Floundertrap
Well-Known Member
Hey Folks,
I'm new, thanks for having me. I've been reading posts from this site for years and finally have a question that I don't think has been asked/answered already. If it has please kindly direct me to it.
I've recently purchased what I think should've been an heirloom rifle out of California, guess the kids weren't into hunting. Serial# 390XXX, I believe 1956 built, but was rechambered with a custom barrel, marked on left with "XXXX" and 308N, on the right side with "JRB" over "APEX". Based on my research I believe this rifle was rechambered in the early 60s before the 300WM was introduced. It has pretty nice and very well inletted stock (fully floated barrel but very nice fit/gaps), really crisp trigger that's light with no creep, clean, sharp bore that I believe to be 1:10 twist and a really nice finish, matched bluing on barrel to original receiver bluing, wood in exc cond, etc. etc...
I really want to use this rifle for hunting whitetail in Eastern NC. I have a few hunting spots where my shot may be 500-700 yards and I would like to tune a round for this rifle for that range. I can find load data for the 308 Norma Mag, but everything I'm finding is out of a 26" barrel or longer. Just to get it out there, I am an experienced shooter and loader, and I am an ethical hunter, still a bit old school I suppose because I still like bullet weight retention and holes on both sides that leak, a lot. I'm hoping you guys can suggest a powder that will burn fast enough to get good, consistent speed out of my short barrel. On the shelf I have H1000, IMR4350 and H4350, IMR4895, H4831, Retumbo and RL22; but I'm not afraid to buy more. I plan to start with a 165gn Sierra TGK GameChanger and Norma Brass and WLRM primers and I have a paper-box RCBS Full Length die set.
What powders do you guys suggest? Load data would be awesome but I realize I have a rare bird here. Your help is greatly appreciated. Any info on that "JRB APEX" builder/barrel is appreciated as well.
BTW, the rifle will be topped with a Leupold LRP 6.5-20X50, not a 40 year old 2-8X Bushnell, lol.
I'm new, thanks for having me. I've been reading posts from this site for years and finally have a question that I don't think has been asked/answered already. If it has please kindly direct me to it.
I've recently purchased what I think should've been an heirloom rifle out of California, guess the kids weren't into hunting. Serial# 390XXX, I believe 1956 built, but was rechambered with a custom barrel, marked on left with "XXXX" and 308N, on the right side with "JRB" over "APEX". Based on my research I believe this rifle was rechambered in the early 60s before the 300WM was introduced. It has pretty nice and very well inletted stock (fully floated barrel but very nice fit/gaps), really crisp trigger that's light with no creep, clean, sharp bore that I believe to be 1:10 twist and a really nice finish, matched bluing on barrel to original receiver bluing, wood in exc cond, etc. etc...
I really want to use this rifle for hunting whitetail in Eastern NC. I have a few hunting spots where my shot may be 500-700 yards and I would like to tune a round for this rifle for that range. I can find load data for the 308 Norma Mag, but everything I'm finding is out of a 26" barrel or longer. Just to get it out there, I am an experienced shooter and loader, and I am an ethical hunter, still a bit old school I suppose because I still like bullet weight retention and holes on both sides that leak, a lot. I'm hoping you guys can suggest a powder that will burn fast enough to get good, consistent speed out of my short barrel. On the shelf I have H1000, IMR4350 and H4350, IMR4895, H4831, Retumbo and RL22; but I'm not afraid to buy more. I plan to start with a 165gn Sierra TGK GameChanger and Norma Brass and WLRM primers and I have a paper-box RCBS Full Length die set.
What powders do you guys suggest? Load data would be awesome but I realize I have a rare bird here. Your help is greatly appreciated. Any info on that "JRB APEX" builder/barrel is appreciated as well.
BTW, the rifle will be topped with a Leupold LRP 6.5-20X50, not a 40 year old 2-8X Bushnell, lol.