Range Report different weight bullets and why/when?

[AXEMAN]

ok, i hope this is the right spot for this question. i just started all of this. first bolt rifle, first attempt at long range and first mil/mil... first reloading and load development. anyway, i started with 168g and i have a bunch. i read palma uses a 155g bullet so i know thats one reason to use a different weight bullet. if you hunt, you may want a hunting bullet rather than a SMK (i know people hunt with them, lets not get into that) im just saying i understand those reasons for different types and weights of bullets, but if i find a charge of varget that my 168s like in my LC brass, why would i want to buy some 175g SMKs for instance and work that load up? i am not a hunter, i just plan on punching paper and shooting steel, but should i bother with trying another bullet weight or brand really if im just a target shooter? and why would i want to do the same load development on a 175g or a 190g or 155g load, what would its purpose be if i had a good 168g already. am i being clear? what would the other loads do for me that the 168 wouldnt? thanks

 

[deadly0311]

Re: different weight bullets and why/when?

typically the 168 gets crazy out past about 800-850 yds. Inside that they are fine, people choose the 155s for the increased speed and good BC, and then people choose the heavys and give up some speed but gain the advantage in the wind with heavier bullets.

 

[AXEMAN]

Re: different weight bullets and why/when?

oh geez so there could come a time where when its time to shoot, id look at the conditions and shot and say "hmmm, this looks like id better use the XXXs instead of the 168s"... ok well thats a long ways off, ill deal with that then. im even sure there is a reason in a given situation that you would want a faster bullet. shorter flight times i get that, but im sure that there would be other applications as well. like you mentioned, longer range, windier conditions. seems important to set a zero for your main load then and keep notes of the difference in poi for weights going up or down in weight as well as dope on each weight. wow, interesting task ahead

 

[Onemoretime]

Re: different weight bullets and why/when?

Just like deadly said above.

If you don't plan to shoot out past 7 or 800 yards then there's no reason for you to switch to another bullet.

Personally, if I were to shoot one weight bullet for the .308 it would be in the 175 grain area.

 

[deadly0311]

Re: different weight bullets and why/when?

Axe, for example the 155 scenar has a better BC than th 175 SMK. You can also push it faster, but it moves a slight bit more in the wind then the 175. Its all a give and take

 

[AXEMAN]

Re: different weight bullets and why/when?

ok also so are you saying some guys beat/cheat the wind with a lighter faster bullet so the lessened flight time helps with that where others use a heavier bullet which is less affected by the wind? i know for hunting, heavier is for bigger game. ive even read of 308s with really light loads being used for varmint, like 115s? cant recall the exact weight. anyway, thanks and if any other thoughts on applications where lighter or heavier would be better, please enlighten me. i have books with the loads, but they dont list applications or advantages really other than a pictogram or two. thanks


well i had always read 168 in most places so when i saw 1k for sale, i bought the guys last two cases. he was changing calibers and selling off the 168s so i am kinda in the 168g R&D game for the time being. but ive plenty of cases, and i can see loading up some 155s & 175s just to see what the hit like on second or third shots after the 168s so i know where they are gonna hit compared to a known 168. at least thats what i would do.

 

[308sako]

Re: different weight bullets and why/when?

Deleted in protest!

 

[AXEMAN]

Re: different weight bullets and why/when?

i know a place to shoot to 300, i have a buddy that lives on a spot that has a bunch of preserve land around it who says he is good to 600-700, but im not sure about his estimates and another buddy with 20 acres and a nice hill off his property that slopes up, and he knows that owner. i hope to find some public hunting land and use usgs and goodle maps along with a topo and find someplace to shoot, even hike in and hang some steel. maybe camp for a few. something different after i get this all sighted at the 100 off a bench or the ground. i dont have a chrono yet, so i will just guesstimate and work up dope the old way? by shooting. ive been told the longest in the state is 600, closest 1000y is misouri. public anyway. but surely there is a decent powerline access or some place on public hunting areas i can go to shoot? anyway, thanks again

 

[kyreloader]

Re: different weight bullets and why/when?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: deadly0311</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Axe, for example the 155 scenar has a better BC than th 175 SMK. You can also push it faster, but it moves a slight bit more in the wind then the 175. Its all a give and take </div></div>

That is false.

IF the 155 Scenar has a higher BC and is lauched faster, it will have a flatter trajectory and have less wind drift.

I checked on JBM, the Lapua is 6.6 MOA flatter and has 1 MOA less wind drift at 1000y.

 

[Skyking]

Re: different weight bullets and why/when?

This is some good reading http://www.6mmbr.com/heavybullets.html

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: different weight bullets and why/when?

My view is that the load that shoots the best at the greatest distance will also shoot more than well enough at distances closer to the shooter.

The 155gr Palma bullet was/is a response to the original requirement that Palma shooters use issued NATO 7.62x51mm Ball ammo, which ranged in weight from 144(?) to 155gr. Like a lot of things, this became a gray area; and once handloaded ammo was allowed, a market developed for a 155gr bullet. This was the max bullet weight allowed, and Sierra stepped into that market with the 155gr Palma MatchKing.

While this was a totally arbitrary decision, like most obsolete rules, it has come to be graven in stone; and folks will always figure out a way to milk the maximum advantage out of any rule.

Greg

 

[longshotbml]

Re: different weight bullets and why/when?

Why are there all these different bullets? Because different rifles have diffferent appetites. My bolt gun will shoot Federal GMM 168 Sierra's 1-1.25 MOA. But feed it 170gr Lapua FMJ Match bullets and it will shoot .4-.5 MOA. You've got to feed them what they like. Hopefully you'll be able to find an acceptable load. You should. In general Sierra shoot well in most guns.

 

[Quackaddict]

Re: different weight bullets and why/when?

I look at laod development like this, I only work up what I need for ammunition. With my 308, I worked up loads with 175's, 168's , and 155's for target ammo. The 155's shot the best (Scenar btw) so I used up the rest of everything else and I now only load one ammo. It saves headache bigtime.

Personally I don't like the idea of developing multiple loads and shooting X load at xxx yards and Y load at YYY yards. I prefer having one load, shooting it a bunch, and staying within the limits it has.

I also developed a hunting bullet. Since the 155 shot the best, I picked a 150 grn hunting bullet and worked it up. Loaded it to the same spec as the 155 scenar and boom, .5 groups at 100yds.