I have a Meredith built 308 that I have used for years and it has got me through LE Marksman (Sniper) schools shooting the 178 amax over some Varget. It really likes the Hornady Superperformance ammo also. I have read where people are getting good results with the 185 grain bullets and some others but my gun really likes the above loads. I have a 6.5 SAUM, 6.5 Creedmore, 260, 7mmSAUM, 7-300WSM, 300SAUM and 338 lapua all which are full customer builds but my 308 is a sexy beast and I am interested in getting the most out of it with the bullets available today. It's a bartlein 11.25 twist barrel and really doesn't seem to like the 150 range bullets. If this has been covered in detail somewhere I apologize but just looking to see what others are actually doing. Flat shooting and long distance in a 308 seems to have a trade off that is not favorable for long range?
Would like to revive my 308!
- Thread starter Tazman
- Start date
Try to find a load using the nosler rdf, your 11 twist should be able to handle them. They won’t shoot as flat as some of the more intermediate calibers but the difference will be just a couple clicks in elevation and wind but if I were trying a 30 cal match bullet that’s what I would do
Truthfully between the Nosler 175 RDF and the Hornady 178 ELD-M it doesn't get much better for an all-around 308 bullet.
My Howa 1500 loves both of them (1-12 rifling) and the Nosler bangs 1000 yd plates with regularity. I just started transitioning to the Hornady because a) been a long time Hornady user and b) I can get them all the time from Grafs which has better prices and shipping than Midway (Grafs is often out of the 175 RDF).
42.3 gr of Ramshot TAC in a Lapua case and cci bR-2 primers makes a crazy accurate load with the Hornady ELD-M
My Howa 1500 loves both of them (1-12 rifling) and the Nosler bangs 1000 yd plates with regularity. I just started transitioning to the Hornady because a) been a long time Hornady user and b) I can get them all the time from Grafs which has better prices and shipping than Midway (Grafs is often out of the 175 RDF).
42.3 gr of Ramshot TAC in a Lapua case and cci bR-2 primers makes a crazy accurate load with the Hornady ELD-M
When I was doing my 178 ELD-M workup a few days ago, 43.1 of TAC (virtually same burn rate as Varget) was showing 2645-ish but primers (CCI BR-2) were beginning to crater (Lapua brass). This in a 24" barrel with about 3500 rounds down.
42.3 gave stellar accuracy as a node between 42.2 and 42.5 and MV was right at 2600 avg. Primers looked good.
Yeah, that would be the next step up.
Tempted to do what Frank suggests and keep a box of 50 handy for those shots beyond 900 yards where the normal 308s loaded to mag length begin to struggle, while shooting what I normally shoot the rest of the time.
Right now I shoot 44.8 grains of varget in lapua brass with a 178Amax. Get's me 2760 and is consistent with temp and rain. If a lot of water gets in the mag it will show just a slight ejector mark but it is slight.
Just trying to get the most out of it with what is available now. My current load is probably 8-10 years old. Still shoots awesome but I know the game has changed for the 308 line ups so I wanted to update and get the most out of it. Did I mention this thing is sexy!!lol
I shoot ferderal gold medal match 175 grain sierra bthp and its the best shooter in the gun case. I too have 11.25 twist
Just a comment for the OP here.
If you throw every every bit of technology at a problem, eventually you solve it. There are better long range rounds than the .308 without question.
But, for me at least, I appreciate the challenge of doing things the hard way. Or at least, what may not be the easiest way in the world.
Case in point: I had a lot more fun reading dope and shooting .22lr at 100 yards.
Just thtowing that out there.
If you throw every every bit of technology at a problem, eventually you solve it. There are better long range rounds than the .308 without question.
But, for me at least, I appreciate the challenge of doing things the hard way. Or at least, what may not be the easiest way in the world.
Case in point: I had a lot more fun reading dope and shooting .22lr at 100 yards.
Just thtowing that out there.
This thread is about helping me wring out the most out of my 308. I have the guns to really reach out there including a TAC50 with the Bigmac stock but I just really like this rifle and although it will never be a 1500 yard rifle....I am in hopes to make it shoot to 1000 yards a little flatter and closer to the 6.5 rounds. Nothing more!
I was going to say my 178 ELDX load at 2750 is a pretty good step up but damn if those BCs are legit on that 168 then that is a huge step up. I know originally the accubonds were really inflated but seems like Nosler learned its lesson so it’s be nice to get that BC verified.
