Bullets for 400 to 600 yard .308 Win

Am just getting a Savage 110 into shape as a reasonably accurate rifle. Has a 1:10 twist Douglas barrel and has been bedded into a Brownell's composite stock. Headspace appears to be about right for an accurate rifle. Chambers factory ammo and the spents still fit a chambering gauge.

Have a few 168 gr SMKs and they do shoot. Am using 42 gr RL-15 in Win cases with WLR primers. Need to buy more projectiles and was wondering what the experience has been with 175 gr SMKs and Hornady 178 gr BTHP Match bullets. Any recommendations?

Thanks Guys!

168 gr SMK, 175 gr SMK and 178 gr A-Max and/or 178 gr BTHP will do the job out to 600 yards. Pick the one that is most accurate at that range.

Try these, these are through my 22" 10FP SR:

168g SMK, over 49.2g of Hodgdon H414 (Pressure is 52,428 SAFE), at 2.800" COAL. I get 2668fps, trans sonic to 800yds based on calculations?

208g Hor A-Max, over 43.4g of Hodgdon H414 (Pressure is 57,874 SAFE), at 2.800" COAL. I get 2421fps, trans sonic to 1000yds based on calculations? (on sale at Natchez Shooting Supply 100ct for $68.81 [$85.25 shipped])

The difference between the two fps is the form factor of the bullet, the 208 A-Max is extra slick. SAAMI Max Pressure is 62,000.

"Trans sonic to 800". NO, it's super sonic to 800, or GOES trans sonic at....
As to your pressures, If you are using a Pressure Trace, good for you!
However, those numbers are ONLY good in your gun, they mean nothing to the rest of us.

Air dependant, Win 748 will very easily push 175 SMK's to 2650fps, which will keep you super sonic past 1,000.
When I started shooting 1K and beyond, I found the jackets of Hornady's to be a little "stickier" that Sierra. I tended to hit pressure issues at lower velocities, when using Hornady and not Sierra.

My 10FP has a very long throat. Seated 1/32" off the lands, I am well over the OAL in the Sierra load manual. However using Win 748 data from that same book(ver. 5) I can load a book max load, just beat the stated velocity; AND interchange military brass, and commercial brass without pressure issues.


Honestly for 600 yards, you are probably would want to shoot 155 match bullets. The 175 is gonna kick a bit.

Douglas 1:10 bbl does not seem to like lighter bullets so much.

Rifle weight and the suppressor seem to knock recoil down almost completely, so not worried about that.

Any reason to spend the extra money on the more expensive SMK projectiles?

168 AMAX
42.0 gr IMR 4064
Win Brass
Rem 9 1/2 primer
COAL 2.810

Neck sized for savage 10 fcp with 24" factory tube. Shoots .5 - .7 MOA to 700 yds.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by darkker

"Trans sonic to 800". NO, it's super sonic to 800, or GOES trans sonic at....
As to your pressures, If you are using a Pressure Trace, good for you!
However, those numbers are ONLY good in your gun, they mean nothing to the rest of us.

Air dependant, Win 748 will very easily push 175 SMK's to 2650fps, which will keep you super sonic past 1,000.
When I started shooting 1K and beyond, I found the jackets of Hornady's to be a little "stickier" that Sierra. I tended to hit pressure issues at lower velocities, when using Hornady and not Sierra.

My 10FP has a very long throat. Seated 1/32" off the lands, I am well over the OAL in the Sierra load manual. However using Win 748 data from that same book(ver. 5) I can load a book max load, just beat the stated velocity; AND interchange military brass, and commercial brass without pressure issues.


Honestly for 600 yards, you are probably would want to shoot 155 match bullets. The 175 is gonna kick a bit.

---

Or to those of us in the aero biz, it goes trans sonic in the barrel and subsonic at some extended range, it's a point of view thing not correcting you.

An Oehler 35P on the pressure and yes it is, as stated in my post, for my 22" 308 at the stated COAL and 58k at the highest pressure there is still 6.6% left to the SAAMI Pmax, which probably has 10% risk in it. So there is wiggle room. But still based on your post I should have thrown the lawyerize at the end.

Anyone ever try the 168 gr Mil-Spec OTM from Wideners? Or their 175 M118 Mil-Spec projectiles? Prices are certainly attractive.

And....

While we're on the subject, what's the better barrel for further distances? Shorter, longer or intermediate?

I'm starting to shoot longer distances & it seems after 200yds, there's different rules. Over 600 yards, even more different rules.
The guys at my range are most helpful but the adage applies....

What works for me may not work for you..... blah, blah,.... and so on.

Still, having a start point or point of reference is quite helpful.