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Bullet choices 308 win Mid Range 3 - 600yds

boatbum101

Private
Minuteman
Nov 17, 2023
16
11
Pensacola , FL
308 Win 300 –600yd Bullet Selection





Loading for 2different rifles . One is a Rem 700 , 26” 1 in 12” VSS barrel ,AICS DM . Other is a Steyr THB 20” . Both have generous throats .Rem is 2.937” to the leade & haven't checked the Steyr yet . My concern is that the 155's are not tolerant of jump . With 2.880being my oal limit by mag , jump in the Rem will be .057 &unknown in Steyr . Would the older 155's with a tangent ogive be moretolerant than the Palma type secant ogive ? Would they have to bedriven as fast ? Then we have the old 168 SMK or other 168 offerings. If longer ranges were involved I could see the 169 SMK &heavier 175 / 185 being the best choice . Most probably the 175'sbeing a better choice @ 600 , especially with windy conditions .Unfortunately around here finding somewhere longer than 300yds thatallows paper targets aint easy . Steel is king locally .​
 
The SMK 168 will do fine to 600 yards, but if you really want 1000 yards then use one of the other ones.

The Palma games use the 155s when the international rules are applied, and they are driven fast to keep them competitive and sonic past 1000.

If you use electronic targets, the ones like ShotMarker and Silver Mountain cannot "see" a subsonic bullet, so one way or the other we push them for a sonic speed at the target.

If you are not shooting Palma or need to go sonic at 1000, then you can shoot those Palma or Fullbore bullets at any speed you like and do fine at 600.

Go visit a Palma match some day, you might like it.
 
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It’s hard to beat the 169 and 175 SMKs at 600yds. At sea level the 20” barrel is a handicap beyond about 800yds. You tend to lose about 150 fps versus the the 26”. You might find the 20” likes a little faster powder like N135 as opposed to Varget or 4064.
 
I have jumped 155 scenars in excess of .070”. Very precise/accurate for me.

Get them going 2900+ and they can be tough to beat at mid range.
 
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I have 2 Steyr rifles, my SSG likes Sierra 150 gr HPBT,and my THB likes the Sierra 155 gr Palma. When i go to my 600 yard range they both shoot good.
Think i use 43.5 grs of Benchmark in Lapua brass for the THB,and Peterson for the SSG. Both rifles launch them over 2900.
 
FYI my THB is from when they came with Manners stocks and it has a 26 inch barrel.
 
THB has a 20" barrel & getting 2900+ with a 155 just not possible . Not worried about 1000yds right now mainly because no local places have a range that long . 600 is possible & 300 even more so . Since prices on the SMK's run about the same regardless of weight , the 169 SMK looks like best bet . If 1000 becomes possible the 169's will also work .
 
There’s a whole thread on 24hourcampfire about Scenars. Hard to beat across the board in a 308.


I have jumped 155 scenars in excess of .070”. Very precise/accurate for me.

Get them going 2900+ and they can be tough to beat at mid range.
 
I’m a big fan of 155 Scenars. In my experience very jump tolerant. Hammered from my 18.5.
 
Try the 168 ELD-Ms. they have a better BC than the 175 SMK and are jump tolerant. They are an excellent long range bullet and will work fine from 300-600 also. I have shot them to 1250 yards in matches.
 
I load rounds capable of 1000 yards. I load 175smks. I run them at 2640fps.
You may not have a local range that allows for more than 600 yards but that doesn't mean you won't have a need to push one a bit further.
If you can figure your dope for 100 to 600 yards you can figure it to 1000 yards. I like to be prepared when I can be.