155 Palma or 168 SMK

[Tuns]

I recently aquired a Savage mod 12 Palma rifle which I intend to shoot in F class T/R at 300 & 600 yards. I have tried both Berger 155.5 FB and the (2156)Sierra 155 Palma bullets. The Palma 155's gave me better results. I am thinking of trying the 168 SMK, I had very good acccuracy with these in my F t/r. Will they stabilize with the 1 in 13 twist of the Palma rifle.

[stangfish]

What powder were you using with the Bergers? If you can get them to shoot...Cha Ching.

[kdvarmint]

Will they stabilize with the 1 in 13 twist of the Palma rifle.

Load em, shoot em, you tell us.

[stangfish]

Palma rifle...155's....hmmm. Seems like they would be made for each other for some reason.

[LoneWolf]

If it's an actual Palma match aren't you limited to 155's in most cases?

[LoneWolf]

Oh and have you tried the 155 AMAX? I've heard good things about them!

[Tuns]

I am using 43.3 grains of Varget getting about 2800 ft/sec. I loaded some to 45.9 to get to 3000 ft/sec. At 300 yds the 43.3 gives a group of 1.625 in

[Tuns]

I am not going to shoot in the Palma matches my old eyes won't woek with iron sights any more. I want to shot the rifle in F class t/r.

[missed]

I have thought about trying the Palma bullet in my 308, almost the same BC as the 175 and should be 200-300fps faster. I have 31 168's loaded and I'm not going to buy anymore.

[That1guy]

I have a 1:13 .308, it should stabilize up to 175's depending on circumstances. The chamber was cut for 155's though, so I would have to seat the 175's to deep for my taste. I thought about trying a 168 Hybrid which wouldnt have to be seated so deep, but the 155.5 Bergers just plain shoot, it's hard to waste time working up another load.

[lal357]

i've been shooting the 155 amx's for years in my 30" 10 twist with good results going to try the 155 palma's next season picked up a 1000 to see if i like them .

[JCalhoun]

The 168SMK works pretty well a 600y but the are unstable at 1k. Many matches won't let you shoot them past 600y due to this reason.

[jerry shaw]

My Savage Palma likes 155 grain AMAXes better than anything else. I have tried 168 AMAXes as well, but they just don't print the little groups 155s do.
It does not like Sierra 155s, either 2155 or 2156, nor is it especially fond of Bergers.
It typically produces bughole groups with 44.5 to 45.0 gr of N150. The bullets stay supersonic (barely) at 1000 yards. I use this setup in LR matches and have been very satisfied.

Your mileage may vary.

Good luck.

[tiny68]

I remember reading the optimum twist for the 175 SMK was a 11.25:1 twist. I read this in a 308W article on 6mmBR.com. I have a26" 1:11 McGowen that loves them.