Visit the SWFA.com site to check out our current specials. |
Best varget loads for .308 Win. |
Post Reply | Page <123> |
Author | |
mike650
Optics God Joined: May/14/2006 Location: West of Rockies Status: Offline Points: 14569 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|
|
“A hunt based only on trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.” – Fred Bear
|
|
Dale Clifford
Optics Jedi Knight Joined: July/04/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 5087 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
the best load is the one that shoots best in your rifle. varget is a favorite powder because it is very forgiving and works over a wide range of bullet and charge wts. its interesting to me the differences in 168 and 175s only 7 grs. Heres a 11.25 twist with 175, five shot group -- using varget.
|
|
cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
That a 5R, Dale?
Nice group. |
|
If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
|
|
sniper13
Optics Apprentice Joined: April/26/2009 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 145 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
About everywhere I have read a 1:12 favors a 168gr. However you make sense....................I thank you guys for the help, any more imput is welcome
|
|
pulling a trigger is easy....hitting your mark is intelligence
|
|
supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Well I bought my barrel from Lilja, they told me the 1-12" would work great with 175s. They recommend it up to 180s. They told me if I plan on shooting larger than that to get a 10 or 11 twist. I went with the 11 incase I wanted to shoot 185s or 190s.
But regardless of that, just as Dale said the best load is the one your gun likes. |
|
Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.
"A Liberal is a person who will give away everything they don't own." |
|
sniper13
Optics Apprentice Joined: April/26/2009 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 145 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
OK....This gives me a little to chew on, thanks
|
|
pulling a trigger is easy....hitting your mark is intelligence
|
|
cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Well, Dale and Tool have made excellent points concerning the bigger rounds too and if your stick shoots them, rock on.
|
|
If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
|
|
Dale Clifford
Optics Jedi Knight Joined: July/04/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 5087 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
yes its a completely stock 5r no break in , 5 shot group in the first batch of 100 rds. and yes it will do 1000 yds, sniper-- you're getting the cart before the horse and haven't even got to the carrots yet. if terminal energy is not a consideration, the only thing that counts is BC, regardless of mass, (within a given group of comparison, obviously increased velocity will help). but BC helps in wind drift more so than gravity drop. The decreased drag of higher bc bullets cause less turning into the wind, which keeps the center of air pressure on the nose. This puts 6mm, 6.5 some 7 mm way out in front, of a lot of 308s. shooting at stuff at 1000+ yds is its own thing, but as McDonald said earlier -- all you need is a rifle with the tube screwed on straight. |
|
Mike McDonald
Optics Journeyman Joined: September/01/2004 Status: Offline Points: 739 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Nice group Dale, very nice.
factory remington barrels and 175's........seen enough of them over the last nine years to detect a pattern. All of them that will shoot will shoot 168 Sierra's very well. Smallest group I've seen from a clean, new fctory tube was trhee shots into 0.093 inches from prone at 100 yards with factory ammunition.
If they won't shoot 175 Sierras, take a look at the crown. Most I've seen would shoot 175's into 1 or 1.5 moa at 100 yards, but also do the same at 500 yards. Touch up the crown and you may find new life in that factory tube.
Rating a rifle for dstance by bullet weight.
168 sierra are made for 300 meter competition, but we don't know any better so we push them further. At about 850-950 in many factory barrels with factory ammo, the bullet is going sub-sonic and does not make the transistion very well.
However, drive that same bullet from factory 2575 or 2600 up to 2700 by reloading and you may find yourself doing well at 1000 yards, although the 168 doesn't cope with wind very well at that distance.
If your factory tube will handle 175's, drive them slow for short distances. Seirras accuracy load drives that bullet 2485 fps. H4895 works very well for this and a below max load will push the bullet a consistant 2550fps with very low SD numbers.
Lower velocity will translate into less recoil, which means less distraction and less likely hood of being taken out of your NPA and trying to muscle your way back onto the target.
That low velocity load is also really consistant to 1000 yards with very controllable drift in the wind.
Should your rifle be able to handle the 190 Sierra, you are now into a completely different long range ballgame and the accuracy up close and at distance will amaze you.
Down side is recoil and the need to maintain your npa as that bullet will knock you about enough to move you out of position.
Just some things I've experienced. Hope it helps.
|
|
sniper13
Optics Apprentice Joined: April/26/2009 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 145 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Mike ..I am not sure what you are saying about the168gr.being a 300y bullet. In the military I shot the m-24 .308 with a 24" barrel w/1:12 out to 1100yards and they issued 168 grainers. The distances that I shoot now are only 500-800y so would you say the 168ers wont be sufficiant, I dont understand?
|
|
pulling a trigger is easy....hitting your mark is intelligence
|
|
Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14964 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Quite frankly I am begining to think it is pointless to use the 175 in a bolt gun if the 190 has the same velocity at the muzzle say 2600 fps. However guns often like one weight bullet best. Sometimes you use what you have though and I loaded a hundred 175 SMK with 42.8 gr of 4064 tonight. It's getting tough to find powder and primers and brass so be flexable. There really is no set distance, some of it will depend on how your range is set up and what distances you have access to. Some guys that live in open country get to go out and put up a 4x8 sheet of plywood and shoot a mile but if you live in a big city you may have a tough time finding a hundred yard range. Edited by Urimaginaryfrnd - April/29/2009 at 01:48 |
|
"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do". Bobby Paul Doherty Texas Ranger |
|
Mike McDonald
Optics Journeyman Joined: September/01/2004 Status: Offline Points: 739 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
So you were shooting M118LR?
Sierra made the 168 Mk for 300 meter ISU competition.
It wasn't designed to go 301 meters, but does so quite well. It's an easy 700-800 yard bullet but the wind drift is going to beat you. Edited by Mike McDonald - April/29/2009 at 06:50 |
|
Dale Clifford
Optics Jedi Knight Joined: July/04/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 5087 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
as mike suggest the bc difference between 168s and 175s below 2600 fps is almost .l or from .4 to .5. this places the 168 in the same field as 69,thru 77 smk and with the higher velocities capable of the .224 these will "outshoot" the 168s.
a bigger problem here is consistency in reloading, to know when the rounds you are making are going through the reloading process so as to get get quality control. The shots and rds used in the 5r were loaded on a dillon, with a sloppy base plate, powder charges were thrown not weighted or metered, and dillons notoriously bad primer seater was used.The point being that there are many paths to a good ending as illustrated by the many different types of reloading routines, but in the end its all about the bullet. I get good 1200 yd performance with 168 with a 300 win mag, but the wind drift is 2x with any given velocity as a 210 berger. 168 hpbt are used by alot of LE snipers for some reason I have (good reason) yet to hear.
"some guys set up 4x8 sheet" had to chuckle a bit-- trying to set a 4x8 sheet around here would get you ticket for paragliding without a permit.
|
|
ccoker
Optics Master Joined: February/13/2008 Location: Austin, TX Status: Offline Points: 2041 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
My Tikka Stainless lite likes 45.5g of Varget and 165g Sierra Gameking BTSP with a COL of 2.80
one ragged hole at 100 yards same results in my bud's Tikka Varmint |
|
sniper13
Optics Apprentice Joined: April/26/2009 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 145 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Thanks Mike and Dale.....I think I will start with 43.5 gr. And I was told to watch group size at 300 and make my call, do you guys agree???? I can consistantly get 2" groups at 300y with fed. GMM.
|
|
pulling a trigger is easy....hitting your mark is intelligence
|
|
308WIN
Optics Apprentice Joined: February/28/2009 Status: Offline Points: 120 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
I have great success in a 5r barreo with 11.25" twist shooting 168 BT's with 44-45 gr of varget. Cci br2 primers & lapua brass @ 2.80.
|
|
sniper13
Optics Apprentice Joined: April/26/2009 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 145 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
What kind of velocities are you seeing??????
|
|
pulling a trigger is easy....hitting your mark is intelligence
|
|
sniper13
Optics Apprentice Joined: April/26/2009 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 145 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
How do you guys think a 150-155gr would work out to 500y witha 1:12????
|
|
pulling a trigger is easy....hitting your mark is intelligence
|
|
Sparky
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: July/15/2007 Location: SD Status: Offline Points: 4569 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
First let me say WOW what a wealth of information on this post! Just an FYI. I have noticed this comment about the 168s not making the transition very well. And it was explained to me that it is due to the differences in the angle of the boat tail of these bullets and that is what is causing the problems. This came up when I was talking to an individual about which HSM ammo he would recommend that would work best in my Rem 700 SS 5R 308. |
|
Mike McDonald
Optics Journeyman Joined: September/01/2004 Status: Offline Points: 739 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Sparky,
The 168SMK is perfectly capable of making the 1K yard trip in handloaded ammunition with higher than factory velocities. It's just such a poor performer at those distances I don't know why anyone would want to bother. The angle you were referring to contributes to that.
|
|
Post Reply | Page <123> |
Tweet
|
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |