Reccomended .308 bullet weight for short range

[BullzeyeNJ]

Hello,

I just started hand loading rifle about 6 months ago and I am starting to get a little more comfortable with the entire process. My local range where I shoot 90% of the time only goes out to 300 yards maximum.

What would be the recommended bullet weight that would give me the highest degree of accuracy for the .308 Win cartridge if I was only shooting from 100 to 300 yards on a regular basis? I have been using 168g and 175g SMK heads with pretty good success (1/2 MOA groups when I do my part at 100 yards). I started dabbling with the 155g SMK recently but still working on the ideal load. Messed around with the Hornady AMAX 168g and 175g with mixed success.

My go to rifle for load development is a APA .308 rifle with a 22" Obermeyer 11.25 twist 5R barrel. The crazy thing is that I can shoot factory 168g GMM all day in this rifle at 1/2 MOA at 100 yards. Im looking for that recipe with my handloads that can top this on a routine basis.

 

[bricktop]

Re: Reccomended .308 bullet weight for short range

Flat based bullets tend to be the most accurate, but only work well in short range due to lack of a boat tail (and hence low BC). But in your case, this wont be a problem. Many BR shooters use flat-based bullets for 300 yards and in.

The 135 or 150 grain Berger Match Fullbores might be something to try out.

At 300 yards, there is only 0.1 mil windage difference (at 10 mph) between the Match FB 150 grain @ 2800 fps and the 178 grain BT long range at 2650 fps. (6.1 inch vs. 7.6 inch)

 

[turbo54]

Re: Reccomended .308 bullet weight for short range

The 168smk is a great choice out to 600ish yards, which will give you headroom. If you are constrained to 300 yards and simply won't go farther, you may, as mentioned, get slightly better accuracy from a flat based bullet.

The 2156 155smk is a nice choice for reaching out pretty far and will have a little less recoil than the 168. Not sure on price. I'd pick based on price.

 

[mdmp5]

Re: Reccomended .308 bullet weight for short range

The 168 SMK works very well at the short ranges, no doubt, but it never seemed to work for me much past 600 yds. I have shot 175 SMKs for a while, but I ended up making a switch to shooting the 155 Palmas (2156) exclusively. They are very fast, and deliver great short range accuracy that meets and/or exceeds that of the 168s in my experience. Plus, if I want to take it out a little further, they will make it out to 1000+ as long as the wind is not all over the place.

 

[sinister]

Re: Reccomended .308 bullet weight for short range

The 168 grain Sierra Match King was specifically designed for 300-Meter international and Olympic competition.

Good background story: http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.com/2009/11/history-free-rifle-shooting-in-cold-war.html

 

[Graham]

Re: Reccomended .308 bullet weight for short range

Interesting info Dave, thanks for the link.

 

[colt933]

Re: Reccomended .308 bullet weight for short range

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: turbo54</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The 2156 155smk is a nice choice for reaching out pretty far and will have a little less recoil than the 168. Not sure on price. I'd pick based on price. </div></div>

This is a great bullet. My groups tightened up when I made the switch from the 168SMK to the 155 Palma in my Steyr SBS Tactical. I went from just under MOA with the 168 to all touching with the 155 at 100 yards and have shot some all touching groups at 200 yards as well but this is generally beyond my ability.

 

[BullzeyeNJ]

Re: Reccomended .308 bullet weight for short range

Thank you all for the replies and insight. I will try out the 155g palmas SMK in the future. Also the flat based bullets too. Still have a good supply of 168g SMK.

I will see if I can trade my unopened box of 500 175g SMK for 155g or 168g.

 

[hamstur]

Re: Reccomended .308 bullet weight for short range

Since you have extra 168 SMK, I would experiment more with those. I grew quite frustrated with 168 out of my 23" 1:11.25 trying to match the performance of 175 which is averaging 0.28 MOA.

What are you loading behind your 168?

I ran 2 ladders with Varget at 44.0-46.0 and 44.0-45.5, with additional follow-up testing. Best was 44.7 but it a 0.5 MOA load at best. After additional tests, I found my rifle likes more burn behind 168 loads. I would say from good to best for me was:

Good: 44.7 Varget, GM210M, Win brass, 0.10 off lands
Better: <span style="text-decoration: line-through">42.5</span> 43.5 IMR4064, GM210M, Win brass, 0.10 off lands
Even better: 44.5 Varget, CCI 250 Mag, Win brass, 0.10 off lands
Best: 43.5 IMR4895, GM210M, Win brass, 0.10 off lands

These are all fairly mild loads for 168, but I would recommend experimenting with burning the powder faster.

<span style="font-style: italic">The usual safety disclaimer - start low and work up</span>

 

[BullzeyeNJ]

Re: Reccomended .308 bullet weight for short range

I have tried RL15 and Varget so far. I do have a pound of the IMR4895 so Im curious to see how that will perform.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Hamstur</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Since you have extra 168 SMK, I would experiment more with those. I grew quite frustrated with 168 out of my 23" 1:11.25 trying to match the performance of 175 which is averaging 0.28 MOA.

What are you loading behind your 168?

I ran 2 ladders with Varget at 44.0-46.0 and 44.0-45.5, with additional follow-up testing. Best was 44.7 but it a 0.5 MOA load at best. After additional tests, I found my rifle likes more burn behind 168 loads. I would say from good to best for me was:

Good: 44.7 Varget, GM210M, Win brass, 0.10 off lands
Better: <span style="text-decoration: line-through">42.5</span> 43.5 IMR4064, GM210M, Win brass, 0.10 off lands
Even better: 44.5 Varget, CCI 250 Mag, Win brass, 0.10 off lands
Best: 43.5 IMR4895, GM210M, Win brass, 0.10 off lands

These are all fairly mild loads for 168, but I would recommend experimenting with burning the powder faster.

<span style="font-style: italic">The usual safety disclaimer - start low and work up</span> </div></div>

 

[DBohn]

Re: Reccomended .308 bullet weight for short range

155 scenar. This is the answer.

 

[Rhyno430]

Re: Reccomended .308 bullet weight for short range

The 155's seem to have the 168's beat when comparing BC to BC and speed to speed.

The 168's use a different older (Not necessarily worse) bullet designs were the 155's use a new design.

 

[Leaddog]

Re: Reccomended .308 bullet weight for short range

If you have the right twist for the barrel burning 155's then go for it. The tried and true 168 SMK's on top of 4064 is still winning matches at 300 and less.

 

[Bob L Swagger]

Re: Reccomended .308 bullet weight for short range

My go to load out of my Remington 700P is:

178gr. Amax
44.0 Gr. of Varget
Federal 210M primer
Lapua Brass
seated to an OAL of 2.813" (Mag length)

Heres my last trip to Cherry ridge (300 yard line - 5 shots)

 

[Criver600]

Re: Reccomended .308 bullet weight for short range

The Sierra #2155 Palma is hard to beat. Win brass, Federal 210Gm, Varget.
I've shot over 20,000 #2155's at 1000 yards.