Berger 155 or 168 .308

[hooksz86]

So I have had good luck in past with the 168gr HPBT in one of my 308's. But that was with a longer barrel and a 1 in 12 twist. I just got a 700 tactical with a 20in barrel and a 1 in 10 twist. I relize that the 1 in 10 can handle the longer bearing serface 168gr over the 1 in 12. But the barrel being shorter will make for a lower FPS. Just wondering if anyone had better or worse luck with the 155gr over the 168gr Berger bullet in there 308 win? In one other question on this, if anyone is shooting the 155. Do you know how flat it is shooting out to 400yrd? I'm taking it elk hunting is why I want the VLD hunting bullet with very good BC.

Thanks for any feedback

 

[CK_32]

Yes you will lose FPS from the same load. But can easily be gained again with a few more grains of powder (in a safe manner of course)

It's not that shorter barrels can't obtain those numbers of a longer one it just takes a bit more powder or work for them to do so. Your fines just find a good node and your set.

 

[BobinNC]

So I have had good luck in past with the 168gr HPBT in one of my 308's. But that was with a longer barrel and a 1 in 12 twist. I just got a 700 tactical with a 20in barrel and a 1 in 10 twist. I relize that the 1 in 10 can handle the longer bearing serface 168gr over the 1 in 12. But the barrel being shorter will make for a lower FPS. Just wondering if anyone had better or worse luck with the 155gr over the 168gr Berger bullet in there 308 win? In one other question on this, if anyone is shooting the 155. Do you know how flat it is shooting out to 400yrd? I'm taking it elk hunting is why I want the VLD hunting bullet with very good BC.

Thanks for any feedback

To answer part of your question, I ran two JBM JBM - Calculations - Trajectory (Simplified) trajectory charts, one for the Berger 155 gr Hunting VLD and and the other for the Berger 168 Gr Hunting VLD. I only ran both out to 400 yds, because that's what you asked for.

Calculated Table for Berger 155 Hunting VLD @ 2850 FPS
Range	Drop	Drop	Windage	Windage	Velocity	Mach	Energy	Time	Lead	Lead
(yd)	(mil)	(MOA)	(mil)	(MOA)	(ft/s)	(none)	(ft•lbs)	(s)	(mil)	(MOA)
0	***	***	***	***	2850.0	2.557	2795.0	0.000	***	***
100	-0.0	-0.0	0.2	0.7	2645.5	2.374	2408.4	0.109	5.3	18.4
200	-0.4	-1.5	0.4	1.4	2449.1	2.197	2064.0	0.227	5.6	19.1
300	-1.1	-3.9	0.6	2.2	2261.1	2.029	1759.3	0.355	5.8	19.9
400	-1.9	-6.7	0.9	3.0	2082.0	1.868	1491.6	0.493	6.0	20.7

<tbody>
</tbody>

Calculated Table for the Berger 168 gr Hunting VLD @ 2700 FPS
Range	Drop	Drop	Windage	Windage	Velocity	Mach	Energy	Time	Lead	Lead
(yd)	(mil)	(MOA)	(mil)	(MOA)	(ft/s)	(none)	(ft•lbs)	(s)	(mil)	(MOA)
0	***	***	***	***	2700.0	2.423	2719.0	0.000	***	***
100	-0.0	-0.0	0.1	0.5	2557.7	2.295	2439.9	0.114	5.6	19.2
200	-0.5	-1.7	0.3	1.1	2419.6	2.171	2183.6	0.235	5.7	19.7
300	-1.2	-4.1	0.5	1.6	2285.8	2.051	1948.8	0.362	5.9	20.3
400	-2.0	-6.9	0.6	2.2	2156.5	1.935	1734.5	0.497	6.1	20.9

<tbody>
</tbody>

Not much difference between them is there? The 155 shoots minutely flatter, but the 168 bucks the wind much better. Given how big an elk is, I'd opt for the bullet with the higher Sectional Density, and Energy at range and that would be the 168 gr. given your 2 choices.

Both those velocities are easily obtained from a 20" barrel BTW

 

[Niles Coyote]

I chose to run 168vlds in my 1:12 tactical 20" IIRC I was around 2645 with varget and it worked out well. I seated them to 2.815 and they were working well. I tried the 155's but was only getting around 2730 so that was the deciding factor. However, Berger has a 168 classic hunting hybrid out that is worth a look. I found some at a local Cabelas and the BC is equal to the 175 VLD or around .495-.496 and it is shooting very well out of my Winchester but I have not tried it in the 20" tactical...

Contrary to popular belief around here as of late, you don’t need 1:10 twist 308's unless you are running sub's or super heavy 200+... the 190 berger vld will stabilize in my 1:12 twist tactical and printed some very nice groups at 300 but I didn’t care for the low velocity from the 20" factory barrel.

A couple of thread you may find interesting
http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...846-308-remington-tactical-work-progress.html

168vld results on a mule deer
http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...shing/101387-montana-2011-mule-deer-trip.html

 

[hooksz86]

Ok that's around about what I was thinking, just wanted some other guys that know what they are talking about to verify. I had a friend that liked the 155 so thought would ask. I think I'll keep the 168 and 46gr varget. Great help and thanks again. Going to shoot this rifle for first time this weekend.