benchmark powder to try in my .223 so I will also give it a try in the .308.
I have thought of bedding the rifle also. I also didn't mention I lapped the barrel with the Tubbs polishing system. It has worked on other barrels and helped with this one. I plan to try Sierra game kings in 150 grain as well as Nosler BT 150 grain bullets as I have had very good luck with them.

quote:

I plan to try Sierra game kings in 150 grain

i;m a big fan of the SGK and i am sure that you will like its performance. i don't ahve as much direct experience with the NBTs but everyhting i know about them says you should be happy with them as well.

Let's see, you wanted it cheap and you got it. It shoots MOA which is great in my book. You didn't mention if it feeds good, but if it does then yes you should be happy. I would be.

Terry

I have never shot a deer with the SGK's but have shot them and know they shoot well. Th NBT's have done very well for me on deer.

quote:

Originally posted by TC1:
Let's see, you wanted it cheap and you got it. It shoots MOA which is great in my book. You didn't mention if it feeds good, but if it does then yes you should be happy. I would be.

Terry

Yes it feeds just fine and ejects just fine.

quote:

Originally posted by TC1:
Let's see, you wanted it cheap and you got it. It shoots MOA which is great in my book. You didn't mention if it feeds good, but if it does then yes you should be happy. I would be.

Terry

Darn right....I'd be happy too!

Thanks Vapo being I have less than $400 in the rifle less scope, bases and rings I feel I should be happy even if I never get it shooting any better than this.

I'd have to bed it just to satisfy my couriosity. Might shoot 1/2 moa then. Still I would be happy to shoot critters in the woods with it. Congratulations!

God Bless, Louis

If you're getting MOA (even with just 3 shots) from a milsup put together, you might not want to fix what ain't broke.

quote:

Originally posted by wasbeeman:
If you're getting MOA (even with just 3 shots) from a milsup put together, you might not want to fix what ain't broke.

You might have a good point. I am not sure how I would go about bedding this stock. I have done wood stocks and I guess it would be the same but I hate to try and trim the length of the barrel channel the way the rubber is over molded to the plastic. Maybe just do the very bottom of the action and the barrel channel.

Two questions.

Can you hit what you are aiming at with the first shot?

How much repeatability do you need in a deer rifle and why?
Maybe that really is three questions. roger

Old age is a high price to pay for maturity!!! Some never pay and some pay and never reap the reward. Wisdom comes with age! Sometimes age comes alone..

Roger,
I agree and that is said so often. It's a hunting rifle as long as it is predictable that is what matters. Like I said I am hitting the groundhog sized gong at 250 so that is the size of a deers vitals. The way this rig is set up I am sure it would be adequate out to 300 yards for whitetail off of a good rest or bi-pods.

Is it comfortable to shoulder ? is it comfortable to shoot? Does it meet your personal requirements as a hunting rifle ?

If you answer yes to those three questions then it doesnt matter a damn what anyone thinks. You built it , obviously did everything right and are now reaping the benefits. Go out there and use it !

I think you should stop diddling around with it and just load some ammo and go hunting. Spend your time making sure the rest of your gear is ready and your knife is sharp.

The rifle is done already.

quote:

Originally posted by Slowpoke Slim:
I think you should stop diddling around with it and just load some ammo and go hunting. Spend your time making sure the rest of your gear is ready and your knife is sharp.

The rifle is done already.

Knife is sharp! 3 months till season!

quote:

Originally posted by muzza:
Is it comfortable to shoulder ? is it comfortable to shoot? Does it meet your personal requirements as a hunting rifle ?

Yes to all three.

1 inch groups with 180 grain ammo is not something to be unhappy about.

My best grouping with the 308 rifle is with the 165 grain ammo. I tried the heavier stuff and just never was able to group it in tight. So maybe try a little bit of load development and get the groups down tighter if you want it to shoot tighter.

But a 1 inch group is more than enough to kill a deer of your choice...

quote:

Originally posted by Brando:
1 inch groups with 180 grain ammo is not something to be unhappy about.

My best grouping with the 308 rifle is with the 165 grain ammo. I tried the heavier stuff and just never was able to group it in tight. So maybe try a little bit of load development and get the groups down tighter if you want it to shoot tighter.

But a 1 inch group is more than enough to kill a deer of your choice...

So far I have a 150, 165 and 180 grain load. The 165 grain load is biggest groups but still close to an inch. I Will probably try the new powder I just bought for the .223 in it..Benchmark, I have heard it is also good in .308.

150 grain bullets are what I want to work best as that will be what I use for deer. What is funny is the lapping bullets what are 175 grain Match Kings shot the best once I got to the smallest grit abrasives. Maybe a long 165 grain bullet is what I need if I want to tighten up any more. Aren't the lead free bullets longer than copper/lead bullets?

Tried 150 grain Nosler BT's today. Same powder charge as with the Hornaday 150's but I had 4 out of 5 shots tear one ragged 1/2 inch hole. The one shot that was out was only about an inch out and I think that was me. Man I have to be happy with this! This is a perfect combo for deer in my parts as far as I see it.

quote:

Originally posted by Donald Nelson:
...I had 4 out of 5 shots tear one ragged 1/2 inch hole....Man I have to be happy with this! This is a perfect combo for deer in my parts as far as I see it.

Exactly right, I'd be very happy indeed with performance like that! There's been plenty of good advice in here already. I'd just say, swallow whatever the extra cost is on Nosler vs Hornady, don't mess with anything else, and get out and kill some critters! Sounds like you're set up for a great deer season!

Sounds like it is shooting plenty good to me...

Only one question, what are you going to do if it does not rain durring deer season???

Sounds perfect.
I wouldn't mind building something like that myself!

You should try IMR4350. I use this powder in my 30/06 and 300 Win Mag. And I get tight groups.

quote:

Originally posted by jro45:
You should try IMR4350. I use this powder in my 30/06 and 300 Win Mag. And I get tight groups.

I might try it if I decide to shoot heavier buttets. I think I have my 150 grain bullet and load.

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
Sounds like it is shooting plenty good to me...

Only one question, what are you going to do if it does not rain durring deer season???

Take the .257AI!! I built it in a heavy wood varmint stock.