Which bullet for 308 ?

[skeetman28]

I know this probably a repeat question...I looked in th old threads to see discussions on the loading of the 308...I want to use a 168 grain bullet with the rifle having a 1 in 10 twist...Hornady...Sierra...Nosler...any feedback would be appreciated...I would be using them for long range on targets out to 1000 yrds., sorry I forgot to mention that...Thanks...

 

[remauto1187]

I know this probably a repeat question...I looked in th old threads to see discussions on the loading of the 308...I want to use a 168 grain bullet with the rifle having a 1 in 10 twist...Hornady...Sierra...Nosler...any feedback would be appreciated...Thanks...

Hunting? Plinking? Targets? Match/Competition? Long Range?

 

[Leo]

Shooting the M1a at the 600 yard line, The Sierra 168 BTHP was my 1st choice but the Hornady never let me down either. I bought a bulk box of the Nosler Custom Competition 168's and have only shot them at 300 yards, but am pretty pleased with the performance. I load them all with exactly the same powder charge and primer.
Good Luck

 

[redwingshooter]

If you want to go close to 1000 yards you are going to need to go with the 175 gr's to keep supersonic out that far. I don't have any data handy but I think the 168 grs are supersonic out to about 800-900 yards. Someone can correct me if I am wrong on that. Personally, I'd go 168 gr to about 700 yards and then 175 gr if I wanted to go any further, just to be safe. If you are wanting a good light plinking round then 147-155 gr's are my choice.

 

[6mm Shoot]

I don't understand your statement. How is a heaver bullet going to stay supersonic longer than a lighter one? It was my understanding that the heaver bullet was used to buck the wind. Please explain if I am wrong.

 

[243rem700]

The 175 grain bullets are more aerodynamic and will retain their velocity better. This allows them to make it to 1000 yards at supersonic velocities.

 

[Leo]

The statement about the 175 gr bullets being better to 1000 is absolutely true. They are reliable to 1000 out of the M1a. The weight helps maintain momentum. The rifles that do well to 1000 with the lighter bullets (like the 155gr PALMA bullets) have very long barrels, that you need to get the velocity up. A short 22" or 24" barrel just cannot get the velocity up and really needs the 175 gr bullet.

 

[Old_grunt]

My question is .308 for what? 7.62x51, .308 Win, .30-06? What barrel length? Yes, I know I typed .308 Win and 7.62. Depending on the weapon in question, it may make a difference in powder type, charge, etc. As an example, reloads for a M1 Garand specify using IMR 4896 or powders with nearly the same burn rate, due to the flexing of the op rod and using 150 to 175g projectiles. I found out the hard way that commercial 180g and 220g in a M1 aren't a good idea. Got my fingers pinched by the op rod and the recoil gave me a really good smack on the shoulder.

 

[sgreen3]

I really like the Hornady A-max but they are just tough to find. Ive had awesome results with the 168gr version. Ive also had really good results from hornady's 165gr SST bullets. Their more for hunting from what Ive read but they still yield SubMOA results at 100yrds. Main thing is try as many different ones you can to find the ones your rifle likes best.

 

[Leo]

Ive also had really good results from hornady's 165gr SST bullets. Their more for hunting from what Ive read but they still yield SubMOA results at 100yrds. Main thing is try as many different ones you can to find the ones your rifle likes best.

This is a true statement that shows how bullet technology has gotten better. The premium hunting bullets are now often as good of accuracy as target match bullets. You no longer have to make a choice between accuracy and hunting performance. The last Nosler 55 gr SP varmint bullets I tested would return true sub MOA groups like a designated target bullet. The last Federal Premium hunting rounds in .308 Winchester rounds I bought also printed some great target accuracy.

 

[ckcollins2003]

Like sgreen3, I've had great results with the 168gr A-max. The A-max does good with hunting as well although it's more of a target round. I've since moved onto the moly coated A-max's for my precision loads, but really you should try out a few different rounds and loads and see what your rifle likes the best and what fits your purpose the most. I went through 4-5 different types of projectiles and hundreds of different loads before I found the "perfect" load for my rifle.

 

[j706]

With a 1/10 twist barrel I was most differently be using a 175 SMK. With my Pac-Nor 18" 1/10 SS barrel on a slicked up R700 action sitting in a Mcree chassis, it is a boringly accurate and consistent 1/2" combo all day and any day.

On a related note I was able to borrow my suppressor (still waiting on my stamp) this past weekend and was surprised by a zero point of impact change as well as a zero cold bore shot difference. I shoot BH 175 Match. Love it!!

 

[Leo]

side note: j706, is that one of those trick 3 groove pac nor barrels? I had one that shot outstanding, they are very hard to get these days.

 

[gunbunnies]

I've shot a lot of 168GR. Match Sierra HPBT and 168GR Hornady A-Max bullets through my 24 inch Remy 700 and the A-Max always shoots tighter. Now for the distance your looking at I think I would use Hornady's 178GR A-Max...

 

[whiskeytangofoxtrot]

Nosler CC bullets are best bang for your buck. Can't go wrong with any of those three, pick one and stick with it.

 

[6mm Shoot]

I ran the 168 and 175 bullets through Sierra ballistics software. The 168 gr runes at 1162.7 F.P.S. at a 1000 yards. It started out at 2700 F.P.S. that being a max load for the bullet. The 175 gr bullet runs at 1657.7 F.P.S. at 1000 yards starting at 2600 F.P.S. also being a max load. That just strikes me as strange. You are talking about the 175 gr bullet moving 495 F.P.S. faster at a 1000 yards and being heaver. Only by 7gr but still it is heaver.

Is it because the bullet is longer? Because the shape of the two look the same. I don't know if they are the same but I will be checking out their sizes as soon as I get some 175 gr bullets. If you can run a heaver bullet farther moving faster, that sounds like the one to use to me.

I bet I have 1000 168 gr bullets. Then they are Game King not Match King. I only shoot hunting bullets. Then I will never shoot to 1000 yards any way. 500 has been my max. No I didn't shoot at game at 500 yards. I was shooting at paper just to see if I could hit it.

It is a great time to be alive. So many choices. I still think I will pick up a box or two to just see what they will do in my rifle. If they do good I can always use them to punch paper. Thank you much for this information. Never to old to learn.

 

[Yeah]

You are talking about the 175 gr bullet moving 495 F.P.S. faster at a 1000 yards and being heaver. Only by 7gr but still it is heaver. Is it because the bullet is longer?

It is because the 175 has a higher ballistic coefficient, meaning less drag to slow it down. The 168 leaves the muzzle faster but, due to having more drag, sheds that velocity at a greater rate. Somewhere downrange it will have slowed down enough for the higher BC bullet to pass it.

In any case, the Lapua 155 Scenar easily bests them all to the 1000 yard line.

 

[skeetman28]

Want to thank all that replied to my question..I have a good idea on which way to go...Thanks...