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Author Topic: .308 bull barrel  (Read 790 times)

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Offline Wagguy80

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.308 bull barrel
« on: January 01, 2013, 08:57:18 PM »
  Wanting to send my handi off for another barrel.  Looking at the .308 bull 22" barrel.  Just wondering if anybody has any experience with one, and how it shoots.  I know not all barrels/calibers are created equal.  I have a lot of .308 laying around but no longer own a .308
   Will it handle NATO 7.62x51 loads, accuracy, etc.
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Offline petemi

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Re: .308 bull barrel
« Reply #1 on: January 01, 2013, 09:41:19 PM »
It depends on how you're gonna use the rifle.  Off the bench, the bull is nice.  Lugging it around the woods, not so.  The bulls sling top heavy and the only way to carry them comfortably is in your hands or slung muzzle down.  Walking with one in your hands for hours will wear you out, and slinging them is awkward at best.  I use shorties or Superlights for walking.  The bull won't heat up as quickly as say a Superlight, but, in a hunting situation, that's not a big deal.  You're not busting PDs shot after shot with a .308.

7.62x51 ammo will shoot fine in the Handi.  I used to shoot lots of it in a Ruger M77 MKII.  The problem with the .223 and military ammo doesn't exist with the 7.62 and .308.  I found my best .308 accuracy with the Nosler 168 gr. BT in the Ruger.  When I got the Handi, It did the same and that's what I load for both.

Pete
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Keep both eyes open and make the first shot good.
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Offline nanuk-O-dah-Nort

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Re: .308 bull barrel
« Reply #2 on: January 01, 2013, 10:01:01 PM »
Quote from: petemi on January 01, 2013, 09:41:19 PM

7.62x51 NATO ammo will shoot fine in the Handi.  I used to shoot lots of it in a Ruger M77 MKII.  The problem with the .223 and military ammo doesn't exist with the 7.62 and .308.  I found my best .308 accuracy with the Nosler 168 gr. BT in the Ruger.  When I got the Handi, It did the same and that's what I load for both.

Pete


There, fixed it for you!
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Offline theratdog

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Re: .308 bull barrel
« Reply #3 on: January 01, 2013, 10:14:30 PM »
haven't heard and complaints on the 308 i have had only one barrel that was bad. i don't think i would get a bull barrel either to heavy to pack around but just for bench shooting it would be all right. ;)
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Offline petemi

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Re: .308 bull barrel
« Reply #4 on: January 01, 2013, 11:35:37 PM »
Thanks Nanuk......Senior moment. :o :o

Pete
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Keep both eyes open and make the first shot good.
The growing Handi/Sportster/Pardner/Topper Family:  .22 WMR, .22-250. 223, Two Superlight 7mm-08s and one .243, .30-30,  .308, 32-20, 18 inch .356/.358 Win., Two 16.5 inch .357 Max., 18 inch 38-55 BC Carbine, 16.5 inch .445 Super Mag., .45LC, 16.5 and 22 inch .45-70s, .50 Huntsman SS, .410, 20 ga., 12 ga., 20 ga. Pardner Pump, Versa-Pack .410 - .22
[size=7.4 pt]PLEASE DONATE TO THE GBO SERVER FUND  We're closer to the goal but not there yet, we can still use more donations, thanks

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Offline Wagguy80

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Re: .308 bull barrel
« Reply #5 on: January 02, 2013, 06:55:59 AM »
Thanks that answers pretty much everything I wanted to know, and more.  Thanks for the load info as well.  Basically this will mainly be for range plinking.  Maybe do a little tuning, and see how far out I can stretch it 700+ yards maybe.  Hence the bull barrel. 


But now that I'm thinking about it I may go with the regular profile barrel because I love hunting with my handi, and have some places that I hunt during rifle season where a .444 just isn't appropriate.
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Offline hoytcanon

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Re: .308 bull barrel
« Reply #6 on: January 02, 2013, 07:16:37 AM »
The .308 heavies are the only Handi's that I have that are not cut down... and that is because I DID cut down a pair, but watched the accuracy erode, more than I was comfortable with... the loads that I tested were H150 Interbond, H155 A-Max Moly's, H165 GMX and H165 Interbond, H165 SST, NBT 150 and NBT 168... the best accuracy with the full length 22" Heavy (+brake) was with the NBT 168... the best accuracy with the barrel down to 18" was with the 155 A-Max Moly's... but these were a far cry from the full length with the 168 NBT... long story longer... I sold the shorties and bought two more full length .308 heavies, installed brakes and stocked up on the NBT 168's... been that way ever since. For the record, I have had excellent success with shorties in every other caliber, so it is possible that I caught a bad node on these barrels... but it did happen with two. They look like this now;
 
 
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Hoyt Handi's; Ultra Black .22 K-Hornet Shorty, Black Synthetic K-Hornet Shorty & Nickel .410 Combo (sons), Ultra Granite Grey .22 BR Rem, Ultra Nutmeg .223 & .30/30 Shorty Combo (sons), Ultra Forest .223/7mm-08 Shorty Combo, Ultra Forest .243/.308 Combo, Ultra Nutmeg .243/.308 Combo (sons),  Jacaranda/Cocobolo .30/30 & 7.62X39 Shorty Combo, Ultra Black/Stainless .260 Rem Stub, Ultra Black/Stainless .338 Federal Stub,  Ultra Grey .358 Win, Ultra Grey .35 Whelen, Walnut/Cocobolo Mannlicher .357 MAX, Buffalo Classic Mannlicher .44 Mag Shorties w/NDS-38 peeps (X2; Sons & mine), Ultra Grey Stainless .45/70 & .243 & 20 Gauge Combo, Buffalo Classic 26" .45/70, 9.3X74R Mannlicher, Synthetic Nickel .410 & .30/30 & Versa Pak .22 LR Shorty Combo, Ultra Forest/Cocobolo 12 Gauge 3.5" Turkey; Most scoped with DNZ or Dura Sight one-piece bases and Mueller, Hawke or Nikon scopes... several with Skinner Peeps and Williams Fire Sight ramps.

Offline Spanky

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Re: .308 bull barrel
« Reply #7 on: January 02, 2013, 08:13:28 AM »
Quote from: hoytcanon on January 02, 2013, 07:16:37 AM
The .308 heavies are the only Handi's that I have that are not cut down... and that is because I DID cut down a pair, but watched the accuracy erode, more than I was comfortable with... the loads that I tested were H150 Interbond, H155 A-Max Moly's, H165 GMX and H165 Interbond, H165 SST, NBT 150 and NBT 168... the best accuracy with the full length 22" Heavy (+brake) was with the NBT 168... the best accuracy with the barrel down to 18" was with the 155 A-Max Moly's... but these were a far cry from the full length with the 168 NBT... long story longer... I sold the shorties and bought two more full length .308 heavies, installed brakes and stocked up on the NBT 168's... been that way ever since. For the record, I have had excellent success with shorties in every other caliber, so it is possible that I caught a bad node on these barrels... but it did happen with two. They look like this now;
 
 

 
 
I love that rifle Hoyt. :) 
It's one of the best looking Handi's out there.
 
 
 
Spanky
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Offline ousooners1baby

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Re: .308 bull barrel
« Reply #8 on: January 02, 2013, 08:16:32 AM »
How do ya know if ya have a bull or not?
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Thanks, Jer

Offline quickdtoo

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Re: .308 bull barrel
« Reply #9 on: January 02, 2013, 08:30:44 AM »
Quote from: ousooners1baby on January 02, 2013, 08:16:32 AM
How do ya know if ya have a bull or not?

You can tell by the muzzle diameter which are listed in the FAQs for different H&R contours and bore sizes, bull barrels will be ~.800".

Tim
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Offline hounddoug

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Re: .308 bull barrel
« Reply #10 on: January 02, 2013, 07:16:52 PM »
i have a 308 bull 22 inch mine shoots about 1 inch with fact. loads 150 gr. :)  i love it.
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