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.308 win, which bullet?

Coletta

Coletta

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Oct 27, 2011
280
2
Memphis, TN
I am about to start working up some loads for a new f-tr rifle. I have on hand Sierra 155 palmas, 155 scenars, 175 smk, 178 amax, 185 scenar, 185 vld hybrid, 190 smk, and 208 amax. The selection is giving me a headache. The rifle has a 27", 10 twist barrel. I would like to narrow my selection. Are any of you using 155's out of a similar setup? Are any of you favoring the 185+'s? Is anyone using the 185 vld hybrid in competition (seems like little info on this one)?

Thanks in advance
 
Re: .308 win, which bullet?

Some of the F-TR guys over here are running the 185 Bergers with VV N150. I've personally not run these loads but believe they are running extremely hot and getting 2800 fps plus with 1/12 twist. The 185 is very slippery especially at that sort of speed.
 
Re: .308 win, which bullet?

1 in 10....I'd take advantage of the 175 SMK...or something in the 175-185gr. I like the SMKs because their generally not picky about jumping.
 
Re: .308 win, which bullet?

I prefer the 1/10 twist and have had great results with the 175 SMK. The 1/10 might shoot just fine with the 155's but should be at its best with the 175 SMKs.
 
Re: .308 win, which bullet?

Thanks for the responses. The 175 smk's have always been my go to, and I may not replace them in the end. With that said, I would like to hear of some others that like the alternatives more than the 175's.
 
Re: .308 win, which bullet?

I think with your twist, you wanna go with the 175's. I shoot 155's, but mine is 26" with 1:12.
 
Re: .308 win, which bullet?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tipper</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Hornady 178 HPBT </div></div>

This
 
Re: .308 win, which bullet?

i just finish reloading my first 80+ rounds ever and i shot 1/2 moa with the 178 amax.

i have a savage with a 1:10 twist.

i was previously shooting 168
 
Re: .308 win, which bullet?

I Shoot 178 gr amax in a savage 10 24" barrel 1/10 twist with win brass fed 210 primers and 43.3 gr Varget OAL 2.835" and it does 1/2" or better @ 100yds most of the time @ 2635 fps average I have shot it @ 840 yds and have done a few 5" 3 rd groups. I tried a box of new lapua brass and didn't notice a difference in accuracy, ES or SD so I am loading Winchester brass. Very consistent load.
 
Re: .308 win, which bullet?

Don't rule out the Lapua D-46 185 gr FMJBT.

To be honest, if you're shooting F-class with that long barrel with the right slow powder, I would give 185-190's a close look, especially if you plan to shoot 1K yards. But, you may find better results at 300-600 with the lighter bullets.

In other words, the 155's may be your 300 yard winner, the 175 might be the go-to round for 600, and the 185 or 190 could take the x-ring at 1K. Many champion shooters have used lighter bullets where high velocity trumps wind at shorter ranges, then heavier bullets to buck the wind at longer ranges.

Here are the "measured" ballistic coefficients for your listed inventory:

Bullet G1 BC
Scenar 155 0.462
Sierra 155 palma (2155) 0.417
Sierra 155 palma (2156) 0.449
175 smk 0.475
178 amax 0.469
185 scenar 0.483
185 vld hybrid 0.569
190 smk 0.523
208 amax 0.683

G1 BC's from "Applied Ballistics For Long Range Shooting, 2nd Ed." by Brian Litz. A VERY RECOMMENDED book.

You might try the 155 Scenar vs. 175 smk at 300 yd, the 175 smk vs. 185 scenar at 600 yd, and maybe the 190 smk vs. 185 vld hybrid at 1000 yd.

Other thoughts... if you have to seat to magazine length with a standard chamber, you may want to avoid the VLD's. The 208 Amax normally requires at least a 30-06 to drive it fast enough. Consider coating your bullets with moly or Hexagonal Boron Nitride to get higher velocities and reduce bore fouling.

Everything depends on you and your rifle. Just experiment with it and have fun. But, I very much recommend Litz's book.

Good luck.
 
Re: .308 win, which bullet?

Good info! I will start with the 185 hybrid. I feel that my trusty ole 175 load will prob work too with maybe some fine tuning. I will play with the 155's last.
 
Re: .308 win, which bullet?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tipper</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Hornady 178 HPBT </div></div>

I know every rifle is different but my AI rilfe pretty much likes everything except the 178 hpbt for some reason. They were also very inconsistent in weight from bullet to bullet. Berger 175 bthp, 175 smk and 178 amax were all very consistent and shot very well. I was so pissed with the 178bthp's I turfed them in the garbage. Just my experience but I wanted to let you know.
 
Re: .308 win, which bullet?

I am running 155gr Palmas out of my 10 twist at about 2625fps out of a 22" barrel. You could get some great velocity out of your 27"
 
Re: .308 win, which bullet?

I am running 155 Scenars at 2925-2950 fps out of a 24" tube 31.3 MoA to 1000 yards.
 
Re: .308 win, which bullet?

I have a GAP .308 with a 1 and 11.25 twist. The 168 gr SMK works for me.
 
Re: .308 win, which bullet?

In a shorter than 30" barrel you'll do better to run heavies than to run the 155 class bullets, and believe nothing that you see for muzzle velocities from short barrels on the web. Load and chrono your own. Half of the claims are not run over a chrono and are just best guesses based on a comeup with no accounting for DA. Some of the USFTR team guys are only able to get about 3100 from barrels over 30" long. I learned very quickly that either I had the slowest barrels ever to come out of Rock Creek and Krieger or there were some exaggerated MV numbers out there.

Not picking on the poster but this post:
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am running 155 Scenars at 2925-2950 fps out of a 24" tube 31.3 MoA to 1000 yards.</div></div>

The poster is posting from Austin, TX. That come up works at sea level. I'll wager that on a summer day the DA where he's shooting is something close to 3000ft. (I've seen my 900 ft actual range at over 4000 ft DA in the summer heat) If it is then his come up would be only 28.7MOA. Maybe he can get that from a 24" barrel. The point is get your own data.


The 175 SMK is a reliable round that there is a lot of data for and that you can buy loaded if you so desire (See Southwest ammo)

The Berger 185 LRBT is a fantastic bullet, but it costs a lot more than the 175SMK.

My suggestion is to start with either 175 SMKs or Hornady 178s and learn with them before you start spending $20 more per 100 bullets on Bergers.

Stay away from the 168SMK, it will not make it to 1000 super sonic. It was designed as a 300 yard bullet, it will shoot 600 but at 1000 you will hit the target sideways if at all.
 
Re: .308 win, which bullet?

I'm another one for 178 AMAXs. I've done 2 ladder tests so far with the 178 AMAX and VV N540 and I'm getting about 1/2moa @ 100yds with my choice load. Savage 10pc 1:10 SWFA SS3-9x42.
178 AMAX, VV N540 40.5gr, Nosler Case, Fed 210M Primer, COAL 2.800". No chrono yet.
 
Re: .308 win, which bullet?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nflder</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tipper</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Hornady 178 HPBT </div></div>

I know every rifle is different but my AI rilfe pretty much likes everything except the 178 hpbt for some reason. They were also very inconsistent in weight from bullet to bullet. Berger 175 bthp, 175 smk and 178 amax were all very consistent and shot very well. I was so pissed with the 178bthp's I turfed them in the garbage. Just my experience but I wanted to let you know. </div></div>

I sure hope my rifle likes'em cuz I just bought 500 of the rascals!
 
Re: .308 win, which bullet?

I have had descent luck with 168gr sierra match king as a good balance between weight, bc, and mv.

I am no expert by any means, but what I have seen leads me to believe you pretty much want the heaviest bullet your rifle will shoot well with. I would use 178, but I get very poor results in my rifle with it.

I would love to know why, but that is another story...
 
Re: .308 win, which bullet?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: XTR</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Not picking on the poster but this post:
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am running 155 Scenars at 2925-2950 fps out of a 24" tube 31.3 MoA to 1000 yards.</div></div>

The poster is posting from Austin, TX. That come up works at sea level. I'll wager that on a summer day the DA where he's shooting is something close to 3000ft. (I've seen my 900 ft actual range at over 4000 ft DA in the summer heat) If it is then his come up would be only 28.7MOA. Maybe he can get that from a 24" barrel. The point is get your own data.</div></div>

I completely agree that one should always "get their own data", and be in a position to convert one set of atmospherics to another.
 
Re: .308 win, which bullet?

You've selected a great group to start with, guess you'll have to let the gun tell you what you'll need to use. With the b.c. of the hybrid, if it'll shoot in your gun it looks to be a no brainer.

I went 178Amax because they were readily available and cheaper than the 175smk's. In addition, the polymer tip doesn't show as much variation (I'm my eyes) to meplat deformation/inconsistencies.

You hoping to have the new rig out on the 28th?
 
Re: .308 win, which bullet?

175 grain nosler custom comps. if you have a 1/10. They have very little weight variations unlike the sierras and the also have the j4 jacket. They are the only bullet I put through my 308 now.
 
Re: .308 win, which bullet?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: LawnMM</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tipper</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Hornady 178 HPBT </div></div>

This</div></div>

^^^^This, they shoot great out my gas gun, 22'' 12 twist behind 49.5gr of RL-17 and Winchester brass = 2,700fps and .5 MOA @ 100 yards

Litz G7 BCs
175 Berger OTM 0.259 $44 per 100
178 Hornady HPBT 0.257 $25 per 100. Ding, ding, ding..We have a winner!
175 SMK 0.243 $30 per 100

Pictures of my groups here... http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=3414333#Post3414333

The 155 SMK Palmas are nice too, if you can drive em @ 2,900fps they will hang with the 178s (2,700fps)in the wind @ 1k.
 
Re: .308 win, which bullet?

The nosler custom comp. are amazing they have the least weight variation of any manufacture I've weighed. The sierras were horrible a much a 2 full grains diff.
 
Re: .308 win, which bullet?

My question back at ya is, What's your freebore?
If this is a true Win. 308 chamber then the 155's probably wouldn't be the best fit. With a 27" barrel your giving up some easy MV. I'd try 175-185 first then move up.


B
 
Re: .308 win, which bullet?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BillCh</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My question back at ya is, What's your freebore?
If this is a true Win. 308 chamber then the 155's probably wouldn't be the best fit. With a 27" barrel your giving up some easy MV. I'd try 175-185 first then move up.


B </div></div>
The chamber is a 308 win tactical match, and it was Headspaced with lapua brass. I can't remember the length to ogive, but I will be running 2.886 coal with 185 hybrids.
I screwed off with my load workups and shot them all at 800yd steel (damn A.D.D.), so I will be using the match for load development. I do know 43.2 target had some crunch when seated, but primers were still well rounded when fired. This load would have prob blown the primer out in my old rifle. I will prob use this as my max load this weekend.
 
Re: .308 win, which bullet?

I have some 190 VLD's, if you want to try those too.
 
Re: .308 win, which bullet?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SHWILL</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have some 190 VLD's, if you want to try those too.</div></div>

You want to shoot this weekend? Bring your 338LM and piss off all the F-open guys, haha.
Seriously though, bring your 308.
 
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