Fast answer question: What grain bullet for what?

[MrOneEyedBoh]

I tried to search but my terms are too common. Im getting alll kinds of stuff I dont want.

The question is: At what distance is the 168gr 308 good for up to? and when does or when does the 175gr take over? I remember reading that someone said or multiple people said the 168gr is good for up to ( arbitrary number here ) 500yds so no point in wasting money on 175's just yet.

Thanks guys.

 

[coldboremiracle]

Re: Fast answer question: What grain bullet for what?

Most people use the 168 for 600-700 yds or less, and use the 175 for beyond that. I have shot both of them to 1k with no problems.

 

[SSSamurai]

Re: Fast answer question: What grain bullet for what?

It's whenever your bullet drops below supersonic speeds. The 168 gets weird when it makes the transition, and isn't consistent. The 175s tend to handle the transition well, maintaining their original trajectory. So, once you've figured out your velocity with a 168, find out when it goes subsonic and don't use it around or past that.

 

[MrOneEyedBoh]

Re: Fast answer question: What grain bullet for what?

How can one find out when it goes subsonic? To find out the velocity wouldnt I use a chrono?

by FNG alert here haha

 

[kraigWY]

Re: Fast answer question: What grain bullet for what?

I've been shooting High Power with a M1A since the mid 70s. 168s work great to 600, they suck at 1000. You might get them to work pushing them faster out of a bolt gun but I shoot gas.

If I was going to shoot along range match, consisting of 800, 900 and 1000, I'd go to 175s.

Don't recall ever shooting at 700 so I can't say. I use 600 as a max for 168s and 175s past that. Where the point between 600 and 800 lies I couldn't tell you. I just use the 600 as a stopping place for 168s.

I have used 175s at 600 but didn't see a big difference.

If one really wants to know, the only way I can think of is setting targets every 25 yards from 600 on and see where your rifle stops shooting the 168s, frankly I wouldn't waste my time.

 

[SSSamurai]

Re: Fast answer question: What grain bullet for what?

Find out your starting velocity using a chrono, then use a ballistics calculator to figure out when you drop below supersonic.

 

[Muttt]

Re: Fast answer question: What grain bullet for what?

If it's factory ammo, it should have a published BC and veloctity. Take those numbers and punch them into a ballistic calculator and it will tell you.

 

[coldboremiracle]

Re: Fast answer question: What grain bullet for what?

Or you could just shoot the 175 and forget it

 

[BOLTRIPPER]

Re: Fast answer question: What grain bullet for what?

I KNOW A GUY THAT SHOOTS 168'S OUT TO 1000 AND BEYOND...and kills stuff out there too.....out of a bolt gun, but the throat don't last too awefull long ...thats the trade-off, i mean .06 will push the 168's to 1k and beyond, but more powder is being torched off .

 

[Top Cat]

Re: Fast answer question: What grain bullet for what?

The 168 is a very old bullet design, referred to as the International, and was originally intended for 300 yd match work, IIRC...I still have a partial box of the old International ones.

It was designed to be accurate, which it does well at the intended range.

As Kraig says, it's good at 308 speeds to 800yds or so depending on environmental conditions.

The 175 is an improved ballistic design with the intended purpose of extending the range of the 168 reliably past 600-800 yds in the 308 out to 1000yds.

The small weight difference is not the only design change that makes the 175 a better performer, and a better choice for LR work.

TC

 

[coldboremiracle]

Re: Fast answer question: What grain bullet for what?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Top Cat</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I still have a partial box of the old International ones.
</div></div>
I have one too, 168 international.