Is anybody out there using Frank Barnes' .308 X 1.5". Do you have anything that you can share? roger

Not here, but it's a neat little bugger. Looks great for cast loads, no?

There's lots of stuff out there on the 30 BR, which is pretty hot with the Hunter Class BR folks....the case is 1.540(?)", but internal capacity is different that a .308 case trimmed back.

you can look at 308 whisper and 308 br, which will overlap this one.

jeffe

I have 2 30BR rifles. One is a varmint for score rifle and the other was my primary deer rifle last year. The magic velocity is 2950 fps with a 125 bullet. This is a hunting bullet. The BR setup uses 118 BIB bullets. About 35 grains of VV130 or the same amount of h4198. I use a Shilen 17 twist on the BR gun and a 15 twist on the hunting rig. This is by and far the most accurate hunting caliber that I have ever used. Butch

What do you want to know? 308x1.5 Barnes takes me back afew years don't know if I can find my reloading data. Sure was ahead of it's time.

Ackley's handbook has some data.

Frank C. Barnes, the designer, recommended only 4198 powder. From 24 grains with a 180 grain bullet up to 29 grains with a 80 grain bullet. However, and this is a big however, I would bet that every rifle chambered for this cartridge had a slightly different dimensioned chamber. Most guys simply ran a 308W reamer in short (which could mean just about anything) but then had to polish out the rear end to accomodate the particular brass they were using. If you're using GI brass, capacity will be a LOT LESS. With the old Rem Basic BR brass capacity will be a LOT MORE. Go slow and work up.

Ray

quote:

Originally posted by Cheechako:
Frank C. Barnes, the designer, recommended only 4198 powder. From 24 grains with a 180 grain bullet up to 29 grains with a 80 grain bullet. However, and this is a big however, I would bet that every rifle chambered for this cartridge had a slightly different dimensioned chamber. Most guys simply ran a 308W reamer in short (which could mean just about anything) but then had to polish out the rear end to accomodate the particular brass they were using. If you're using GI brass, capacity will be a LOT LESS. With the old Rem Basic BR brass capacity will be a LOT MORE. Go slow and work up.

Ray

Frank Barnes test rifle had a 1/12 twist and on his diagram of the 308x1.5 was different that just running a 308 reamer in short as the shoulder were alittle longer and neck shorter than a 308. I uses 300 Savage to form my cases and IMR-4198 is a pretty good powder and about 28/29 gr is about all the powder the case will hold. I had some good luck with H-335. Today I think with the fast twist barrel might do well with a 30br instead of the 308x1.5. I had a 7.62x39 done up last year just see how that case would do in a 30 cal barrel used a 1/18 twist barrel. Just wanted somethng to just shoot and have fun with.

I set back a 308 barrel and rechambered it to 30BR instead of 308x1.5 just because I could neck up 7 BR brass. Made some brass out of 300 Savage but powder capacity was smaller. Shot 125 gr bullets in 1 in 10 twist barrel. The benchrest guys have perfected the 30br and you can find info at http://www.6mmbr.com. Definitely a fun gun. Now I use a bolt gun in 7.62x39 also.

quote:

Originally posted by tom holland

Frank Barnes test rifle had a 1/12 twist and on his diagram of the 308x1.5 was different that just running a 308 reamer in short as the shoulder were alittle longer and neck shorter than a 308.[/QUOTE]

Tom

I didn't mean to imply that the 308 x 1.5 is simply the 308W run in short because, as you pointed out, it is not. I was trying to caution anyone with a barrel chambered for that caliber to be wary because not all chambers were made to Barnes' original specs. I'd almost venture to say that the majority of them were made with a 308W reamer because that was the quickest and cheapest way to do it. Case capacity can vary quite a bit depending on who and how the chamber was cut. A chamber cast on a wildcat is always a good idea. You never know what's inside there unless you did it yourself.

Ray