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Proven 1000yd 308 bullet

LWILLIAMS

Nobody
Full Member
Minuteman
May 30, 2006
521
28
46
Gillette, Wyoming
Ok so I have searched and found all kinds of conflicting information on bullet selection. I am currently shooting Nosler Custom Competition 168gr and Hornady A-max 168 grain bullets tryin to find the right one. I want an easily accessible bullet that will get there. I am shooting 700 action with a 20" barrel also. Thanks.
 
Re: Proven 1000yd 308 bullet

if you are going with the SMK family, would suggest the 175 grains SMK. The 155 palma and 155 scenars will need to drive them hard to get the accuracy that you need/want. If you can drive your 175 SMK at least 2600 fps, you are more than adequate to reach home at 1K.
 
Re: Proven 1000yd 308 bullet

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: USMCj</div><div class="ubbcode-body">155 Scenars at 2950fps is where its at! </div></div>

Agree with you USMCj on the scenars. In fact, that's what I shoot primarily. However, the OP has a 20" barrel, can you generate that kind of speed with a 20" barrel?
 
Re: Proven 1000yd 308 bullet

Well I can pick up the SMK locally and that is what I am looking for. The Scenar and Palma bullets I would have to order. I am also shooting around 4500 feet of elevation or higher if that helps. Usually it is between 4500 and 5000. I would like to keep using Varget powder also.
 
Re: Proven 1000yd 308 bullet

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: LWILLIAMS</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am also shooting around 4500 feet of elevation or higher if that helps. I would like to keep using Varget powder also. </div></div>

Shooting at 4500' will make your job easier, pushing 155's fast enough will still be a task in a 20" barrel. If you are going to attempt it, you should be running the most streamlined projectile you can find. In my book, that'd be either the Berger 155.5, the new Sierra 155, or the Lapua 155 Scenar. These should be sufficiently slippery to stay above transonic even at reduced velocities.

2700 fps (at 4000')
MOA to 1000 / wind drift / 1000 yd. velocity
old sierra 35.8 / 98.3 / 1196
new sierra 34 / 88.9 / 1275
Lapua Scenar 33.3 / 85.1 / 1310
Berger 155.5 33.2 / 84.6 / 1315

If you try this at lower altitude, the results would NOT be pretty!

2700 (at 500')
MOA to 1000 / wind drift / 1000 yd. velocity
old sierra 40.1 / 119.6 / 1072
new sierra 37.7 / 107.9 / 1125
Lapua Scenar 36.7 / 103 / 1160
Berger 155.5 36.6 / 102.3 / 1164

Overall, a 175 would likely be a better fit with this particular rifle. Even there, go with the most streamlined you can find. The Berger 175 BT has a significant advantage over the Sierra 175 SMK.

Regardless, Varget will probably work admirably. I use it to good effect for any thing (.308) between 155 and 185 grains.

Hope this helps,

Darrell


 
Re: Proven 1000yd 308 bullet

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dareposte</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> 168s generally tend to be flaky about it.
</div></div>
That's true only for the 168 SMK's at sea level, he won't have any problems with the 168 Amax, especially at 4500 ASL.

The 155 SMK's, 155 Palma, 155.5 Full Bore Berger, 175 SMK, 178
Amax, 208 Amax, 210 VLD will all do it fine.

RL17 should be used for the heavier bullets there, Varget will work for the rest.
 
Re: Proven 1000yd 308 bullet

For shooting at long ranges, it is tough to get the velocities up high enough to stay super sonic with those projectiles when shooting them out of 18 -20 inch tubes. Might be better to stand on a 155 or 168?
 
Re: Proven 1000yd 308 bullet

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DesertHK</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: USMCj</div><div class="ubbcode-body">155 Scenars at 2950fps is where its at! </div></div>

Agree with you USMCj on the scenars. In fact, that's what I shoot primarily. However, the OP has a 20" barrel, <span style="font-weight: bold">can you generate that kind of speed with a 20" barrel?</span> </div></div>

No, or at least not very easily. I have a 20" barrel and have shot at 1000 yds numerous times. In fact we have a small group here that does regular 1000 yd "get togethers". I have tried a fair amount of load development in my SPS-T with both 155 Scenars and SMK Palmas with very mediocre to poor results. Best MVs I've gotten from them before pressure signs have been about 2850-2875. But the accuracy has been poor at those speeds. Everyone seems to love the 155s but they need speed. Its hard to get there with a 20" tube.

OTOH, I've shot both 175 SMK and 178 AMAX with great success at 1K with the 20". AS someone else said, you need to get them to about 2600 to be effective at that range. I have a really good load that gets both of those bullets right at about 2600fps and they are both extremely accurate to 1K. Of the two, I prefer the 175SMK over the AMAX, but only slightly. Both work very well.

I've also shot the 168AMAX at 1K (2700fps) with good success. It seems to not have the issues the 168 SMK does in the transonic region. But they do not seem to be quite as consistant as the 175SMK or 178 AMAX in my gun. Go with the 175 SMK and call it a day.
 
Re: Proven 1000yd 308 bullet

Availability???????

175 SMKs

Your in Gillette, they are available at Rocky Mountain Discount Store or Several places n Rapid.

They work at 4500+ out of my M1A @ 2550. (I use 4895 but varget will work.

I shoot a Lander, they range has gongs at 1400, I can get there with 175s.

Yeah there are other fancy bullets at there, but for the price and availability you cant beat 175 SMKs in a 308.
 
Re: Proven 1000yd 308 bullet

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SpencerSS</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Any body try the 208Amax or 210VLD Berger in 18-20" tubes? 308win </div></div>

I've used them, got really good results at 1000 as well. They are great for bucking the wind, and when loading with RL17, 2500fps is easy, 2600 is doable, however requires a touch of bravery, and sacrificing brass life.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mdoerst</div><div class="ubbcode-body">For shooting at long ranges, it is tough to get the velocities up high enough to stay super sonic with those projectiles when shooting them out of 18 -20 inch tubes. Might be better to stand on a 155 or 168? </div></div>

Excuse me?? You obviously haven't tried it, so why are you making presumptions? 208 Amax from a 20" barrel at 2500fps will stay supersonic to at least 1200 yards from most elevations, there are some shooters on this site getting 2700+ fps on the longer barrels. There are new powders out now that are allowing amazing things that were never before possible without taking seriously dangerous risks.

Branden
 
Re: Proven 1000yd 308 bullet

I shoot 1L Nalgene water bottles at 1000 yds quite often with both 168 Amax, 178 Amax and 175 SMK's.

I personally like the 175 SMK's the best and have dropped the other two (168/178 Amax) from my handloads.
Having said that, we have shot the 1L bottles at 1120 yds and my 22" gong at 1300 yds all with 168 Amax.

For the record, the 168 Amax work amazingly well at 1000 yds, despite what some may say.

On a side note, I hate that silly red tip (looks like a kids toy).
 
Re: Proven 1000yd 308 bullet

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: LWILLIAMS</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Well I can pick up the SMK locally and that is what I am looking for. The Scenar and Palma bullets I would have to order. I am also shooting around 4500 feet of elevation or higher if that helps. Usually it is between 4500 and 5000. I would like to keep using Varget powder also.</div></div>

I'm shooting the 175 SMK @ 2650. Shot 1020 yards this weekend at 4670 feet asl, required 32.75 MOA to get me there.
 
Re: Proven 1000yd 308 bullet

Best bang for the $ - SMK 175. That is IF your rifle likes them.

I have a .308 that ONLY likes 168's. It shoots SMK 168's and AMAX 168's well. The SMK168 is accurate but it doesn't like going fast out of that rifle. The 168 AMAX's I can get 1/2 MOA at 2710 fps so I chose them in that stick as they'll go to 1000 yds before going subsonic.
 
Re: Proven 1000yd 308 bullet

do you know how many grains and what is your col


<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rob01</div><div class="ubbcode-body">178 AMAX. Shot it to 1300 yards with a 22" barrel pushed by Varget. </div></div>
 
Re: Proven 1000yd 308 bullet

175 SMK's, 43.7g Varget, Lapua Brass, CCI BR primer
GAP .308, 22" Broughton barrel (2620 fps)

5 shot group at 1000 yards last week.
5b4ny9.jpg

 
Re: Proven 1000yd 308 bullet

lucks,

that is some fine shooting! i shot my 308 for the first time at 1050 last week and put several center mass on a ipsc target but it was EXTREMELY critical of the wind. the EDGE we were shooting had about 2.5 minutes of total wind with the switches. the 308 had 6 minutes. good job and lots of talent!

chuck
 
Re: Proven 1000yd 308 bullet

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lucks</div><div class="ubbcode-body">175 SMK's, 43.7g Varget, Lapua Brass, CCI BR primer
GAP .308, 22" Broughton barrel (2620 fps)

5 shot group at 1000 yards last week.
5b4ny9.jpg

</div></div>

Lucks, damn fine shooting...I am jealous now.
 
Re: Proven 1000yd 308 bullet

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lucks</div><div class="ubbcode-body">175 SMK's, 43.7g Varget, Lapua Brass, CCI BR primer
GAP .308, 22" Broughton barrel (2620 fps)

5 shot group at 1000 yards last week.
5b4ny9.jpg

</div></div>

Wow how much wind was there? damn fine group
 
Re: Proven 1000yd 308 bullet

are all these loads longer than magazine length?

i would like someone to post a load for .308 win that will reach 1000 yards and be magazine length

thanks
 
Re: Proven 1000yd 308 bullet

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pazzo</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I shoot 1L Nalgene water bottles at 1000 yds quite often with both 168 Amax, 178 Amax and 175 SMK's.

I personally like the 175 SMK's the best and have dropped the other two (168/178 Amax) from my handloads.
Having said that, we have shot the 1L bottles at 1120 yds and my 22" gong at 1300 yds all with 168 Amax.

For the record, the 168 Amax work amazingly well at 1000 yds, despite what some may say.

On a side note, I hate that silly red tip (looks like a kids toy).



</div></div>

pazzo - what lenth barrel and twist rate are you shooting? Thanks...
 
Re: Proven 1000yd 308 bullet

magazine length depends intirely on your rifles throat and where you want to be in relation to the lands. any load can be magazine length but may or may not shoot well. i would think that most loads posted here would be intended to function through the respective rifle as a repeater.

chuck
 
Re: Proven 1000yd 308 bullet

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nhassey</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Does anyone shoot 185g Bergers? </div></div>

I like them that’s all I use out of my 308. 42.5 grs Varget, Lapua brass, FM Primers, 23" R5, 2560fps, .078 off the lands.
 
Re: Proven 1000yd 308 bullet

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DesertHK</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: USMCj</div><div class="ubbcode-body">155 Scenars at 2950fps is where its at! </div></div>

Agree with you USMCj on the scenars. In fact, that's what I shoot primarily. However, the OP has a 20" barrel, can you generate that kind of speed with a 20" barrel? </div></div>


I've reached 2900 with a very warm load, but set to 2.9 OAL. That will not mag feed unless you have mod'd AICS mags.

However, I've reached 2850fps without issue in a 20" barrel seated at 2.83.
I've also reached 2870 when seated to 2.87 & fed from an AICS mag.

Even at these velocities I had ZERO problem hitting at 1K at near sea level. ~600-700ft ASL at Tiger Valley.
 
Re: Proven 1000yd 308 bullet

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SpencerSS</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Any body try the <span style="color: #FF0000">208Amax</span> or 210VLD Berger in 18-20" tubes? 308win </div></div>

18" DPMS SASS COAL 2.820" MV 2338 fps
>>>1338fps @ 1000yds per JBM calculator

You should fare better with a 20" tube
 
Re: Proven 1000yd 308 bullet

You obviously will have to work up loads in your own stick to find safe levels.
In my GAP, 44.5 gr varget, BR-2s, SMK 175s and federal brass seems to work fine.
In my 5R, 44.1 gr varget, wolf primers, SMK 175s and federal brass work nicely.
In both cases, I'm using once-fired brass from fgmm, full-length resized with a neck bushing for a few thou of tension, trimmed to 2.007, loaded by ogive length with a redding seater, but comes out to about 2.815 OAL, which fits mag length in both sticks.

This is from memory, it has been a few months, and the are my sticks, this batch of components, I could be a moron or have typoed, etc. Work up from lower values to find what is safe with your rig and components, you are likely to find an accuracy node with the 175s somewhere around 2650-2700. that will get you to 1k, don't have to push any harder.

Others shooting .308s to 1k around me advocate pushing scenar 155s hard. The old sierra palma 155s (2155) aren't anywhere near as slippery as the newer 2156s, and I think the folks around me that were playing with them ended up with the scenars instead.

I've not seen a Sierra 168 at the matches that still had reliable stability at 1k, though I think one of the guys at the club was having some luck with the 168 amaxes

good luck!
 
Re: Proven 1000yd 308 bullet

I just shot beyond 1000 yds for the 1st time last week with my 20" SPS-T .308 and my proven 1K load did very well at 1200 yds. I was making fairly consistant hits with a full value 10mph crosswind.

I shoot both 175 SMKs and 178 AMAXs and they both shoot equally well. My normal load for both is 45.0 Varget in Lapua brass and Fed 210 primers. I load the 175SMKs to 2.815 and the 178AMAXs to 2.860 and get about 2600pfs. I honestly cannot tell a difference between the two at 1K+.

On this trip I even had some lighter charged 175SMK loads I had made for a 600yd F-class that I never ended up shooting. They were the same as above but with 44.4 Varget and were chrono'd at 2550. They held the verticle at 1000 and 1200 yds very well too.

I have tried a few other bullets at 1K. The 168 AMAXs did ok, but they were not as consistant as the heavier pills in my gun as I was only able to get them to just at 2700 fps. I've also shot the 155 Scenars and SMK Palma's and neither shot for shit out of my gun. I think mainly because I could not get them past about low 2800's in my factory chambered 20". My gun just does NOT like the 155s AT ALL.

1000 yds and further is a hoot. 1200 was pretty much the max my gun was going to make hits. But I even amazed myself by getting a hit on a normal sized steel man at 1500 yds with a friends .243 AIAW. I was amazed at how well a .243 will get out there!
 
Re: Proven 1000yd 308 bullet

I see people are using Varget which is harder to find. What other powders are you guys using to push the 155's and 175's?

Never mind, I found the answer to my question in the reloading section!
 
Re: Proven 1000yd 308 bullet

1000yds can be done with the 155gr SMK out of a 20" SPS T. I have done it. But you need to push em fast and if your at around 2700 or more, you should be fine. I would prefer to run 175SMK or alike though, you WILL have better success. Also, when you start getting to those ranges, id prefer a longer barrel, I know it can be done with a 20" barrel(I have done it too), BUT I believe that a 24" barrel will serve you better if your wanting 1000 - 1200m accuracy. My shooting buddy runs a 26" barreled 700P custom and hit a 1MOA target at 1219m with Rem 175 Match ammo.
 
Re: Proven 1000yd 308 bullet

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Stefan73</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I see people are using Varget which is harder to find. What other powders are you guys using to push the 155's and 175's?

Never mind, I found the answer to my question in the reloading section! </div></div>

FWIW, looks like wideners.com has 8# varget jugs back in stock at the moment.
 
Re: Proven 1000yd 308 bullet

Those of you pushing the 155 scenars to 2900-2950, how many minutes are you dialing to get to 1k? I'm launching mine at 2920 in about 4000-5000' density altitude and shooter ballistics is telling me I need about 27MOA. Sound right?
The reason I am questioning myself and Shooter ballistics is that it was saying I only needed to dial 3.3MOA to get to 300 yards, but I ended up dialing almost 6 minutes??? Now, in all honesty, I've been up for about 24 hours so my mind could be playing tricks...
I'd figure it out myself, but the thing is that I will be shooting in a local 1k match tomorrow and I've run out of time(gotta go to sleep, then go to work, then go straight to the match in the morning).