Hey I have been shooting for a little bit now. I haven't gone past 220 yards due to the limitations of my range. I have been shooting .06 hand loads in 155 hornady amax and 150 sierra soft point. I have noticed a lot of people shooting much heavier stuff than that. I just switched up the .06 for a .308. I want to start shooting for around 600 yards, and farther later, but just 600 and under for starters. Should I buy some heavier grain bullets or can I keep using the 150-155s? I have been doing alot of reading and I see SMK. What does that mean is it brand/type of bullet? I have also seen people using 168 and up. My new rifle is a 700 20" bbl and 1:10" twist.
New to longer range shooting
- Thread starter K_Labs
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Re: New to longer range shooting
SMK= Sierra Matchking. Type of bullet.
The 155s will work to 600 but try some 178 AMAX as well. Varget is an excellent powder to use with either. Even the 168 AMAX will make 600 yards without a problem.
SMK= Sierra Matchking. Type of bullet.
The 155s will work to 600 but try some 178 AMAX as well. Varget is an excellent powder to use with either. Even the 168 AMAX will make 600 yards without a problem.
Re: New to longer range shooting
I've also seen that people are saying that some brass is better than others? I'm only just barely getting into .308s. I have 50 or so winchester. What's Lapua brass that every1 keeps talking about? Is some better than others/why? Longer case life or just beter quality control? I have been under the assumption that I just buy bullets, shoot them, and make my own brass like that. I'm currently using Reloader 15.
I've also seen that people are saying that some brass is better than others? I'm only just barely getting into .308s. I have 50 or so winchester. What's Lapua brass that every1 keeps talking about? Is some better than others/why? Longer case life or just beter quality control? I have been under the assumption that I just buy bullets, shoot them, and make my own brass like that. I'm currently using Reloader 15.
Re: New to longer range shooting
Winchester works fine for me, I have some Lapua but don't use it as often
Winchester works fine for me, I have some Lapua but don't use it as often
Re: New to longer range shooting
The 155's will work just fine out to 600 and beyond. Lapua brass is by far the most consistent, durable brass you can buy. When shooting long range it pays to have the best brass you can afford.
The 155's will work just fine out to 600 and beyond. Lapua brass is by far the most consistent, durable brass you can buy. When shooting long range it pays to have the best brass you can afford.
Re: New to longer range shooting
I am starting to try and use ballistics programs. Does anyone know of a good one I can use. The first one I found was http://www.handloads.com/calc/ it seems useful but I want one I can download.
I am starting to try and use ballistics programs. Does anyone know of a good one I can use. The first one I found was http://www.handloads.com/calc/ it seems useful but I want one I can download.
Re: New to longer range shooting
I have been using the Atrag ballistic software with pretty good success. You can't download it, but it is worth buying the PDA.
I have been using the Atrag ballistic software with pretty good success. You can't download it, but it is worth buying the PDA.
Re: New to longer range shooting
K labs - every question you ask has some really good answers if you just look a bit harder. Read!
IN a nutshell:
Win brass is great stuff. Lapua is slightly better (in theory) because it's more consistant and will last a bit longer. Its also about 2x as expensive. At your level, the extra cost is probably not worth it.
155-175s are fine in .308's. IME, my 20" Rem does not shoot 155s very well at all. 168s rock out to 800yds. 175s have been good out to 1200. 175 SMKs are my "go to" bullet for everything from 100-1000 yds.
if you have a iphone - I really like both KAC's Bulletflight and Ballistic FTE. Both work really well for me and they both have slightly different "looks". Ballistic FTE has a lot of gucci features, but I find myself going back more and more to Bulletflight for practical applications.
YMMV
K labs - every question you ask has some really good answers if you just look a bit harder. Read!
IN a nutshell:
Win brass is great stuff. Lapua is slightly better (in theory) because it's more consistant and will last a bit longer. Its also about 2x as expensive. At your level, the extra cost is probably not worth it.
155-175s are fine in .308's. IME, my 20" Rem does not shoot 155s very well at all. 168s rock out to 800yds. 175s have been good out to 1200. 175 SMKs are my "go to" bullet for everything from 100-1000 yds.
if you have a iphone - I really like both KAC's Bulletflight and Ballistic FTE. Both work really well for me and they both have slightly different "looks". Ballistic FTE has a lot of gucci features, but I find myself going back more and more to Bulletflight for practical applications.
YMMV
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