Long Range 11VT

I have an 11VT in .308. I have been shooting bulk 150 grain bullets with 42 grains of IMR4064 sending the bullet on it's journey. At 300 yards, it is good enough to keep a 4 inch circle at 300 yards. Recently, 7 steel targets, body size waist to head, have been put up at 850 to 1100 yards. I am planning on getting some 168 or 175 grain bullets to try my luck at them. I KNOW the powder is going to be the IMR4064. Going to keep all my rifle loads with 1 powder and all handguns with 1 powder. They might not be the best powders but it keeps me happy. It is bare ground, so I will be able to see the hit in the dirt and adjust as needed. I'm also going to try different charges; I know what the books say about load vs speed but they say nothing about practical shooting at distance. Is 42 grains going to be enough to get the bullets close without having to do a 45 degree aiming angle? Any useful info on bullets or charges would be greatly accepted. Thanx

Yes, my load is 42.8 grains imr4064 in a federal case, federal 210 primer, nosler 175 hpbt or 178 amax bullet, Sierras will not group at this powder weight. My velocity is 2752 hot weather, 2728 cold weather measured by a magnetospeed V3. I've shot out to 1200 yards, both loads do great. I would use the 175 for the better ballistic coefficient and better traveling from transonic to subsonic velocity. My gun has a 25 inch kreiger tight 95 palma chamber, oversized bolt so your velocities may vary. Start at 42 grains with a 175 hpbt or 178 amax and work up.

Skip the 168's they have a tendency to tumble past 800 depending on velocity and DA.

Thanx, anyone else have an opinion or facts? Keep 'em coming.

I'd recommend going for a 175 or 178gr bullet loaded to send it around 2600fps. I used this velocity as the standard since that's what the Federal Gold Medal Match 175s advertise and they seem to be the standard for commercially loaded match ammo. I've had good luck with the Sierra 175TMKs and the Hornady 178A-Max.

If you can, get a hold of Hornady's new 178 XLD-X bullet. Better BC than the 178 A-Max. I finally got a hold of some and waiting for warmer weather to try out. I did good last summer with the 178 A-Max and match bullets.

After reading lots of chat, and getting questions answered, and reading bullet reviews, I ordered some 178 grain A-Max from Midway this morning. They will be here Thursday, I can load some up and run them across the chrono and then start to shoot at the far away targets. Going to start with 42, 42.5, 43, 43.5. Once I find something I like, then go at .2 grain intervals until I find what the gun likes the best. Thanx for the replies.

OK, the mailman lady brought them to me today. I opened them up and they were real long. I said to my self. "Self, they are real long". I tried to push 1 into the case with 42 grains of IMR 4064, to end up at 2.800 long. There was a lot of crunching going on. Is 2.800 a close to good length? I can't seem to find very much printed data at the places where I get my data, that is the online powder makers sites and the book I have. Am I putting too much concern to this and they just need to be pushed in that far and forgetaboutit. I would rather ask questions here than be laying on the ground at the range with head parts covered with gravel.

Please keep us informed on the progress.